2023-10-03 SGA Senate Meeting Minutes

October 3, 2023
2:17 pm, Forum, Room 3-130, Downtown Campus Room 200B, Zoom

In Attendance

Student Senators

  • Senator Mohamed Souhail
  • Senator Jemeah Scott
  • Senator Giomer Garcia-Maldonado
  • Senator Thomas Adams
  • Senator Ashley Wrobeh
  • Senator Loritea Ellis

Election Coordinator

  • Naz Barmak

Historian

  • Paula Balow

President

  • Joseph Leichtner

Vice President of Governance

  • Angelo Romero

Vice President of Downtown

  • Mandie McGinnis

Treasurer

  • Zeynep Guney

Chief of Staff

  • Ava Allen

Secretary of Governance

  • Ivy Zin

Student Trustee

  • Ana Santos

Office of Student Life

  • Advisor: Jodi Oriel
  • Faculty Advisor: Mark Sample

Visitors

  • Becky Babcock – Faculty Senate
  • Dana Williams (MCC Student)
  • Ryan Messenger – Academic & Student Affairs
  • Brian Sebunva (MCC Student)
  • Tarush Ghai – Campus Activities Board
  • Mustafa – Campus Activities Board

Minutes

Call to Order (2:17 pm)

  1. Roll Call (see attendance above)
    Vice President of Governance Romero called for a roll call to start the senate meeting.
  2. Land Acknowledgement
  3. Approval of Minutes
    1. Vice President of Governance Romero called for a motion to approve the September 26th, 2023, Student Government Association minutes.
    2. Senator Adams so moved, seconded by Senator Scott
    3. A vote was taken.
    4. Be it resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the September 26th, 2023, minutes as written.

Speak to the Senate

  1. Becky Babcock, President of the Faculty Senate

    Becky Babcock, President of the faculty senate invited the SGA to the curriculum committee and the academic policy committee for the senates as student representation.

Reports

  1. President Leichtner

    On 09/23 President Leichtner attended the Student Leader Training from 8:30AM – 4:00Pm. It consisted of training in Title IX, proper social media use, leadership identities, the role of SGA, Advisors, and Liasons, how to keep a club in good standing, and how to plan a program or event. It ended with team building activities.

    On 09/28 President Leichtner attended the MCC Association Operations and Personnel Committee meeting, of which I am a member. The committee reviewed and approved promotions and appointments at this meeting.

    On 9/28/23 President Leichtner attended the MCC Association Board meeting, of which I am a member. The Board appointed officer positions and committee chairs, and approved the Board members for the 2023-2024 year. The Board also voted on and approved additional funding for the Design of the Softball Field.

    On 09/29/23 President Leichtner attended SUNY Community College Rep Training in his capacity as a Community College Representative.

    On 09/30 President Leichtner volunteered and attended the MCC 5K run for scholarships.

    President Leichtner also attended the Smash Club tournament to support the clubs, and attended the flowerpot painting event to support RA’s.

  2. Vice President of Governance Romero

    On Saturday, September 23rd, Vice President Romero, with the rest of SGA and other student leaders, attended the Student Leader Training to learn more about how to be a student leader and get to know other leaders of clubs and organizations. Vice President Romero would go over how a club/org can stay in good standing to all the student leaders, and he would be accompanied by Student Trustee Santos, Secretary of Governance Zin, and Vice President of Downtown McGinnis. After Training, all student leaders were invited to Lasertron for fun, and he and others had fun. He also learned it’s essential to have fun once in a while. He would like to thank Jodi, Denee, Chloe, and Melissa for all they do for this college.  On Monday, September 25th, Vice President Romero attended the Finance Committee meeting accompanied by Treasurer Guney. Both would review resolutions with the other committee members and vote on them.

    Wednesday, September 27th, Vice President Romero, Treasurer Guney, Health and Wellness Senator Wrobeh, and Faculty Advisor Sample interviewed Alica Crimmins, who was interested in SGA. After the interview, we discussed more about how it went. This same day, he attended Studnet Trustee Santo’s Music event at Canal Hall and came to support Smash Club’s Tournament. He had fun at both and was glad to support both events.

     On Thursday, September 28th, Vice President Romero Attended the MCC Board meeting with President Leichtner, Treasurer Guney, and Student Life Advisor Oriel. He would review and vote on resolutions presented by other board members.

    On Saturday, September 30th, Vice President Romero attended the 5k walk with some SGA Members, where he helped volunteer before the event started and run in the race. He congratulates Club and Org’s Senator Giomar Garcia-Maldanado and Daniel Kalumbwe for winning scholarships.

    Lastly, on Sunday, October 1st, Vice President Romero attended the Honor Flight with Vice President of Downtown McGinnis, Historian Barlow, Veterna Club President ChaCha Tirado, and Faculty Advisor for Veterans Club Eric Wheeler. Support and honor all the veterans who fought for this country; it felt great to honor them. He likes to thank Mandie for creating the posterboard and giving him a ride there.

  3. Vice President of Downtown McGinnis

    On October 2nd Downtown Vice President McGinnis with Disability Awareness Club’s advisor Jean McCrumb, Vice President Amari, and Secretary Nysean to get an update on their big fall semester event, a fall social. The club is planning a fun interactive event with dancing, crafts, food, games, and so much more. Please save the date, November 15th Downtown campus 2nd floor lounge, be there or be square. Also discussed was the interest in expanding the Disability Awareness Club to the Brighton campus since there is student interest at Brighton.

    Thursday, October 4th Vice President McGinnis met with Kim Delardge, Director of Academic and Student Affairs, Downtown Campus. This was our first meeting of the semester where Vice President McGinnis reported the growth of SGA, with three members taking courses Downtown. Updating that SGA currently has three committees, the community service, resource, and enrollment reimagine committees, to support SGA in completing their goals that align with MCC’s 2027 Vision’s goals. Vice President McGinnis shared the potential for a showcase event for the spring 2024 semester of Human Service major students with the community agencies they work or intern for at the Downtown campus. Kim shared that student workers were in the planning stages of a fiesta with further details to come.

  4. Treasurer Guney

    On September 27, Wednesday with Senator Wrobeh, Vice President Romero, faculty advisor Sample, and Treasurer Guney interviewed Alice Crimmins, who will be joining the student government association.

    On September 28, Thursday Treasurer Guney attended the MCC Association Board meeting with some other SGA members and went through the 2022-2023 annual report. As a treasurer, she found the opportunity to be the voice for future needs and have a broader understanding of finance and boarding at MCC. 

    On September 30, Saturday Treasurer Guney attended the beautiful, engaging, fun event that MCC created for its students, where Treasurer Guney participated in BE inspired team and had both to walk or run for scholarships and also to engage and familiarize with the students, faculty members, and staff.

  5. Secretary of Governance Zin

    Secretary of Governance Zin was with Treasurer Guney and student relation senator Adams for the interview for an MCC student who is interested in joining SGA on August 25th, 2023, and will be a committee member of the Student Government Association. She also participated in the 5K scholarships walk/run with other SGA members and Advisor Oriel and the fall festival was also a really fun and beautiful event to see all MCC family that we can call MCC students, staff, and faculty.

  6. Chief of Staff Allen

    Chief of Staff Allen has no reports for this week.

  7. Diversity Senator Scott

    Over this past week, Senator Scott have updated one of the presidential reports for SGA’s fulfillment of the Vision 2027 goals to include an outreach event taking place on Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This outreach will include a Sunset Ceremony a Cobb’s Hill, the planting of a white pine tree of peace, performances by River Dancers, and a main celebration at Genesee Valley Park on October 9th. This remembrance of Indigenous peoples’ is open to the general public, and we hope that faculty and the student body will mark this as an important event to attend and a day to reflect on Indigenous cultures and histories.

    On September 30th, Senator Scott also attended the MCC 5K, which was a great opportunity to fellowship with other members of the student body and enjoy the amenities that MCC has to offer.  Seeing and engaging with the morale of the student body was really aspirational, and showed the positive culture that MCC is continuously cultivating. Also, Senator Scott has begun designing the flyer for the recreation room’s naming competition, which will award a prize to the person who picks the most fitting and unique name for this new communal space on MCC campus. May the best name win!

  8. Health & Wellness Senator Wrobeh

    Health and Wellness Senator Wrobeh has no reports for this week

  9. Student Relations Senator Adams

    This past week Senator Adams, went to the Student Life Training; meeting a lot of new people and spreading his name throughout. As well as the lasertron event afterwards. Later in the week Sen. Adams did a couple of interviews with Daniel and Loritea for positions in Student Government, a new committee member and Virtual Campus Senator respectively. Two fantastic people who Sen. Adams is sure will bring a lot of new information to the table and increase student involvement in new areas. Sen. Adams also noticed throughout the campus how students would say how transfer was this difficult and confusing process, and how they wanted more assistance on this aspect of college. Therefore, in the coming weeks he will try and figure out ways to make this less of an issue.

  10. Clubs and Organizations Senator Garcia-Maldonado

    Clubs and Organizations Senator Garcia-Maldonado has no reports for this week.

  11. Election Coordinator Barmak

    Election Coordinator Barmak has no reports for this week.

  12. Athletic Senator Souhail

    Athletic Senator Souhail has no reports for this week.

  13. Virtual Campus Senator Ellis

    New Virtual Campus Senator is Loritea Ellis, and she is a returning student. She is looking to succeed and walk across the stage without borders. She is majoring in Liberal Arts as of now, but previously was doing International Business. She is at MCC to learn like all of the other MCC students, and to do my best while doing so. She enjoys serving and being an advocate to those who need a mic to their voices. She is a game changer and a voice amplifier. Virtual Campus Senator Ellis currently helps many different organizations from profit to non-profit in her daily life. In fact, her latest job offer was as a motivational speaker for the YWCA be the change 140 anniversary luncheon; at the Convention Center on 10/4/23 she was seated as a VIP with a lot of powerhouses on stage. Such as Deanna Dewbeery, Anchor & Reporter, New10NBC, Rev. Dr. Angela Sims, Hon. Kathy Hochul, Governor, State of NY, Hon. Joseph Morelle, U.S. House of Representatives, Hon. Dam Bello, County Executive, Monroe County, Hon. Malik Evans, Mayor, City of Rochester, Sherry Jackson, VP, Marketing & Communications, U.S Ceiling Corp, Cora Conklin, Digital Factory, Dr. Myra Henry, President & CEO of YWCA of Monroe County, Erin Gruwell, Freedom Writers Foundation, and lastly Dr.Lesli Myers-SMALL, DLT Consulting and Monroe Community College. As a serial entrepreneur, she is certified and qualified to sit along with any powerhouse. She is not intimidated at all by change, different demographics, or positions. Whatever it is that she does not know; she always aims to learn when it is a need to do so. To be honest, she is a hands-on learner, but most of my experience has been self-taught. As an online student who is learning to navigate the systems by herself. She intends to help assist others to pivot their way around as well. As someone who knows very well at firsthand the struggles that first-time students, returning students may have with just the school setting, and online transition. She wishes to help them where they can be confident as they are to take the next steps in their pursuit of higher education. She also wishes to become part of the village you all have created, and another pillar for the students to rely on. She is new to this role, and it is a new one that she understands has been added. As we learn what she can do to better assist and adjust accordingly please feel free to ask for her assistance if you need it. She would do my best to see how I too can best serve and be of help. She looks forward to just being able to learn and pivot my way to whatever you all are willing to help me with.

New Business

  1. Action Items (requires a senate vote)
    1. Resolution for the appointment of Loritea EllisAction Items (requires a senate vote)
      Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approved the appointment of Loritea Ellis.
      Vice President Romero called for a motion to approve the resolution.
      Senator Adams so moved, second by Senator Scott.
      Discussion: Loritea Ellis has met all the requirements to be appointed by the Student Government Association.
      A vote was taken. The resolution passed. Be it resolved, the senate presents and votes that the Student Government Association appoints Loritea Ellis as the virtual campus senator at Monroe Community College.
    2. Resolution for an appreciation award called MCC Champion  
      Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approved the MCC Champion Award
      Vice President Romero called for a motion to approve the resolution
      Senator Adams so moved, second by Senator Scott
      Discussion:  The Student Government Association believes it is important to honor people who work to make the MCC community a better place.
      A vote was taken.  The resolution passed  
      Be it resolved, the senate presents and votes that the Student Government Association supports the newly appreciation award called the MCC Champion of the Week.
  2. Dr. Ryan Messenger
        Participated in a Q & A session regarding the health services available on the Monroe Community College Campus

Discussion Items

  1. There were no discussion items.

Old Business

  1. There was no old business.

Questions and Comments

  1. There were no questions or comments.

Adjournment

  1. Vice President Romero called for a motion for adjournment.
  2. Meeting was adjourned at 2:47 pm.

Executive Session

Respectfully submitted,
Ivy Zin
Secretary of Governance