2025-02-04 SGA Senate Meeting Minutes

February 4, 2025
2:15pm, Forum 3-130, Downtown Campus Room 200B, Zoom

In Attendance

Student Senators

  • Senator Elisabeth Small
  • Senator Ashley Wrobeh
  • Senator Billy Simba
  • Senator Shawn Sanchez
  • Senator Margherita Rizzuti
  • Senator Alyssa Ryan

President

  • Angelo Romero

Vice President of Governance

  • Lizzy Cole

Vice President of Downtown

  • Loritea Ellis

Treasurer

  • Esma Demir

Secretary of Governance

  • Hajer Enaami

Student Trustee

  • Joseph Leichtner

Office of Student Life

  • Advisor: Jodi Oriel
  • Faculty Advisor: Mark Sample

Visitors

  • Dana Williams – MCC Student
  • Ryan Messenger – ASA
  • Ginny Geer-Mentry – MCCA
  • Xavier – Suny Veteran Intern
  • Hamzah Al Ani – MCC Student
  • Eric Benjamin – MCC Student

Minutes

Call to Order (2:16 pm)

  1. Roll Call (see attendance above)
    Vice President of Governance Cole called for a roll call to start the senate meeting.
  2. Land Acknowledgement
  3. Approval of Minutes
    1. Vice President of Governance Cole called for a motion to approve the January 28, 2025 Student Government Association minutes.
    2. Senator Rizzuti so moved, seconded by Senator Small
    3. A vote was taken.
    4. Be it resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the January 28, 2025 minutes as written.

Speak to the Senate

  1. No one spoke to the senate

Reports

  1. President Romero

    On Saturday, January 18th, President Romero attended the January SUNY Student Assembly Executive Committee Meeting in Utica, New York, fulfilling his role as a community college representative. This meeting revolved around Advocacy Day on February 12th in Albany for more funding for SUNY. Some resolutions that involved Advocacy Day were voted on by the Executive Cabinet Committee, such as adopting the 2025 SUNY SA Advocacy Platform for Advocacy Day. This resolution focuses on addressing the concerns of SUNY students, focusing on financial accessibility, equity, sustainability, health and wellness, community engagement, and other critical areas. The Second resolution was the SUNY Student Assembly FY 26-27 New York State Budget Request, focusing on reducing the financial burden on SUNY students, enhancing accessibility to higher education, and supporting student success like the Excelsior Scholarship covering the full cost of attendance, an expansion of the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), and an increase in funding for community colleges, including a historic investment of $180 million to increase the community college funding floor by more than 25%. Another resolution involved the SUNY SA Rules Committee, the formation of the SUNY Student Assembly Policy and Procedures Document, and assigning the Rules Committee additional charge to create and govern the implementation of this document. This would include Hiring/Firing Policies and Procedures, Disciplinary Actions, Structuring the Executive Cabinet, Stipend Allocations and Payroll, and Travel/Hotel Policies and Procedures. The last two focused on appointing a new executive director of Public Relations & Chief Communications Office and Honoring the SUNY Poly Jazz and Hip-Hop Club for Their Contributions to the SUNY Student Assembly 50th Anniversary Celebration. If anyone remembers the dinner at this, it was great. The next SUNY SA meeting will be in late February. For work President Romero did at MCC last week, Wednesday, January 29th, he helped with the Snack & Chat on the Terrace with Treasurer Demir Health & Wellness Senator Wrobeh, and Vice President Cole to answer any questions Students have about SGA and of course, promote it. On Tuesday, January 28th, President Romero and Veteran Senator Sanchez met with Professor Dimino about the COS classes and setting all that up so SGA can present in those classes. Friday, January 31st, he helped make the video for the COS presentation with VP Cole, Senators Sanchez and Wrobeh, and Jeremy Case. Later that day, he attended the meeting for Culture Alliance, where we finalized the plans for the Lunar New Year and worked on an event later in March revolving around Women’s History and a Panel Discussion. Lastly, he met with Diversity Senator Small and Dana Volden Curry about the MCC Champion, spreading the news and recognizing those who have received it. Dana sits on the Professional Development Committee for Faculty Senate with Eric Wheeler, and SGA hopes to revolve this with the employee recognition day in May. Overall, it was a very productive week for SGA.

  2. Vice President of Governance Cole

    Hello everyone, good afternoon! Since Vice President Cole’s last report on Wednesday, January 29th, she has participated in several activities to further engage with students and promote SGA. She assisted with the SGA Snack and Chat, working to recruit more SGA members and taking the time to communicate with fellow students. Additionally, she participated in an interview for a potential SGA candidate. On January 30th, she attended the Faculty Senate meeting, where she provided a report on everything SGA has accomplished since the last meeting. Then, on January 31st, Vice President Cole and the rest of the College Orientation and Success Committee met to update the SGA COS Presentation for the online COS classes, enabling us to reach more members than before and finalize all details. Thank you

  3. Vice President of Downtown Ellis

    Loritea Ellis VP of Downtown Campus SGA Report 2/1/25 Vice President of Downtown Campus Ellis On January 25th, 2025, The VP of the Downtown Campus attended Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of Enigma Variations that took place at 8:00 pm. The complimentary tickets were donated by MCC Foundation at the Eastman Theater. VP really enjoyed herself and so did her plus one. It was great to be able to be thought of for the occasion and rewarded for the volunteering that she does. On January 29, 2025, The VP of The Downtown Campus helped interview Zoom at 1:00 pm for a new highly immense potential candidate in the SGA Senators role. She conducted this interview alongside fellow peers President Angelo, and VP of Govenor Lizzy. VP feels incredibly happy about this candidate.

  4. Treasurer Demir

    On Wednesday, January 29th, the student government successfully hosted a “Snack and Chat” event, fostering engagement and open dialogue with students. Additionally, on Tuesday, January 28th, a highly successful financial report was presented during the Senate meeting, providing transparency and insight into budget allocations and expenditures.

  5. Secretary of Governance Enaami

    This week, Hajer Enaami attended her first Senate meeting and participated in the “Snack and Chat” event on Wednesday, engaging with students and fellow SGA members. On Monday, January 27th, she helped conduct an interview alongside other SGA members, successfully selecting a strong addition to the team.  Additionally, Hajer collaborated with Esma on her ELT report, focusing on MCC’s Direction 3, which emphasizes attracting and supporting a diverse student population through educational opportunities and services that enhance the region’s economic and social well-being. It was a productive week filled with leadership, collaboration, and academic contributions.

  6. Health & Wellness Senator Wrobeh

    Hello everyone, Senator Wrobeh hopes that you are having a wonderful day. It has been quite a busy week. On Monday, January 27th, Senator Wrobeh conducted an interview along with a few other members of the SGA. It went well and there will be another great addition to the team. On Tuesday, January 28th, Senator Wrobeh had a COS committee meeting where we discussed class times in which they could present and scheduling the retake of the COS video for online students. Later that day, Senator Wrobeh also had a club connect meeting where they arranged the scheduled program for the February Clubs and Organizations’ meeting as well as decided on decorations and food. On January 29th, Senator Wrobeh joined Vice President Cole and President Romero for a snack and chat on the terris. It was fun talking to so many students and getting them excited about participating in student life. On January 30th, Senator Wrobeh wrote her portion of the ELT report focused on Direction five which is efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability, including advocacy day. On January 31st, Senator Wrobeh drafted a resolution for MSA’s funding request. Senator Wrobeh would also like to mention that her office hours are on Mondays and Wednesdays 3:00-4:30 pm.

  7. Veterans Senator Sanchez

    Good afternoon, On Monday January 27th Veterans Senator Sanchez attended a small Vet club meeting with the officers of the club. During this meeting they discussed ideas for future events and submitted the new officers form. That same day Veterans Senator Sanchez attended Kam Borst’s SGA interview with other members of SGA, he had great energy and enthusiasm. On Tuesday the 28th Veterans Senator Sanchez hosted a COS committee meeting were the group discussed availability and talked about a plan for presentations, and scheduling a recording date for the video. On Wednesday January 29th Veterans Senator Sanchez met with Eric Wheeler of Veteran services and discussed the clubs plan for upcoming events and funding requests. On Friday January 31st Veterans Senator Sanchez and the COS committee recorded the video presentation for the online COS classes. Later that day Veterans Senator Sanchez met with Veterans club president John Carmody to work on planning for the upcoming events and show John all the process for having a club event. The Veterans Club is hosting a Veterans meet up event called Rally Point on March 5th in the prism multicultural center and a small Combat Lifesaver (CLS) class in collaboration with the SNA (student nurses association) two weeks later.

  8. Student Relations Senator Simba

    On Thursday January 30, 2025, Senator Simba met with the Peace Committee where they discussed the details of the Ukraine event and started to brainstorm about the Myanmar event for the future. On Friday January 31, 2025, Senator Simba met with the Cultural Alliance, where they discussed upcoming initiatives and events aimed at fostering cultural awareness and inclusivity at MCC. Key topics included planning for Women’s History Month, the Lunar New Year celebration, and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The discussion emphasized logistical coordination, potential guest speakers, and student engagement strategies. The team also explored panel discussions featuring MCC faculty and community leaders, ensuring alignment with Vision 2027’s goal of fostering an inclusive environment. Additionally, plans were made to collaborate with organizations such as APAPA.

  9. Diversity Senator Small

    On Tuesday, January 28th, Elisabeth created and sent out a volunteer form for the Lunar New Year event to all SGA members. On Wednesday, January 29th, Elisabeth connected with Kelly Weishaar to discuss using her collection of hanboks and traditional Korean wear for guests to wear for photobooth pictures during the Lunar New Year event. On Thursday, January 30th, Elisabeth met with Senator Simba to discuss the points of Direction One in Vision 2027 and how Culture Alliance’s goals and events align. On Friday, January 30th, Elisabeth met with Student Life and Culture Alliance to discuss details for Lunar New Year on February 8th from 1PM-4PM as well as their plans for Women’s History Month in March including a women-led panel discussion of MCC leaders. Later that day, Elisabeth met with President Romero and Dana Voldan-Curry to discuss collaboration of the MCC Champion program and the Employee Recognition Ceremony, run by the Faculty Senate. They are very excited for this opportunity to join forces in celebrating the people of MCC. Additionally, on Friday, January 31st, Elisabeth created and sent out a volunteer form for the tabling at the Student Life Fair on Wednesday, February 5th.

  10. Student Trustee Leichtner

    Student Trustee Leichtner has no report this week.

  11. Public Relations Senator Rizzuti

    Margherita Rizzuti, an international student from Italy and a Criminal Justice major in her second semester, she has the role of Public Relations Senator for the Student Government Association (SGA). As the semester kicked off, Margherita prioritized revitalizing SGA’s social media presence. On January 21, she met with SGA President Angelo to develop a strategic approach. They decided to implement a cohesive visual theme incorporating the college’s signature yellow and black colors, aiming to strengthen school pride and create a sense of unity among students. To enhance engagement, they established a consistent posting schedule, with updates every Friday to keep students informed about campus events, initiatives, and opportunities. Margherita is also introducing creative content ideas, such as student spotlights, campus resource promotions, and event highlights. Her goal is to transform SGA’s social media into a dynamic platform that not only shares information but also celebrates the diverse voices and achievements within the Monroe Community College community. On January 27, Margherita and Angelo met again to refine their strategy and add further details to their social media plan. They discussed ways to improve engagement, including interactive posts, student polls, and behind-the-scenes content showcasing SGA’s work. Their goal is to make SGA’s platforms more engaging and accessible, encouraging greater student participation and feedback. Still relatively new to MCC and SGA, Margherita is grateful for the support and encouragement she has received from her peers and colleagues. She appreciates the opportunity to contribute to student life and is excited to collaborate with her fellow SGA members to serve and represent the student body.

  12. Club and Organization Senator Ryan
    Club and Organization Senator Ryan has no report this week.

New Business

  1. Action Items (requires a senate vote)
    1. Resolution to Approve the Funding Request Of $1200 for Muslim Student Association

      Resolved, The Monroe Community College Student Government Association approved the funding request for MSA. 
      Vice President of Governance Cole called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Sanchez so moved, seconded by Senator Simba.  
      Discussion: Muslim Student Association has completed and met the standards of the Student Government Association and Office of Student Life and Leadership.  
      A vote was taken. The resolution passed.  
      Be it resolved, the senate present and voting that the Student Government Association approve the motion to add the funding request for Muslim Student Association effective February 4th, 2025, at Monroe Community College.

    2. Resolution to Approve the Club Constitution for Volleyball Club
      Resolved, The Monroe Community College Student Government Association approved the Club Constitution for Volleyball Club.
      Vice President of Governance Cole called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Wrobeh so moved, seconded by Senator Small.  
      Discussion: Volleyball Club has completed and met the standards of the Student Government Association and Office of Student Life and Leadership.  
      A vote was taken. The resolution passed. 
      Be it resolved, the senate present and Voting that the Student Government Association approve the motion to The Club Constitution request for Volleyball Club effective February 4th, 2025, at Monroe Community College.

    3. Resolution to Appoint Jalisia Burno as Athletics Senator

      Resolved, The Monroe Community College Student Government Association approved to appoint Burno As the Athletic senator.
      Vice President of Governance Cole called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Rizzuti so moved, seconded by Senator Small.  
      Discussion: Jalisia Burno has completed and met the standards of the Student Government Association and Office of Student Life and Leadership.  
      A vote was taken. The resolution passed.
      Be it resolved, the senate present and voting that the Student Government Association approve the motion to Appoint Jalisia Burno as the athletic senator effective February 4th, 2025, at Monroe Community College.

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 of Governance Cole called for a motion for adjournment.
    Senator Sanchez so moved, second by Senator Simba
  2. Meeting was adjourned at 2:41 pm.

Executive Session

Respectfully submitted,
Hajer Enaami
Secretary of Governance