2023-09-12 SGA Senate Meeting Minutes

September 12th , 2023
2:18 pm, Forum, Room 3-130

In Attendance

Student Senators

  • Senator Mohamed Souhail
  • Senator Jemeah Scott
  • Senator Mandie McGinnis
  • Senator Thomas Adams
  • Senator Ashley Wrobeh

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

  • Mackenzie Romig (Student)
  • Steve Wise, Public Safety
  • Eric Wheeler, Veteran Services
  • Ginny Geer-Mentry, MCCA
  • Ryan Messenger, Academic + Student Affairs
  • Tarush Ghai, Campus Activities Board

Minutes

Call to Order (2:18 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 August 22nd, 2023, Student Government Association minutes.
    2. Senator Scott so moved, seconded by Senator Adams
    3. A vote was taken.
    4. Be it resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the August 22nd, 2023, minutes as written.

Speak to the Senate

  1. Steve Wise, Chief of Public Safety
    Chief of Public Safety, Steve Wise wanted to meet and introduce himself to the student government association. As a new chief of public safety, he would like MCC students to know about him and emphasize his commitment to ensuring students’ safety.
  2. Eric Wheeler, Veteran Services
    Eric Wheeler, the advisor of the Veterans’ Club invited the student government association to the upcoming Honor Flight.

Reports

  1. President Leichtner
    Joseph Leichtner is the new Student Government Association President for the 2023-2024 academic year. He is also a Community College Representative for the SUNY Student Assembly. Previously he was an SGA Club/Organization Senator. He is majoring in Business Administration and is excited for this semester.
    SGA held a Senate meeting every month over the summer and passed multiple resolutions. SGA also held multiple training events, and greatly improved group functionality. It passed resolutions appointing Angelo Romero as Vice President of Governance, Mandie McGinnis as Vice President of Downtown Campus, Ivy Zin as Secretary of Governance, Ava Allen as Chief of Staff, Paula Barlow as Historian, Naz Barmak as Elections Coordinator, Jemeah Scott as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Senator, Ashley Wrobeh as Health and Wellness Senator, and Thomas Adams as Student Relations Senator. SGA has filled 9 positions over the summer and currently has 12 members. SGA also passed a resolution to adopt a new constitution and bylaws.
    President Leichtner was also the master of the ceremony for MCC’s 22nd 9/11 remembrance ceremony. and thank everyone who attended. President Leichtner helped plan the upcoming Snack N Chat events, and they are taking place on 9/20 from 12-1 p.m. at the Brighton Terrace, 10/27 from 7-8 p.m. at the Res Hall, and on 11/16 from 12-1 p.m. at the Downtown 2nd Floor Lounge. SGA hopes you all will attend. Further, President Leichtner designed the Turbovote flyers and helped plan the event, which will be discussed in more detail at the club council meeting.
  2. Vice President Romero
    Good afternoon, everyone, Vice President of Governance Romero hopes everyone had a great summer and is having a great start to their semester. Angelo Romero is the new Vice President of Governance. He was the election coordinator for the Fall and Spring Semester. Vice President Romero is Studying Political Science after switching his major from communications. He is also a Peer Navigator for the school and a Student Ambassador for the Office of Student Life and Leadership Development. Throughout the Summer, Vice President Romero attended SGA training with the rest of the Student Government Association, learning more about Robert’s Rules of Order, more about what Student Government can do for the college, and learning more organization’s new members. On July 25th, 2023 SGA passed their newly drafted Constitution and By-Laws adding new things, doing rewrites, changing and getting rid of some things. Throughout the summer SGA started planning for the 9/11 memorial. One of the things he did was research possible keynote speakers, and we found Monroe County Executive Adam Bello was a possible idea, and he agreed to do so. Vice President Romero would also check in with other SGA members of SGA for updates in their roles. SGA would also hold two rehearsals to practice. He would practice doing the opening for the memorial which included the presentation of the colors and the pledge of allegiance. Vice President Romero would meet with Annette Ramos, a Voter registration coordinator, with the Monroe County board of elections with Director Jodi Oriel and Vice President of Downtown Campus Mandie McGinnis on August 24th, 2023. We discussed days in which we can hold events to get students registered to vote for the upcoming New York Elections. We decided on the dates of September 20th, the same day as Constitution Day and SGA’s Snack and Chat. During this, we will be reaching out to students with our Snack and Chat to let them know we exist and answer their questions while giving them snacks too much on. Also, we’ll have speeches to discuss about why voting matters, and how your vote can matter in every election, he will also most likely speak at the event.
  3. Vice President of Downtown McGinnis
    Vice President of Downtown Mandic McGinnis, a non-traditional student majoring in Human Services with a minor in Direct Disability Support Services. Throughout the summer, the SGA (Student Government Association) has been busy training and working on behalf of MCC (Monroe Community College) students and the community. We held monthly public senate meetings, training seasons, and team-building activities, in preparation for the 2023/2024 academic year. Vice President McGinnis hopes everyone has had the chance to visit the newly opened student lounge on the Brighton campus building 3 room 138 right outside the SGA office. Play a game of chess, hang out with new friends, study, or even take a nap. Enjoy the space and bring a friend. Vice President McGinnis’s office hours for the fall 2023 semester are Fridays at the Downtown 9:30 am -11:30 am and Brighton froml:00 pm – 2:00 pm. The 2023/2024 academic year has started off to a great start, the excitement and enthusiasm around the campuses are amazing, and Vice President McGinnis encourages my fellow students to add to that buzz and join a club. “Oh, the places you’ll go!” Vice President McGinnis exhilarated by the MCC community and spirit, is proud to serve as your Downtown representative. Promising to advocate and amplify the student body’s voice.
  4. Treasurer Guney
    Zeynep Selma is studying Political Science at Monroe Community College. She plans to transfer to the University of Rochester to complete her bachelor’s degree after earning her associate’s degree at MCC. Later, she aspires to become a prosecutor and diplomat, paving the way for her future goal of studying law. Born and raised in Turkey, Zeynep Selma has lived abroad in various countries since she was 11. She has been to Indonesia and Egypt and now lives in America. She has embraced being a foreigner and has become familiar with many characteristics, such as different cultures, languages, and religions. Zeynep Selma, whose homeland is the world, and her nation is humanity, is a member of the Student Government with the position of Treasurer at Monroe Community College in the 2023-2024 academic year. Her goal and purpose is to be a bridge between students and the administration and to be the voice of the students. Last week, she helped prepare and rehearse the event for the September 11th ceremony for America, to whose lands and people she is indebted today. In the last two weeks, she has started office hours on Tuesdays from 11-2 and is ready to communicate and assist students directly face to face. And finally, the meeting dates of the Finance Committees have been determined, and she will do her best to be your voice there.
  5. Secretary of Governance Zin|
    Secretary of Governance Zin is majoring in Business administration, and this is her third semester studying at MCC. Secretary Zin has worked on the minutes for the past Senate meetings and training during the summer. Secretary Zin worked with the other members of SGA’s MCC resources committee to actively engage with all MCC students with the goals of increasing students’ awareness about campus resources and encouraging tribunes to get more involved in campus activities. Secretary Zin had been rehearsing and preparing with Student Trustee Santos and the team to participate in the 9/11 ceremony.
  6. Chief of Staff Allen
    Chief of Staff Allen is a Psychology Major, starting their 2nd year here at MCC. Chief of Staff Allen works as a Peer Navigator through Admissions and a Peer Advisor through the Advisement Center. Chief of Staff Allen has attended all of the student leader trainings over the summer with the rest of the Student Government. Over the summer all of the Student Government collaborated with Student Like and Leadership Development to plan the 9/11 ceremony.
  7. Student Relations Senator Adams
    Thomas J. Adams is the Student Relations Senator and is pursuing a law degree under the Criminal Justice program to become a Criminal Defense Attorney. Over this past week Sen. Adams briefly met with Aaron Bouyea and other staff to understand the current lifting room hours situation. This issue arose as Oakar Minn asked Sen. Adams to investigate this situation as soon as possible since their schedule conflicted. During this brief meeting with Bouyea and others, the reason for why the lifting room’s hours were changed was established. The reason being that they could not locate enough students to be a part of the staff to upkeep it. Also, the idea of a lifting club was brought up during this conversation, too. Sen. Adams then talked with Pres. Leichtner about the lifting room hours; Adams and Leichtner agreed that the hours would not be sufficient for the average student. Methods to remedy this case were brought up to others and will likely be acted upon if approval is granted. Some examples:
    1. Walking around campus over the course of a week or so asking students their thoughts on lifting room/gym hours. As well as how often they try to go to the gym, if their schedule doesn’t align with the hours, and if the hours were to be changed would they then go.
    2. Walk around campus with a QR code paper which takes students to a voting site or form that gathers their opinions and probably M# (specifics TBD). Some questions could be like the ones in section 1.
    3. Meet with gym directors/staff directly to possibly organize a solution that way, or at least prepare them for what could possibly happen and our intentions therein.
  8. Health and Wellness Senator Wrobeh
    Ashley Wrobeh is the newly indicted Health and Wellness Senator. She is 18 years old, a first-year student majoring in biology and a Gates Chili Highschool graduate. Senator Wrobeh has been attending student leader training and student government meetings since the summer of 2023.
    This week, senator Wrobeh chose her desk and attended her first session of office hours of the semester. Senator Wrobeh also attended a rehearsal for the 9/11 ceremony and volunteered to distribute programs to the crowd at said ceremony.
    Senator Wrobeh asked Jodi to arrange a meeting with Program Coordinator, Chloe Vazzana to discuss her role as the health and wellness senator and any ideas she might have. At said meeting, Vazzana explained to Senator Wrobeh what kind of events the Health and Wellness Center organizes such as the active bystander workshop coming up in November, and the Take Back the Night event coming up in April. Senator Wrobeh expressed interest in both events and will be meeting with Vazzana and the Health and Wellness Center coordinator Anita Williams next week to further discuss planning.
    Senator Wrobeh also suggested that she start an advice column for students, that could possibly be called “Ask Ashley.” Students would be able to decide if they want only Senator Wrobeh’s input, or responses from anyone. Vazzana suggested that there could be a spot on the Monroe Doctrine for said advice column. Access to the advice column would be provided by QR codes on fliers promoting the column which would take them to the Google forum.
    Senator Wrobeh stood up in her Mythology class and announced her role in the Student Government Association, talked about the responsibilities of the Student Government Association, and reminded classmates about the 9/11 ceremony.
  9. Diversity Senator Scott
    Jemeah Scott is the Diversity Senator of Monroe Community College’s Student Government Association. During this past week, she wrote a report for MCC’s Vision 2027 plans and how the student government plans to fulfill the community engagement blueprint through indigenous and environmental advocacy. She also did some research on the cost of eclipse glasses for the upcoming eclipse event.
  10. Election Coordinator Barmak
    Over the past months, the Student Government Election Coordinator, Barmak, has dedicated herself to a series of impactful activities. She began by actively participating in summer training sessions organized by the Student Government Association, gaining a comprehensive understanding of SGA operations. This came into effect as she attended two rehearsals for the upcoming September 11 event, < that went smoothly and successfully>. Simultaneously, she has diligently prepared for the upcoming board meeting involving the MCC strategic plan of Vision 2027, contributing to discussions on the SGA’s long-term strategic vision. Her main focus is the second direction of Vision 2027 which is having a student-centered college that extends to the planning and discussion of future events, with a particular focus on the smooth execution of “Vote Registration Day.” As the election coordinator, she continues to ensure success in serving the student body by working together with other members of the team.

New Business

  1. There was no new business.

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 2:52 pm

Executive Session

Respectfully submitted,
Ivy Zin
Secretary of Governance