2025-02-25 SGA Senate Meeting Minutes

February 25, 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
  • Senator Jalisia Burno

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

Chief of Staff

  • Hamzah Al Ani

Secretary of Staff

  • Madison DePoty

Office of Student Life

  • Advisor: Jodi Oriel
  • Faculty Advisor: Mark Sample

Visitors

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

Minutes

Call to Order (2:24 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 February 25, 2025 Student Government Association minutes.
    2. Senator Sanchez so moved, seconded by Senator Rizzuti
    3. A vote was taken.
    4. Be it resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the February 25, 2025 minutes as written.

Speak to the Senate

  1. No one spoke to the senate

Reports

  1. President Romero

    President Romero is happy to see everyone and hopes everyone had a relaxing break. Fair warning: This report will be long, as a lot has happened since his last report. For starters, on Thursday, February 6th, President Romer and fellow SGA members met with Andres Pazimo, MCC’s Government Relations Expert. The purpose of this meeting was to train members of the SGA on advocating and speaking with Legislators and their teams. Pazimo taught everyone what to say to legislators and important issues to address. He also discussed the importance of more funding for community colleges. On Saturday, February 8th, he will also attend a mandatory SUNY SA training session regarding the same message of what everyone should be talking about and what Advocacy Day would look like when everyone is there. Both of these sessions were great, and they helped me learn what should be said and the clear talking points they should focus on Advocacy Day. February 12th was Advocacy Day in the State Capitol; the MCC Team would be busy speaking with the State Senate and Assembly members, discussing why SUNY Schools need more funding, and focusing mainly on Community Colleges. The team would be split into two groups, and together, they spoke with around nine different legislators and their directors. They would post on the SGA Instagram, take over the Office of Student Life’s Instagram, and share their experience, and Tiberius did join with them as well. Shout out to Public Relations Senator Rizzuti for running the social media! Lastly, President Romero represented community colleges during the press conference on the million-dollar staircase, discussing his experience and why they need more funding. This was posted on Instagram, and it was terrific to represent community colleges. It was my favorite Advocacy Day out of the other two I attended. Shout out to all of those who attended. Throughout the first week of February, President Romero and the team worked on a few important events and attended meetings. On Monday, February 3rd, President Romero gave his report at the Board of Trustees Meeting and discussed what SGA has been working on since they met in December. On Tuesday, February 4th, President Romero and the SGA team attended the ELT meeting, where they reported on what SGA has accomplished since they last met and how it relates to President Burt Nanna’s Vision 2027. Wednesday, February 5th, President Romero tabled at the Student Life Fair on the Brighton campus along with VP Cole and Health & Wellness Senator Wrobeh, where they tried to reach out to the student body and inform them on what SGA is, how they can get involved, and advertise SGA elections that are happening in the Spring. Saturday, February 8th, President Romero, along with the Culture Alliance team helped volunteer at the Lunar New Year event on the Brighton campus along with Global Union and Christina Lee, and it was a fantastic experience. Turnout was huge; there were many activities, and guests could get great merch and food from the vendors. He would be interviewed by some news channels along with Senator Small, VP Cole, and Judi Razafintsalama. He would also get a picture with Joe Morelle again! Overall, it was a great event and a huge shoutout to the Culture Alliance Team and Global Union. On Monday, February 10th, President Romero participated in the Know Your Rights event sponsored by SGA and the Global Communications Office. They invited lawyers from Legal Aid to inform students about their rights if ICE came to campus or if they had experience with them and what they should say or do. Overall, it was a very informative event, and the turnout was great! Christina Lee did talk with him about more events in the future, so stay tuned for that. On Tuesday, February 18th, President Romero started his weekly meetings with Parliamentarian Kisho McDonald on work related to the rule committee in SUNY SA. He is currently working on a few projects regarding policy and procedure.

  2. Vice President of Governance Cole

    Good afternoon everyone. Vice President of Governance, Cole, would like to begin by sharing that a significant amount of work has been accomplished by the student government since her last report. On Wednesday, February 5th, the Student Government participated in the Student Life Fair, where she actively contributed to the table. This event helped attract more students who might be interested in joining the Student Government, resulting in increased sign-ups and spreading awareness about the SGA among the student body. Additionally, on Thursday, February 6th, VP Cole and other attendees of Advocacy Day had a meeting with Andres Pacino. He provided valuable pointers and tips on how to initiate conversations and effectively communicate with the legislators we would be engaging with. On Friday, February 7th, VP Cole assisted in conducting an interview for Hamzah Al Ani, which went exceptionally well. As he was inducted as of the following Tuesday before we left and is now our new Chief of Staff. On Saturday, February 8th, she helped alongside Culture Alliance Committee with the Lunar New Year event. She had the pleasure of dressing children in Hanboks (traditional Korean garments) for the photo booth station and assisting with the setup. She genuinely enjoyed the various vendors and performances throughout the event. It was an incredible experience, and the turnout was fantastic! A big shoutout to the Culture Alliance team, especially our Diversity Senator, Small, and the wonderful Christina Lee, for their hard work in planning this event. I hope to participate again. Later that day, she attended the SUNY SA Advocacy Day training session. This was designed to provide attendees with information on what to discuss and what to avoid in preparation for the following day. On Tuesday, February 11th, the team left for Advocacy Day in New Albany, which took place on Wednesday, February 12th. We had an early start, walking to the Capitol around 8 AM and arriving there early. Upon arrival, we received our group numbers; I was in group 6 along with Veteran Senator Sanchez, Health and Wellness Senator Wrobeh, and our Faculty Advisor, Mark Sample. I served as the Team Leader. Overall, our meetings went well; we had four in total. This experience was pretty new for everyone as it was our first time advocating for various issues impacting SUNY campuses, especially community colleges. However, overall a great success. After our meetings, we took advantage of some free time to explore the Capitol, which added to our enjoyable experience. We reconvened in the conference room before heading back to Rochester, concluding our successful time in Albany. She want to give a shoutout to my group; everyone did an amazing job, and she couldn’t have done it without you! The following day, Thursday, February 13th, she was invited to attend the 2025 Athena International Awards, which celebrated and highlighted women leaders in our community. The event was held from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM. It was a wonderful experience to see and honor all of the nominees and recognize their significant contributions. She had the opportunity to network at and sat at a table with the President’s Executive Leadership Team and other MCC members, which made for an enjoyable evening. I am very grateful for the invitation and glad to have been able to be there to support our President, Dr. Burt-Nanna, who was a fellow nominee. On February 14th, she returned to the Convention Center for the Love and Legacy Gala, commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Urban League of Rochester. This organization has worked tirelessly to empower individuals and positively impact the community over the years. She attended as a guest of Essie Calhoun-McDavid and had the privilege of witnessing her receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, where she also gave her a shoutout during her inspiring speech. It was an incredible event, complete with various performances, including one by special guest Keke Wyatt.

  3. Vice President of Downtown Ellis

    Vice President of The Downtown Campus Ellis On February 20, 2025, the VP had a phone conference with Tailia the President of Disability Awareness Club about the upcoming events to take place at the Downtown Campus. Going over details and making sure that what the students requested will be shown in the event. On February 21, 2025, The VP had a Zoom meeting with the Constitution Committee at 10:00 am Friday. There she discussed with President Angelo, Veteran Senator Shawn, and Professor Mark Sample about the By Laws, and Constitution edits that needs to be made to reflect more relevance of present times. The VP felt great learning more about the different articles that are in place as she continues to grow more in her leadership role. 

  4. Treasurer Demir

    On February 12th, Student Government Treasurer Esma Demir traveled to Albany to advocate for increased funding for community colleges. As part of SUNY Student Assembly’s Advocacy Day, Demir joined student leaders from across the state to meet with legislators and discuss the financial challenges facing community colleges. The initiative aimed to highlight the critical role of community colleges in providing accessible and affordable education, as well as the need for additional financial support to sustain and enhance student resources. During the visit, Demir participated in key discussions, emphasizing the importance of equitable funding to ensure that institutions like Monroe Community College can continue to serve their students effectively. In addition to advocacy efforts, Demir attended the MCCA finance meeting AND (MCCA) meeting, engaging in conversations about student organization funding, campus programming, and financial management. 

  5. Secretary of Governance Enaami

    On Thursday, February 6th, Hajer Enaami and fellow SGA members met with Andres Pazimo, MCC’s Government Relations Expert, for a training session focused on advocacy and effective communication with legislators. Pazimo provided essential guidance on key discussion points, strategies for engaging with legislators, and the critical need for increased funding for community colleges. On Saturday, February 8th, Hajer Enaami attended a mandatory SUNY SA training session, which reinforced key advocacy messages and prepared members for Advocacy Day. These sessions were invaluable in ensuring all representatives understood the objectives and messaging for their legislative meetings. On February 12th, the MCC team participated in Advocacy Day at the State Capitol. Members engaged with the State Senate and Assembly, advocating for increased SUNY funding, particularly for community colleges. The team was divided into two groups, collectively meeting with approximately nine legislators and their directors. Updates were shared via the SGA Instagram and through a takeover of the Office of Student Life’s Instagram. Tiberius also joined the team for this important event.  Additionally, Hajer Enaami and Angelo Romero attended the MSA Halqa, where a speaker emphasized the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive friends. Attendees enjoyed Turkish cuisine as part of the gathering. Thank you!

  6. Chief of Staff Al Ani

    Hamzah attended the Peace Committee meeting on Thursday (2/13), 4 to 5:30, where he assisted and discussed with other members of the Peace Committee board their upcoming event, calling peace for Ukraine. Hamzah also attended the Muslim Student Association Friendship Halakah event on Friday (2/14), from 5:30 to 8 PM. There were less attendees than expected, yet the event was still carried out successfully by the Muslim Student Association. Following the event, Hamzah also assisted Cabbages and Kings, MCC’s literary and arts club, with improving their online Discord server’s moderation, by programming a Discord bot capable of moderating and supporting members of the club’s online community, and answering common questions regarding Cabbages & Kings’ magazine submissions.

  7. Health & Wellness Senator Wrobeh

    Good afternoon, everyone, Senator Wrobeh hopes you had a wonderful break. On Thursday February 6th, Senator Wrobeh joined an informational session with MCC’s government relations coordinator to educate us on how to advocate for better funding for community colleges. On Tuesday February 11th, Senator Wrobeh along with the rest of the SGA traveled to Albany for advocacy day. On Wednesday February 12th, Senator Wrobeh participated in advocacy day along with Senator Sanchez and Vice president Cole. Senator Wrobeh’s group focused on funding for programs such as EOP and keeping SUNY tuition low, as well as funding for veteran resources and spaces. Senator Wrobeh’s team did an awesome job talking with legislators and it was a great experience for her.  Thank you.

  8. Veterans Senator Sanchez

    On Tuesday February 11th Veterans Senator Sanchez and the majority of the SGA team went to Albany for advocacy day. The next day Veterans Sanchez and the team left for the capital building. They started off the day with a short training and overview session with advisors and members of the SUNY SA team. Veterans Senator Sanchez would be teamed up with VP Cole and Health and Wellness Wrobeh and the SGA’s advisor Mark Sample. Veterans Senator Sanchez elected VP Cole as the group leader as he wanted her to get more experience in leadership roles. Team 6 started off the day meeting with Sarah Clark’s Legislative director Assemblywoman Clark, represents the distract where MCC resides. The team met with two more Legislative Directors, one for Matt Slater and the other for Assemblywoman April McCants Baskins. The team ended their day meeting with Assemblyman Michael Novakhov, VP Cole did an amazing job leading the group and opening the discussion with key points and personal experiences at MCC, same can be said for Health and Wellness Senator Wrobeh both spoke clearly and made excellent points to back the reasoning for increasing funding SUNY wide. Veterans Senator Sanchez was asked by Diana Pasterchick to advocate for an increase in funding for Veterans on SUNY campuses as he was the only Veteran present for advocacy day. Veterans Senator Sanchez shared his personal experiences with MCC’s Vet services and resources as well as what he has seen and heard about it during a few focus groups. Involving veterans from different SUNY campuses. Veterans Senator Sanchez is happy to report the day was quite successful with all the assemblymen and women agreeing and supporting our goals for increase funding. On Wednesday February 19th Veterans Senator Sanchz attended the first MCC Finance committee meeting of the semester with Treasurer Demir and Jodi Oriel where he was thrilled to be a part of the team and get a better understanding of what’s going on around campus financially. On Thursday February 20th Veterans Senator Sanchez attended the MCC association board meeting where he got to throw a few motions and seconds out and also learned he’s important enough for the executive session. Veterans Senator Sanchez enjoyed attending the board meeting and getting an inside look at what the MCC Association is all about. Shout out to President Romero for doing an amazing job running the board meeting. Later that day Veterans Senator Sanchez attended a birthday potluck where he was blessed with karaoke from President Romero and witnessed him getting obliterated in Mario Kart by diversity Senator Small.

  9. Student Relations Senator Simba

    On Saturday, February 8th, 2025, Senator Simba attended the Lunar New Year celebration, where 2025 marks the Year of the Snake, symbolizing transformation, renewal, and spiritual growth. This event was a collaboration of Monroe Community College (MCC), Asian American Pacific Islander Culture and History (APAPA), and WXXI Public Media. There were cultural activities for all ages, and attendees enjoyed food, browsed local vendors, experienced cultural performances, and learned about the traditions. Senator Simba joined Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Senator Elisabeth Small, Vice President of Governance Cole, President Romero, and Global Union President Judi at the event to set up and table for the Student Government Association and hand out snacks and toys for children to enjoy. On Thursday, February 13th, 2025, Senator Simba met with the Peace Committee to discuss catering plans for the Ukraine event, scheduled for March 12th at the Brighton campus and March 19th at the Downtown campus. The discussion centered on overcoming previous obstacles in securing appropriate Ukrainian cuisine from Sodexo. On Wednesday, February 12th, 2025, Senator Simba participated in the SUNY Student Assembly Advocacy Day alongside fellow SGA members, advocating for increased community college funding and key student initiatives. They focused on securing more funding for mental health services, strengthening the Excelsior Scholarship, and supporting campus food pantries. Visits were made to the offices of legislators Jen Lunsford, Joe DeStefano, Mario R. Mattera, Andrew Gounardes, and Maritza Davila. SGA President Angelo Romero delivered a speech at the Capitol Building, emphasizing the importance of community colleges. These events highlight Senator Simba’s dedication to serving the student body and advocating for their needs. On Thursday, February 20th, 2025, Senator Simba attended the MCCA Operations + Personnel Committee Meeting from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM and the MCC Association Board Meeting from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM, both held at the Forum. In these meetings, the board passed important resolutions.  

  10. Diversity Senator Small

    On Monday, February 3rd, Elisabeth finalized the flyer for Lunar New Year. On Tuesday, February 4th, Elisabeth and Senator Simba presented Direction 1, Together as One, of Vision 2027 and how the Culture Alliance committee currently aligns with its goals. On Thursday, February 6th, Elisabeth joined fellow SGA members and MCC’s government relations expert, Andres Pazimo, in training for the SUNY SA Advocacy Day. On Friday, February 7th, Elisabeth met with Culture Alliance to check in and finalize any last details for the Lunar New Year event. On Saturday, February 8th, Elisabeth was joined by Culture Alliance members, Vice President Cole, and Global Union in celebrating Lunar New Year. This event was a success featuring several politicians, karaoke performers, traditional instrumentalists, and local businesses and organizations. Culture Alliance had the honor of sharing donated hanboks with attendees for photobooth pictures. Elisabeth had a chance to speak with Channel 8 News about the importance of cultural representation in her community. On Sunday, February 9th, Elisabeth finished and sent in the student election fliers. On Friday, February 14th, Elisabeth briefly met with Culture Alliance to discuss the next event in March for Women’s History Month. 

  11. Student Trustee Leichtner

    Student Trustee Leichtner has no report this week.

  12. Public Relations Senator Rizzuti

    On Advocacy Day, representatives from Monroe Community College (MCC) had the opportunity to advocate at the state capitol. Surrounded by passionate students, faculty, and advocates from across the state, they engaged in meetings with legislators to discuss key issues affecting community colleges. Their main focus was securing more funding for community colleges, expanding financial aid, and strengthening student support services. They shared personal stories about the challenges students face—rising tuition, balancing work and school, and the need for more workforce development programs. Seeing lawmakers genuinely listen to their experiences reinforced the importance of student advocacy in shaping policies that impact higher education. As the Public Relations Senator, one representative captured the experience by taking photos throughout the day. These moments highlighted the energy, dedication, and teamwork that made MCC’s advocacy efforts so impactful. Let me know if you’d like any further refinements! 

  13. Athletic Senator Burno

    Jalisia Burno is the newly appointed Athletic Senator of the Student Government. She is majoring in Business Administration and is in her second semester at Monroe Community College. Burno is also a member of the Swim and Diving team. On February 4th, Athletic Senator Burno attended her first Student Government meeting, where she had the opportunity to meet the college president and connect with fellow SGA members.

  14. 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 $200 for Muslim Student Association

      Resolved, The Monroe Community College Student Government Association approved the funding request for Muslim Student Association. 
      Vice President of Governance Cole called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Sanchez so moved, seconded by Senator Rizzuti.  
      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 Club effective February 25th, 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 Robotics Club.
      Vice President of Governance Cole called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Simba so moved, seconded by Senator Rizzuti.  
      Discussion: The Robotics 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 Robotics Club effective February 25th, 2025, at Monroe Community College.

    3. Resolution to Approve the funding request of $415 for the Tabletop Club

      Resolved, The Monroe Community College Student Government Association approved the funding request for TableTop. 
      Vice President of Governance Cole called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Burno so moved, seconded by Senator DePoty.  
      Discussion: TableTop 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 add the funding request for Tabletop Club effective February 25th, 2025, at Monroe Community College.

    4. Resolution to Approve the Funding Request of $2200 for Campus One80

      Resolved, The Monroe Community College Student Government Association approved the funding request for CampusOne80.
      Vice President of Governance Cole called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Simba so moved, seconded by Senator Worbeh.  
      Discussion: CampusOne80 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 CampusOne80 effective February 25th, 2025, at Monroe Community College.

    5. Resolution to Approve the Funding Request of $5000 for the Travel Club

      Resolved, The Monroe Community College Student Government Association approved the funding request for Travel Club.
      Vice President of Governance Cole called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Rizzuti so moved, seconded by Senator DePoty.  
      Discussion: Travel 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 add the funding request for Travel Club effective February 25th, 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 Simba so moved, second by Senator Wrobeh
  2. Meeting was adjourned at 3:15 pm.

Executive Session

Respectfully submitted,
Hajer Enaami
Secretary of Governance