2025-09-30 SGA Senate Meeting Minutes

September 30, 2025

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

In Attendance

Student Senators

  • Senator Maddilyn Keech
  • Senator Elle Reeves
  • Senator Abigail Pottinger
  • Senator John Breedy
  • Senator Rusty Smetanyak

President

  • Lisa Burno

Vice President of Governance

  • Margherita Rizzuti

Secretary of Governance

  • Hajer Enaami

Student Trustee

  • Parker Werven

Office of Student Life

  • Advisor: Jodi Oriel
  • Faculty Advisor: Mark Sample

Visitors

  • Ginny Geer-Mentry – MCC Association
  • Ryan Messenger – Student Affairs
  • Dana Williams – MCC Student
  • Leslie Greenwood – MCC Student
  • Bri. – MCC Student
  • Veronica Chiesi Brown – Community Relations
  • Courtney Weimar – Community Relations
  • Julie Babulski – Biology, Faculty Senate
  • Audre Schoof – MCC Student – SWE
  • Patrick Morris – Community Relations
  • April Daniels – English & Philosophy
  • Tamara Hillabush Walker – Faculty, VAPA
  • Chloe Allen – Office of Student Life & Leadership Development
  • Shirley – PRISM
  • Terry Keys – Academic & Student Affairs

Minutes

Call to Order (2:18 pm)

  1. Roll Call (see attendance above)
    Vice President of Governance Rizzuti called for a roll call to start the senate meeting.
  2. Land Acknowledgement
  3. Approval of Minutes
    1. Vice President of Governance Rizzuti called for a motion to approve the September 23, 2025, Student Government Association Minutes
    2. Senator Breedy moved, seconded by Senator Keech
    3. A vote was taken
    4. Be it resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the September 23, 2025, minutes as written

Protocol for Student Government Association Tuesday Meeting – President Jalisia Burno

Before proceeding to the Speak to the Senate portion of the agenda, the Student Government Association (SGA) hereby establishes the following protocol, to be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.

  1. The Chair, Vice President Rizzuti, shall recognize each individual prior to speaking. Only those who have been recognized will be permitted to address the assembly.
  2. Both Student Government Association members and Senate members will be afforded the opportunity to speak, provided they have been duly recognized by the Chair.
  3. All participants shall:
    • Engage in active listening;
    • Remain on topic; and
    • Communicate in a respectful and professional manner.
  4. Only one person may speak at a time. Interjections or interruptions are not permitted

For today’s meeting, the Speak to the Senate segment we ask each person who has expressed concern in the past regarding WMCC and the Monroe Doctrine refrain from repeating the same questions and concerns.  We invite you to assist SGA with creating new and innovative ways for student to receive their campus news and music.  The Student-to-Student Communication Platform committee will meet every Friday at 1:00pm in building 3-139A.

We ask you to continue to be respectful of the meeting protocol.

Speak to the Senate

Leslie’s Concerns on Protest Fees:

Leslie raised a concern regarding the $500 cost associated with organizing a protest, questioning why students at a public institution with an open campus are being charged. President Bruno clarified that there is an established protocol that must be followed and emphasized that the SGA does not issue charges or handle such fees. And also, 2M for Insurance.
Leslie expressed frustration, stating that the SGA was wasting its time. President Bruno responded that the Student-to-Student Committee is actively being developed to address student concerns, we are not wasting any time. Leslie argued that the situation was “illegal” and continued to interrupt while the President attempted to speak.  Vice President Margherita added that the SGA is doing its best to work on the Student-to-Student Committee and, since Leslie had raised the issue, the SGA could review why students may be charged for protests. Despite this, Leslie continued interrupting. Margherita concluded by reminding students to notify the SGA if there are new developments but reiterated that many of the points being raised had already been addressed. President Bruno repeated that protocols are in place and must be followed by all participants. And a student stood up and said that we have actually addressed all concerns.

Zay’s Questions:

Zay asked why discussion was being limited and suggested the use of audio recordings for meeting minutes to post on Tribune. She also asked if the SGA was working toward reimagining WMCC and the Monroe Doctrine. President Bruno responded to her questions. Zay, with assistance from Leslie, also inquired how WMCC had failed to meet certain requirements, how many members were currently part of WMCC, and how many are required.  Vice President Margarita explained that no attendance sheets had been submitted and that both WMCC and another organization had been suspended for not remaining in good standing with the SGA. And Secretary Enaami asked if there were any officers before anything really.

MSA President’s Request

Raqad, President of the Muslim Student Association (MSA), addressed the SGA to ask why the organization had not received financial support. She requested reconsideration and asked if funds could at least be allocated for food expenses, explaining that the group is actively fundraising. Vice President Margarita responded that the request would be reviewed by the SGA team before October 3rd, and Secretary Enaami agreed.

Spanish Club Question:

A member of the Spanish Club asked if there would be another officer training next semester. It was announced that a training session for student leaders is scheduled for October 9th from 2:00–5:00 PM in Room 12-107.

Follow-Up from Leslie:

Leslie returned to the microphone, claiming her questions had not been answered. Vice President Margherita clarified that all questions had been answered and that the discussion was repeating itself. Another student, a former member of an organization, also spoke, confirming that the questions had already been addressed at prior meetings.

Final Question on Student-to-Student Committee:

A student requested that the Student-to-Student Committee meeting times be reinstated and asked for confirmation that it would meet in the conference room. And we have answered all her questions.

Reports

  1. President Burno

    On Tuesday, September 23rd, President Burno and her team had their first ELT meeting of the year. It was a valuable opportunity to share with the President and her team what SGA has been working on, and to show how their goals align with Vision 2027. President Burno and her team have been carrying out these goals effectively, and she looks forward to continuing to work closely with the President and her team as they move forward. On Thursday, September 25th, President Burno had the privilege of attending her first board meeting alongside Vice President Rizzuti and other members of her team. She is honored to serve on this board and is excited to engage more in future meetings. Finally, on Saturday, September 27th, President Burno had the opportunity to participate in the 5K with her team. It was not only a fun experience but also a wonderful chance to connect with both her team and the wider college community. In addition, she enjoyed supporting the men’s soccer team, which was a great way to close out the week. Overall, this week reflected the value of teamwork, collaboration, and community engagement. hard on forming this committee and welcoming students from across the college community to join.

  2. Vice President of Governance Rizzuti

    During the past week, Margherita Rizzuti actively represented the Student Government Association by taking part in several key campus activities that highlight her leadership and dedication to MCC’s mission. She participated in the 5K for Scholarships, demonstrating school spirit and helping to raise awareness and support for scholarship funding while engaging with students, faculty, staff, and community members to promote opportunities for student success. In addition, Margherita attended the Board of Directors meeting, where the discussion focused on the different departments across the college and their annual goals; she carefully listened and ensured that the student perspective was considered, bringing back important updates to the SGA Executive Board and membership. She also contributed to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) meeting, collaborating with senior college leadership, sharing student concerns, and engaging in conversations about student engagement, campus safety, and academic support. Alongside these formal responsibilities, Margherita continues—as she does every week—to take part in a variety of events and initiatives on campus, working closely with the First Year Experience program to support new students and strengthen connections across the MCC community. Through these combined efforts, she consistently demonstrates her commitment to amplifying student voices, strengthening relationships between students and college administration, and advancing opportunities that directly benefit the MCC community and its long-term strategic goals.

  3. Secretary of Governance Enaami

    Last week was productive and engaging for the Student Government Association (SGA). Two new committees were initiated: the Student-to-Student Communication Committee, which met on Friday from 1:00–2:00 PM, and the Bylaws Committee, which is scheduled to meet today, Tuesday, at 4:00 PM. Updates on finalized meeting times for the Bylaws Committee will be provided as they are confirmed. On Tuesday, members of the SGA also met with the college president and the executive team. This meeting provided valuable insight and strengthened communication between student leadership and the college administration. On Saturday, members of the SGA had the opportunity to participate in the 5K run. While no awards were won, the event provided a fun and meaningful way for team members to bond and engage with one another outside of regular meetings. Overall, the SGA has had a busy and successful week. The commitment and participation of all members continue to be commendable, and the progress made in both committee initiatives and team-building activities reflects the dedication of the organization. A special thank you to Chloe and her son Ezra for their contributions and support.

  4. Student Trustee Werven

    This past week, Parker met with the Executive Leadership Team, which includes Dr. Burt-Nanna, the President of MCC. The SGA team shared their accomplishments, highlighting what they have been working on during the semester and over the summer, and how it aligns with the college’s Vision 2027. Parker was encouraged to see how supportive and engaging the leadership team was, noting that it was motivating to know the top team of the college fully supports them and can be looked to for guidance and advice.

    In addition, Parker attended the first private Student-to-Student Communication Platform between the chairs, advisor, and the rest of the leadership team to prepare for their upcoming meeting on Friday at 1 p.m. They also participated and volunteered in the MCC 5K, expressing excitement about taking part in community events whenever possible. Later in the week, a few members of the team stayed after the event to show support for the men’s soccer team during their Saturday game.

  5. Health and Wellness Senator Keech

    The Health and Wellness Senator has been working closely with the Student-to-Student Committee to get ready for the first meeting with everyone whose interested, in finding a new way to spread all different types of information about anything campus related or world effects on all of us. The Health and Wellness Senator is very excited for Monroe Community College to have a chance to spread their voices and anything they enjoy doing in a new way.

  6. Public Relations Senator Smetanyak

    Rostyslav has discussed questions in the student-to-student committee that will be given to students to help determine how they want to receive on campus news. He has also volunteered for the 5K race the previous Saturday.

  7. Athletic Senator Breedy

      This past week of business has been very positive. The team has been making progress in the right direction with the Monroe Community College student body, and their chemistry has improved drastically since the start of the semester. Several meetings were attended with the team, the president, and students, all of which went well. Looking ahead, the team is eager to continue making progress with both the clubs and students of MCC.

  8. Clubs and Organizations Senator Pottinger

    Clubs and Organization Senator Pottinger has no report this week

  9. Clubs and Organizations Senator Reeves

    Clubs and Organization Senator Reeves has no report this week

New Business

  1. There is no new business

Discussion Items

  1. Tamara approached the microphone to ask whether two students from WMCC could attend the training. Vice President Rizzuti responded that they could not, explaining that a club must be active in order for its leaders to participate in the training.

Old Business

  1. There was no old business.

Questions and Comments

  1. There were no questions or comments

Adjournment

  1. Vice President of Governance Rizzuti called for a motion for adjournment.
    Senator Reeves so moved, second by Senator Smetanyak
  2. Meeting was adjourned at 3:01 pm.

Executive Session

Respectfully submitted,
Hajer Enaami
Secretary of Governance