2025-10-07 SGA Senate Meeting Minutes

October 7, 2025

2:16pm, 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

  • Ryan Messenger – Student Affairs
  • Morreen Walsh – Cabbages & Kings
  • Zai – MCC Student Journalist
  • Leslie Greenwood – MCC Student
  • Shelaneise Quinn – MCC Student
  • Veronica R. Chiesi Brown – Community Relations
  • Dana Williams – MCC Student
  • Tamara Hillabush Walker – VAPA
  • Julie Babulski – Biology, Faculty Senate
  • Audre Schoof – MCC Student – SWE
  • Sam Harris – Robotics Club
  • Kyle Strowbridge – Robotics Club
  • Giana Nouel – MCC Student Journalist/Spanish Club
  • Corey – MCC Student
  • Cyrus Gallagher
  • Kolby Anderson-Harris – Cabbages & Kings
  • Shirley Batista-Provost- PRISM
  • Shawn Sanchez – Veterans Club/Model UN

Minutes

Call to Order (2:16 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 30, 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 30, 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

Ryan Messenger:
Ryan confirmed the role of Student Government as a representation of the MCC student body.  Their roles as being committed to shared governance, the structures and processes that are followed with offering publicly accessible forums, posting notices of their meetings, and publishing their minutes and agendas.  The College also consults with their legal counsel to review open meeting laws to make sure if there are any recommended changes to the procedures we can follow up with those.  He expressed the importance of knowing the role of SGA is found in the college policies and in the SGA constitutional bylaws.

Corey – MCC Student
Corey began by acknowledging the MCC student, Guillermo Martinez, that had passed away in a car accident last week and requested a moment of silence. Corey expressed his strong desire to get WMCC and Monroe Doctrine reinstated.

Giana Nouel – MCC Journalist Student/Spanish Club:
They expressed the importance for the Journalism and Communication major students to have the opportunities to write for a student newspaper or have the radio station to give them the skills they need to go on in their career. They expressed that without the opportunity they don’t get the practice they need.  They believe with the radio station and the newspaper not active it will affect the communtication and journalist students negatively in the future when it comes to interviews as far as experience in these fields.  Giana also believes that there could be both an online and a paper version. 

Lisa Burno – SGA President
Lisa acknowledged Giana’s concerns and reminded everyone of the Student-to-Student Communication Committee meetings that are held on Friday’s at 1pm in 3-139A.  It’s important to get the whole student body’s opinion.  She encouraged student participation as not everyone wants the same thing, so having representation for brainstorming is very important.  There were survey questions that were developed at the previous Student-to-Student Communication Committee Meeting. 

Margherita Rizzuti – SGA Vice President
Margherita reminded everyone that students have the right to start new clubs if they want to.

Hajer Enaami – SGA Secretary of Governance
Hajer mentioned to Giana that they spoke last week and she explained the process and they were on the same page.  She reiterated that the survey will go out to the whole student body in the hope of get as much feedback on what the student body wants.  She also mentioned that in order for the clubs to succeed they need students to run them.  Students can also put on their resume that they were involved online.

Giana Response to Hajer
Giana did agree that the clubs need to have someone passionate running them and that the club was failing because they didn’t have anyone passionate enough when she was involved.  Giana believes that the Monroe Doctrine and WMCC should not be clubs, they should be organizations that we should be able to hire a teacher or an advisor to run and have them always have a presence since it’s very needed for the communication and journalist students.

Morreen Walsh – Cabbages & Kings:
Morreen wanted to thank everyone that came out to support their protest. They wanted to also thank MCC administration for allowing them to hold the free speech event.  Morreen read a statement, that read in part they “want to have a news journal that reaches our students, provides meaningful news, and enables aspiring journalists and media students and writers to launch their careers”.  They “desperately want to do the work of providing students with relevant news, engaging media and updating our operation to meet today’s demands.”  These goals are shared.  They also shared the interest in building a new organization that can house student journalism, media, broadcasting, music and writing all in one place.  They asked that SGA move to reinstate the Monroe Doctrine and WMCC.   In lieu of not having that come to fruition, they would like a new committee to be established that does not include SGA involvement.  It would include students who would like to implement the findings of the survey.

Lisa Burno response to Morreen:
Lisa congratulated them on the good turnout of their protest. She wanted to confirm that what Morreen was looking for was to have a new, separate committee of their own.

Morreen Walsh response to Lisa:
Morreen feels as though the Student-to-Student Communication Committee is good to develop a survey and gathering data, but feels as though there is no planning going forward. They don’t believe that this committee meeting weekly discussing survey’s is what is needed.  They would like to move forward working together. 

Audre Schoof – MCC Society of Women Engineers
Audre expressed the frustration with continuing to argue about the same things instead of moving forward.

Margherita Rizzuti – SGA Vice President
Margherita addressed Morreen’s statements regarding a new committee. She mentioned that the Student-to-Student Communication Committee has funding, if they are interested in starting another committee, it can be a sub-committee, where they can have access to funding.  She and Morreen discussed a potential to meet at a later time to discuss ideas.

Raqad Albokashi – Muslim Student Association
Raqad attempted to discuss a concern regarding the protest and how it was presented to her, but because she was being interrupted by another student, she decided to leave without finishing.

Dana Williams – MCC Student
Dana brought a concern about an event she signed up to attend for the Muslim Student Association. She feels she was skipped over with a question she had and seemed to get kicked out.  She also brought up the fact that there was no capacity limitations listed anywhere.

Hajer Enammi response to Dana
Hajer apologized to Dana and let her know that the President of MSA was planning to reach out to her.

John Breedy – Athletics Senator
John wanted to thank Morreen for keeping their conversations professional, they have some good points and he didn’t want that to go unnoticed. He really appreciates the conversations they have been having.

Margherita Rizzuti – SGA Vice President
Margherita reiterated that the SGA is doing their best to address all concerns and individuals that are speaking, but following the Roberts Rules of Order.

Parker Werven – Student Trustee
Parker read a statement from a student, Jack McKeith-Low, who could not attend the SGA meeting but wanted it read on his behalf. Statement included:

Defending the SGA’s Communication Changes at MCC

Good afternoon everyone,

I want to take a moment to address the ongoing concerns about the recent changes to our school’s communication outlets and the Student Government Association’s decision to consolidate certain clubs and media platforms.

First and foremost, I understand that many of you feel frustrated or unheard — that the voice of the student body has somehow been reduced. That feeling is valid, and open discussion is vital to any healthy campus community. But we must also take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

The SGA has not acted to silence or diminish student voices. Quite the opposite — they’ve worked tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to strengthen the way we communicate as a campus. By streamlining our outlets — combining platforms like the school newspaper, radio, and other media into a unified system — the goal is to enhance clarity, coordination, and engagement, not to eliminate expression.

Let’s be honest: many of the clubs that were dissolved had dwindled in membership and struggled to stay active. The SGA made a difficult but necessary decision to redirect those resources into initiatives that serve the broader student body. Without active participation, it becomes nearly impossible to sustain separate organizations — and continuing them in name alone helps no one.

Protesting this change, when a healthier, more sustainable alternative has been put forward, is — frankly — misguided. It disrespects the hard work of those who are trying to improve our campus, and it overlooks the reality that growth sometimes means change.

The SGA’s decisions are not about control — they’re about collaboration. If anything, this unified communication system opens more doors for students to get involved and be heard than before. It ensures that everyone — from students and staff to faculty and administration — is on the same page, working toward a stronger, more connected MCC.

So instead of resisting change, let’s work with it. Let’s channel our energy into building this new system together and making sure every student voice — yours, mine, all of ours — has a place in it.

Thank you,

Jack McKeith-Low

Shelaneise Quinn – MCC Student
Asked the purpose of how the Student-to-Student Communication Committee will help journalist students at MCC.

Parker and Elle response to Shelaneise
The purpose is to create something from the ground up offering even more opportunities for those in communication/media majors.

Maddy Keech – Health & Wellness Senator
Maddy wanted to confirm that the SGA is not trying to censor or take away the rights of what students are trying to write or say.  There are specific laws in place to prevent that.

Reports

  1. President Burno

    This week President Burno had a little bit of a shorter report, but nevertheless, it was still a productive one. On Monday, September 29th, Vice President Rizzuti and President Burno had the opportunity to meet with a representative from Middle States, where they engaged in a meaningful conversation about student life, shared governance, and the important role that Student Government plays on campus. It was a valuable discussion that allowed them to share their perspectives and highlight the work SGA is doing to strengthen student involvement and communication. On Friday, October 3rd, SGA held its first Student-to-Student Committee meeting, which was a great success. During this meeting, the team connected with members of the student body who are passionate about improving how students receive campus news. They were able to brainstorm, exchange ideas, and start laying the groundwork for new and more effective communication initiatives. President Burno was especially proud to see her team step into their leadership roles and take ownership of this project. There was a lot of planning and preparation that went into making this meeting successful, so she extended a special thank you to Senator Reeves, Senator Keech, and Trustee Werven for all of their hard work and dedication. She is truly honored to work alongside such a committed team that continues to put students first and is excited to see how this committee will grow and the impact it will make throughout the year. In addition to that, President Burno had the opportunity to stop by the MSA event later that day. It was a beautiful event with an amazing turnout—filled with great food, crafts, and engaging activities. It was a wonderful experience that showcased student creativity and involvement across campus. Overall, this week highlighted the importance of teamwork, student engagement, and collaboration!

  2. Vice President of Governance Rizzuti

    This week, Margherita Rizzuti had the privilege of representing Monroe Community College and the Student Government Association (SGA) during the Middle States interview, which went very well. The discussion focused on MCC and SGA overall, emphasizing their shared commitment to student engagement, academic success, and community growth. Margherita expressed the student perspective with professionalism and pride, contributing meaningfully to a conversation that highlighted the strong collaboration between students, faculty, and administration. She also recognized President Jalisia Burno and Clubs and Organizations Senator Abigail Pottinger, who participated alongside her and represented both MCC and SGA with enthusiasm and excellence. In addition, Margherita expressed great pride in her team for officially beginning the work on the Student-to-Student Communication Platform Committee, an initiative that demonstrates the creativity and dedication of student leaders committed to improving how students stay informed and connected. Alongside these efforts, Margherita and several members of her team have been working closely on the Bylaws Committee, reviewing and refining governing documents to strengthen the structure, transparency, and efficiency of SGA operations. The committee will continue to work diligently to ensure that the SGA remains effective, organized, and representative of the entire student body. Overall, it was a productive and inspiring week marked by collaboration, progress, and pride in representing both MCC and the SGA.

  3. Secretary of Governance Enaami

    During the past week, it has been an academically demanding time. However, since last Tuesday, the team has been highly focused on the Student-to-Student Communication Committee, as well as the Bylaws Committee, which also met on Tuesday aat 4pm. Significant progress has been made in both areas, and the Secretary expressed great pride in the team’s dedication and results.

    At 4:00 p.m. today, the Bylaws Committee will be meeting again, and all students are encouraged to join and share their opinions. The team values transparency and wants to ensure student voices are heard throughout the process.

    On Thursday, during office hours, Secretary Enaami met with one of the students from the suspended organization. The student was working on a paper, and during their discussion, they reviewed some of the alternatives that the SGA had proposed to the organization. Unfortunately, no compromise was reached, as SGA had already made significant efforts to accommodate concerns. Both Secretary Enaami and Article Senator John have met with the students multiple times, but no progress or change was seen from their side.

    Despite these challenges, Secretary Enaami emphasized that the SGA team has been working diligently to find fair solutions and maintain open communication.

    On Friday, the team met as usual to review ongoing projects. Additionally, Secretary Enaami attended the soccer game briefly to show support and also maintained communication with the Muslim Student Association (MSA) regarding their event. The Secretary expressed immense pride in the MSA’s efforts and the positive impact they continue to have on campus life.

  4. Student Trustee Werven

    This past week he had the opportunity to have dinner with the board of trustees, other MCC representatives and the representative for Middle States at the Genesee Valley Club. He said it was great to get to know the board better and discuss the future of Monroe community college. This past Friday he helped facilitate our first meeting for the new committee the “student to student communication platform” where they proactively integrated questionnaires to eventually send out to students in a required survey. The point of this is to engage with the entire student body, not just what student government thinks would be a good idea. He’s excited about the next meeting this Friday at 1pm. He said, to remember that all are welcome in this process! He added to please stick around after the meeting for any other information.

  5. Health and Wellness Senator Keech

    Last week the Health and Wellness senator worked with the student-to-student communication committee to come up with the question for the survey that we are going to send out to the whole student body. Everyone had great ideas, and all the questions were made and hopeful the survey will be put out soon so we all can move forward with how everyone would like to receive their music and news. The Health and Wellness senator would like to thank everyone who showed up to the meeting and assisted with coming up with the questions, all of your input will hopefully make all students happy with the solution.

  6. Public Relations Senator Smetanyak

    Public Relations Senator Smetanyak has not report

  7. Athletic Senator Breedy
    During the past week, the By Laws Committee and the Student-to-Student Committee held productive meetings, showing steady progress in their ongoing initiatives. Additionally, the team has been developing a rough draft of a rubric for the potential unsuspension of the Monroe Doctrine. The primary factor delaying completion is the ongoing process of conducting and finalizing student surveys.

    While there are high hopes and ambitious plans for the Student-to-Student Committee, the team’s main priority is ensuring that students feel heard and have the opportunity to participate in the decision to unsuspend the Monroe Doctrine and restore it to good standing with the SGA.

    Furthermore, recognition is due to the Muslim Student Association (MSA) for their commendable fundraising efforts this past week. They successfully raised funds and increased engagement with the broader student body through the sale of merchandise and snacks

  8. Clubs and Organizations Senator Pottinger

    Hello Everyone, Abigail and Elle have split the split the club work up, and Abigail will be working with the academic-based clubs. These include the ICT Club, the Dental Hygiene Association, the Biology Club, the Optics Club, and many others across different academic disciplines. My responsibilities will include serving as a point of contact for these organizations, supporting their initiatives, and helping them stay connected to Student Government resources and events. Abigail is excited to begin working with these clubs and look forward to attending their meetings and events throughout the semester. Each of these clubs contributes to the academic and professional development of our students, and Abigail is eager to see all of the innovative and meaningful activities they will carry out this year. Together with Elle, who will be working with the remaining student clubs, we aim to ensure that every club feels supported and has a direct line of communication with SGA.

  9. Clubs and Organizations Senator Reeves

    This week, SGA continued their voter registration initiative by hosting their second tabling event, which had a strong turnout and encouraged more students to register and learn about the importance of voting. They will be hosting another voter registration tabling this Wednesday from 12 to 1 in the Terrace, with the goal of reaching even more students. The Student-to-Student Communication Committee also held its first official meeting, during which members created survey questions to better understand how students prefer to receive campus news, updates, and music. Their next meeting will be held next Friday from 12 to 1. In addition, Elle had the opportunity to meet with representatives from Wegmans and MCC executives to share how the Wegmans Scholarship has positively impacted her and to emphasize the importance of renewing Wegmans’ financial contribution to MCC, which supports scholarships and creates more opportunities for students. She also received a tour of the Downtown Campus, which gave her a deeper appreciation for the programs and student resources available there.

New Business

  1. Resolution to approve the funding request of $1,529 for Campus One80.
    Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the funding request of $1,529 for Campus One80.
    Vice President of Governance Rizzuti called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Pottinger so moved, seconded by Senator Keech.
    Discussion: Campus One80 has completed and met the requirements set forth by the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life and Leadership.
    A vote was taken, and the resolution passed.
    Be it resolved, the senate present and voting hereby approves the funding request for Campus One80, effective October 7, 2025 at Monroe Community College.
  2. Resolution to approve the funding request of $355.97 for the Robotics Club.
    Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the funding request of $355.97 for the Robotics Club.
    Vice President of Governance Rizzuti called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Keech so moved, seconded by Senator Breedy.
    Discussion: The Robotics Club has completed and met the requirements set forth by the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life and Leadership.
    A vote was taken, and the resolution passed.
    Be it resolved, the senate present and voting hereby approves the funding request for the Robotics Club, effective October 7, 2025 at Monroe Community College
  3. Resolution to approve the funding request of $596.40 for the Veterans Club.
    Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the funding request of $596.40 for the Veterans Club.
    Vice President of Governance Rizzuti called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Breedy so moved, seconded by Senator Smetanyak.
    Discussion: The Veterans Club has completed and met the requirements set forth by the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life and Leadership.
    A vote was taken, and the resolution passed.
    Be it resolved, the senate present and voting hereby approves the funding request for the Veterans Club, effective October 7, 2025 at Monroe Community College.

Discussion Items

  1. There were no discussion items

Old Business

  1. There was no old business.

Questions and Comments

Shirley Batista-Provost presented on the MCC Model United Nations Program for 2025-2026 and answered a few questions.

Adjournment

  1. Vice President of Governance Rizzuti called for a motion for adjournment.
    Senator Keech so moved, second by Senator Reeves
  2. Meeting was adjourned at 3:55 pm.

Executive Session

Respectfully submitted