The Fordham Rose Hill United Student Government (USG) met on Thursday, Nov. 16, to discuss new business and view new club presentations.
Three representatives from the Mandarin Detective Club presented their new club presentation to the Senate. They explained that for international students, it tends to be very difficult to make friends because English is normally not their first language.
They stated that Fordham has a large population of students whose first language is Mandarin or who are currently taking Mandarin courses, but Fordham does not have a club where students are encouraged to speak Mandarin.
They said that this club would be a fun way for Mandarin-speaking students to branch out and meet more people while enjoying activities such as board games, bonding activities and celebrating Chinese culture.
Some fun games they proposed that the club would play are Werewolves of Miller Hollow (Mafia), Escape Rooms and Blood on the Clock Tower. Special events would include board game meetings every week, live-action role-playing and case-solving mystery games and attending a Chinese festival. They also explained they have already begun hosting small events like these, and they have an 80-person group chat. This club was approved by the Senate.
Vice President of Communications Ariadna Wong, FCRH ’25, presented the updated Communications and Marketing Committee bylaws.
Vice President of FCRH Emma Balint, FCRH ’24, presented a budget request for FCRH Dean’s Council. Balint said the Student Wellness subcommittee held a tabling, and they requested money to purchase donuts to incentivize students to learn about student wellness on campus and increase visibility.
Vice President of Finance and Budgets Eron Maltzman, GSB ’25, presented a budget request to order pizza, Chipotle and coffee for his committee members for Easy Cuts Day and Budget Day as those tend to be extremely long working days. Vice President of Student Life Brian Inguanti, FCRH ’24, presented a budget request to purchase frames from Michaels and for the Ram Prints for the McShane Gallery Art Show. The updated bylaws and budget requests were approved.
Executive President Briana Al-Omoush, FCRH ’24, stated that special elections for vacancies for next semester will begin on Nov. 30. The special elections that will take place include the positions for Vice President of Budget and Finance, Vice President of Operations, Vice President of Health and Security, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion and a vacancy for the class of 2025 FCRH and GSB senators.
Al-Omoush also announced that the second Town Hall meeting of this semester will not be Tuesday, Nov. 28 anymore, but will most likely still be about study abroad concerns. She explained that SUNY Stony Brook is supporting a legislation introducing more uniform procedures for student suicide prevention in New York state. A bill has already been created for student suicide prevention procedures for grades K-12, but Stony Brook is writing a letter to the legislation asking that they extend this policy to college students, as well. Al-Omoush said the Stony Brook USG is asking for the Fordham USG to write a resolution in support of their efforts. She said they plan to work on this resolution in December.
Inguanti announced the McShane Art Show is on Tuesday, Dec. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the McShane Gallery.
Vice President of GSB Catie Flores, GSB ’25, stated the GSB Dean’s Council had a successful small business fair, and they will be hosting an underclassmen and upperclassmen networking on Nov. 30. They will be having a group travel event to the United Justice Coalition Summit on Dec. 1.
Vice President of Facilities and Dining Jamie Serruto, FCRH ’24, announced the scaffolding on Loyola Hall and Faculty Memorial Hall will be coming down within the next month, and the food truck has finally been repaired and should be arriving this week.
Al-Omoush also announced Fordham is looking to amend the campus’s guest policy.
The next USG meeting is Nov. 30 in JMCC.
