The Fordham Rose Hill United Student Government (USG) met on Thursday, Nov. 2, to review budget requests and discuss new business.
Issac Forson, FCRH ’26, the representative for Resident Hall Association (RHA), announced that the RHA e-board is planning a Thanksgiving event.
FUEMS was gifted a picture of the Fordham Ambulance Corp by the ROTC and given their award for being October’s Club of the Month. Senator Zachary Visocnti, GSB ’25, was announced as “Senator of the Month” for October.
Executive Vice President Ava Coogan, FCRH ’25, presented a budget request for the Sustainability Committee. The committee requested a total of $342.79 for tote bags, seeds, table cloths, painting brushes, soil and Stanley cups for activities during Sustainability Week. Dan Sponseller, FCRH ’25, presented the second budget request for the Sustainability Committee. Sponseller explained that Fordham Flea lost all of their inventory and supplies (donation bins, clothes, hangers, clothing racks, etc.) at the end of last year. They are requesting $307.16 to purchase hangers and clothing racks so they will have a place to store received clothes and showcase them for their thrift pop-up events.
Vice President of Health and Security Molly Ewing, FCRH ’25, presented a budget request for an order of three dozen donuts for the Committee of Sexual Misconduct (CSM) Week of Action events. All budget requests were approved by the Senate.
Coogan explained it was brought to her and Executive President Briana Al-Omoush, FCRH ’24, that a senator thought it would be beneficial to create an entire new committee that solely focuses on mental health. Al-Omoush said USG has been increasing the amount of committees they have, but adding an additional one would require changes to the bylaws. She also expressed her concern in creating a new Mental Health Committee because of how CSM already works on advocating for students’ mental health.
Senator Evan McManus, FCRH ’25, said he was happy they were all having this conversation because he thinks, by creating this new committee, USG would be emphasizing the importance of talking about mental health issues amongst the student body and the students would know their concerns are truly being heard. Senator Sarah Hurd, FCRH ’25, stated that since other committees have subcommittees that focus on mental health, it seems a bit redundant to create a Mental Health Committee. Al-Omoush also explained that it is always difficult when you have a student-run organization discussing mental health as they are not professionals and the students would have to be very careful when advising other students on mental health matters.
Vice President of Operations Lauren Walczyk, FCRH ’25, answered that she feels that students, more than anyone, know what students need and there is no one better to advocate for students’ mental health needs than students themselves. Senator Ananya Grover, GSB ’26, explained there are many committees and clubs on campus that target mental health needs for specific groups of people and Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) takes care of the general student population’s mental health. Grover said she felt that the best and fastest way for there to be immediate change to how the conversation of mental health is being discussed on campus would be to show more passion for those committees and clubs that are already addressing mental health concerns rather than creating an entire new committee. Senator Jill Choy, GSB ’24, offered the alternative solution of simply asking CPS to have a representative present at USG meetings so students can see how CPS is trying to better connect with the student body.
Vice President of Facilities and Dining Jamie Serruto, FCRH ’24, and Ewing said the next step for the senators who think there should be a new Mental Health Committee should do more research on their idea, get feedback from students and CPS and create a list of goals they hope to accomplish by creating this committee. Coogan then said that, for the sake of ending the meeting at a reasonable time, they are putting a pause on this conversation.
Al-Omoush announced the next Town Hall meeting’s theme will most likely be about study abroad concerns, they will be holding special elections soon and the class senate newsletters should be going out around Thanksgiving break. She also stated that Fordham College at Rose Hill Dean Maura Mast, Ph.D. has requested that a USG senator acts as a liaison for the Core Curriculum Committee and the Student Experience Committee.
Walczyk said there will be absolutely no extensions given on the Operations and Budgets packets. Vice President of Student Life Brian Inguanti, FCRH ’24, said a few club suites will have to vacate around Thanksgiving break due to construction, and all clubs that will need to vacate their suites have already been notified.
Vice President of Gabelli School of Business (GSB) Catie Flores, GSB ’25, announced the GSB small business is targeted to be on Nov.16. Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion Mirei Fukushima, GSB ’25, stated her Programming Subcommittee has been working on their November programs such as a Thanksgiving potluck. Serruto said the Facility and Dining’s restaurant night event went very well and the new food truck should be arriving on campus this week.
