The Fordham Rose Hill United Student Government (USG) had met on Thursday, Nov. 21, to review changes to bylaws and discuss a handful of proposals by non-seated cabinet members.
USG Executive President Lucas Hjertberg, FCRH ’26, and Executive Vice President Andrew McDonald, FCRH ’26, had awarded Fordham’s Finance Society as October’s Club of the Month.
The Governing Documents Commission presented their proposed changes to the USG bylaws, which have remained out of date for several years. USG Senator Katelyn Martins, FCRH ’27, discussed adding facilitation of the cabinet and senate in regard to special elections and also wanted to get feedback on succession. Their proposed succession plan is to keep the president pro tempore position as first in line and vice president of operations as second while shifting the vice president of finance and budgets from fifth to third.
The commission’s proposal also included swapping the current eleventh and twelfth successors, the vice president of international integration as well as the vice president of facilities and dining. Both of these changes were made. The next step was to confirm that this succession process, and therefore special elections, only occur within changes to the Executive ticket. Martins also mentioned changes to delegates, citing that they never show up or use their voting power.
Vice Chair of the Budget Committee Siri Bhat, GSB ’27, added changes to prevent long meetings and revise the impeachment process for the executive vice president.
Senator Domenick Fedele II, FCRH ’29, noted liaison process changes, alongside Senator Anna Wiss, FCRH ’26, added changes to what months would have “Club of the Month” and “Senator of the Month” nominations, mentioning shorter months in the academic calendar may not need them.
Hjertberg said that at the next meeting they will vote on each revision before voting on the revised bylaws in their entirety.
The USG Vice President of Fordham College Rose Hill Mary Hawthorn, FCRH ’26, proposed a budget request for an Undergraduate Research tabling for Dec. 5 and for Student Success Subcommittee Tabling with the Provost’s office to share about Knack tutoring on Dec. 1. Both budget requests were approved.
The USG Vice President of International Integration Jenny Hong, FCRH ’28, presented a budget request for Wellness Day that will be on Dec. 5. The budget request was approved.
The USG Vice President of Sustainability Ayden Johnson, FCRH ’27, shared a budget request for the Sustainability Committee’s Holiday Bingo that will be on Dec. 3. The budget request was approved.
The USG FCRH Dean’s Council Student Wellness Subcommittee Head Megan Ruzicka, FCRH ’27, and Hawthorne shared a proposal that would amend the FCRH Excused Absence Policy to extend to Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) visits.
With the support from Jefferey Ng, Psy.D., director of CPS, their new proposal aims to address the lack of mental health-related excusals. Vice President of Health and Security Aidan Costella, FCRH ’27, asked if it would cover weekly visits or just crisis visits.
The USG Vice President of Operations Tina Pathak, FCRH ’28, asked, regarding student confidentiality, if CPS would call the dean’s office. Ruzicka had verified that any CPS visit could be excused by submitting a note into the excused absence portal, and no phone calls would be made additionally. Senator Carter Soderberg, GSB ’27, asked if the excuse would apply to any mental health provider. Ruzicka had clarified that under the “Other Healthcare Provider” selection, any and all mental health services would be able to excuse.
Sustainability Committee Member Peter Xie, GSB ’29, presented a proposal on increasing the usage of E-waste as well as proper disposal on the campus. Xie said Fordham currently has two unused collection bins in inaccessible locations. He shared a map that would add more locations and suggested a university-wide campaign to encourage students to use it.
Costella had asked why Fordham should increase the number of bins and not just relocate them. Xie cited a study that found more bins led to increased usage. Soderberg asked how much the bins cost, and Xie said they are $800 but that they could get New York City to pay for them.
USG Facilities and Dining Committee Member Lauren Gracia, FCRH ’29, shared a new proposal to create an interactive map on Fordham’s website and app. The map would highlight some building resources, dining locations, hours of operation and ADA-accessible entrances. It would also feature the events across campus, making it a valuable tool for parents and visitors. USG Vice President of Dining and Facilities Madeleine Ando, FCRH ’27, said that Fordham’s marketing team would fund the costs related to the map software.
Fedele and USG Senator Evie Maravilla, FCRH ’29, shared a proposal to extend Marketplace hours. The two’s initial idea is to implement a one-month pilot program in order to expand hours. The two senators discussed some common complaints that the Marketplace has poor weekend and the nighttime hours. They said extending the hours would be better for students and increase the university’s Niche score. The proposal would start with a 30-day pilot program.
At USG’s day of service on Monday, Nov. 17 at 11:30 a.m., attendees had prepared food boxes in McShane and delivered them to Part of the Solution.
Vice President of Budget Peter Grimes, FCRH ’26, shared a Documents Review presentation on the Budget Guidelines; SLC needs to vote on the guidelines, as it’s a joint committee. Grimes also discussed a preferred vendor list and increasing the gift prize cap for clubs due to inflation.
Ando reminded everyone that Wellness Day, which will be a partnership with the Computer Science Society club, Commuting Students Association as well as Campus Ministry, will be on Dec. 5, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the McShane Campus Center. McDonald said he reached out to The Ram to discuss the Senior Survey.
During open floor, Costella had shared that he thought his mention in The Ram’s recent interview with Hjertberg and McDonald was unfair and requested that his name be taken off the record.
USG will meet for the last time this semester on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, and will be in Bepler Commons.
