The Fordham University United Student Government (USG) met on Feb. 19 to hear new club presentations and discuss budget requests.
The meeting started with a new club presentation from the proposed Pickleball Club. The two Fordham students presenting said the goal of the club is to create a community of people who can socialize through a shared interest. They said they are still figuring out where they would practice, but noted that they are looking at using public tennis courts in Brooklyn. They requested $1,000 in funding so they can provide club members with pickleball paddles and purchase a JBL speaker to play music during practice.
There was another new club presentation from the Dominican Students Association (DSA). In their presentation, they explained that hispanic students make up 21.2% of Fordham’s population, but Dominicans are one of the only major hispanic groups that don’t have a representative club on campus. They said the goal of their club is to connect Dominican students and highlight Dominican culture and values. They requested $7,000 in funding for two semesters in order to hold cultural showcases, organize community events and purchase food and supplies.
USG then moved on to budget requests, including the requests from Pickleball Club and DSA. The Diversity Action Coalition (DAC) also requested funding to purchase Amazon gift cards and cookies for their upcoming movie screening, which will be on Feb. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the McShane Student Center. The GSB Deans Council also had a budget request, however Vice President of Gabelli School of Business Hunter Gholson, GSB ’26, was absent at the beginning of the meeting, so Executive Vice President Andrew McDonald, FCRH ’26, decided to table his request. The other three budget requests all passed. Gholson arrived at the meeting later, at which point they voted on his budget request, which passed.
USG Executive President Lucas Hjertberg, FCRH ’26, reminded everyone about the USG retreat on Feb. 21, for which they went to Sky Zone and then got Chipotle, and announced that the theme for the retreat was sports attire. He also reminded USG members about the upcoming town hall, which he said will include Chick-fil-A catering, and encouraged commissions and senators to table at the event.
Hjertberg and McDonald shared the proposal teams they created based on last meetings’ proposals. They said each proposal team has six people.
Assistant Director for Student Organizations and Programming Mark Less said that there are 87 days until graduation. He also mentioned that club leader training is under way, with the last training occurring on Feb. 24. Additionally, he announced that Spring Weekend training is under way and that the Spring Weekend talent has been booked.
Vice President of Student Life and Experience Luc Angus, FCRH ’26, said that the club suite form has been sent out for clubs who want to request a space.
USG Vice President of Sustainability Ayden Johnson, FCRH ’27, said that the St. Rose’s Garden cleanup would take place on Feb. 21.
Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion Layla Sayegh, FCRH ’27, announced that the Terra Firma National fundraiser on Feb. 18 raised over $200 for immigrant support in the Bronx. She also announced that her committee would be collaborating with the Residence Hall Association on a Paralympic Highlights event. Her committee has also secured a local Bronx artist to perform at Rodrigue’s Coffee House on the last day of Bronx Appreciation Week and that they will be posting a call for student openers soon.
Vice President of Health and Security Aiden Costella, FCRH ’27, said that he is currently trying to coordinate a Title IX training for his committee’s members with Title IX Coordinator Liz Fanelli, and encouraged other USG members to reach out if they are interested in participating in the training. He also said his committee is planning the Week of Action, which is scheduled for April 20.
Vice President of Facilities and Dining Madeline Ando, FCRH ’27, said that she has an upcoming meeting with the chair of Lincoln Center Dining and Facilities to discuss the “One Fordham” initiative and fund allocation.
USG Vice President of International Integration Jenny Hong, FCRH ’28, said that their Lunar New Year event went well on Feb. 13 and that they had over 200 people in attendance.
Senator Henry Carstens, GSB ’29, announced that the Contraceptive Policy Commission would be meeting with Counseling and Psychological Services Director Jeffrey Ng and Health Center Director Maureen Keown on Feb. 23. He said they will also be meeting with Assistant Dean for Student Involvement Catharine McGlade this week.
During senate reports, Carstens announced that Fordham will be purchasing a new registration application for class registration. He said USG would need to pick between two products — Ellucian’s Smart Plan and Award programs and Courseleaf. He showed a demo for the Ellucian program, the same company that created Degree Works, and noted that it connects to Degree Works allowing students to see only the courses they can and need to take, rather than the entire course catalog when choosing classes. Carstens said the contract for the product will hopefully be signed in July and implemented the following summer.
During the open floor, Ando announced that Fordham will be hosting their first ever Model United Nations conference next fall.
USG meets next on Feb. 26.
