By Theresa Schliep
United Student Government (USG) released its midyear report highlighting their work from the first half of the 2017-18 academic year. The 36 page document also looks toward the Spring 2018 semester.
Connor Sullivan, FCRH ’19, vice president of communications for USG, said the packet is partly an effort to be transparent.
“As a directly elected body, it is important for the United Student Government to be transparent and let the students who elected us to know what we accomplished in the first half of the year, and our future plans,” said Sullivan to The Fordham Ram. “In doing this, the student body is updated on the projects of USG and informed on how to reach out and use USG as a resource for change at Fordham.”
The budget committee allocated $491,519.65 to clubs and organizations for the fall 2017 semester, according to the report. This left $32,306.31, which the budget committee allocated at the start of the spring 2018 semester. Of the 90 operations packet submissions, 60 percent received a sanction for a late submission. Club leaders are responsible for completing operations packets to receive funding and verify their status as an active organization on campus.
Lalinda Xu, vice president of operations, said she worked with Elizabeth Crennan, FCRH ’19, then vice president of finance, to organize and hold several information sessions. They are working to increase publicity to increase attendance at these sessions. Xu said she is considering holding drop-in hours to work one on one with club leaders.
During the Fall 2017 semester, the house committee hosted a variety of student-oriented events. They worked with athletics to organize Ramtown to kick off the basketball season. They also hosted the McGinley Art Show, themed “This is my City: The Skyline is the Limit.”
The mid-year report also laid out various initiatives both started and completed by senators, committees and executive board members.
John Kuyat, FCRH ’19, vice president of FCRH, said the FCRH Dean’s Council held a successful Town Hall with Maura Mast, P.h.D., dean of FCRH. He said the FCRH Dean’s Council also increased its social media presence. Last semester, the FCRH Dean’s Council held its first Research Reception, connecting students and faculty with similar research interests. Kuyat said the Dean’s Council also looks forward to meeting with administrators regarding Student Course Evaluations.
Sullivan said USG’s website received increased web traffic in Fall 2017. Likewise, he said USG’s Facebook has received an average of 2,000 views per post. Looking towards this semester, Sullivan proposed a Marketing and Communications Committee. USG will vote on this committee this semester.
GSB Dean’s Council added a new freshman class in the Fall 2017 semester. It has also chosen three TedX speakers for the upcoming TedX event this semester. Amanda D’Antone, GSB ’19, said GSB Dean Council’s goals for the semester include hosting the TedX event, establishing a student to student mentorship program for GSB students.
The Sustainability Committee hosted an Environmental Justice Panel, a Fall Flea thrifting event, and a concert at St. Rose’s Garden. Arielle Brender, vice president of the Sustainability Committee, said the committee looks forward to the implementation of Eco-Representatives in the residential halls. She said these individuals will be a new Residence Hall Association (RHA) position in which an elected student will teach their dorm about sustainability.
The Dining Committee helped introduce the new Pod convenience store under Queen’s Court. Dominic Setaro, chairman of the dining committee, said they’re working on gradually decreasing the use of plastic bags on campus.
The Diversity Action Coalition is looking to open a dialogue with students regarding a campus multicultural center. Brian Daaleman, FCRH ’19, and Anya Patterson, FCRH ’19, co-chairs of the DAC, have conducted research on multicultural centers at peer institutions and met with administrators to discuss the possibility. They are also going to meet with Public Safety to confront possible profiling at the gates when a student forgets their I.D. The DAC is also planning an event to celebrate first-generation college students.
