Agenda of the Senate
Hofstra University Student Government Association (29, January, 2026)
Hofstra University
Call to order
Meeting Called to order at 6:51 EST
A. Quorum Call
a. Quorum set to 28
B. New Business
a. Senator Finkelstein moves to open the gallery
i. Motion Seconded
ii. Motion Passed
b. Super Fun Senate Ice Breaker Game
i. Presented by Vice President Young
c. SA 2026.90.017
i. Presented by Chair Iacobovici
1. Chair Iacobovici: Added that any senator may be nominated for no more than two (2) internal positions for each election period, Removed the second part of 2. and moved it to part (b). Each nominee has to leave the room during the election process. Reordered words to be put in number 5. The rationale is it is not something that is done, and it pollutes the pool of candidates for any given position.
2. Senator Pierre: If people have usually not run for more than 2 positions previously, why establish it?
a. Chair Iacobovici: My main issue was if someone ran for every position, it ruins the election process. People may vote for the person to “shut them up”. People should run because they are passionate about the committees and
everyone running for the position but not really interested, ruins that chance.
3. Senator Urban: We had a special election last semester and today, does that mean someone who ran in one of them can only run in one position during the spring?
a. Chair Iacobovici: Turnover elections is a period and so is today’s special elections. I can run for two roles in the next election because it’s a different election period.
4. Senator Finkelstein: Is there somewhere where an election period is defined? For future senates, they may define an election period differently
a. Chair Iacobovici: I feel like it is fairly self-explanatory.
5. Senator Peri: If 3 chairs stepped down today you could only run in 2, correct?
a. Chair Iacobovici: Correct
6. Senator Peri moves to propose language: “An election period is defined as a single senate where elections takes place”
a. Motion seconded
b. Motion passed
7. Chair Chauhan: Is there any restriction on running for one logistics and one advocacy committee chair? Whoever is running is passionate about the position, but I am confused on why there are only two?
a. Chair Iacobovici: The reason why it is two roles is you are only on two committees per semester. There are no specific restrictions. You can be passionate about any committee. Voting for everything discourages people who are new and really want to run for the position.
8. Senator Pierre: It may discourage other senators who are passionate and have served in more than two committees. I could be very passionate about 3 committees and this would stop me from running from them all?
9. Chair Dzaveluri moves for a 5 minute unmoderated caucus
a. Motion seconded
b. Motion passed
10. Senator Pierre: It limits my belief to do something.
11. Senator Peri: I agree but at the last elections the most people ran for was two roles and it still took 7 hours. I think it's best to pick 2 you are most passionate about and run for those.
12. Senator Vira: I agree with you, as 5 people ran for wellness and if 1 committee is very popular then everyone would present on one and I feel people should focus on what they want to do best in.
13. Senator Finkelstein: If you don’t have the time commitment to be a senator, don’t do it.
14. Senator Urban: I agree. But it is too much of a responsibility to make more than 2 presentations and you may be less aware of initiatives done that semester.
15. Senator Finkelstein: People have run for committees that they have never been on.
16. Chair Dzaveluri: A senator should be able to make time for the position, as you have to plan for events, initiatives, meet with the chair. You have to put in the work and effort. Each position you at least need 5 hours to prepare for in terms of meetings and presentations. It takes a lot of time and no one has 30 hours a week to prepare for so many positions.
17. Senator Pierre: If I cannot stand each of the positions I am running for, it is a lot of time to make slides and shadow the chair. But if you are committed I feel like it does not matter and this is trying to stop an imaginary problem.
18. Chair Dzaveluri: It is good to prevent something before it happens. I don’t think it is a personality problem. We should try to push ourselves to the best.
19. Senator Finkelstein: If someone’s presentations are quantity over quality, they would not win.
20. Senator Peri moves to extend the caucus by 5 minutes
a. Motion seconded
b. Motion passed
21. Chair Chauhan: if someone is taking the time to make presentations, that in my opinion shows that they care. They would want to run because they believe in what they are doing. It feels restrictive to run for two if you have been in many committees.
22. Senator Urban: It is an issue of qualifications and fit. They are people who just want a chair position and that’s not fair.
23. Chair Dzaveluri: It is important during special elections to note that it went 7 hour. We had half of the senate at the end as we wanted full representation. Halfway through we will be inefficient and no longer want to ask questions. No one wants to hear your biography 5 times.
24. Senator Peri:It’s something that has been discussed. Last semester I had brought up a senatorial action that had to be done regarding funding travel for appropriations, and this senatorial action is setting up to prevent a potential situation in the future just like that one.
25. Senator Ehrlich: I just want to say no one should feel discouraged to run for a chair position regardless of you being in the committee. Do not discourage anyone.
26. Senator Finkelstein: You do not have to be in a committee to have great ideas for it.
27. Chair Dzaveluri: I don’t think senatorial actions are about that. This is about quantity not about anything else.
28. Senator Pierre: A lot of people were running. You are gonna be focused on who the best candidate will be. It is a difference of voting because you see yourself fit for the position. We could all be here for hours if we each ran for 2 positions.
29. Senator Finkelstein moves to extend the moderated caucus for 5 minutes
a. Motion seconded
b. Motion failed
30. Senator Peri moves to pass SA.2026.90.17
a. Motion seconded
b. Motion passed
d. SA 2026.90.018
i. Presented by Chair Iacobovici
1. Chair Iacobovici: During vice presidential and presidential elections, I am adding that a majority of questions should be unknown to the candidates beforehand. I also changed the impartial individual to the Student Government’s advisor, because someone who isn’t in SGA shouldn’t be moderating this debate.
a. Senator Kurtz: How are you going to specify what is a majority?
i. Chair Iacobovici: This gives the election committee a leeway, more than 50%.
2. Chair Chauhan moved to pass SA.2026.90.18
a. Motion seconded
b. Motion passed
e. Senator Thani moves to open nominations
i. Motion Seconded
ii. Motion Passed
1. Senator Urban moves to nominate Senator Peri for Appropriations Chair
f. Senator Peri moves to close nominations
i. Motion Seconded
ii. Motion Passed
g. Special Elections
h. Special Elections Ballot
i. Senator Peri: I am a sophomore, accounting and finance major. I served on the appropriations committee for 4 semesters, and on the comptroller subcommittee for 4 semesters. I also work at the Zarb store under a similar role and have good relationships with other club treasurers. My first initiative is to reform the treasurer training by slowing the pace and incorporating more examples into training. I did the slides for training this semester due to the vacancy. My second initiative is to be more transparent. Budgetary restrictions can be unclear to clubs. This can be solved by having a “budget weekend sheet” and reaching out to my committee and treasurers for more ideas. One thing last semester is that we were only funded half for transportation. I want to write it down and make it official using a sheet that explains decisions. My third initiative is communication. Senator Pierre moves to extend speaking time by 5 minutes
a. Motion seconded
b. Motion passed
ii. This will include appropriations office hours where I will inform treasurers exactly when I am in the office so they can come talk to me in person, with a possible expansion to the committee. I will also send out surveys to treasures so we can do better. The results will be discussed in committee so we can communicate best with treasurers.
1. Senator Pierre: You said you would increase transparency. Can you give an example of what would happen in terms of descriptions provided?
a. Senator Peri: The minutes are there for them to read. I want to discuss this with the committee.
iii. Senator Finkelstein: Prahlad is clearly the best candidate for this position.
iv. Comptroller Skeldon: I think he really stepped up in committee. I think he's ready for the position.
v. Senator Vira: He is dedicated and has the background to take on this position.
vi. Senator Urban: We talk a lot in committee and all treasurers see is budgetary restrictions and I think his ideas are great for transparency.
vii. Senator Mansour: His presentation was very straightforward and clear and he is a great fit for the job.
viii. Senator Yepez: He is very hardworking and he knows his stuff really well. I fully trust him to take the role and I think he will do really well.
ix. Quorum set to 28
x. Congratulations Prahlad!
C. Approval of the Minutes
a. Senator Finkelstein moves to pass the Senate minutes from 12/04
i. Motion Seconded
ii. Motion Passed
b. Senator Ehrlich moves to pass the Cabinet minutes from 01/28
i. Motion Seconded
ii. Motion Passed
D. E-board Reports
a. President
i. Cab minutes
ii. Lounge furniture
iii. Marcomm participation request
1. Admissions
iv. Upcoming President Poser meeting
b. Vice President
i. Party!
1. Very Soon.
ii. Attendance
c. Comptroller
i. Working with OSLE to get all budgeting and paperwork forms on GetInvolvedHU
ii. Budget appeals done!
iii. Treasurer training next week
1. Please come!
d. Secretary
i. Catering Request Form
ii. Room Request Form
iii. Spring merch arrives in February!
E. Committee Chair Reports
a. Appropriations
i. 1/27 Minutes (and notes on all appeals)
b. Club Resources
i. 1/26 Minutes
c. Communications
i. Minutes 1/26
ii. Transitioning from Canva to Adobe Express
iii. Working on graphics
d. Programming
1. Minutes 1/27
2. Build a friend's plushies picked!!!
3. Meeting with Hannah from athletics today!!
4. Res hall comp next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wednesday 2/4, bingo, location tbd, 6pm
5. Valentines day tabling sign up!!
e. Academic Affairs
i. AA minutes from 01/29
ii. Newsletter went out on Monday!!
1. Wait for more!
iii. Working on Collab with CUA+Lib
iv. Are you smarter than ChatGPT
1. With the Honours Board
f. Equity & Inclusion
i. Minutes!!!
ii. Planning Eats Around the World with Lexis!
iii. Filming Equity Asks with DaeJa and Kyle next week!
iv. As always, check the end of my minutes for inclusive programming throughout the week!
g. Facilities & Operations
i. Minutes
ii. Meeting with VP Eads and VP Doyle tomorrow
h. Wellness & Campus Safety
i. Minutes
ii. Rachel on the Run- Wellness Wednesdays
iii. One Love Workshop with lacrosse is possibly going to be with rugby or baseball
F. Approval of Committee Minutes
a. Senator Bokhari moves to pass the committee minutes from 01/26.
i. Motion seconded
ii. Motion passed
G. Approval of Allocations
a. Chair Dzaveluri moves to pass the Spring 2026 Budget Appeals.
i. Motion seconded
ii. Motion passed
H. For the Good of the Order
a. Anything SGA related!
i. Placards
ii. Associates
I. Announcements
a. Anything non-SGA related!
i. Homecoming
J. Snap Cup
a. Decorum suspended
K. Adjournment
a. Senator Vira moves to close the gallery
i. Motion seconded
ii. Motion passed
b. Chair Denson moves to adjourn this meeting
i. Motion seconded
ii. Motion passed
1. Meeting adjourned at 8:49 EST
Meeting Commenced:
Attendance:
Senator Prahlad Peri
Senator Ferheen Bokhari
Chair Nene Dzaveluri
Senator Patrick Bruso
Senator Rebecca Noel
Senator Jake Urban
Senator Daniel Malayeri
Senator Bianca Yepez
Associate Jake Tenebruso
Late:
Absent:
Agenda:
Appropriations Committee Minutes Spring 2026 Meeting
PPAW Conference Room 260D 6:30 PM
● Ice Breaker: Would you rather never see snow again or have it snow every day?
● Budget Weekend: April 10th and 11th (save the date!)
○ Time: TBD
● Treasurer Training (location TBD)
Student Center Room 141
Monday, February 2nd - 1:00 PM
Student Center Room 142 Tuesday, February 3rd - 4:30 PM
Netherlands Dining Room - North End 103E Wednesday, February 4th - 1:00 PM
Netherlands Dining Room - North End 103E Thursday, February 5th - 4:30 PM
Student Center Room 143 Friday, February 6th - 1:00 PM
● Budget Appeals Assignments
○ Spring 2026 Budget Appeals Notes
■ American Cancer Society- Prahlad and Ferheen
■ South Asian Student Association- Nene and Pat
■ Hofstra Asian Pacific Islander Association- Becky and Jake U
■ Hindu Student Association- Daniel and Jake T
■ Association of Latino Professionals for America- Prahlad and Ferheen
■ Disability Rights Education Activism and Mentoring- Nene and Pat
■ Makin Treble- Becky and Jake U
■ Music and Entertainment Industry Student Association- Daniel and Jake T
■ The Hofbeats- Prahlad
■ Hofstra Filmmaker’s Club- Nene
■ The Hofstra University Dutchmen- Pat
■ Tax Society- Ferheen
○ Comptroller Budget Status Update
● Minutes:
American Cancer Society:
- Senator Peri moves to amend allocations by $2936.00 for Line Item Relay for Life: Seconded by Senator Bokhari
- The Motion Passes
- Total Reallocated: $2936.00
SASA:
- Chair Dzaveluri: they are asking for a lot of money, and there is a policy series violation.
- Senator Bruso: I think if we should cut anything from this budget it should be the food.
- Senator Peri: I think we should give them a bit more money regarding the food so they can move the money around in the future
- Chair Dzaveluri: Public safety is coming out of a different budget, and we should not fund the decorations. We should then leave the festival dinner which is the food and DJ (No photographer)
- Senator Urban: I say we fund the DJ and the balloon arch but not the utensils. They can find cheaper plates, but it will be harder to find a cheaper DJ.
- Committee agrees to fund the balloon arch, plates, utensils, gas, food, and Public Safety
- Senator Peri moves to amend allocations by allocations by $3545.90 for Line Item SASA South Asian Cultural Festival: Seconded by Senator Bakhari
- Total Reallocated: $3545.90
HAPIA:
- Senator Urban moves to amend allocations by $841.35 for Line Item Ramen Movie Night: Seconded by Senator Noel
- The Motion Passes
- Total Reallocated: $841.35
HSA:
- Associate Tenebruso: For Holi, I recommend we fund the food and decorations, not the
photographer. We can also discuss Garba Night for partially funding them.
- Comptroller Skeldon: For context we were funding them as a pride club, but now they have since become a blue club and now have access to a bigger budget pool. For Garba I think we should be consistent and cut the decor while funding the food and DJ
- Senator Urban, I don’t think we should fund the latter 3 line items. They are all cheap, but the items are frivolous and we can cut corners
- Chair Dzaveluri moves to amend allocations by $1564.95 for Line Item Holi Celebration: Seconded by Senator Urban
- The Motion Passes
- Chair Dzaveluri moves to amend allocations by $2042.94 for Line Item Garba Night: Seconded by Senator Urban
- The Motion Passes
- Total Reallocated: $3930.04
Association of Latino Professionals for America:
- The quote for the Teddy Bears was not there, so it was not allocated
- Senator Urban moves to amend allocations by $79.95 for Line Item Valentine’s Day Fundraiser: Seconded by Senator Bokhari
- The Motion Passes
- Total Reallocated: $79.95
DREAM:
- Senator Urban moves to amend allocations by $55.00 for Line Item Poster Board: Seconded by Associate Tenebruso
- The Motion Passes
- Total Reallocated: $55.00
Makin’ Treble:
- Senator Urban: I think we should fund the cheapest hotel and the mixing but not the uniforms
- Senator Noel: I don’t think we should fund the audio mixing because it's too much money and the point of acapella groups is to perform not to record.
- Senator Peri moves to amend allocations by $1024.35 for Line Item Conferences/Competitions/Retreats: Seconded by Chair Dzaveluri
- The Motion Passes
- Senator Peri moves to amend allocations by $363.08 for Line Item General Supplies/Meetings: Seconded by Senator Bokhari
- The Motion Passes
- Total Reallocated: $2598.47
MEISA:
- Senator Peri: We should be consistent with the other clubs and give funding within our limits ($30)
- Senator Peri moves to amend allocations by $5,746.00 for Line Item LAUNCH: Seconded by Chair Dzaveluri
- The Motion Passes
- Total Reallocated: $7852.54
The Hofbeats:
- The hofbeats is in a contract for their Recording and Mixing, which will be handled by the University and SGA at a later point
- Chair Dzaveluri moves to amend allocations by $416.71 for Line Item Miscellaneous: Seconded by Senator Yepez
- The Motion Passes
- Total Reallocated: $7094.77
Hofstra Filmmaker's Club
- Chair Dzaveluri moves to amend allocations by $368.95 for Line Item General Supplies: Seconded by Senator Peri
- Senator Peri moves to amend allocations by $798.29 for Line Item On Campus Events: Seconded by Senator Bokhari
- The Motion Passes
- Total Reallocated: $1167.24
Hofstra Dutchmen:
- Senator Bruso moves to amend allocations by $303.35 for Line Item Miscellaneous: Seconded by Associate Tenebruso
- The Motion Passes
- Total Reallocated: $2139.36
Tax Society:
- Senator Bokhari moves to amend allocations by $373.21 for Line Item Fall Firm Meeting 3: Seconded by Senator Urban
- The Motion Passes
- Total Reallocated: $1919.86
Meeting Adjourned:
Respectfully Submitted,
Chair Vice President Young
Meeting Agenda
Spring 2026
6:30 pm, Jan 26, 2026 Zoom 6:30 pm
Chair Maisa Ahmad
Chair Aarushi Chauhan
Senator Jean Pierre
Senator Lily Hoffman
Senator John Vira
Senator Logan Finkelstein
Senator Dayanna Rubio-Chacon
Senator Sophia Apostal
Associate Lily Hierbert
Late Arrival Absent Visitors!
I. Icebreaker
A. Happy new years! What do you wish to accomplish by the end of this semester?
II. Group Me
A. https://groupme.com/join_group/112806553/1J9w24yM
III. Senatorial Action
A. Senatorial Action SA.2025.90.017 Policy Updates
1. Chair Iacobovici presents SA.2025.90.0017
2. Deliberation:
● Add a “period”
● Looks good!
3. Senator Vira moves to pass SA.2025.90.017.
4. Chair/Senator Finkelstein seconds the motion.
5. Motion passed!
B. Senatorial Action SA.2025.90.018 Policy Updates
1. Chari Iacobovici presents SA.2025.90.0018
2. Deliberation:
● Looks fine
3. Senator Finkelstein moves to pass SA.2025.90.018.
4. Senator Vira seconds the motion.
5. Motion passed!
IV. Chair Updates
A. Biggest goal for the semester: club constitutions and creating better accountability systems for our organizations on campus!
1. Club Constitution Masterlist = organized (will give you all access next week to allow you some time to situate yourselves into the CR committee role!)
V. Club Recognition
A. Wednesday, February 18: 12pm - 3pm
1. Dayanna - 1pm
2. Lily Hoffman
3. Logan - maybe
4. Lily Hiebert - 12:45
B. Wednesday, February 25: 12pm - 3pm
1. Aarushi
2. Jean - 12:45
3. Lily Hoffman
4. Sophia - 12:45pm
C. Senator Liaisons will be stepping up into a transitional role!
VI. Reminders
A. Be sure to take a look at the CR policies. It is definitely long but not a hard read! It will be GREAT if we all have an understanding of the policies.
B. You can reach me at (832) 417 7912 if you have any questions or need anything at all!
C. If you’re going to be absent, email me, sga_secretary@pride.hofstra.edu; sga_ethicsandconduct@pride.hofstra.edu; sga_vicepresident@pride.hofstra.edu!
Meeting Adjourned 6:51 pm
Respectfully Submitted,
Maisa Ahmad Club Resources Chair
Communications Committee Meeting
Student Center Rm 145
January 26, 2026
Meeting Called to Order: 6:00 pm
Quorum
Present:
Chair Kyle Denson
Chair Ronit Malhotra
Senator Harish Subramanian
Senator Michael Araba
Senator Adiba Mansour
Senator Wasih Gillani
Senator Yoni Smook
Associate Nathan Arscott
Absent:
Agenda:
1. Icebreaker:
a. How did you spend your snow day?
2. Updates
a. Transitioning from Canva to Adobe for graphics
i. Officially in early February
b. Rachel on the Run -> Wellness Wednesday with Aari
c. Making graphics for…
i. Plan Van
ii. Academic Event
d. Alumni Panel
3. Business
a. Weekly Content Calendar
b. Cabinet Reel - Welcome back from break!
i. Ideas?
c. Graphic Delegation
i. Memo Monday:
ii. Tune Tuesday:
iii. Wisdom Wednesday:
d. Semester Ideas
i. Alumni Network
1. Spreadsheet - (number, email, positions)
ii. Increased Highlights
iii. Interactive Social Media Efforts
iv. Ideas?
1. Earth Day - sustainability efforts (Reel)
2. National Public Health Week (Programming)
3. Resources/Fundraising for Current Events in the World
a. Resolutions
Reminders:
● If you have to miss committee, please email Ethics, VP, Secretary, and me. If you are missing Senate, make sure to email the Ethics, VP, and Secretary.
Meeting Adjourned: 6:15pm
Respectfully submitted, Kyle Denson Communications Chair
