Calltoorder
AgendaoftheSenate
HofstraUniversityStudentGovernmentAssociation April17th,2025
HofstraUniversity
MeetingCalledtoorderat6:51EST
A. QuorumCall
a. Quorumsetto25
B. NewBusiness
a. SenatorRadesmovestoopenthegallery
i. Motionseconded
ii. Motionpassed
b. WELCOMETHEALUMNIPANEL!
i. AlumniStadeker:IstartedinSGAmyjunioryearasaSenator,andthen wasWellnessandCampusSafetyChairmySenioryear.Iwasvery involvedacrosscampusuntilmygraduationinSpring2023.Iamdoing myMastersatColumbia,andIamabouttograduateshortly!
ii. AlumniJones:IgraduatedfromHofstrain1987.IwasinSGAfrom freshmantoSenioryear.Iwasonappropsall4years,andthenwas ComptrollermySenioryear.Icurrentlyworkinconsultingfirmsutilizing mydegreeincomputerscience.
iii. ChairDiSanto:Whatwasthebiggestthingyouworkedonduringyour timeinStudentGovernment?
1. AlumniStadeker:IwouldsaythebiggestthingIworkedonthatI amsureyouguysarestillworkingonexpandingisthefree menstrualproductsoncampus.Itwasaninitiativethatstarted yearsprior,anditwasgreattoseethatcometofruition.Ithink increasingengagementwithPSafeandthestudentswasalsoabig initiative.Myexperiencewasoverallanamazingexperienceto growasaleader
2. AlumniJones:IwasonAppropriationstheentiretime,andas ComptrollerIsignedoffonthefinancials.Oneofthebigthingswe didwasdoublingtheStudentActivityFee,whichhadprosand
cons.BetweenJuniorandSenioryear,Ihelpedrewritethe constitution,whichiswherewedevelopedtheComptrollerrole.I wasessentiallythefirstComptroller!
iv. SenatorIacobovici:Whatdifficultiesdidyoufaceinyourposition,and howdidyousolvethem?
1. AlumniStadeker:Idon’tthinkIfacedtoomanydifficulties.Most ofthechairsbeforeme,especiallywiththemenstrualproducts, hadtohandlemostoftheroadblocks.Thebiggestissuewas figuringoutwhowasgoingtofundthepilotprogram.Everything workedoutinthewill.
2. AlumniJones:Thebiggestchallengewasbetweenjuniorand senioryearwheretherewasacrisiswiththeyearbook,wherethey overspentthousandsofdollars.IworkedwiththeDeanofStudents tosolvethatissue.Astrongrelationshipwiththegroupsspending themostmoneywasimportant.
v ComptrollerGreenlaw:Whatdidyourday-to-daylooklikeas comptroller?
1. AlumniJones:Backintheday,everythinghadtobepurchased throughacarbon-paperpacketthatwentthrough5different people,mebeingthelast.Iwastheonlypersondoingauditsfor eachclub.Iprobablyspentabout30hoursaweekdoingthiswork, andfranklylearnedmorethanIwould'veinmyCompSciclasses.
vi. PresidentAnniballi:Howdoyoufeel StudentGovernmenthashelped youinyourcareer/studies?
1. AlumniStadeker:Ithinkoverallitmademeabettercommunicator andleader.Workingwithavarietyofpeople,learninghowtolisten toothersandidentifyingweaknesseswasincrediblyhelpful.Iliked itsomuchIcontinuedSGAinmygraduateschool.Ithinkalotof myconfidencehascomefrombeinginSGAandhasallowedme toapplytorigorousprogramslikeIaminnow.Thelifelong friendshipswereamazing,too.
2. AlumniJones:Ididnotgotograduateschool,ratherIwent straightintotheindustry.SGAhelpedmeunderstandhowthe processesworked.Iworkedalotwiththeuniversity’s bureaucracies,whichhelpedmeintherealworld.Iwas responsiblewiththousandsofdollars,learninghowtomanageand spendit,whichhasbeenhelpful.Ialsolearnedhowtodealwith humandynamicsandhowtogetpeopletoworktogetherfora commongoal,whichisvaluableasaconsultant.
vii. ChairJacob:Whatwassomethingyouwishyoucould'vedonebutdidn't getthechanceto?Whatwouldyoudonow?
1. AlumniStadeker:OnethingIwouldhavelikedtodowasexpand themenstrualproducts.Iamgratefulwegottheminthestudent center,butIwishIcouldhaveexpandedtotheacademicside. AnotherinitiativeInevergottoworkonisasexualhealthcare vendingmachineandincreasedaccessibilitysignageacross campus.Whenyouonlyhaveayear,itisgreattogetprojects started,butitisunfortunatethatyoudon’tgettofollowthrough withtheexpansion.Youhavetorelyonthenextchair.
2. AlumniJones:Ialwayswishedthattheyearbookcouldbeprinted anddistributedtoeveryone,whichwouldhavedecreasedcosts significantly Also,Iregretnotbeingabletocreateasystemwhere theStudentActivityFeeincreasesinrelationtoinflation.Havinga steadyincreasewouldhavemadethingseasier Youonlyhavea limitedamountoftimeandmoney
viii. SenatorCallahan:WhatweresomefunStudentGovernmenttraditions?
1. AlumniStadeker:Someoftheeventsweputonwereinasense bondingevents,forexampleBuild-A-Friendwhetherworkingor attending.ItisnotnecessarilyanSGAevent,buttheHofstraGala wasalwayssomuchfungoingtogetherasSGAstudentleaders. Goingtotheeventsthatweandourpeersorganizeisalwaysfun.
2. AlumniJones:TherewerenotnecessarilySGAevents,butevents putonbytheProgrammingBoard.Wedidhaveanendofyear dinnerforourmembers.
ix. ComptrollerGreenlaw:Doyourememberhowmuchthestudentactivity feewasoriginally,andwhatwasitwhenyouraisedit?
1. AlumniJones:Itwas$18atfirst,andthen$35afterweraised.Our budgetwasabout5xbiggerthanotheruniversities.Itwasgreat whenwebookedeventslikeconcerts!
x. SenatorThani:Howdoyouthinkstudentgovernmenthaschangedsince you’vebeenhere?
1. AlumniStadeker:Idon’tthinkithaschangedmuch,asIamonlya coupleyearsout.Iwasoncampusthispastweekendandsawhow corkboardsandofficesaredecorated,andthesocialmediagame hassteppedupitsgame.
2. AlumniJones:IreadtheChronicle,anditisallverysimilar–the sameissues,thesameroadblocks,etc.Otherthantheuseof technologywhichwasjustrollingoutaroundthattime.Therewas
alsoamassiveamountofreconstructionforthestudentcenter, dormitories,etc.
xi. ChairDanek:Whatdoyouthinkisonemajorchangethatwasoutsideof yourrespectiveroles?
1. AlumniJones:OneofthebigthingswastheintroductionofIce Hockey.Itwasoneofthemainsportsthatwewerepayingfor, fromicetocoachfees.Wewonderedwhyitdidn’tcomefromthe actualsportsbudget.Therewasalsotheexpansionof representationofbothlargeandsmallorgswithinSGA.
2. AlumniStadeker:WenowbringinalotofgueststoSenate, whetherAdminorclubs,whichisfairlynew.Wealsostarted collaboratingonourbigevents,likeputtingBuild-A-Friendduring asportingeventtoincreaseourrelationshipwithathletics.We werealwaystryingtobuildthatconnectiontoincreaseSGA’s visibility
xii. ChairDenson:DoyouhaveamemoryfromSenateorCabinetthatgot reallyserious?
1. AlumniStadeker:Ihaveafew Thebiggestthingwasan impeachment.Manyofus,includingmyself,wereveryupsetwith thedecision.IthinkourCabmeetings,thoughlong,werefairly tame.Thepostsenatedebriefsiswherethingsbecamemoretense. Anotherstoryisonetimesomeonecameinwithamajoractionto abolishtheprogrammingcommittee…thatSenatewentsuperlate.
2. AlumniJones:Wedidn’thavealotofdrama,buttherewereafew. Ourappropschaironce“checkedout”hissenioryear,andthe DeanofStudentswasscreamingatthatstudentinthehallwayto gethisacttogether.Theotherwasmyjunioryear,andtheperson weassumedtobethenextPresidenthadahealthcrisis,and leadinguptotheelectiontherewasnooneofficiallyrunning.We alsoranintoissueswithstudentswantingustofundoutrageous clubs.
xiii. ChairDiSanto:Whatwasafunnystudentgovernmentmemory?
1. AlumniStadeker:Ithinkthefunniestthingwasalwayssnapcup. Forexample,oneofourcomptrollerswouldwearpantsthat showedhisankles,andwithoutfailtherewasalwaysasnap makingfunofit.Theicebreakerswerefuntoo.
2. AlumniJones:Youguyshadmorefunthatwedid.Oneofthefirst Senates,thePresidentcameinusingverystrictRobertsRule,and itwashumorous.
xiv. SecretaryEgolf:Gladyoumentionedsnapcup,thisSenatedoesn’t appreciateitenough!WhatpromptinspirationdoyouhaveforSnapCup?
1. AlumniStadeker:IthinkSnapCupwassofunnybecausealotof usareourfriendsoutsideofSGA,andwewouldbringsome appropriatejokesintothemeetingsfromoutside.Wewouldsaythe wildestthings.Maybeyoucandoapromptthatreflectsontheyear insomeway,whetherthefunniestthingorsomethingthatannoyed youduringSenate.Itnevergotmean,andwasalwaysgoodfun.It reallydependsondynamicoutsideofSenate.
xv. SenatorYari:Didyouhaveamomentwhereyouhadtokeepasecretfrom thestudentbody,andwasthereanyoutsidepoliticaldrama?
1. AlumniStadeker:Whiletheimpeachmentwashappening, everythingwasanonymous,sotherewasalotgoingonthatwe reallycouldn’tshare.Intermsofpoliticalstuff,therehasn’tbeen toomany Sometimestherearejustsubjectmattersthatyoucan’t bringtoSenaterightawayandhavetokeepitconfidentialwithin CaborEBoard.Youcanshareeventually,butsometimesyouhave towaitforabit.
2. AlumniJones:Asfaraspoliticsorconfidentialitygoes,there weren’tverymanyspecifics.
xvi. AlumniJones:Ihaveaquestionforyou.WhenIwasinchargeofthe money,everythingfromtheStudentActivityFeewenttoSGA.Iheard thatsomegoestoResLifenow…whendidthathappen.
1. ComptrollerGreenlaw:Iamnotsurewhenithappened,butatleast sinceIhavebeenthere.Wegetabout60%ofthestudentactivity fee.
xvii. SenatorCallahan:Howdidyourtimeinstudentgovernmenthelpyou personally(personality-wise)?
1. AlumniStadeker:Itdefinitelyincreasedmyconfidenceand deepenedmyempathy.ThewholepointofSGAistobeinservice toothers,andsometimeswhenyouareworkingsohardandso muchyouforgetthat,butyouhavetorememberthatthisworkis notjustaboutthetitle.Icaredmoreabouthelpingmycommunity. Ialsowouldsayithelpedmevaluetheexperienceofothers,and learningfromthat.
2. AlumniJones:Iwasveryintrovertedmyfreshmanyear,andSGA helpedmebecomeanextravert.Itwasanopportunitytoreinforce thegoodpartsabouttheprogrammingwithintheuniversity.Being abletorecognizethegreatworkofotherstudentswasgreat,and helpedmemakelifelongfriends.
xviii. SenatorGreen:Ifyoucouldpassanysenatorialaction,whatwoulditbe?
1. AlumniStadeker:Iwouldwanttomakeacampusrulethatyou can’tdriveyourcarfromtheresidentialsidetotheacademicside ifyouareablebodied.Campusisn’tthatbig!
2. AlumniJones:Thatwasaproblemwhenweweretheretoo!I wouldliketoseeacostoflivingincreasetotheStudentActivity Feejustsothatwecanhavesecurityinourfunding.
xix. ChairDiSanto:WhatareyourbiggesttakeawaysfromStudent Government,andwhatadvicedoyouhaveforus?
1. AlumniJones:Taketheopportunitytolearnhowother UniversitiesrunthemselvesandseewhattheirSGAsaredoing.I gottheideaofComptrollerfromotheruniversities.Seeifyoucan createpartnerships!
2. AlumniStadeker:I’mnotthatmucholderthanyou,soIcan’tadd toomuch,butIwouldsaytorememberthewhy Itisnotjusta resumebuilder–trytofindyourpurposeinSGA!Andyoumay notknowitrightaway,butworktowardsfindingit.Beintentional andpurposefulwithyourtime.
c. SecretaryEgolfmovestoamendtheallocationsforBLAC,lineitem1:BLAC EndofSemesterReportto$2635.01.
i. MotionSeconded
ii. MotionPassed
C. ApprovaloftheMinutes
a. SenatorDzavelurimovestopasstheSenateminutesfrom4/10
i. MotionSeconded
ii. MotionPassed
b. SenatorIacobovicimovestopasstheCabinetminutesfrom04/16
i. MotionSeconded
ii. MotionPassed
D. E-boardReports
a. President
i. ClubSportProposalDraftDone
ii. Nextweekisturnover!
1. Comehungry!
b. VicePresident
i. Remembernotonlyturnoverbutspecialelectionsthedayafter!
c. Comptroller
i. Comptrolling#yay
d. Secretary
i. Guyssignupforformalhellooooooooolet'sdance
E. CommitteeChairReports
a. Appropriations
i. Minutes
ii. Budgetweekendisdone!
1. Fall2025SemesterlyBudgets(notificationswillgoouttoclubs Friday)
2. Hugeshoutouttoapprops!
a. ThankyoutoCelesteandEvelynforhelp
3. Policyseriesoverturnedthreetimes
a. BlackStudentUnion-socialouting
b. NAACP-socialouting
c. MuslimStudentAssociation-offcampusfood
b. ClubResources
i. Minutes
ii. MSAElectionsInvestigation
iii. Clubfeedbacksurvey
c. Communications
i. ShoutouttomycommitteeforhelpingmewiththeAlumniPanel!
ii. DecorumFor‘Emshouldbeheresoon!!
d. Programming
i. Minutes
ii. RelayforLife-April26st12-8PM 1 FacePaintingShiftSheet
e. AcademicAffairs
i. Minutes
ii. LibrarymeetingApril23rdw/Kyle
iii. Reachingouttodeansaboutpeermentorshipprogramsandacademic bulletins
f. Equity&Inclusion
i. NoFormalReport
g. Facilities&Operations
i. Minutes
ii. LibrarymeetingApril23rdw/Justin
iii. PraisethePride!
h. Wellness&CampusSafety
1. Minutes
2. WorkingonNarcan/Stopthebleedtraining!
F. ApprovalofCommitteeMinutes
a. SenatorBlackmovestopassthecommitteeminutesfrom04/14
i. Motionseconded
ii. Motionpassed
b. SenatorPeri movestopasstheallocationsfrom04/15
i. Motionseconded
ii. Motionpassed
c. SenatorCallahanmovestopasstheFall2025semesterlybudgets.
i. Motionseconded
ii. Motionpassed
G. ForGoodoftheOrder
a. AnythingSGArelated!
H. Announcements
a. Anythingnon-SGArelated!
I. SnapCup
J. Adjournment
a. SecretaryEgolfmovestoadjournthismeeting
i. Motionseconded
ii. Motionpassed
1. Meetingadjournedat8:30pmEST
Fall2025SemesterlyBudgets