With only one general assembly meeting left in this academic year, Executive Treasurer Oliver Katz presented a new resolution at the April 18 Student Government Association meeting.
The resolution, S. Res. 10, if adopted, would recognize that SGA stands in solidarity with the two resident assistants terminated on April 14.
“Most of what we can do here is ceremonial,” Katz said at the time of the meeting.
The general assembly did not meet quorum, the minimum number of voting members, for the first time all year. SGA still discussed the resolution with members who were present at the meeting, though they could not vote on the proposed resolution. Executive Vice President Kayla Armbruster said the item will likely be first on the agenda at the April 25 meeting.
First Generation Low-Income Senator Jazzy Compton noted that the RAs were fired during Student Employment Appreciation Week.
“I think it is ridiculous,” Compton said. “RAs are a part of the same workforce … cannot celebrate employment when being unfairly discriminated against.”
SGA was also presented with a proposal on expanding Emerson’s Back to Boylston Week of Welcome events and continued its annual budget review. Director of Student Engagement and Leadership Jennifer Nival said the events are usually the first week of the fall and spring semester, and wants to expand them to the first two weeks.
“Fall is a lot more big and large and engaged,” Nival said. “Spring semester still has a lot of programs and engagement [too].”
The first week, visually outlined by Nival at the meeting showing what it could potentially look like, would be catered toward fun, community building events. This could include a party, comedy show, arts and crafts, and more. The second week would highlight student organizations.
“Many students do not know the difference between organizations and what they do,” Nival said. She added that this could include “showcases or popups or mini events, specifically for categories for organizations … [and] how to engage with them.”
“The org fair … it feels like such a rush and so overwhelming just in the gymnasium and there is so much noise,” Armbruster said. “There is so much to look at … people walking by.” She added that the proposal would include more easy ways to digest the environment by having more things leading up to introducing the organizations people want to be a part of.
Katz brought up the idea of combining the first week with the second.
“It might be beneficial to expand organization showcases into the previous weekend,” he said, noting that there would be overlapping days between “very, very different organizations.”
Compton also talked about off-campus events and said it was a good way for students to realize discounts around campus and Boston.
Student Accessibility Senator Karli Wallace asked about designating which events would be physically accessible, including within organizations themselves.
Nival said it could be included in the RSVPs, have people respond with a “need that you have we could potentially provide.”
Community Service Senator Hazel Fitzpatrick asked if organizations would do an event together or if the showcases would be for specific organizations.
Nival said that due to time constraints there would be collaboration between organizations: “We do not have so many days,” she said.
Another concern discussed was about auditions for certain organizations that are held during some of the time of the events. Nival said there has been “more intentional, direct contact with folks.”
“We are looking at doing an orientation session for all first-years on how to navigate the theater audition process and have a conversation to open it up,” Nival said.
“Not everyone who is a part of it is performing arts,” she added. The session would still show how to be involved if they do not get into it.
In terms of communication over the summer to plan the events, Nival said it is still in the works and possibly having monthly meetings over Zoom.
