At the Feb. 28 meeting, the Student Government Association introduced a bylaw creating a chief of staff position, an advisor to the executive president who provides strategic council and feedback and oversees elections.
The position is appointed at the executive president’s discretion. Georgia Winn, who is resigning from a similar position, chief justice, in order to run for executive president, said that because it is a non-voting position it fits in constitutional authority and does not have to be approved by the general assembly. The motion was adopted without objection.
“[It’s] a role to keep in general, the role has existed in the past, but [we] haven’t had it since 2022,” Executive President Nandan Nair said.
SGA also continued its ongoing discussions of investing in Emerson’s endowment. If the proposed $1 million is invested into the college’s endowment, which sits at approximately $260 million as of 2021, SGA would receive roughly 3-5% return every year (approximately $30,000-$40,000), which will be subject to change year-to-year.
SGA discussed how to best address the students’ priorities, of which survey results indicate that financial aid and scholarships were top of mind. What that should look like and how it is distributing the scholarships are the two biggest questions SGA is asking itself now, according to Nair.
The general assembly was asked to consider the size of grants, if they are renewable, what demographic of students should receive the scholarships, and if the scholarships should be need-based or merit-based.
“We do have a lot of say [on] how this scholarship gets distributed,” Executive Vice President Kayla Armbruster said. “[SGA] set[s] the constraints [but] can’t choose the student[s].”
Honors Program Senator Cole Stevens pointed out the correlation between good academic standing and financial stability. First Generation Low-Income Senator Jazzy Compton also mentioned Emerson’s Pell Grant recipients: “A lot of these need-based applicants are not getting federal grants, loans, [and] priorities.”
Winn said if the money is renewable, it comes from the same pot every year. For four years, the scholarships would not be able to be given to other students, according to Armbruster.
“Even if it’s only impacting one community, the entire Emerson community benefits from that community getting to stay here,” Winn said.
“[It’s] also a benefit when we have diverse economic backgrounds,” Abercrombie added.
“[It’s] not our money and [it’s] supposed to have the broadest impact possible, [to] give everyone a chance,” Jones said.
Student Accessibility Senator Karli Wallace presented the general assembly with an update on S. Res. 2, with the hope of passing it to take the next steps forward. The resolution supports “students regardless of gender or national identity,” and is committed “to elevating marginalized voices.”
There was a motion at the meeting to strike the word “policy” and insert the word “practices” in its place. The motion was amended, and was passed with unanimous consent without objection. SGA also passed three appeals at the meeting.
Director of Student Engagement and Leadership Jennifer Nival talked about the Emerson Recognition and Achievement Awards, which are on April 18.
“The reveal of the theme [will be] on social media,” Nival said. She hopes to stay in the range of last year’s budget, with around $20,000 for production. In a roll call vote, the motion to grant $26,258 from the unallocated funds balance to go to SEAL to support the ERA Awards was passed unanimously.
Emerson Outdoor Adventure requested $3,364 to go to Treetop Adventures. “[They’re] a nice newer organization [with] lots of participation,” Sullivan said. The appeal passed 17-0 in a roll call vote.
Stroopwafel, a comedy organization, appealed for $4,566.04 to go to a comedy event in Chicago, which passed 13-1.
The week before spring break, which is also International Women’s Week, Compton is tabling in the Lion’s Den and Dining Hall for her menstrual drive special interest project. According to Compton, people have already helped pack over 250 bags with period products and sexual education pamphlets.
