On Tuesday, January 30, Stockton’s Student Senate gathered in the Michael Jacobson Board of Trustees Room to discuss university changes, advances, and the ongoing issue of allotting money to the various clubs on campus. President Andrea Sandoval called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and began with a warm welcome back to campus before discussing some general reminders for the student body.

Sandoval recommends going to the Office of Financial Aid for those needing assistance with the updated 2024-25 FAFSA, as well as paying a visit to the Wellness Center’s Nutritionist, who is on campus Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. “These consultants are free to Stockton students, so don’t hesitate get one,” Sandoval urged before explaining appointments can be made by calling the Wellness Center phone number on Stockton’s website. Her last reminder encouraged any and all students to attend the Unified Black Students Society’s annual flag raising to commemorate Black History Month, and Sandoval wished for everybody to look out for more events that celebrate the importance of this month.

Vice President Garrett Testut then took the floor to update the room on the Atlantic City Phase III Expansion Task Force. The Task Force met on January 6, and Testut explained that “[they] have already held one Student Focus Group as a test run, and [they] are looking to organize more and host [them] in the coming weeks, with the idea of roughly having ten focus groups.” The Task Force and its consultants also want to develop more programs like the Live, Work, Learn Program in Atlantic City, specifically to ensure that these programs present students with more opportunities during the semester for a “hands on experience in the work world while still getting college credits [and] living on campus,” which as Testut says “is a best of both worlds situation.” Testut voiced his approval for these new programs and informed students interested in being apart of a focus group to keep an eye on the Senate social medias for updates.

Testut then spoke of the potential for more degrees and programs to be offered at Stockton within 1 or 2 semesters, though the details of these programs have not been released for public knowledge. One of his last remarks consisted of the Senate’s teaming up with the Stockton Action Volunteers for the Environment in regards to their “efforts to remove invasive species here on campus.” As this is still a new project, more information will come at the next Senate meeting.

There have been no new strides on the potential implementation of a Campus-Wide Safety campaign, but Testut plans to discuss with Director Wiggins of Public Safety and Lieutenant Tracy Stuart on furthering this idea and what it could mean for students. Professor Sandoval then gave the floor to the Chair members of the Senate’s six committees, beginning with Tianna Rosario of Student Affairs.

Rosario informed that her committee has their monthly campus service meeting scheduled for later this month, and that they are “still working on a solution for the gym hours.” The Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, Nana Amma Otoo, took the floor next, sharing news on Academic Affairs’ next provost, Michael Palladino. Palladino’s official start date is May 6, 2024 following the Board of Trustee’s approval, and with that, Otoo yielded to the Governmental Affairs Committee. With Chairman Timothy Knoll having no new news to report, the floor was given to the Public Relations Chair, Imani Bennett.

Bennett continued to remind club members and organizations “interested in [Student Senate] posting an event or [having] any possible event collaborations to come to [her] or any of the PR Committee members.” She also provided the OspreySenate Instagram as a viable means of communication before the floor was given to the Chair of Diversity and Inclusion, Shane Moore.

Moore relayed that his committee “met with Chrissy Easton of Stockton Cares on [January 26] for a potential sensory room that [they are] still trying to figure out and work on.” For campus-wide events, Moore encouraged everyone to attend the Muslim Art Fair on January 31, which is the Muslim Student Association’s final celebration of Muslim Heritage Month. He reiterated the information on the Black History Month flag raising on February 1, as well as the Meet Black Stockton event which was held at 8 p.m. that same day.

The Finance Chair, Kaden Ryan, rounded out committee updates on the approved funding requests, all of which were less than $1,499: “[the Finance Committee] approved Stockton Women in Mathematics for $400…Asian Student Alliance for $1,499…Water Watch for $1,250…Animal Care Club for $650…Public Health Society for $150, and Stockton Action Volunteers for the Environment for $1,300.” Ryan then invited the Dance Club to approach the Senate and talk about their request.

Megan Burns, President of the Dance Club, asked the Senate for money to pay for a hotel that would house the 12 club members attending their training camp at Gibney Dance Company in New York City. “We have a great relationship, we’ve done this trip multiple times, we just did it last year,” Burns told the Senate, whose members asked follow-up questions revolving around what the club expected to learn from this trip. Burns replied with the following: “To further dance training and also, a lot of professionals in New York go and train [at Gibney] or teach classes there, so getting an opportunity to be in the same studio as them can open doors in the future.” After informing more about the importance of this trip, and how her club has already begun fundraising on their own end, the Senate approved the Dance Club’s request for $4,250 with a vote of 26 in favor, 2 opposed, and 1 abstained.

Stockton University’s Mock Trial approached next, with President Rob Martinez requesting $2,000 to help fund the future rounds of their competitions. Martinez stated, “we currently have enough money for round 1 of competition, but after round 1, we will have less than about $400 in our account. We are just trying to make sure that we have enough money because between round 1 and round 2, we’re not going to have time to request money so we can compete, if we advance.” Mock Trial has been working on their case since October, and Martinez said they are “very confident” and “very hopeful” in their abilities of advancing. However, if Mock Trial does not advance, Martinez said they would use the extra money to help other Stockton Clubs. Like Dance Club, the majority of Mock Trial’s funding has come from the club’s own fundraising and donations, so Senate approved of Mock Trial’s request with a vote of 25 in favor and 4 abstained.

The final club with a proposal was Model United Nations, and President Camille Benoit informed the Senate that their budget does not cover both the New York City and Washington D.C. conference due to Stockton increasing the price of busing. The rate, Benoit said, is “fully double” the initial number, as it jumped from $1,673 to $4,024. Model U.N. asked for a supplemental $2,500 to coincide with their own personal fundraising, which Benoit noted “is supposed to have a contribution of $500-$800.” To help their cause, Benoit told the Senate that Model U.N. takes 28 students to “compete with about 200 schools at the New York conference, and [they] simulate the real Model United Nations.” The Senate approved Model U.N., with a vote of 23 in favor and 6 abstained.

In light of Benoit’s mention of the increased bus fares, Finance Chair Ryan said, “the bus issue might become a common theme” and he urged for students to “bare with them” as they work to solve this issue. Prior to concluding, Student Senate’s faculty advisor, Jeff Wakeman, provided more information about the future of busing at Stockton. “The university has a pre-negotiated, multi-year contract with Stouts Busing, who runs the shuttles back and forth to Atlantic City,” Wakeman informed, “and part of that multi-year contract included a stable rate for charter buses for events, but that part of the contract has ended.” Because of this contract clause, Stouts Busing had not increased their rates to Stockton for about three years, but now with that part of the agreement having terminated in January, the stable rate is no longer active.

“The University is currently negotiating a new multi-year contract, and we suspect that the per hour price for all charter busing will increase,” Wakeman continued, and then stated that “Student Development, Athletics, and a few other offices are seeing about an 86% increase in the hourly rate for busing.” Though Wakeman relayed hope for a solution later in the Spring Semester, the new rate will still be higher than it has been in the past. He told the Senate and meeting audience he could take their questions to the Purchasing Office, and Wakeman also encouraged clubs and organizations to get multiple bids from bus companies like Academy and Murphy, which are two cheaper and local options compared to Stouts. Smaller shuttles can also be used for club transportation, but those hourly prices are also seeing an increase.

With no further comments or questions, President Sandoval called the meeting to an end. In spite of the uncertainty of bus affordability, the Student Senate remains optimistic that this Spring Semester will be a prosperous and productive one for all of Stockton’s students and staff.