In lieu of the previously scheduled meeting on February 27, Stockton’s Student Senate gathered for an emergency meeting in the Townsend Residential Life Center at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20. A plethora of topics were discussed and voted on, from the recent speculation of campus safety to changes within the Senate body.

President Andrea Sandoval began with a warm acknowledgment of Black History Month, encouraging everybody to continue to attend events of cultural celebration as they occur throughout the month. She then explained that this meeting was called to order due to a conflict of scheduling: as the Senators will be at President Bertolino’s Spring Town Hall on the 27, the Senate will be unable to conduct their regular, full meeting. “I encourage you all to attend,” Sandoval stated in regards to Town Hall, “especially to discuss any potential concerns or thoughts, ask questions, or celebrate the university’s achievements.”

The first order of business was to honor a select few Senators. First, Sandoval welcomed the newest member of the Student Affairs Committee, Student Senator Davis. Davis will be working in athletics and Stockton’s Auxiliary Services, and Sandoval looks forward to all that Davis will achieve during his time on Senate. Sandoval then proceeded to present four Senators with the title of “Senator of the Month”: Saphire Alvarado and Calista Vacirca of the Public Relations Committee, Chairman of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Shane Moore, and Juan Diego Chaparro Villareal of the Student Affairs Committee.

Vice President Garrett Testut took the floor for updates next. He began with the email that Director Adrian Wiggins of Public Safety sent out on Monday, February 19. Rumors have been circulating about a potential threat to campus, but Testut assured everybody of Stockton’s investigation protocol and commitment to the safety of faculty and students: “the Stockton Police Department thoroughly investigates any threats made against our campus or our community members. Should they discover any credible information, they do have extensive procedures in place to ensure that all necessary measures are taken.” Testut reminded everybody to think critically about information seen online before moving on to more positive news.

Testut followed up last week’s announcement about Senate’s combined efforts with Stockton Action Volunteers for the Environment. Testut informed that S.A.V.E. will soon begin their actions to remove two invasive species from campus, and he extended gratitude to “Senator Juan…for his hard work and dedication to that project.” Before Student Affairs provided their report, Testut concluded his remarks with excitement for the Black Gala, which was a formal event held on Friday, February 23 to celebrate black history.

Chair of the Student Affairs Committee, Tianna Rosario, started her announcement with an update regarding the replacement of Pom & Honey in the food court. Student Affairs met with Chartwells Dining earlier in the month, where it was decided that Pom & Honey will become a “two-week rotation station that will provide food variety to the student body.” Also, on behalf of the bookstore, Rosario reminded students to check the bookstore’s Instagram and website for updates on promotions and concluded her statements with information on the Sweets for Suggestions, running from March 18-20. “Feel free to stop by, leave a suggestion, and grab a piece of candy,” Rosario said before yielding the floor to Academic Affairs.

Committee member Ariel Graziano spoke on behalf of Chairman Otoo and shared that Senator Arti Kapoor met with Dr. Dickerson, who will now serve as the Interim Dean of the School of Education since Dr. Keenan no longer holds that position. Graziano reported that Dickerson “also requested the promotion of the Origami Showcase made by Stockton students, which will take place on April 24 in the Campus Center.” Senator Ariel shared that she will have a meeting with Dr. Spaulding, the Assistant Registrar for Academic Compliance, on Wednesday the 21 in regards to DegreeWorks and how “it displays courses that are not offered for a certain term.” Furthermore, Senator Gianna Terpolilli had her monthly meeting with Dr. Levy: here, Dr. Levy discussed the new Archeology minor beginning in the Fall 2024 term, as well as her resuming the position of Dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences when Michael Palladino becomes the new provost. Graziano lastly requested that everybody complete the survey that has been sent through Stockton emails by February 22, as helping document student satisfaction, faculty availability, and information access will result in being entered into a raffle for a $10 Amazon gift card.

The Governmental Affairs Chairman, Timothy Knoll, reported about the committee’s work in promoting civic engagement in the Stockton community. This month, Knoll said they will be “hosting a screening and debate on the recent changes of Affirmative Action,” taking place at 8 p.m. on Tuesday the 27. Senator Imani Bennett of Public Relations then told the meeting that her committee is in the process of ordering merchandise for the Student Senate Spirit Week happening March 18-26, while simultaneously collaborating with Student Affairs on Sweets for Suggestions. They will also be assisting the Stockton Entertainment Team in their March 5 event at Lakeside Lodge, and finally, she informed that the “Day in the Life with a Senator” series will be returning to Senate social medias in the near future.

Shane Moore of Diversity and Inclusion expressed his excitement for the 5th Annual Black Gala. He also reported that he has a future meeting with Dr. Hayes, which will “discuss improving Diversity and Inclusion initiatives at Stockton.” As for the future of a Sensory Room, Moore has contacted members of the Library Learning Commons Planning committee and there is now a survey on the Stockton website under Renovation Updates and Floor Plans that will allow the public to give feedback on the idea. Moore then ended his remarks with a plea for everybody to “please contact their local and state representatives demanding a permanent ceasefire” for the people of Palestine.

The Finance Committee’s Kaden Ryan gave a rundown of Stockton’s monetary situation, first beginning with the clubs who were granted funds prior to the day’s meeting: the Indian Student Association received $1,499 for their spring formal, the Queer and Trans People of Color Society got $1,499 for their Black History Month workshop, the Muslim Student Association got $1,200 for their event honoring the legacy of Black Muslims, and the Social Work club will use their $800 for a sleep-out event that will benefit Covenant House. Ryan then invited the Rock Climbing club to approach the Senate and speak on their $3,000 request that would assist in purchasing punch passes to gyms.

To round out the emergency meeting, Ryan shared that his committee has finished the mid-year budget review, “where [they] redistrubited $10,886.53 back to the supplemental account.” Seventeen clubs and two accounts helped make this possible: $250 came from Anime club, $500 from the Anthropology and Sociology club, $375 from Cake Night, $1,000 from CLAWS, $500 from the Comedy Club, $500 from the Foosers, $125 from Habitat for Humanity, $250 from Holistic Health, $750 from Korean Student Organization, $1,000 from the Marine Technology Society, $500 from Marketing Club, $250 from Pathways to Healing, $450 from Physical Therapy Club, $1000 from Pre-Dental Club, $375 from the Psychology Club, $500 from the South Asian Student Association, $500 from Surf Club, $633.56 from Hispanic Heritage Month, and $1,427.97 from Pride Month. The last motion was to move $2,500 from the Highest Praise Gospel Choirs Budget to the supplemental account due to inactivity, and this passed with 24 yes, 1 opposed, and 6 abstentions.

The next Student Senate meeting will be held Tuesday, March 26 at 4:30 p.m., and the public can attend either in person at the Atlantic City Fannie Lou Hamer Hall or via the Zoom link found on OspreyHub. Be sure to visit the Student Senate Instagram, @OspreySenate, for additional Stockton updates.