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(05/07/19 6:52pm)
By Alexandra Shapiro
Columnist
Meeting at the New Jersey State House in Trenton, Student Government discussed five resolutions at its general body session on April 30.
Jaclyn Corbo, a junior history major and the primary sponsor of Resolution S2019-06, “In support of the NJ Legislature Adopting Anti-Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Protections for Unpaid Interns,” introduced the bill to the general body.
The resolution encourages the New Jersey State Legislature to adopt policies for unpaid interns against anti-discrimination and sexual harassment in an effort to promote protection in the workplace. After a vote, SG passed the resolution.
The next resolution discussed was “RS2019-13: To implore The College of New Jersey to expand its commitment to voter accessibility as an institutional priority through the reevaluation of our Academic Calendar, and by providing the appropriate accommodations that enable all students to partake in election processes.”
There were three primary sponsors of the bill Vice President of Community Relations and junior communication studies and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies double major Rachel Smith, Head Senator of Humanities and Social Sciences and junior political science and psychology double major Owen Brady and Senator of Humanities and Social Sciences and sophomore political science major Kiana Stockwell.
SG introduced the bill, and they will further discuss it at the next meeting. The next resolution up for debate, sponsored by Smith, was “R-S2019-14: To charge the Steering Committee with reevaluating the Undergraduate Internship Policy at the College and urge the Provost to promote accessible internship practices in regard to course-credit and fulfilling academic requirements.”
After debate by the general body, the resolution passed. Student Government then debated on R-S2019-08, “Final Examination Scheduling Procedure for Classes in the Same Department.” The bill is in regards to the fact that students at the College do not have a say in when their final exams are held.
SG urged the scheduling team in Records and Registration to create a new final exam procedure for exams that are in the same department. The general body insisted that the College’s scheduling team should avoid scheduling final examinations in the same department within a day apart.
Instead, SG maintained that exams should be scheduled at least one week after each other. After debate, this bill was tabled indefinitely due to potential scheduling complications in holding final exams so far apart from each other.
Stockwell introduced her resolution titled, “RS019-15: To implore The College of New Jersey to review its FY 2020 appropriations in order to improve the accessibility of mental health resources on campus.”
The purpose of the resolution is to convey the feedback that the senators of Humanities and Social Sciences collected from students regarding mental health resources on campus, specifically pertaining to their knowledge and experience with Counseling and Psychological Services. After a vote by the general body, the resolution passed.
Student Government did not discuss any governance reports or events at their meeting. Events regarding Finals Fest and the end of the semester are set to be discussed at the next meeting.
(04/30/19 5:04am)
By Alex Shapiro
Columnist
Student Government held a presentation made by the College’s dining employees, introduced four resolutions and debated on two student organizations at its meeting on April 24.
SG began the meeting by welcoming Sodexo and TCNJ Dining Services staff.
Sodexo is working on promoting sustainability and increasing the number of options it provides to students. It is working toward labeling its appropriate food choices as vegan or vegetarian, so that students with dietary restrictions know what is safe to consume.
Chefs at Eickhoff Hall try to use pre-cut items that are packaged to ensure that food is fresh and not over-produced. TCNJ Dining Services members said that eliminating wasted food is a priority for the chefs at the College.
Sodexo is looking to grow its relationship with the College community through cooking classes, election advertising and organization partnerships. Through these organization partnerships, Sodexo would feature cupcakes or baked goods to spread the word about an event or campaign.
Sodexo encouraged students who have any dining suggestions or inquiries to contact TCNJ Dining Services.
SG continued the meeting by introducing several resolutions, the first being R-S2019-08, “Final Examination Scheduling Procedure for Classes in the Same Department.”
The bill is in regards to the fact that students at the College do not have a say in when their final exams are held. SG urged the scheduling team in Records and Registration to create a new final exam procedure for exams in the same department.
The general body insisted that the College’s scheduling team should avoid scheduling final examinations in the same department a day apart. Instead, SG maintained that they should be scheduled at least one week after each other.
This change is intended to help students better prepare for their examinations and alleviate stress. The bill will be further debated at the next meeting.
SG discussed the next resolution, R-S2019-09, “In Support of Expanding Mental Health Resources during Welcome Week.”
The purpose of the resolution is to ensure that new students at the College have at least three trained professional staff members from Counseling and Psychological Services on call during Welcome Week, which is intended to provide students with counseling and support when needed. The resolution will be further discussed at the next meeting.
SG then introduced the third resolution R-S2019-11, “In Support of the END all Hazing Act” and the REACH Act.”
The bill emphasizes that SG condemns all acts of hazing on college campuses and urges the U.S. Congress to sign the “END All Hazing Act” and “REACH Act” to increase transparency within Greek life for members of their college or university. The bill was only introduced, and will be debated at the next meeting.
Next, SG welcomed members of Active Minds, who presented on why they should be a recognized organization at the College.
Active Minds’ purpose is to support mental health and remove stigmas surrounding the topic. The organization aims to spread awareness and educate the student body on mental health issues, as well as serve as a platform for students to discuss mental health. The members intend on creating social media campaigns with CAPS, organizing events with the Yoga Humanitarian Club and hosting various fundraisers.
After a vote by the general body, the organization was approved and is now recognized as an official club at the College.
The next organization to present was the American String Teachers Association. According to the organization’s presentation, the purpose of the organization is to “provide professional development, career building and support and a community of peers for all teachers of stringed instruments.”
The goal for members is to attend and network at national conferences and conventions. The organization also plans on working locally with the “Foundation Academy” in Trenton, as well as hosting bake sales and apparel sales.
After a vote by the general body, the ASTA was approved and is now recognized as an official College organization.
Next, SG introduced a resolution, S2019-07, “Charging Steering to Create a Parking Master Plan.”
According to SG, which received the information from the College, students are charged $68.24 per semester, while residential students are charged $160 per semester for parking.
SG believes a campus-wide parking master-plan could be utilized to address issues such as growth, access and parking equity.
SG recognized the need for a long-term plan to address the concerns of parking among all stakeholders in the community.
“Be it further resolved (for)SG of The College of New Jersey charges the Steering Committee to designate an appropriate Governance Committee member to create a formal parking master plan for our institution,” the bill read.
The general body passed the resolution and it has been sent to the Steering Committee for further deliberation.
(04/23/19 5:22am)
By Alexandra Shapiro
Columnist
Student Government held a presentation by Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs William Keep and debated on a resolution at its meeting on April 17.
SG began the meeting by welcoming Keep, who spoke to the general body about the advancement of student ideas.
“How many of you want to change the world?” Keep said. “How many of you want to change the world in the same direction?”
He acknowledged that all students at the College have different goals and plans for their future, and emphasized the role students have in achieving their career goals.
“The best idea does not always win — good ideas die all the time,” Keep said.
Keep informed the general body of ways to gain the attention of employers and other potential career opportunities on campus, which include asking questions and being open to change and self-assessment.
Keep believes there are seven traits each student must build upon — ambition, energy, focus, self-knowledge, confidence, empathy for others and the capacity to tolerate conflict. According to Keep, students at the College have to be comfortable sharing their ideas with other people in order to grow and discover opportunities.
Next, SG began a debate on resolution R-S2019-05, “In support of modifying the adjunct faculty office hours policy at The College of New Jersey.”
The resolution requires that adjunct faculty members must have at least two office hours per week as opposed to the current policy where adjunct professors have no requirements for holding office hours.
SG argued that if adjunct professors teach courses that are major requirements, they must be able to host office hours in order to foster an understanding of their major core curriculum.
College students utilize office hours often as an academic resource or to resolve concerns regarding course content, assignment reviews and general feedback.
After a vote by the general body, the bill passed and will be moving to the Steering Committee, which will review the adjunct faculty office hours policy.
The Class of 2021 will be selling T-shirts from Monday, April 29 to Tuesday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Brower Student Center. The class council will be sending an email to sophomores next week regarding the sale.
The Class of 2022 placed an order for the freshmen class apparel, which should be arriving next week. The Class of 2022 is also holding a flavor ice fundraiser at Alumni Grove on Monday, April 29 and Tuesday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
(04/16/19 5:59pm)
By Alexandra Shapiro
Columnist
Student Government voted on one organization and debated on two resolutions during its meeting on April 10.
SG first held a closed-session meeting with only members of the general assembly to discuss the performance of cabinet members and how they can improve their positions.
Next, SG opened the meeting up to the public, where it introduced a resolution, titled “In Support of Modifying the Adjunct Faculty Office Hours.”
The resolution requires that adjunct faculty members must have two office hours per week, as opposed to the current policy in which adjunct professors have no requirements for holding office hours.
SG argued that if adjunct professors teach courses that are major requirements, they must be able to host office hours in order to foster an understanding of their major core curriculum.
College students utilize office hours often as an academic resource or to resolve concerns regarding course content, assignment reviews and general feedback.
The bill was ultimately tabled and will be further discussed at SG’s next meeting.
SG welcomed the organization Creo Consulting, whose members presented on why they should be a recognized student organization at the College.
The purpose of Creo Consulting is to provide the greater student body with opportunities to explore and gain experience in the field of business consulting.
The organization aims to build student academic development through case interview training and practice business cases that are supplemented with presentations from industry professionals and information sessions.
The club will offer interview training services and practice cases as a non-profit to local companies and on-campus clubs to build a more engaged community throughout its process. As of now, Creo Consulting has 27 student members.
After debate, SG voted to recognize Creo Consulting as a student organization at the College.
Next, SG debated another resolution titled, “Against edTPA.”
The resolution serves as an opposition to the edTPA assessment for evaluating student-teacher readiness, and urges for the New Jersey Department of Education to revoke its implementation.
The edTPA assessment is a lengthy exam — approximately 30 pages in length. It costs $300 to take the assessment and $100 for every exam retake.
Lauren Katz, a sophomore elementary education and psychology dual major and senator of education, said that education majors at the College are receiving phenomenal instruction, and that students should not have to take the edTPA assessment.
“I have seen lots of opposition from both faculty and students within the School of Education,” Katz said. “There are better ways to assess teacher preparedness. Teachers argue that there are other methods that assess readiness, not the edTPA assessment.”
The resolution passed after a vote by the general body.
(04/09/19 6:23am)
By Alexandra Shapiro
Columnist
Student Government voted on a bill and announced details regarding the upcoming Diversity & Inclusion Week at last week’s general body meeting on April 3.
SG began the meeting by debating “Bill S2019-04,” titled, “Student Organization Bylaws Changes.”
The bill regards organizations that fail to re-register on campus each semester. If an organization has maintained pending inactive for more than one month, the organization will be referred by the Office of Student Involvement to the vice president for Governmental Affairs for inactive status.
When moved to inactive status, the student organization is not permitted to participate in the Student Involvement Fair. Likewise, the Office of Student Involvement will suspend privileges of the organization’s management and marketing systems. When this occurs, the student organization will have one month to re-register with the Office of Student Involvement to be considered an active student organization in the following semester.
The bill passed after a vote by the general body and will be effective immediately.
The general body announced several governance reports.
Vice President of Advancement and senior engineering major Ricky Brum announced an SG “Hoagie Haven” fundraiser on the week of April 22. There will be tabling for the event on the April 22 and April 23 in the Brower Student Center from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., where students can fill out order forms for their hoagies. The hoagies will be delivered on April 26 at around 5 p.m.
Vice President for Governmental Affairs Justin Brach, a senior political science and finance double major, announced meetings that he had with legislators of the New Jersey State House of Representatives on April 2. Brach stated that he will be going back on Thursday, April 4 for more meetings and committee hearings. Brach met with legislators regarding his proposed bill on how students have been affected by the previous government shutdown. The bill will allow more time for students to pay their tuition if they have been impacted financially by the shutdown.
According to SG, the meetings have been successful so far, and the senate passed Brach’s proposed bill regarding the government shutdown, which is titled “RS-S3029-093 Government Shutdown Tuition Extension resolution.” The bill will now be sent to state legislators for further debate.
Brach stated that he was “excited to get the process moving with the resolution.”
Vice President for Community Relations Rachel Smith, a junior communication studies and women’s gender and sexuality studies double major, gave details regarding Trenton Middle School Day, which is planned for this morning from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Decker Hall Social Space. At the event, middle school students will be visiting the College to learn about campus life and career fields. College students involved in this event will meet in groups with the middle schoolers and discuss their college and internship experience.
Eashwayne Haughton, vice president for Diversity and Inclusion and senior philosophy major, gave further details on Diversity and Inclusion Week.
The #IAMTCNJMonolouges will take place on Thursday, April 11 at 8 p.m. in Mayo Concert Hall. This event will involve students describing their experiences and stories from different backgrounds while celebrating their distinct cultures.
The Second Annual TCNJ Diversity Summit will be taking place today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Brower Student Center Room 100.
Sonia L. Aranza, a widely-respected expert in diversity and inclusion, will be speaking at this event. Aranza has developed diversity and inclusion programs for clients such as Boeing, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and NASA. She has been named “Outstanding Woman of the Year” by the National Association of Professional Asian American Women.
The School of Nursing is looking to implement a health administration minor. According to representative Emily Varga, the nursing school has just received a sponsor and the proposal will be headed to other committees within the School of Nursing for approval.
The Senior Class Council announced that Senior Sendoff has been released, saying that 50 tickets were sold in five minutes and that over 300 were sold as of April 2. The council encouraged students to sign up since tickets will be capped at 500.
Director of Student Involvement Dave Conner thanked the general body for its time and the SG Cabinet for being hardworking and keeping him busy.
“(The) cabinet is doing a tremendous job in the final push of April,” he said.
(04/02/19 7:48am)
By Alex Shapiro
Columnist
Student Government held a branding presentation and announced several upcoming events at its meeting on March 27.
SG began the meeting with the presentation by senior business management major Kelly Kozar and sophomore communication studies major Bryanna O’Keefe, who are interns working on the College’s new “Hi!” campaign, meant to publicize the College’s efforts as an institution of higher education.
The campaign’s positioning framework is to present “TCNJ (as) a destination for high-caliber students, faculty and staff, who seek intellectual challenge. We are self-starters who set goals, pursue them with tenacity, and commit to achieve them by performing at the highest level,” explained O’Keefe and Kozar.
Kozar and O’Keefe also said that the College “possesses a restless curiosity for exploring new ideas and conducting work that makes a difference. We see an always-brighter future for ourselves, our community and our world.”
According to the presenters, the College wants to hear the stories of accomplishments and success from students from the College, such as getting good grades or winning a sports game. The “Hi!” campaign showcases how students feel as part of the community.
Students at the College can participate by posting a picture of themselves with a professor, friends, a sports team or organization on Instagram or Instagram stories and using the hashtag #TCNJsaysHi. Students can also use one of the “Hi!” phrases, such as #HiTCNJ, #HiDemand, #HiHopes and #HiAchiever in a post on social media, to talk about how they are involved on campus.
Prizes for participating in this new campaign, by posting pictures and tagging or direct messaging @tcnj_official on Instagram, include phone wallets, baseball hats, laptop stickers, water bottles, food and limited-edition long sleeve T-shirts. Each week these exclusive prizes and selected winners will be announced.
SG Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Eashwayne Haughton announced that Spring Diversity and Inclusion Week will be during the second week in April.
On Monday, April 8, SG will hold “TCNJ Epcot” in the Brower Student Center from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. The annual event highlights the College’s diversity and will be presented with an art and culture theme this semester.
A “Privilege Walk” in Lions’ Stadium at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, will allow students to learn the effects of societal power. On April 10, the “Second Annual TCNJ Diversity Summit” will take place in the Brower Student Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The “#IAmTCNJ Monologues” will be held Thursday, April 11 in Mayo Concert Hall at 8 p.m. These monologues were last held in October of 2018 where students took to the stage to discuss their lives at the College and advocate for their experiences surrounding diversity and inclusion.
SG announced that the “For the Culture” event will be taking place in the Decker Social Space at 8:30 p.m. on April 12. The event will have music, food and dancing for students to take enjoy while they take the time to learn about each other’s diverse backgrounds.
(03/26/19 5:29am)
By Alex Shapiro
Columnist
Student Government welcomed College President Kathryn Foster and approved a new club at its meeting on March 13.
The general body introduced a resolution titled, “B-S2019-04: Student Org Bylaws Changes,” which is intended to better align the responsibilities of the Office of Student Involvement and the Student Organization Recognition Process.
The bill will be debated further at the next meeting.
SG then welcomed members of the Pakistani Student Association, who gave a presentation on why they believe they should be a recognized student organization by the College.
PSA wanted the College’s recognition for booking space, advertising events and growing its member base. The organization hopes to host regular meetings and cultural events to foster intercultural understanding.
SG voted for PSA to become a student organization at the College.
SG then welcomed Foster, who presented the “Framework for Budget and Priority Setting.”
Foster gave the presentation to inform the general body about her ideas for budgeting in the future at the College.
According to Foster, there is an increased demand for school services, which include mental health and academic support. There is also a demand for a more diverse, equitable and inclusive institution.
Foster explained that the College holds values of excellence, engagement, integrity, inclusiveness and self-reflection very strongly.
She mentioned various institutional priorities, all of which were created to ensure that students have the resources necessary to complete their higher education. Those priorities include being a national exemplar of excellent, affordable, public higher-education and creating an engaged, collaborative and inclusive community.
The priorities involve, increasing mentoring programs and closing graduation gaps, increasing full-time equivalent enrollment and graduate programs and further developing alumni engagement and public relations strategies.
Next, the general body voted on “R-S2019-02 Water Resolution.” The bill “requires institutions of higher education to test for lead in drinking water annually, report test results and install lead filters or treatment devices.”
This bill was made out of concern for the quality of Ewing’s water and the recent reports released by Trenton Water Works, which listed various contaminant levels in the water the College receives.
After a general body vote, the resolution passed and will be put into effect immediately.
The Class of 2021 announced the sophomore class trip to Spruce Street Harbor Park in Philadelphia, which will take place on March 31.
The Class of 2022 announced that it is still selling tickets until March 30 for the Spring Formal.
(03/14/19 12:00am)
By Alexandra Shapiro
Columnist
Student Government discussed multiple initiatives that the College is taking toward creating a community more supportive of mental health awareness at its meeting on March 6.
SG began its meeting by welcoming Assistant Vice President for Health and Wellness Mark Forest and Dean of Students and Title IX Coordinator Jordan Draper, who gave a presentation on mental health and wellness resources at the College.
According to the presenters, the College uses a “Wellness Wheel” to look at not just one aspect of an individual’s life, but the emotional, intellectual, physical, social, environmental, financial and spiritual wellness levels of all students.
Forest presented the following data, which was gathered from the American College Health Association in 2018. According to Forest, 59.1 percent of college students nationwide felt overwhelming anxiety in the past year (with 65.1 percent at the College); 27.4 percent of college students nationwide (38.5 percent at the College) felt so depressed that it was hard to function in school; 10.6 percent of college students nationwide seriously considered suicide during the past year (9.3 percent at the College).
According to Forest, the most common presenting problems of college students are anxiety, depression and relationship issues.
Forest and Draper said that there has been an increase in the demand for services at Counseling and Psychological Services. Both scheduled appointments and walk-in appointments have been rising in recent semesters.
They announced that staffing at CAPS has increased by 50 percent since the fall of 2014. With more staff, CAPS is able to offer services to more people and therefore be more available to the community.
CAPS now has enhanced its referral capabilities for long-term treatment with community counseling collaboratives. It is also instituting increased programming in Health and Wellness.
Draper spoke about CARE Reports, which are used for students who would like to recommend other students for services through the Dean of Students’ office.
SG proceeded to discuss a resolution, “In Support of Assembly Bill,” which requires institutions of higher education to test for lead in drinking water annually, report test results and install lead filters or treatment devices accordingly.
This bill will be further discussed next week.
Executive President of SG Brooke Chlebowski announced that College President Kathryn Foster and other administrators are coming to the general body meeting next week to give a presentation discussing the College’s budget priorities.
Senior engineering major Ricky Brum, and vice president for advancement, announced that SG and the Freshman Class Council will be holding a Panera Bread fundraiser on Wednesday, April 3.
Senior communication studies and women’s, gender and sexuality studies double major Rachel Smith, and vice president of community relations, stated that Trenton Middle School Day will take place on April 10. The event will allow students from Trenton Middle School to visit the College to learn about campus life and career fields.
The Junior Class Council will be holding a sticker fundraiser on Tuesday, March 12 through Friday, March 15, with the College and Class of 2020 themed stickers both for juniors and for any student at the College.
The council announced that it received funding from SFB for gift cards for TCNJ’s Got Talent, which will be held on April 2. Details are to come via email soon.
The Class of 2021 announced that it is working on its apparel designs, with more details to be announced soon. The class is also actively searching for venues to hold a spring formal.
The Class of 2022 announced that its formal will be taking place on March 30. More details are said to be coming soon.
(03/05/19 5:31am)
By Alexandra Shapiro
Columnist
Student Government discussed policies and voted on two student organizations and an impeachment bill at its meeting on Feb. 27
SG began the meeting by welcoming Jennifer Palmgren, the assistant provost for academic affairs. Palmgren attended the meeting to discuss the College’s shared governance system.
Palmgren described certain procedures, programs and institutional missions that are reviewed through a shared governance between SG and the administration.
The governance document, “Governance Structure and Processes 2017,” outlined the charges and membership of governance committees and councils. Palmgren urged anyone interested in the governance process to look at governance.tcnj.edu for more information.
Next, SG welcomed Staff Senate President Joseph O’Brien, who encouraged the SG to fill out a survey designed to acknowledge superior staff and give exceptional employees recognition.
Members of an organization called the Healing Arts Club testified before the general body on why it should be recognized as a student organization at the College.
The club wants to engage the campus community in different crafting activities that also serve as a way for people to develop a healthy creative outlet.
SG voted to approve the club, which will be recognized as an official club at the College after a registration process.
Members of the Kinkz and Koilz organization also testified why it should be a recognized student organization by the College. Its goal is to educate on different hair textures, curls and backgrounds of different hairstyles. The organization aims to provide a safe space for students to embrace their natural hair and roots, embrace their inner beauty and boost their self-confidence.
Kinkz and Koilz was approved by the SG body and plans on registering to become a recognized club at the College.
Next, SG debated a bill titled, “Open Session Impeachments,” which was made in an effort to publicize impeachment processes and have proceedings voted on in an open session that includes associate members of SG.
After a general body vote, this bill was not passed and will not be taking effect.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Niki Taneja informed the general body that senators for the Schools of Arts and Communication, Humanities and Social Sciences, Nursing, Health and Exercise Science and the Public Health program will be announced next week.
SG also announced upcoming events. The rescheduled spring career fair will be held on Monday, March 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Brower Student Center Room 100.
The main event for the Celebration of Student Achievement’s month-long showcase is scheduled for May 8 throughout various buildings on campus. The deadline to sign up for the Celebration of Student Achievement is March 22.
Senior communication studies major and Vice President of Student Services Taylor Mislan announced the event “Out of the Darkness Walk,” which will take place on April 6 and was created to support mental health and suicide awareness. Further details on the event have not yet been announced.
(02/19/19 2:00pm)
By Alexandra Shapiro
Columnist
The general body swore in the new vice presidents of governmental affairs, senior finance and political science double major Justin Brach and sophomore marketing major Sam Koch. Junior biology major Uyen Vu was sworn is as a senator of science.
Next, SG introduced a new bill titled, “Open Session Impeachments.”
The goal of the bill is “to ensure that all impeachment proceedings of all voting and associate members of student government occur in open session to promote and exemplify transparency.”
There will be more details and a vote taken on this bill next week.
SG introduced a student organization called “Late Night Take.” The governmental affairs committee heard a testimony from the members of “Late Night Take” on why the group should be recognized as an official student organization at the College.
“Late Night Take” plans on hosting events for this semester, which include viewings of TV shows for Black History Month, issues regarding sexual assault, student health and culture and holiday events.
More long-term-goals include expanding membership and cosponsoring with the Black Student Union and other organizations for Black History Month.
After a general body vote, “Late Night Take” passed approval and is taking its final steps for recognition as an official organization at the College.
Next, SG debated on resolution R-S2019-01. This resolution supports survivors of sexual violence and the current procedures for Title IX.
It reads, “The SG of TCNJ insists upon the independence in the investigation and adjudication process conducted by our office of Title IX and believes this independence is imperative to the pursuit of justice.”
This resolution, which raises awareness for sexual assault survivors, was passed.
Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion Eashwayne Haughton, a senior philosophy major, announced a new project, Spring Diversity and Inclusion Week, which is currently under construction.
SG class council representatives reported on what was in store for each class. The class of 2019 has been focusing on senior send-off, which will be the main priority of the council this semester. The class is also anticipating one more senior night.
The class of 2020 will be holding a Krispy Kreme fundraiser on Feb. 18 and Feb. 19.
The class of 2021 is planning a formal and an apparel sale. The class finished its candy gram sale and is looking forward to electing a new treasurer.
The class of 2022 is still selling apparel for one more week and accepts cash and venmo for payment.
(02/12/19 8:44pm)
By Alexandra Shapiro
Staff Writer
Student Government welcomed Interim Vice President for the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Ivonne Cruz at the beginning of its meeting on Feb. 6.
Cruz claimed that the search for a permanent vice president will be happening throughout the spring semester. She also stressed the importance of being cognizant of all groups of people around campus.
Cruz mentioned short term initiatives with which she is involved as vice president, including recognizing trends of inclusion at the College and being proactive in addressing future bias issues, which is where the Bias Response Team will come into play.
Cruz said that she is not only working on policy and programming, but she is also trying to change the entire campus culture.
Cruz realizes her initiatives are not easy and will take a lot of commitment. Along with her team in the OIDEI, she stated her readiness to set a foundation for a permanent vice president.
Members of SG were concerned that Cruz’s new initiatives might replace Title IX. Cruz responded by stating that the current policies of Dean of Students and Title IX Coordinator Jordan Draper will be the same as they were before.
The OIDEI will be collaborating with Title IX to ensure the safety of students, according to Cruz. She also mentioned future plans to further implement training for faculty and staff.
SG also welcomed Lauren Bsales, the executive director of the Student Finance Board. Bsales came to the meeting with an update on the SFB budget, stating that since there is a surplus now allocated for the spring semester, clubs and organizations are encouraged to request funds for different events and activities.
“There is no written guideline from year to year,” Bsales said. “Baselines on what to use are set from past events and what has been spent in the past.”
SG introduced a resolution entitled, R-S2019-01. This resolution provides support for survivors of sexual violence and includes the current Title IX resolution, which will be discussed more in depth next week.
The resolution states, “Be it resolved: (SG) of TCNJ supports survivors of sexual violence and discrimination and seeks to promote policies that provide them with opportunities to seek justice and have access to a safe learning and living community.” SG will vote on the bill at its next meeting on Feb. 13.
Two vice president appointments were set for SG. Sophomore marketing major Sam Koch was named vice president of finance and administration, and senior finance and political science double major Justin Brach was named VP of governmental affairs.
(12/04/18 5:20pm)
By Alex Shapiro
Staff Writer
Student Government began its meeting on Nov. 28 by hosting men’s basketball, who persuaded the General Body on why its should be considered an official club at the College.
The group claimed there is currently a lot of interest for the team, with two sophomores ready to lead once the seniors graduate in the spring.
Recreational Basketball has been on campus for multiple years at the College and gained recognition by the Sport Club Advisory Council, but Men’s Basketball intends on hosting tryouts for competitive membership, introducing tournaments and fostering a community that offers recreational basketball to students across campus.
Men’s Basketball was voted a club at the College by the SG general body.
SG then welcomed Don Trahan from the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion to present. He spoke in front of the general body on the topic of universal inclusion, claiming that students should have more foundation to decide if the College fosters an inclusive atmosphere on campus.
Trahan emphasized that universal inclusion is a model and mindset that the College is still in the process of trying to fully achieve.. He also claimed that the inclusivity will be very intentional, especially considering President Kathryn Foster’s prioritization of diversity on campus.
Taylor Mislan, a senior communication studies major and vice president of student services, announced that Finals Fest is coming, but that details about the event have not been decided. She was able to confirm that SG plans on providing smoothies, bagels and pizza at the event.
On Monday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m., there will be an Active Shooter Preparedness Training taking place in room 100W of the Brower Student Center. This event is free and open to everyone. Campus Police will be present to prepare participants on what to do in the case of an active shooter.
SG announced its Freshman Class Council election results. The organization congratulated Laura Yuan as president-elect, Ami Patel as vice president-elect of operations and Alea Ferrigno as vice president-elect of public relations.
(11/26/18 11:36pm)
By Alex Shapiro
Staff Writer
Student Government met with College Spokesman David Muha and recognized one student organization during its general body meeting on Nov. 14.
Muha introduced the new “Hi” pamphlets, which will be used for undergraduate admissions for the upcoming school year. He said that the pictures of the campus advertised in the pamphlets emphasized the importance and the closeness of the College community.
SG approved the Sher Bhangra dance group as a new club on campus. The organization introduces a different type of Indian dance that has gained interest among dancers over the years. The dance group started with two female students and now has more than 25 members who are interested in joining the team.
Sher Bhangra hopes to foster a low-pressure and fun environment. The dancers still participate in competitions, but the club stressed that the group also functions as a way to decompress from the pressures of school and to have a good time. Sher Bhangra plans on having performances and hosting events next semester.
SG then passed the Academic Event Bill, which was previously proposed at its general body meeting on Nov. 7. The bill, which aims to facilitate engagement between senator cohorts and their respective schools, will immediately go into effect.
According to SG’s description, the bill stands to benefit each senator’s respective school while making sure that the senators help develop a sense of community among students and promote academic success. Each cohort will be responsible for deciding how they want to execute the plan for each school.
The Class Council of 2020 announced its next fundraiser, a basketball tournament, which will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 27 in the Recreation Center. Students can sign up as part of teams of three for a cost of $8 per person. Chipotle gift cards of $20 will be awarded to each individual member of the winning team. Each class’s Facebook page will have sign up document available.
(11/13/18 4:51am)
By Alex Shapiro
Staff Writer
Student Government met with the Library Building and Safety Committee during its general body meeting on Nov. 7. The committee proposed new changes in regards to its library study rooms.
The policy seeks to restrict the use of the library’s group study rooms to students, faculty and staff at the College. It also wants to ensure that study rooms are intended for collaborative school work and not for club meetings or extracurricular activities.
The new proposed policy also makes the study rooms on the first, third and fourth floors available on a first-come, first-served basis. All of the rooms on the second floor will be reservable using an app. Groups of three or more will have priority over the study rooms and all groups will have a maximum occupancy period of three hours.
The Library Building and Safety Committee is looking to work with an app that can tell students if a room is booked or not and will allow them to make study room reservations on their mobile devices. The committee hopes this plan will be in place for the fall 2019 semester.
SG then proposed a new Academic Event Bill, which would ensure that the senator cohorts host an academic event for their school each semester. The purpose of these events is to hold senator cohorts accountable for representing their academic school and increasing community engagement. The bill will be voted on at SG’s Nov. 14 meeting.
Taylor Mislan, SG’s vice president of student services and a senior marketing major, told the general body that preparations for Finals Fest are underway and promised more updates to come.
(10/30/18 4:56am)
By Alex Shapiro
Staff Writer
Student Government met with Student Events Scheduler and Coordinator Carly Samuels to elaborate on the process of booking rooms at the College, rejected one resolution and passed one bill during its general body meeting on Oct. 24.
Samuels outlined several deadlines in order for student organizations to properly book meeting rooms, lounges and facilities.
Events in any general classroom in an academic building must be request 48 hours in advance. Events that do not require any additional College resources, such as the Brower Student Center Meeting Rooms or the Decker Social Space, must be requested 10 business days in advance.
Events that require permission from College personnel and/or additional College resources or services must be requested 20 business days in advance. Any event in the Arts Facilities or Athletic Spaces, including Kendall Mainstage Theater, Mayo Concert Hall, the Don Evans Black Box Theater and the Student Recreation Center must be requested 30 business days in advance.
SG’s general body discussed its Voting Day Resolution, which requests that the College cancel classes for this year’s midterm election on Tuesday, Nov. 6. The resolution it aims to ensure that students, faculty and staff can participate in midterm and general elections.
According to SG, the resolution could help increase the College’s midterm voting rate, which was 18 percent in 2014.
Due to conflicting concerns from general body members, the resolution did not pass.
SG passed a bill titled the Deputy Speaker Revision Bill, which calls for the Speaker of the General Assembly solely to appoint the Deputy Speaker of the General Assembly. The deputy speaker’s role, as defined in SG’s constitution, is to assist the speaker, not to represent the General Assembly or the College’s student body.
SG will have a fundraiser at Frutta Bowls on Tuesday, Oct. 30 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences is looking for a new senator. SG stated that applications for the position are due on Friday, Nov. 2 at 8 a.m.
Eashwayne Haughton, a senior philosophy major and vice president of diversity and inclusion, gave a special thanks to everyone who helped out with the inaugural diversity and inclusion week.
Haughton encouraged any student who is interested in becoming a diversity advocate to email him at haughte1@tcnj.edu by Friday, Nov. 9.
(10/23/18 1:31am)
By Alex Shapiro
Staff Writer
Student Government met with Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Health & Wellness Mark Forest, and recognized one student organization during its general body meeting on Oct. 10.
Forest addressed the services that the Division of Health and Wellness provides on campus. These services include the Alcohol and Drug Education program, Anti-Violence Initiatives, the Collegiate Recovery Program, Recreation and Wellness and Student Health Services.
Some members of the general body explained that rigorous coursework at the College was a large factor of students’ stress and anxiety.
Forest presented data from a survey of the College completed last spring to SG’s general body. According to the data, 65.1 percent of students felt overwhelming anxiety, 38.5 percent of students felt so depressed they found it difficult to function during the school year and 9.3 percent of students had seriously considered suicide during the past year.
Forest highlighted the progress made by Counseling and Psychological Services since the fall semester of 2014.
According to Forest, CAPS has since increased staffing by more than 50 percent. The services now provide enhanced referral capabilities for longer term treatment and increased programing in health and wellness, resiliency and holistic health.
According to a national survey by the American Psychological Association, college students often experience anxiety (41.6 percent), depression (36.4 percent) and relationship problems (35.8 percent).
SG approved NAfME, the National Association for Music Educators. NAfME’s goal is to create a lasting community of music educators that can support early career music educators with professional development opportunities, club members explained.
The organization plans on hosting and co-sponsoring events on campus with other music-based organizations. The program also plans on expanding group membership and helping the College’s Department of Music with events and auditions.
SG formally announced that the lion statue next to the Brower Student Center will be revealed before the Homecoming tailgate begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27. SG will also host a “Pie an SG” event on Tuesday, Oct. 30 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. outside the Student Center.
The Sophomore Class Council announced its pajama themed movie night will be held on Nov. 6.
SG is sponsoring Red Tape @ TCNJ on Friday, Oct. 26 at noon in the Student Center Room 216. Elizabeth Bapasola, the assistant vice president for student affairs and Gary Miller, the director of compliance and privacy officer at the College, will discuss with students the College’s institutional bureaucracy and new policies the school plans on implementing.
(10/09/18 2:21am)
By Alex Shapiro
Staff Writer
Student Government approved one club and passed one bill during its general body meeting on Oct. 3.
SG members discussed a bill that allows provisional students to vote in upcoming SG elections. Many SG members discussed how some provisional students feel left out after not being able to participate in this year’s fall SG election.
Voting on this bill was postponed and will be revisited in next week’s meeting.
SG passed a bill that required 75 percent of elected members to be present in order to vote for the speaker of General Assembly and the Parliamentarian.
Student government approved Theta Tau, a co-ed professional engineering fraternity. Theta Tau outlined its goals and purpose, which includes programs to promote the social, academic and professional development of its members. In its first year at the College, Theta Tau aims to foster mentorship, increase awareness, bring in guest speakers and host study events for all engineering majors.
Lauren Katz, a sophomore elementary education and psychology double major and a senator for the School of Education, spoke on the cohort meeting held last week by the School of Education. Katz attended a meeting for student leaders within the School of Education in hopes of creating transparency and open communication. She hopes to cosponsor and help promote some of these organizations’ events.
Brooke Chlebowski, executive president of SG and senior special education and iSTEM double major, announced that Mark Forest, the director of Counseling and Psychological Services is attending SG’s meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 10.
Taylor Mislan, SG’s vice president of student services and a senior marketing major, reported on details for SG’s upcoming Resilience Week, during which there will be therapy dogs, humanitarian yoga and more. CAPS and Anti-Violence Initiatives will also be hosting events.
SG announced its spirit wear flash mob on Oct.22 in Brower Student Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Both the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021 will be having Moonlight Cruise events. The Class of 2020’s cruise will be on Saturday, Oct. 13 and the Class of 2021’s cruise will be on Oct. 20.