The General Board Meeting for the Student Government Association began at 8:00 PM.
Reports & Presentations
There are new faculty working for Northern Vermont University – Lyndon. With the leave of Erin Rossetti, the position of Director of Student Life was open. Three months into the semester, Paul Levine assumed the position. Along with Paul Levine, Trevor Utton has been brought on as the new Assistant Director of Student Life. He just came from Goddard College where he was working in I.T. and is an alumnus of NVU-Lyndon. Both are looking forward to working with students.
Rawniesha Davis, one of three student leaders of Lyndon FAIR, an organization on campus that fights for social justice, invited the attendees of the SGA meeting to have an open discussion about the flags the student body intends to hang up. The flags specifically discussed were the Black Lives Matter flag and the LGBTQ+ Flag. Davis asked the reasoning behind the flags and what the Student Government would want to accomplish by flying them. Class Representative Jasmyn Wilkinson said “Flying these flags, for me at least, shows students on campus that we are inclusive and welcoming.”
This brought Davis to another line of thinking, “What are we doing [now] to make minorities feel welcome at the school?” Second-year Dakota McWee mentioned how the SGA previously funded NVUnity and the VSCS Anti-Racism Pledge was approved by the Board of Trustees. Joshua Dick of the NVU Gardening Club said “If we do put these flags up, incoming students in the future or prospective students on campus tours will see these flags and understand what our school represents and that we welcome everyone,” he said.
Davis then told the SGA that “There have been negative consequences for minorities because of these flags being flown in some incidents. What is your plan in this sort of situation?” Dick suggested meetings were set up with those opposing the idea. Brianna Orbin, who works for Public Safety, said “It might be a good idea to contact Public Safety directly to have reassurance between students and Public Safety that any 311 filed is taken seriously, and any other issue would be taken seriously should something happen.”
Davis also serves on the Student Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force and was joined remotely by Sabra Anne Snyder to present the Anti-Racism Pledge that has recently been approved by the Board of Trustees. Snyder stated the task force had been working with other representatives across the college system for over a year to create an Anti-Racism Pledge, including making public outreaches trying to pull not just opinions but supporters. The board voted to adopt this pledge on October 25th. The Board of Trustees and the DEI committee felt that they could support this because the schools have already been actively working toward this. Snyder wants it to be clear that they aren’t yet looking for signatures. Right now, they are working on getting the pledge online and accessible for people to view. The pledge, which can be read in full here, will be in full enactment next semester.
There is $67,868.91 available in the SGA financial account, the total amount being $93,968.91. It is highly encouraged that clubs request money for events in the future.
Discussion & Action Items
SGA President Gillian MacDonald and Financial Controlled Patrick Wickstrom are planning a Winter Ball, a formal or semi-formal for Lyndon students paid for by the Student Government. They requested $7,500 from the general fund be set aside for the ball, which would go towards the venue, providing transportation, catering, and a DJ. Ten years ago, AMS hosted an annual semi-formal. MacDonald and Wickstrom are using this opportunity to bring a formal event back to campus. Both said they are trying to go as far as they can for this event because a lot of first and second years never had a prom, and they want there to be larger events on campus. A motion to fund the full cost of this event was taken and approved.
Club & Committee Updates
On Saturday, November 13th at 12:00 PM in Veteran’s Park, the Gardening Club will host a spring bulb planting event. Everybody is invited to join. They plan on planting 800 bulbs around campus.
Dance Ensemble will have their Fall Recital on November 13th at 7:00 PM in the Alexander Twilight Theater.