The Student Government Association (SGA) held its fourth general body meeting (GBM) of the 111th session on September 5th, 2023.
Cabinet Reports
The Student Body President Ryan Chou has been working with the Alumni Council and Office of Alumni Relations to develop a student-alumni survey and email assessing students’ and alums’ connections with one another. Student Body Secretary Amy Li will be updating Bylaws and distributing merch from last semester. Student Body Treasurer Jenny Chen stated that the SGA budget has not been released, but it has been received, according to LEED.
First Reading of Phi Delta Theta Crab Fest Funding Bill
Senator Sabour Shaik and Maahi Ameer proposed a funding bill for the Phi Delta Theta Crab Fest, an all-you-can-eat crab-eating event to raise money for philanthropy, with proceeds going to the Packard Center, a well-renowned ALS research institute, and Live Like Lou, which supports ALS patients, families, and communities.
During a 10-minute moderated caucus, Senator Cruz Moreno asked for justification regarding the budget of $3750 for 30 bushels (each bushel will feed 12 people). They cited a projected turnout of around 300-350 people, referencing the 500-person turnout at a family engagement event last year. They expect their total budget to be around $5300 and hope to raise $6000 and donate $4000-$5000 to the aforementioned institutes. They reassured SGA that most of the costs can be amended up to the week of the event, though SGA requested more concrete documentation that breaks down the costs and estimated “profit.” After much discussion regarding the logistics, such as food transportation, clean-up, and food prioritization, the bill was forwarded to the Finance Committee.
First Reading of Academic Senators Bylaw Update
Senator Timothy Huang and President Resham Talwar discussed the Academic Senators Bylaw Update Bill, which intends to expand the number and roles of the Academic Senators to potentially include meetings with Vice Dean Roe of KSAS and other Deans at least twice a year, and address issues distinct from Academic Affairs and consequently more tailored to each respective school (WSE, KSAS). Because the current bylaws are oriented around the 2022-2023 SGA Administration, these updates are expected to reflect the 111th session’s current structure and practices. It will also clarify the roles of the Academic Affairs Committee, which will work on goals pertaining to all students of undergraduate academic wings within the university. However, the vice chair of the Academic Affairs Committee will act as liaison between committee and Academic Senators.
Second Reading of the Board of Trustees Resolution
Student Body Vice President Jackson Morris and President Resham Talwar clarified the Trustees’ distribution, wherein the President of the Alumni Council will serve in the BoT and have voting power. They plan to release the news through the Baltimore Sun and publicly disseminate the information to the student body via email. Following a unanimous vote to pass the resolution, the meeting was adjourned.
Committee/Caucus Updates:
The Committee on Health, Safety, and Sustainability met on September 9, 2023 to discuss Vice Chair elections and potential collaborations, to which Srigouri Oruganty was appointed. The members of the committee also discussed potential collaborations with organizations in Johns Hopkins University and Baltimore, and they plan to reach out to these organizations to plan events for the coming year.
The First-Generation, Limited-Income (FLI) Caucus sent an email to the director of FLI, the FLI Initiatives fellow, and the director of Student Mentoring (OneHop) to establish a connection and understanding of current directives. As of now, they are finalizing initiatives for the upcoming school year, including a new FLI mentoring program with JHU faculty and staff, as well as a OneHop-FLI section.
The Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American (APIDA) Caucus created a master calendar to collaborate and keep each other informed about any progress with cultural organizations. The Inter-Asian Council (IAC) will meet with the Vice-Provost of Admissions on Thursday to discuss affirmative action and Dr. Charles Lu, the Dean of Multicultural Affairs, on Friday.