PSGA Blog Number 14: Culture Shock Line Up, New Finance Bylaws, and the End of the Stood Probation

Recently impeached Major Events Coordinator Jeff Levin announced confirmed and tentative bands on the Culture Shock line up on Wednesday, March 4 at the PSGA meeting. Levin said that Friday, April 17, The Dear Hunter, The Red Chord, Paper Route, Streetlight Manifesto (tentative), and Murphy’s Law (tentative) are on the list. Saturday, April 18th, Telepathe, Margot and the Nuclear So-so’s, The Paper Raincoat, The Bread and Puppet Theatre, The Tallest Man on Earth (tentative), The Cool Kids (tentative), Heavy Mojo (tentative) will play. Menya is scheduled for the after party. Eight other acts will be announced. 

Levin said that all tentative bands announced would be confirmed by the end of the week as final contracts were pending to be signed. 

According to Levin, he spent nearly $30,000 on talent, $10,000 on the stage, and another $10,000 on security which left nearly $16,000 left for talent. He said he was considering asking an additional $5,000 from the General Reserve in order to fund T-shirts, rides, and other expenses.

Levin attended his Judicial Board hearing today to decide the fate of his impeachment. The results of that hearing will be released in less than 48 hours.

PSGA President Joe Matoske announced the end of the Stood's probation period. Last month, the building was placed on probation due to reports of student misconduct and fire violations. “The college has applauded all of our efforts to maintain a safe and enjoyable environment that didn’t compromise the school’s decision to not directly oversee the maintenance and operation of the space,” he said.

Finance Coordinator Danielle DePalma proposed changes to the PSGA finance bylaws and the Senate approved all but two of them. Among the approved changes was the addition of an unallocated PSGA fund that would be budgeted on an annual basis. Unlike the General Reserve, which is not a visible balance, the unallocated fund would be visible to anyone seeking its budget records, Depalma said.

“The discretionary, or unallocated fund shall be a certain sum of money derived from the mandatory student activities fee that will serve as a line item in the budget for which to draw funds,” said DePalma. All money moving to and from the account would be tracked and recorded by the Finance Coordinator and presented to the Senate at the soonest meeting, she said.

The Senate decided the bylaws would be tabled for further discussion. There was confusion surrounding NYPIRG and its contract with the administration. According to PSGA officials, a court case recently decided that schools could no longer fund groups that promote political activism. NYPIRG has relied on PSGA funding and their future funding was made unclear in accordance with the case.

The Senate approved an office bylaw that would remove the job of Print Media Office Manager from The Independent's charter, as that is a position salaried by the PSGA, and therefore provides a service to the PSGA as a whole.

Coordinator of Clubs, Organizations, and Services Kevin Collymore proposed a CoCOaS bylaw that the Senate approved stating that every club and organization charter must include procedures to fill any vacancies for executive positions listed in their charters.

Collymore said that he would be asking $4,500 from the General Reserve to replenish the CoCOs general fund, which was at $403. He said the transaction included a transfer of money from the CoCOaS supply fund to the CoCOs fund, and $1,500 of it would be transferred back into the CoCOaS supply fund with the rest going to CoCOs.

General Programming Coordinator Becky Sellinger announced her events for the upcoming weeks including DNA extractions at the Stood on Saturday, March 7. According to Sellinger, the events over the past week have been very successful including last weekend’s rummage sale at the Stood and the two screenings of Milk.

After being presented by President Matoske, the Senate appointed Christopher Alley as a replacement Justice to the Judicial Board.