PSGA Blog Number 16: Approval of the New Constitution, Culture Shock After Parties, and Security Issues

The PSGA meeting on Wednesday, March 25, included the discussion and approval of the Steering Committee’s PSGA Constitution referendum proposal. Some of the many potential changes were the duties of the Major Events Coordinator, the General Programming Coordinator, and the Student Center Coordinator. The revisions also suggested the creation of two new positions within the Executive Board, the Student Activities Coordinator (within a new Student Activities Board) and the Coordinator of Histories and Documents.

According to the proposals, the SAC, who would be hired by the Executive Board, would oversee the actions of the MEC, GPC and SCC by sitting on their committees, reporting their matters to the Executive Board and Senate, and serving as interim position holder if the MEC, GPC, or SCC leave office. The SAC position was created so that the MEC and GPC could focus more on their specific duties instead of having to deal with the PSGA as well.

Senator of Commuters James Blinstrub disagreed with the potential SAC position by arguing that students seeking discussion with the MEC, GPC, or SCC would rather speak directly to them than approaching a middleman. “I agree that our current system needs changes, but I think adding this position to the constitution would overcomplicate things,” he said.

The Coordinator of Histories and Documents would be responsible for managing and maintaining the PSGA file archive, serving as Chair of the Data Retention and Evaluation Committee, and several other duties. PSGA President Joe Matoske said that the position would ensure legitimacy in the PSGA as a corporation because never before have they kept accurate records of previous actions and bylaws beyond a few years.

Matoske said that the PSGA’s current status of paperwork was so ill kept that if New York State were to audit them today, they would see incredible complications. “If any other corporation was unable to document paperwork of its past, it would be considered unprofessional and would convey that the employees would not know how to do their jobs,” said Chair of the Senate Russ Zambito.

Additional changes to the MEC, GPC, and SCC positions can be found here.

MEC Jeff Levin said he held a committee meeting Tuesday night and discussed potential DJ acts for the Culture Shock after parties. He said he would be sending offers to Jokers Of The Scene for Friday, April 17 and The Hood Internet for Saturday, April 18. Levin also said The Source magazine may sponsor the Culture Shock after parties and provide DJ entertainment.

According to Levin, hip-hop artist Drake’s management has been difficult in securing contracts and the artist’s performance date may be moved from Saturday, April 18 to Friday, April 17. Levin said he hopes to secure Drake’s contract within the next few weeks.

Levin said he spent nearly $4,000 on rides including The Gravitron and The Big Swing.

The MEC also said that The Cool Kids, Streetlight Manifesto, and Kiss Kiss were added to the list of confirmed acts for Culture Shock.

President Matoske said he, Joe Olenik, and Purchase College President Thomas J. Schwarz were discussing a potential front-gate security project to protect the campus from off-campus visitors. According to Matoske, the idea included placing an officer on patrol near the campus gates at night from Thursday to Saturday and recording the names of those who entered if they were not Purchase students. 

“If there were ever an incident, it would only act as one more measure of security to protect the campus,” said Matoske. The Senate disagreed with the potential project and voted against endorsing.

Coordinator of Clubs, Organizations, and Services Kevin Collymore said he would be working with Finance Coordinator Danielle DePalma to freeze specific bank accounts due to lack of attendance at committee meetings as stated in the PSGA Constitution.

DePalma said she spent the week reviewing budget proposals from all clubs and services and was holding a committee meeting Wednesday night to discuss future grants and money allocation.