PSGA Blog Number Seven: Probation Resolution Policy Debated, New Senator and Justice Appointed

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the PSGA held its seventh Senate meeting of the semester. An issue that caused major discussion was the Probation Resolution policy. This is a document stating that the college has the right to make sure certain students are in proper academic standing if they’re involved with the PSGA.

The changes to the document proposed at the meeting consisted of including the MEC, GPC, and Senate appointees in the resolution. The motion to amend the document to include these positions failed, but not without much debate among the PSGA. One student that spoke out was Parliamentarian Russell Zambito, whose position would be in jeopardy if the document were to pass eventually.

“This seemed like an attack on me,” said Zambito. “I have no power.” According to Senator of the Olde Allison Portney, none of the Student Life assistants were contacted to aid in writing this document. “Does this really stand?” asked Portney. “They left out a body of students that should have been involved.”

Coordinator of Finance Nico Marceca and Melissa Thornburg, a staff member of Student Life and the PSGA advisor, recommended looking at the situation in a broader sense. “Consider the overall document and not just one thing,” said Marceca. Thornburg said, “We decided to make it clear that we would work with you guys to decide who would be checked. Don’t think of it in terms of who’s there now.”

In response to this, Zambito suggested that the Diversity Coordinator should be checked for academic standing. “I don’t like this idea because it allows the college to have too much power over the students,” said Zambito. “Why can the college remove the PSGA executives from their job? Why does the college have the jurisdiction to tell us what we can and cannot do based on our grades?”

Thornburg reminded Zambito and the Senate that although the PSGA is a separate entity from the college, it is important to recognize that the two are linked. “You guys would not exist without Purchase College,” she said. “That’s just the reality of the situation. The biggest reason we are concerned about you sitting on positions of power is because you’re here to get a degree and we want you to do well.”

According to Chair of the Senate Brittany Mayes, this is something that the college wants to put through and is suggesting to the PSGA. It is not required to be included.

Mayes also brought up a bylaw to adjust the ratio of senators to academic schools. A motion to adopt this bylaw was passed.

A motion was also passed to appoint a new Senator of Alumni Village, Ben Shweky. He told the Senate that he would like to put money towards fixing the problem of bacteria infected water in Alumni. He is not currently involved in any clubs or organizations, but he intends to become more active. Aaron Levine was also appointed Associate Justice, which entails providing checks and balances as well as interpreting the constitution.

Senators were appointed to sit on certain college committees, which included the Educational Policies Committee, the Budget Committee, the Diversity Committee, and the Campus Life Committee.

According to this week’s executive reports, President Kevin Collymore is attending a meeting with the SUNY Chancellor to discuss the Strategic Plan, which will affect all current and future SUNY students.