SGA announces increase in applications for appointed positions, plans for final assembly meeting
Syracuse University's Student Government Association saw a rise in appointed cabinet applications and approved registered student organizations’ advanced allocation requests during the penultimate meeting of its 68th session. Leonardo Eriman | Asst. Video Editor
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As Syracuse University’s Student Government Association begins to conclude its 68th session, it discussed this year’s increase in cabinet applications for the fall 2025 semester and approved registered student organizations’ advanced allocation requests during its Monday meeting.
SGA President German Nolivos, who will continue in his role next year, said over 90 students applied to be in the cabinet, marking the highest number of applicants he’s seen during his career. The 45 open positions, including chief of staff, vice president of academic affairs and vice president of diversity and inclusion, will mostly be contested.
Nolivos has said one of his administration’s goals is to bring more competition to SGA’s elections and appointment process.
“We’re bringing in the best of the best,” Nolivos said. “People want to join this organization. It’s amazing to see how many students are eager to get involved and lead.”
The association has sent follow-up emails to all applicants to schedule interviews for the positions, which will ensure a merit-based selection process. Each year, the new SGA president, vice president and board of elections chair select a transition committee to assist them in the review process, Nolivos wrote in a Monday night statement to The Daily Orange.
This year’s committee consists of four senior assembly members who will help the executives select cabinet members and other appointments. Cabinet members will need to be confirmed by the assembly during the final meeting next week.
SGA also doubled last year’s student participation in this spring’s elections, with a record of over 2,000 students — or 14% of the undergraduate population — casting ballots. Nolivos said the increase in appointment applicants is further evidence of student interest in SGA.
“Genuinely this (increase), at the beginning of this year … this was an end goal. This is something that we didn’t know was even possible,” Nolivos said in his speech to the assembly. “I didn’t know how we were going to do this, but you did an incredible job making it happen.”
Tim Phelps, SGA’s finance board secretary, answered members’ concerns about the rollover funding bill passed at last week’s meeting. The bill aims to prioritize short-term and emergency funding while also limiting the use of rollover funds for ongoing initiatives.
“I think that these past few years have seen rollovers funding allocated in a way that’s based on the fact that there’s an excess of money in that account, not a lack thereof,” Phelps said. “We’re in a paradigm shift right now, and we need to think that way.”
The association also reviewed its spring advanced allocation bill, which outlined funding requests from all registered student organizations for the fall semester. Leach presented a list of RSOs receiving full, partial or denied funding approvals, which the assembly then voted on.
Out of the applications submitted, 23 were fully approved, 7 were approved with contingencies, 33 received partial funding, 14 had partial contingent approval and 30 were denied. Leach said all RSOs that received partial or denied funding requests can appeal the decision. The window to submit appeals will open Wednesday and close Friday.
SGA’s Speaker of the Assembly, Kennedy Williams, said the 68th assembly’s final meeting on April 21 will include the official swearing-in of the newly-elected and appointed members. After the ceremony, members of the 69th assembly will conduct their first official meeting.
Other business:
- The association passed the Resolution in Support of the United States Forest Service and National Park Services bill, which calls on policymakers to protect public lands and its caretakers. The bill was also passed recently by SUNY ESF’s Mighty Oak Student Assembly.
- SGA discussed preparations for its annual formal, which is open to the entire campus. Nolivos said students will receive further information about the event via email.
