SGA highlights transparency, addresses ODI closure at 1st fall meeting
Syracuse University’s Student Government Association discussed the university’s former Office of Diversity and Inclusion and elected 12 members to serve on its Finance Board, during it's Monday night meeting. Aaron Hammer | Staff Photographer
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Syracuse University’s Student Government Association hosted the first meeting of its 69th session Monday night, highlighting conversations surrounding the university’s former Office of Diversity and Inclusion and University Senate.
Executive Vice President Janese Fayson said SGA “hit the ground running” during welcome week with campus initiatives like the Glow Greek event and meetings with the Senior Vice President and Chief Student Experience Officer Allen Groves surrounding the status of the former Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
President German Nolivos said the former ODI’s main focus was on staff and faculty. He said students likely won’t directly feel the impact of its transformation into the Office of People and Culture.
Over the summer, SU closed the ODI and replaced it with the new People and Culture unit within the Office of Human Resources.
“The changes that we’re seeing are not that big of a change for the regular student,” he said. “They’re doing technically the same work that they have done now.”
As Chancellor Kent Syverud announced his resignation on Aug. 26, Nolivos said SGA will hold three spots on the search committee for Syverud’s successor as well as a new Provost.
On Tuesday, SU’s Board of Trustees appointed Shelly Fisher and Lisa Fontenelli to co-chair the committee that will lead the chancellor search. The full committee will be named by Sept. 19.
SGA also elected 12 members to serve on its Finance Board, with 12 nominees running for 12 seats; all were confirmed and sworn in. The Finance Board includes:
- Bryce Hazen
- David Alpert
- Nina Hans
- Alex Norton
- Ryan Bouchey
- Tim Phelps
- Meghavarshini Iska
- Omar Batista
- Anna Hacker
- Subhin Park
- Tamara Jaipaul
- Alison Lihanda
Speaker of the Assembly Emily Castillo-Melean said one of the board’s main goals is to be “highly productive” within legislative sessions, making sure assembly members understand their power and responsibilities.
“Nothing can happen in this organization without the assembly members,” Castillo-Melean said. “I want the students on campus to really know, if you have an issue, this is your representative for you.”
Elected board member Bouchey said he plans to use his experience working as a budget chair with the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity to increase transparency.
“What I want to bring to the board is just being able to be someone that an RSO can come to for clear and concise financing, helping people understand why their budget may have got approved, why it may have got denied.”
Additionally, SGA confirmed five students to its University Senate Caucus. The students include Max Lachut, Ruben Rojas Betanzos, Anna Mirer, Asher Gonzalez and Kenneth Lanterman.
All senate candidates emphasized their commitment to transparency and student advocacy. The assembly approved the candidates, and the University Senate members were sworn in.
Lachut, SGA’s speaker pro tempore, said he plans to bring a greater level of transparency to the meetings.
“Too few people know what happens in Senate meetings,” he said.
Gonzalez echoed that sentiment, saying he hopes to ensure all campus voices are reflected during administrative processes and university affairs.
Other Business:
- SGA discussed student concerns about the required AI-generated SU Health and Wellness online training modules through Barnes Center at The Arch. Nolivos said the university plans to explore alternatives to the modules.
