SG Update 2/16

United Way of Greater Rochester, a non-profit organization that pools fundraising and support efforts to help people and organizations in need, is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. In their efforts, they announced they will be looking to raise $400,000 this year. United Way gives its proceeds to various charity organizations it has deemed credible and trustworthy, ensuring each dollar donated is used to the best extent. The representatives stressed that every cent donated through RIT’s United Way is forwarded onward to these charities, with a zero percent overhead cost taken out. The organization announced it is planning a coin drive later this semester throughout campus dorms and apartments in a student-driven event.

Student Government (SG) President Farid Barquet, a fourth year Biotechnology and Molecular Bioscience and Biomedical Sciences double major, reviewed the procedures for the SG election season. An election kickoff is set to be held on Wednesday, Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the SAU. There will be no SG office hours during this event, as all SG members will be in attendance rather than in the office.

All Senator and RSO positions will be available, except for first-year senator and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) president. Additionally, the positions of SG president and vice president will also be available. With 19 positions open overall, Barquet encouraged students to run.

More information on SG elections can be found on SG's website.

Senate continued to discuss the C.11 Policy proposal on free speech and expression. While many senators admitted that the most vocal members of their constituency seemed against the policy, they believed there to be an abundance of misinformation circulating campus regarding this policy that contributed to these negative opinions. Many senators supported this policy; however, due to their constituencies’ disapproval, they felt uneasy voting one way or another. Instead, SG opted to postpone their endorsement vote on this policy for a few weeks in favor of hosting further open discussions regarding the C.11 Policy.

Barquet held the floor once again as he presented a PawPrints petition calling for a ban on professors mandating Career Fair attendance. The petition claimed that RIT professors have been known to give their students the task of attending the Career Fair and speaking with recruiters as a graded assignment. The petition argued that such assignments were inconvenient for those who were unqualified for co-ops, whose majors were not well-represented at the Career Fair or who had already accepted co-ops. With plans to investigate further, this project was charged to the Academics and Co-ops Committee.

Senate closed with birthday wishes for their interpreter, Jennifer.