SGA approves Diversity and Inclusion ad hoc committee

By Julien Fernandez

Staff Writer

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST

Student Government Association approved the creation of a Diversity and Inclusion ad hoc Committee (D&I), chaired by Diversity and Inclusion Officer Ana Julia Ribeiro, at a meeting on Nov. 4.

Ribeiro said, “We live in a society that looks down upon young people, and unfortunately, that is our reality, and as young people, we need to stand up … for our beliefs and our values and our passions. I really have full faith in this community and every single person in this room for us to make a difference on this campus.” 

Publicist Taylor Royal asked for clarification on what the D&I Committee is for and said it is

similar to the Events Committee in its goal.

Ribeiro said, “[The D&I Committee is] specifically advocating for diversity topics on campus like racism,” and “building on what is lacking on our campus. 

Ribeiro said she plans for each committee member to have an assigned task.

She added, “Diversity is a really broad term, so it's easier to have a group of people working together to set a goal and reach that goal than to have just one person representing one thing that is so large.” 

Events Coordinator Alix Ayoub asked Parliamentarian Grant Alleyne and SGA Advisor Rachel Spezia if there needs to be a vice chair for the D&I Committee and if the election for that position would be held that night.

SGA President César Matos said it would not be necessary.

He said, “For an ad hoc committee, it could follow the structure of a normal committee, which does have a chair and vice chair, but an ad hoc is less formal. … [This] would effectively function as an ad hoc committee.”

Matos said the vice chair did not need to be selected, but once the D&I Committee was formed, the members could then vote on a vice chair.

Senator Caleb Connors asked how the work of this committee would be different from other diversity initiatives on campus.

Royal clarified Connors’ question, and asked what the D&I Committee is going to do. “‘What will the focus be?’ … ‘How are we going to address racism?’ … ‘How is this committee going to function and what are the objectives going to be?’”

After the line of questioning, Matos called for an executive session.

The motion passed with two senators in opposition.

Once the executive session had concluded, the formation of the D&I Committee was approved 16-1-0.

During the meeting, History Professor and Chair of the Academic Policies Committee (APC) Stefan Papaioannou was in attendance to speak to students about how the APC functions and what its role is in University governance.

Papaioannou spoke to SGA to inform them about the purpose and function of the APC and to encourage them, or other students, to get involved in the APC.

Papaioannou said there are three committee slots open to students.

He said students who are in good academic standing, full-time, and are a junior or a senior are eligible to join.

Papaioannou said the APC oversees the criteria for admission to FSU and “policies governing selective retention,” which determines what causes a student to be expelled from Framingham State.

He added, “There’s a lot that academic policy does that deeply affects the lives of the students.” The committee oversees the approval of the academic calendar every year and the timing of registration for students and student-athletes.

The committee also sets the guidelines for what counts as an academic policy infraction, Papaioannou said.

Papaioannou added an APC subcommittee is responsible for hearing appeals made by students charged with academic dishonesty. Students serving on APC also have the opportunity to join this subcommittee.

He said students who are not formally members of the committee can still attend the meetings and can make a proposal called a log.

Matos said these meetings take place on Fridays at 2:30 p.m. on Zoom.

Matos, who has been on the APC, said, “If you found yourself confined by the current structure of the University, as it stands right now, the Academic Policies Committee is really the opportunity for you to expand what Framingham State has to offer to you and all the other students who are on campus.

“I value it a lot and I felt valued while I was a part of APC. I know that the few times I got to speak there, a lot of faculty and staff who were on the committee were very respectful with everything that I had to say and took me seriously, and I appreciate that,” he added.

During the announcement portion of the meeting, senators detailed their recent initiatives.

Senator Jobe Murphy announced he is officially “spearheading” the “donate-a-meal” program with the Rams Resource Center to establish a system which will donate meals to students in light of the recent federal government shutdown and budget cuts to SNAP.

Murphy said he is hoping the student government and the University fulfill this role for fellow students and commuters who don’t have access to the Dining Commons.

Murphy said he hopes to work with the administration to provide a system that stockpiles a certain amount of unused meal swipes at the end of each week to guarantee students can eat at the Dining Commons.

If a student runs out of swipes or doesn’t have any, they will be able to fill out a form to receive donated swipes, Murphy said.

He said his first steps are to spread the word with posters on campus, working with Royal on social media posts, setting up a table at the Dining Commons, and bringing awareness to students in Student Lounge.

Connors asked if there are going to be any initiatives to revamp commuter spaces on campus.

Spezia said commuter spaces will be evaluated, and Executive Director of the Center for Student Experience and Career Development (EXP), Sara Gallegos, will meet with SGA at a future meeting to discuss the commuter spaces.

Senator Jada James said EXP posted on their Instagram about different commuter spaces where students can go and relax.

Ayoub said she and Royal are working on a passion project concept and encouraged senators to take initiative.

Royal elaborated the passion project concept will be on social media, consisting of one-minute interviews they hope to post covering each senator and their individual initiatives on campus.

She said as an example, Murphy could be interviewed for his donate-a-meal program and Connors’ passion project could focus on revamping commuter spaces and working with EXP.

Royal said, “That way, the student body can get involved” with what SGA is doing, and it would also get the senators involved in each other's initiatives.

She said Connors can reach out to Matos and EXP to improve commuter spaces, and this could be his passion project this semester.

SGA voted to appoint a new senator, Junior Kimberly Martinez, and all were in favor.

Martinez said, “I want to be a lawyer in the future - I’m a political science major. … I’m taking a bureaucracy class this semester, and what is a better way to expose myself to bureaucracy?

“I heard about it. I met with César. He was like, ‘Join.’ I was like, ‘Who am I to say no to the president?’ and I figured it was my best course of action, you know? I yield my time. God bless,” she added.

After her speech, Martinez took her oath of office and was officially appointed.

Matos said the upcoming Administrators’ Forum is on Nov. 18.

Royal presented the U-Rock RAM to Matos, acknowledging him for his initiative in working with Murphy on the donate-a-meal program.

The U-Rock was passed to Senator Xiera Montes for her engagement during tabling events.