Somewhere in these buildings, GSSC meetings are happening

The GSSC is getting started on making things happen, with elections of new appointees to important positions.  Bureau Chief Joe Milholland reports on this, and other happenings in the sphere of student government.

At the General Studies Student Council on its Tuesday meeting, the council heard from the candidates for its appointed positions. The chosen candidates, announced on Wednesday, are as follows:

Chief Communications Representative: Claudia Lobenthal

Social Media: Tonya Vander

Comptroller: Yilin Sun

Academic Affairs Representative: Ramond Curtis Jr.

Community Service Representative: Tyler Bechard

First Year Class President: Anthony Salamone Jr.

First Year VP: yet to be appointed

Multicultural Affairs Representative: Vida Biggins

Wellness Representative: Pierce Levine

Veterans Representative: Javier Mendez

Four Council Representative: Timothy Wang

JTS Representative: Brett Krasner

International Students Representative: Matt Quek

Social Chair: Kim Rebetti

Vice President of Communications: Justin Lean

Only the positions of International Students Rep and Social Chair were contested.  And nobody ran for First-year VP; all applicants for the position had dropped out before Tuesday night.

Updates:

• VP of Finance Dalitso Nkhoma presented GSSC’s planned budget for this school year, including $199,163 for required allocations, such as F@CU and JCCC. $15,000 + revenue was allocated to the fall rooftop party, and $75,000 + revenue was allocated to the spring gala. Senior Class President Han Jin and Senior VP Michael Neier complained that the senior class budget – $23,000 – was $7,000 less than last year’s, which had been overspent. In order to not go over budget, Neier said, the senior class council would have to opt out of 4-school events or find revenue somewhere. Because of this criticism, the council decided to table voting on the budget until a later date.
• Because she feels the app Swipes is not making a difference among GS students, GSSC President Elizabeth Heyman is pushing the Emergency Meal Fund, meeting with admins about food insecurity, and looking into other options, such as food pantries.
• According to University Senator Katharine Celentano, the university has purchased Olympic weightlifting equipment, although the equipment had not yet arrived as of the council meeting.
• Celentano is also looking for 2 legislative assistants (positions that need to be filled) and 2 staffers (positions that don’t necessarily need to be filled).

GS campus via columbia.edu