By Olivia Bousquet
About $11,000 was approved for three different clubs at the Student Association senate meetings April 13. The biggest and most notable was Jedi Dance Productions’ request of $7,700 for a celebrity guest to perform at their event, Coachella: New York City edition, April 30 in the Glitz Auditorium in Hawkins Hall.
All the money requested from Jedi would be going toward paying Brooklyn rap artist Dusty Locane. Locane has connections with late rapper Pop Smoke, and he began gaining recognition on social media platforms, like TikTok, for his singles “Rolando” and “Rollin n Controllin Freestyle ‘’ in 2020 and 2021.
While Locane’s confirmation to come to SUNY Plattsburgh has not been solidified, a Jedi representative has been in contact with his agent for about a month. She said one of the only things holding Locane back from committing to the event was money. As a bigger artist, he wants to make sure he can guarantee he’s getting paid for his performance. The $7,700 from the Student Association would be pay for his performance.
Jedi anticipates more than 100 attendees at the four-hour event. Tickets are most likely going to be priced at about $15 per person because of the expenses of Locane’s performance and other event expenses.
One concern from the SA was security for the event. While Locane would most likely bring his own security, UP would need to be involved with keeping the environment safe for such a large crowd.
The Jedi representative understood this, but was concerned that UP would get in the way. Locane is a Black artist, and the representative believes that the majority of attendees would be people of color. Senator Mary Stockman said she would help the representative talk to UP and come up with a plan that makes everyone feel comfortable, while keeping the crowd safe.
Another financial request was from Black Onyx for $1,775 to help fund its C4 week. According to Black Onyx’s Instagram account, “C4 stands for Challenging College Culture Campaign. So we will be having different event every day between April 18-22 that embody what C4 is and will be ending off with a cookout.”
The Black Onyx representative said $1,135 would be spent on catering from Chartwells, $300 for a DJ, $200 for a photographer, roughly $200 on prizes and raffles, and $50 for games. There will be only one event that costs $5 for tickets, which is Black Onyx’s “Trap and Paint” Wednesday, April 20 at 8 p.m. The event is a spinoff of “Paint and Sip,” but the trap is playing “cultured music while painting.”
The concern from SA was whether it were to rain for the cookout on Friday, which will take place in the courtyard. However, the representative said the plan was to have a back-up space and have Chartwells move the food there instead.
The last financial request was from SUNY Plattsburgh Association of Black Journalists for $1,525. The money would help fund PABJ’s third networking brunch April 30 from noon to 4 p.m. in the Warren Ballrooms.
The representative said there would be two guest speakers, catering and a DJ. Tickets cost $10, and attendees will receive “a pen, notebook, folder with opportunities, name tag, prizes and food,” according to PABJ’s Instagram account.
In other SA news, the senate voted on honoring and recognizing Josee Larochelle and her service in SUNY Plattsburgh. She is currently vice president for administration and finance. She was also named officer in charge after former SUNY Plattsburgh President John Ettling retired before the current president was found. Senator Mac-Olivier Lalanne presented the idea to the senate because she is retiring and has done a lot for the college.
The approval passed, and she will be formally recognized later this semester by the SA.
The senate also voted on the approval of a constitutional amendment, which would allow for either the election or appointment of coordinators. This amendment was first brought to the senate March 30, and it’s constitutionality was questioned by former Senator Ryan Ferguson. The amendment was originally voted down, so senators could discuss the matter further and adjustments could be made before bringing it back to the senate.
Adviser Jacob Avery noted that Ferguson helped create a change in the new amendment presented that moves around what he believed was unconstitutional.
Senator Lisette Linares said this new amendment to the constitution is “more open and clear” than the previous one.
For a constitutional amendment to be made, it needs a two-thirds majority of the executive committee, the senate and the voting of the student body. The executive committee unanimously approved of the amendment, and more than two-thirds of the senate approved as well.
Now, the amendment to the constitution appeared on the student voting ballot for the election April 19. More than two-thirds of those voters must approve it for the change to be made into the constitution.
