By Grant Terwilliger
The Student Association approved first year Angel Castillo as a new finance board member along with approving funds to several clubs on campus. Remarks from the gallery included a speech from a concerned campus community regarding Senator Richardson.
At the end of the meeting SUNY Plattsburgh student Michael Van Lone represented a group of concerned students speaking out about Senator Jesse Richardson also known as Designer Raw. Van lone prepared a speech in regard to an inappropriate and transphobic email that was sent to students in ANT 101, ANT 329 and ANT 333.
“Richardson’s behavior showed blatant disregard towards a portion of the student body that he is supposed to represent. We are here to acknowledge this disregard tonight,” Van Lone said. “No one in these classes was prepared to open their email that day and be shocked with a blatant microaggression towards transgender individuals.”
The group of students speaking out have lost faith in Richardson’s ability to represent the student body at SUNY Plattsburgh and are looking to file for impeachment.
Castillo expressed a great sense of enthusiasm and dedication to accounting and is looking forward to learning more about accounting.
“My cousin is an accountant, and I got inspired by always seeing him at work,” Castillo said. “I’ve been to three meetings so far and I really liked it. I feel it would be a great experience for me.”
Castillo was approved as a finance board member in a unanimous senate vote.
The Accounting and Finance Association requested up to $1,500 for their Boston networking trip. The trip is for finance and accounting majors looking to gain professional development.
“A lot of our students in the past have later gone on to land internships and full time jobs because of these experiences. So, as you can see, it’s very instrumental to the development of the School of Business and Economics,” Sophomore Arshita Pandey said.
The Student Association approved the Accounting and Finance Association for $1,500 a little over the maximum funds that any club can receive from the Student Association a semester. The Student Association has a total of $15,000 to give out to clubs a semester.
The Student Managed Investment Fund also asked for up to $1,500 for their Boston trip and were approved by a unanimous vote for $1,500.
The Beauty Bar requested $800 for supplies for their events. The senate agreed at first that it could only be up to $500.
“We requested $800 because we don’t have a budget. We’re a provisional club, so we have to start with something,” Thalia Surprise, president of Beauty Bar said. “Now 40 people are coming to our meetings, and we have to chip in from our pockets. So we do need funding.”
After some discussion the Student Association approved $600 for the allocation of supplies for Beauty Bar in a unanimous vote. The club was told to come back if they needed further funds throughout the semester, with $900 in potential funds being left for the club to use.
