The Student Government Association Senate passed an act to appoint executive secretaries and add two positions to this year’s executive cabinet at a meeting Monday.
The Executive Cabinet Creation Act expands the cabinet to include an executive secretary of organizations to oversee the SGA’s relations with student groups and an executive secretary of dining to improve student dining satisfaction by working with GW. SGA President Ethan Fitzgerald said he added the positions to help build community between the governing body and students and advance the ongoing efforts of the senate’s Special Committee on Dining to address dining concerns.
“When I ran for president, I promised to build an executive cabinet that reflects the shared goals, values and backgrounds of the GW community,” Fitzgerald said. “That’s exactly what my team and I have done.”
Senators confirmed 14 students to executive secretary staff positions for Fitzgerald’s cabinet. Fitzgerald said he worked with newly elected Secretary of Dining Max Fagelman to create a “dining essentials list” of foods that they will request GW Dining implement to expand on-campus dining options.
“On my dining team’s end, we’ve also created a dining essentials list, properly researched and ranked by importance, filled with a mix of healthy and enjoyable foods for GW Dining to hopefully implement,” Fitzgerald said.
Senators voted to unanimously pass the Mount Vernon Advocacy Act, which will require an annual town hall meeting at the Mount Vernon Campus for students to converse with SGA senators about their concerns, like feelings of isolation from the student body. SGA senators have previously advocated for Vern students by serving breakfast at The Eatery at Pelham Commons and creating the Mount Vernon Resource Group.
SGA Sen. Claire Avalos (CCAS-U), who co-sponsored the bill, said Vern residents have “minimal avenues” to voice concerns about their campus experiences.
“With this bill, this will no longer be the situation,” Avalos said. “Students will have the opportunity to express their concerns and needs to the SGA at these town halls, which will better help this organization work towards ensuring this University is inclusive to both Mount Vernon and Foggy Bottom students.”
SGA Sen. Joseph Migliorisi (GWSB-U) said he created a resource group for first generation students within the Community, Advocacy and Inclusion committee in the SGA. He said he hopes the resource group can advocate for first-generation college students at GW and act as a space to address the challenges they face finding a community on campus and provide them with scholarship opportunities .
“With this resource group, I’m eager to work with individuals who are dedicated to supporting first gen college students and giving them a voice within our community,” Migliorisi said.
The SGA Senate also unanimously passed the Madison Jennings Appreciation & Recognition Act to honor the 2024 graduate and her advocacy work for students with disabilities at GW. SGA Sen. Jonesy Strell (CCAS-U), who sponsored the bill, said he wanted to honor Jennings during Disability Pride Month for her leadership as president of the Disabled Students Collective at GW.
“This legislation not only honors Madison Jennings but also ensures her legacy to inspire many young and future student leaders to continue her work of fighting for their community,” Strell said.
SGA senators will hold their next meeting on Aug. 5 via Zoom.
