Student Government Association President Ethan Lynne reaffirmed his commitment to supporting GW staff and students amid University-wide budget cuts and announced changes to the Student Health Center’s mental health services on campus at a meeting Monday.
Lynne said at the meeting the University is entering a period of uncertainty following officials’ announcement of a hiring freeze to combat an ongoing budget deficit, which he said will limit GW’s ability to support its staff and students. Lynne said he will continue working with the Staff Council and University officials to ensure that programs like the Multicultural Student Services Center and the Office for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement don’t lose funding.
“I’m working with high-level university officials to help discuss long term solutions on reducing our deficit and supporting our staff,” Lynne said. “All while continuing to make sure that critical programs like the MSSC and the ODECE, as well as students’ financial aid amounts, are not impacted.”
Officials announced last week they will suspend hiring and likely lay off staff and faculty as they cut academic and administrative budgets for fiscal year 2026 due to a structural deficit and federal actions like President Donald Trump’s threats to federal research, international students and financial aid programs.
Lynne said the SGA relationship with the Staff Council is “strong,” and he reaffirmed his commitment to communicate with officials on a “regular basis” to update the student population on any new changes.
“The time to stand with GW staff is now,” Lynne said
Lynne also announced that students will now be able to preschedule appointments with the Counseling and Psychological Services through their Student Health portal starting in the fall. Lynne said this change will give students “greater access” to clinician background information by allowing them to preview their photo and area of focus, which allows students to find the “right” care for them.
“This is a great start with one of the most prominent student health center services,” Lynne said. “And I look forward to continuing to work throughout the year with their leadership and my health policy team to keep the progress going.”
Lynne ran for presidency on a platform of improving the Student Health Center after physicians there failed to diagnose his appendicitis, leaving him hours from sepsis and requiring a months-long recovery from surgery last year.
Lynne announced that he has begun serving on the Campus Planning Advisory Committee, which is responsible for campus development and urban planning in Foggy Bottom. GW last developed a campus plan for the Foggy Bottom campus in 2007. The plan outlined a framework for campus development over the next 20 years. The University is set to launch a refreshed campus plan charting the path for long-term planning in 2027.
“The campus plan is a vital part of securing GW’s future,” Lynne said. “And I look forward to serving on the committee alongside many stakeholders, including the RHA president.”
The SGA unanimously passed A Resolution to Support Hybrid Work Options at GW, which called on University officials to “protect” hybrid work options for all University employees.
SGA Senator José Dalmau (CCAS-U), the sponsor of the resolution, said the resolution is a collaborative effort between the Staff Council, the executive branch and the legislative branch.
“Its main purpose is to call on the University administration to protect hybrid options of work for all University employees,” Dalmau said. “And stand with the George Washington University staff on continuing to advocate for the best interest of University staff.”
The chairs of the Governance and Nominations Committee, Financial Services and Allocations Committee, Physical Facilities and Urban Affairs Committee, Advocacy Committee, and Inclusion Committee, Education Policy Committee and Student Life Committee also delivered their first committee reports.
The SGA also unanimously approved the executive nominations of Will O’Donnell for director of facilities, Shifa Ali for director of student life, Davis Marks for director of academic affairs and Bharathi Kalavala and Hanna Araya for directors of DEI.
The SGA will hold their meeting on August 18 over Zoom.
