Katie Huston was sworn in as the Student Government Association’s next Vice President of Finance at SGA’s Nov. 30 public meeting. 

Huston is a junior English major with a mathematics minor who has served as The Slate’s business manager since May 2022. 

The V.P. of Finance position has been vacant since April, when the 2023–2024 SGA term began. Despite being on the ballot four times between spring and fall 2023, no candidates were declared for the position. Huston was chosen by an ad-hoc committee formed to find someone to fill the role. 

Huston has already begun leading Budget & Finance (B&F), which is responsible for crafting the SGA budget that distributes student activity fees to student groups, boards and other expenses. The 2024–2025 budget season is underway, and Huston and B&F will be working over the coming months to review budget proposals and find ways to balance the budget. 

Two members from each student group are required to attend at least one Student Group Budget Training. The two remaining time slots are Dec. 5 at 3:30 p.m. in Orndorff Theater and Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. in CUB 103. Groups who wish to have an operating budget next semester will need to submit a physical budget request form, provided at the training, by Jan. 29 at 4 p.m.

SGA also heard from Rangeline DeJesus, the current student trustee. DeJesus, who will be graduating in the spring, spoke about her experiences in the role and the process for appointing a new student trustee. 

Applications will open in December and run until Jan. 31. Candidates will be interviewed by a committee, before three are suggested to and reviewed by the university president and chair of the Council of Trustees. Once they have decided on a candidate, that choice is sent to the PASSHE chancellor and Pennsylvania governor for approval. 

V.P. of External Affairs Lillian Sellers gave a report from the university’s ADA/504 Compliance Committee. Sellers said that the meeting was useful for the university to hear student feedback, but had cemented her “disappointment in SU’s administration in its efforts toward accessibility here, which is little to none.”

President Harun Pacavar also confirmed Ari Stevens’ resignation as the senator for the College of Education and Human Services.

Senators Sharifi and Schannauer advertised the open recruitment for resident assistants. “Being an RA is a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it,” Schannauer said. 

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