Student Association officials clashed Monday over SA President Eric Evangelista’s decision to appoint a public relations co-chair without opening applications to the general student body.

The cabinet position was left unfilled after cabinet members and assembly members voiced their disapproval of the nomination. Also at Monday’s meeting, the first of the semester, a vote was again tabled on SA’s bill calling on Syracuse University to declare itself a “sanctuary campus.”

Nicole Sherwood, a senior public relations major, was nominated by Evangelista to fill the vacant PR co-chair position. The point of contention at Monday’s meeting stemmed from applications not being opened to the student body as well as from Sherwood’s inability to attend SA meetings because she has a schedule conflict. Sherwood was unable to attend Monday night’s meeting.

Obi Afriyie, a junior selected studies in education major, said he believed Sherwood was qualified for the position but was concerned about her appointment because of her inability to attend meetings.

“Someone from PR has to be here at every single meeting,” Afriyie said. “I don’t like the idea of picking someone just to pick them.”

Janine Bogris, a junior public relations major, said that the vacant position should be opened up to applications from the student body and confirmed during the next SA meeting on Jan. 30. Other assembly members said that because members of the student body can apply for the PR position over the summer, students should be able to apply for the position now.

While acknowledging Afriyie’s and Bogris’ points, Evangelista said that, in the past, the president typically filled vacancies and that the delay would take time away from SA’s other initiatives.

The assembly unanimously voted to table the confirmation until a formal application could be distributed to the student body.

The sanctuary campus bill, written by assembly member Marcus Lane and SA Chair of Academic Affairs James Franco, was updated from when the bill was first presented on Dec. 5. Additions to the bill included information on SU Chancellor Kent Syverud’s comments about undocumented students and the potential sanctuary campus designation, which he made during his address to the campus community earlier this month. Syverud has so far declined to declare SU a sanctuary campus but has expressed support for undocumented students.

SA cabinet and assembly members discussed SA’s bill at length, but a vote was tabled, as it was at the group’s final meeting of the fall semester.

Other business

SA assembly members appointed two new cabinet members: Andrew Regalado, a freshman political science major, was elected speaker of the assembly, while Afriyie was elected parliamentarian.

Regalado replaces Caitlin Smith, who stepped down from the position over Winter Break.

Afriyie replaces Billy Collins, a third-year architecture student who is currently studying abroad.

Other topics discussed at the meeting included the potential installation of eight cameras on Euclid Avenue to increase off-campus safety. Evangelista said the Board of Trustees and the Student Affairs Committee have recognized that off-campus safety is a concern for students.

Evangelista also said he met Monday morning with Syverud to discuss a variety of initiatives that they hope to promote during the upcoming months. Evangelista added that he has planned other meetings this week with SU officials to examine certain initiatives and what institutional support is needed.

SA Vice President Joyce LaLonde was not at Monday’s meeting because of a class conflict.

Published on January 24, 2017 at 12:01 am

Contact William: wgmuoio@syr.edu