The Student Association discussed a previous Judicial Review Board case regarding Public Relations Committee Co-chair Torre Payton-Jackson during Monday night’s assembly meeting in Eggers Hall.

Payton-Jackson said she yelled profane language during an incident with Speaker of the Assembly Will Pritchett and JRB Chair Vishwas Paul last Monday. She was put under review by the JRB, which found her not guilty for violating any bylaws.

The JRB still found her behavior “unprofessional and improper,” according to its report. Payton-Jackson is not allowed to speak at any meetings for the next three weeks as a form of corrective punishment, according to Payton-Jackson. 

The JRB is in charge of overseeing SA’s actions and addressing violations of the SA Constitution and Bylaws. 

“I wasn’t the only person involved in this situation. There were other people yelling profanities, but I was the only person sent to (Judicial Review Board),” Payton-Jackson said in an interview.

Paul gave a report that explained Payton-Jackson’s right to appeal next week in order to revoke her punishment. Paul said he was not involved in the investigation.

SA President Ghufran Salih and Vice President Kyle Rosenblum also addressed the issue of tension during SA meetings and how they will cultivate a positive environment.

“We have to be civil. We have to respect each other,” Salih said. “Because the core part of this organization is respect. That’s the only way we will get things done.”

Rosenblum announced that the cabinet will hold meetings on Fridays at 4 p.m. The first half of those meetings will be a closed session where the committee will discuss how to better the organization’s infrastructure. The second half is open to students to voice their suggestions and concerns.

Salih encouraged members to hold the committee accountable for what happens to help further their mission of creating a safe space for all members.

“Not everyone is being treated the same way here and that is something we need to start being more cognizant about,” Salih said.

SA held an executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss productivity and ways to improve respect among members. All audience members not affiliated with SA were asked to leave during the executive session.

Other business:

• Community Engagement Co-chair Gregory Mytelka announced there will be food and coat drive at Schine Student Center on Feb. 21.
• SA approved a resolution written by Josh Shub-Seltzer, a representative in SA and staff photographer for The Daily Orange, that gives students an excused absence for not attending class in below-zero temperatures.
• Diversity Affairs Co-chair Quincy Nolan discussed a proposal to hold a comedy show in Schine Underground that will cost $5,999.00. They will collaborate with the Delta Kappa Alpha cinematic fraternity.

— Contributing Writer Hannah Graf contributed reporting to this story

Published on February 12, 2019 at 12:31 am

Contact Abby: akweiss@syr.edu | @abbyweiss_21