Kennedy Hagens, co-chair of Student Association’s Diversity Affairs Committee, began her executive report to the Assembly with a set of instructions.

“Please take out a piece of paper,” she said to the Assembly members. “Now write this down: to agree with, and give encouragement to someone, or something, because you want it to succeed.”

Hagens repeated the definition, paused, and surveyed the silent Assembly. She then continued, “Now fold it up, and put it in your wallet or your backpack because it’s clear that you don’t know what support means.”

Hagens’ made her speech in response to the members’ failure to attend the Mental Crossroads Panel — an event SA hosted last week as part of Mental Health Awareness Week. Her criticisms echoed a recurring grievance of cabinet members throughout the meeting: SA members have failed to adequately contribute to the organization’s recent initiatives on campus.

SA President Mackenzie Mertikas and Vice President Sameeha Saied said they were disappointed to see the same few SA members helping out with most or all of the organization’s events. Others didn’t do their fair share, they said.

“It is so powerful, and it is so important that we do things like (Mental Health Awareness Week) on campus,” Mertikas said to the Assembly. “But it’s unfortunate that there were the same people at our (events) over and over again.”

Mertikas and Saied said they understand that SA members’ schedules may have prohibited them from participating in some events. But they would like to see more engagement from the Assembly and cabinet members during future SA initiatives.

“Because if nobody supported our event, how can you expect people to support your events?” Mertikas said.

Mertikas and Saied later said they will continue to ensure that SA representatives do their part to support the organization and serve the SU student body. These responsibilities include showing up to and participating in SA events, Saied said.

“We ran on accountability and transparency,” Mertikas said. “We want to be held accountable, and we want to hold members of our organizations accountable for the jobs they signed up for.”

John Fisher, SA’s public relations chair, said the relocation of SA’s offices from the Schine Student Center to the Women’s Building has made communication within the organization more difficult. As a more central location on campus, he said, the Schine offices lent SA greater visibility to Assembly members and students alike.

“It’s something that I think every student organization is going through, trying to figure out how to make the most impact when they’re not smack-dab in the middle of campus anymore,” Fisher said.

Mertikas and Saied said that, overall, Mental Health Awareness Week was a success, and they were proud of SA’s role in bringing it to life. They plan to lead more SA health and wellness initiatives in the future.

“The week was very impactful and powerful,” said Mertikas. “It really showed the magnitude of the (mental health) problem on college campuses. And it really brings Syracuse together by showing people that they’re not alone.”

Other business

• SA Assembly Member and Remembrance Scholar Cleo Hamilton gave a presentation about plans for Remembrance Week 2019.
• The Assembly approved the installation of a student art project on campus. The cost of the project will be $153.03.

Published on October 14, 2019 at 11:51 pm

Contact Chris: cjhippen@syr.edu