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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Presidential candidate concerned about pace of SA incorporation

Student Association presidential candidate Carson Ciggia is questioning the motives for and approach to incorporating SA.

At a town-hall style information meeting in Norton Hall on Monday at 9 p.m., SA President Travis Nemmer pushed those who attended to encourage other students to vote in favor of incorporation. In his opinion, the plan will yield only positive results. Ciggia deems it more appropriate to let the students decide for themselves.

"Why should we be swaying the students?" Ciggia, who is running on the Forward party ticket said. "Shouldn't we be giving them both sides?"

Nemmer's meeting was focused on educating students regarding the possible incorporation. He feels it is necessary for students to "vote yes" and move the process along accordingly.

Ciggia disagrees with Nemmer's philosophy. Ciggia pointed out that, in terms of his campaign, he jumps at the opportunity for student's to raise alternate viewpoints and values seeing "both sides of the coin."

Nemmer's speech was very simila rto the one he made at a March 13 Assembly meeting, but this time he had an attorney present. He reiterated the importance of liability protection for the executives and officers of SA. He stressed again the lack of visible changes future students will see while highlighting the benefits SA will reap.

Nemmer argued against Ciggia's point and said there are currently no valid opposing viewpoints for incorporating. He stated the importance of letting students know the benefits as quickly as possible.

"The SA is essentially a ticking time bomb," Nemmer said. "It's only a matter of time before we face a potential lawsuit."

Ciggia agrees incorporation could be the best thing for UB, but dwells on the overall issue that he, like the rest of the student body, remains unsure of "the actual facts" behind incorporation and its consequences.

"[Nemmer's] goal here tonight was not to educate the student population," Ciggia said. "Obviously you can see that being that this meeting is being held at 9 p.m. the night before elections."

Ciggia worries the rushed referendum will lead students to vote in favor of incorporation without actually knowing how that decision could affect them in the future. He also worries the plan could lead to a lack of accountability within SA leaders, a factor he finds vital for SA's success.

Senator Dan Giles, a sophomore political science major, said although the process appears rushed, he believes there is nothing calculated or malicious behind it.

"Travis really does have the best interest of SA at heart," Giles said, "I really do believe that."

The push for the referendum is a good idea with bad timing, according to Giles.

In attempts to answer to these growing concerns, Nemmer assured the students present at the meeting the SA will be doing everything it can to educate students at the actual polls this week.

"Literature will be passed out at the polling places," Nemmer said. "I ask both candidates and parties to make all convenient and necessary efforts to inform [students] on the benefits of incorporation."

Ciggia worries these last-stitch efforts will still not be enough to appropriately inform the student body about what they are being persuaded to say yes to.

"Even the common person knows how to advertise an event," Ciggia said. "This whole process was very makeshift and that worries me."

Despite the power SA has, Nemmer said he would not be making a decision regarding incorporation unless support is shown through the polls. If the referendum fails, SA will likely reevaluate the plan, according to Nemmer.

Joshua Korman, SA's attorney, pointed out to the students at the meeting SA's potential ability to rewrite its bylaws according to its own discretion. He adds his recommendation is to keep the constitution as non-changed as possible.

The Student Life policies and mandatory student activity fee will remain the same, according to Nemmer.

"It's the SA's policy to abide by the New York State laws," Nemmer said. "We're not in the law-breaking business."

Email: news@ubspectrum.com


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