The Student Association (SA) Senate passed a highly-contested resolution last Monday to remove an election rule that prohibited campaigning for SA positions in forums with 10 or more non-candidates without approval from the Elections and Credentials Chair.
The Student Association (SA) rejected a 30-page proposal that would’ve amended the SA’s by-laws that would’ve changed the appointing process for council coordinator positions, allowing the SA president to hire them directly.
UB’s Student Association hasn’t publicly released any information regarding this year’s Fall Fest or Comedy Series, but SA president Nicholas Singh told The Spectrum last week that his team is in the “planning stages” for these events.
Former Student Association President Alyssa Palacios said in an email to The Spectrum that she had “no choice” but to resign from her role due to financial restraints that forced her to leave UB.
Alyssa Palacios has stepped down as Student Association president, according to an email sent to SA staff Wednesday by her successor Nelaje Branch.
On Jan. 27, the Student Association nominated and elected Nelaje Branch as the new SA vice president. This election took place on SA’s Facebook Live with 134 viewers in attendance.
Newly elected SA President Adolyn Cofie wants students to feel more important on campus. She wants them to feel their concerns are being addressed and they have an outlet for their problems.
Student Association elections, which were postponed from March 24 to March 26 due to COVID, are taking place online today through September 16.
Student Association President Yousouf Amolegbe has waited for a follow-up decision on his now five-plus-week suspension, as the SA Board of Directors continues to vote to keep it in place. The BOD met Thursday as SA Treasurer Kendra Harris motioned to reopen the discussion of Amolgebe’s suspension.
The Student Association Board of Directors spent six hours Tuesday night discussing the suspension of SA President Yousouf Amolegbe and voted against lifting his suspension. Close to 80 students –– many of whom came in support of Amolegbe –– watched, spoke and shared their thoughts during and after the meeting, which lasted from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 12 a.m. Wednesday.
The Student Association’s Board of Directors voted to suspend SA President Yousouf Amolegbe on Friday. The vote came after SA’s Rules, Administration and Government Oversight Committee (RAGO) found Amolegbe guilty of nine SA policy violations, including alleged conflict-of-interest violations concerning his role as co-CEO of entertainment company RAGE Boyz, according to Amolegbe.
The Student Association Assembly passed a resolution on Thursday calling on UB to “divest” from fossil fuels. Although there is no proof that UB is investing in fossil fuel industries, the resolution asks the UB Foundation, UB President Satish Tripathi, Interim Provost A. Scott Weber and the UB Council to direct “adequate attention and militant resources” toward “divesting” all UB funds from fossil fuel industries. SA Board of Directors Chair Hayden Gise introduced the resolution to the BOD on Sept. 25, but the board rejected it. Since the assembly passed the resolution, Gise said copies of the resolution will be sent “immediately” to those being asked to divest.
The Student Association Board of Directors –– previously the SA senate –– elections are taking place on Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Student Union lobby. Eighteen people are running for the 12 available seats. The board of directors oversees SA clubs, makes sure finances are in order for clubs and allocates the mandatory student activity fee.
The Student Association kicked off its International Week with an International Students Block Party on Sunday in the Student Union Courtyard. SA is hosting its second-annual International Week Sunday through Saturday, as the block party welcomed students with free food and activities such as a bag toss and mega-sized chess game. The event also featured flags representing different countries decorating the trees around the courtyard.
The Student Association started giving out tickets in its third floor Student Union office around 10:15 a.m.
Buffalo Untapped gave students the chance to sample the various Buffalo beer, wine and food truck vendors that were set up in the Lake LaSalle Lot and Alumni Arena’s Triple Gym Sunday afternoon.
This year’s election clearly proves the need to overhaul the election process. While both parties worked tirelessly, reaching out to so many students over the election days, we could only accomplish a voter turnout that was somewhere in the ballpark of six percent of the entire student body. While speaking to so many of our peers, it was clear that they had no idea an election was even occurring. The University, and its Student Association, do not do enough to promote the election, and are doing an injustice to those who would have been interested in making their voices heard. Two days of speaking to clubs, and a poorly advertised debate, are simply not enough. A more publicized election will allow for a greater exchange of ideas, and more student involvement.
The Progress Party celebrated its sweep of the SA elections in the SA office Thursday night, as all three of its candidates will assume the executive board positions of president, vice president and treasurer next year.
Final exit poll numbers Thursday indicate the three Progress Party candidates will be next year's Student Association executive board.
Exit poll numbers show the Progress Party is widening its lead in the Student Association elections.
Solutions by The State News
