Hello Purchase College Students,
I am Amanda Wylie, your newly appointed Student Activities Coordinator! I am a senior, Arts Management major here at Purchase. This semester, I will be working with the Student Activities Board (SAB) to ensure that the events being held on campus reflect the diversity of our student body.
The term of this position normally lasts throughout one full school year. However, last semester we had a different Student Activities Coordinator (SAC) Jossalyn Collado. Jossalyn resigned from the position at the end of the fall semester due to personal circumstances. Because of her resignation, the Senate held an emergency meeting to vote for who the next SAC would be. There were four candidates who submitted resolutions to the Senate, including Joe Chiavaro, Janet Katsnelson, Jennifer Sinski, and myself. After each of us answered the same five questions from the Senate, the floor was opened to the Senators and other attendees, to ask us a total of five questions each that differed based on the interests of the person asking the question.
Finally, the meeting was called into closed session, which means that only voting members are allowed in the room, to discuss their final decision. Fortunately, I came out of this Senate meeting alive and with new responsibilities. It is now up to me to ensure that the programming on campus holds the utmost respect to our students’ standards in regards to exciting programming that appeals to the diverse nature of our school.
Currently, I am reviewing and editing a number of important documents such as How to Plan an Event in The Stood, the Venue Access Form, and UPD Coverage Agreement, to make sure they comply with current processes at our school. These documents need to be brought up to speed with the PSGA’s current operating standards.
The How to Plan an Event in The Stood is a detailed document which clearly explains how any student can run an event on campus. The Venue Access Form is a form that students must sign in order to rent spaces in The Stood and other areas on campus. It is a signed contract that shows that the event hosts understand the process of renting a space and that they respect the rules that come along with that space. The UPD Coverage Agreement ensures that there is a standardization of when and where extra UPD officers will be required at PSGA sponsored events.
Aside from this, I chair the Student Activities Board. The SAB includes: Stephanie Knipe [Student Center (The Stood) Coordinator], William Rutledge; Major Events Coordinator (MEC), Jack Tomascak; General Programming Coordinator (GPC), Jeremy Kinney (Tech Services Coordinator), Cameron Bish (Senator), Haley Ryan (Senator), and Steven Smith (Senator).
Stephanie chairs the Student Center Committee, which specifically deals with matters pertaining to The Stood. New to The Stood this semester is a marvelous marquee, which will be placed outside The Stood within the first couple of weeks of our return. The marquee will have the weekly events going on at The Stood posted for all to see. Additionally, the Safer Space Policy now reads:
THE STOOD IS A SAFER SPACE AND I WILL
• Be extremely mindful of my speech and actions and the effect they may have on others.
• I will respect people’s boundaries and always interact with others’ consent, be it physically, emotionally, or verbally.
• I will not make assumptions about people’s identities in terms of race, gender, sexuality, abilities, class, or background.
• I will be aware of my prejudices and privileges and the space I take up in The Stood.
• I will enforce mutual aid and mutual respect consistently and look out for my peers in The Stood.
• I will radically carry these guidelines through all forms of communication, physical and non-physical: in person, by telephone, and on the internet.
Lawyers that are not affiliated with Purchase College are reviewing the Safer Space Policy; this is in order to ensure that the policy does not breach any of our constitutional rights. As of right now, this policy is current and active.
The MEC handles large-scale events such as Culture Shock: our biggest music festival program of the year. Will, along with the Major Events Committee, which he chairs, “[plans] on programming a diverse Culture Shock bill that will… reach… the student body. Through close work, the SAB, and venturing down as many student outreach sectors as possible, we’ll have a festival that offers something for everyone.”
Our GPC, Jack, chairs the General Programming Committee, which handles programming such as Zombie Prom, The Cover Show, and roller-skating. The GPC has other exciting surprises for next semester that are heading our way. If any students or clubs would like to collaborate with the GPC, there are budgets available for just that! Jack plans to meet with representatives from the cultural clubs on campus as well as the diversity committee to ensure inclusive and diverse programming.
The Major Events Committee and General Programming Committee each have eight open voting seats available. That means that the first eight students, which are not on the committee, who arrive to the meeting, are considered voting members during that particular meeting (if they so choose). The eight open seats vary each meeting. There is no guarantee that you will be a voting member once, or more than once, as voting seats are first come first serve.
As of right now, the Major Events Committee has two available permanent voting seats titled Student at Large. A Student at Large is any student that does not currently hold a position within the Purchase Student Government Association (PSGA). The General Programming Committee has two Student at Large positions available as well. If you are interested in a position for either committee, you can send an email to PSGA.Programming@purchase.edu. You will receive a response to your email within two official class days by Jack Tomascak, Will Rutledge, or myself.
All committee meetings (including the Student Center Committee, and weekly Senate meetings) are open meetings to the entire campus community; so, don’t be shy when it comes to voicing your opinions and concerns! Even if you are just sitting in, if you’d like to know what is going on, feel free to go to the meetings. The meeting dates and times may vary based on the new semesters’ scheduling and will be clearly advertised throughout the semester.
If you are too shy in person, and you enjoy using Facebook, there is a group called “Fall Fest & Culture Shock 2014-2015 Wishlist” where you can voice your choice in music for Culture Shock. There is also a page called “SUNY PURCHASE EVENTS BRIGADE” that focuses on the general events going on at Purchase, if you are interested in what is happening on campus. Your suggestions will be taken into consideration by the MEC. Understand that your opinions are valid and we are listening to your suggestions, regardless of negative comments that may come from other parties. Our goal as the SAB is to have a great Culture Shock and put on general events that please everyone.
You can always email me at PSGA.activities@purchase.edu with any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions regarding the programming here at purchase. Here’s to a great semester!
Poppin' at Purchase 