During a recent meeting, the Student Government Board outlined plans for Election Day, including the cancellation of classes and the introduction of Election Fest, while also addressing new initiatives like the PittGPT programme.
During the latest session of the Student Government Board (SGB), held at Nordy’s Place, several key developments were announced, with a special focus on upcoming Election Day activities and administrative updates.
The meeting confirmed that there will be no public meeting on the upcoming Tuesday, November 5, aligning with Election Day. SGB President Sarah Mayer emphasised the importance of voting and extended the board’s support to students in need of assistance with voting plans. Mayer stated, “Please make a plan to go and vote. If you need help making a plan, come to the SGB office or reach out to me or anyone on the board.”
Marley Pinsky, who chairs community and government relations, unveiled plans for Election Fest, set to occur on the same day at the William Pitt Union (WPU) plaza. The event aims to foster a celebratory atmosphere around voting, featuring lawn games, food, and a mock voting station organised by Pitt Votes. This setup will allow students to familiarise themselves with their ballots prior to visiting official polling sites. Andrew Elliott, an SGB board member, remarked on the benefits for first-time voters, highlighting that mock voting would ease anxieties and provide confidence.
In tandem with the festivity, SGB aims to advocate for the cancellation of in-person classes on future Election Days, a movement initiated last year to transition classes to an asynchronous format. Elliott commented, “[Election Fest] is a great opportunity to show that students are excited about voting and really support this change.”
On another front, Olivia Budike, who chairs facilities, transportation, and technology, shared details about a new generative AI program termed PittGPT. This initiative, spearheaded by SymphonyAI, was part of discussions within the University Senate’s Computing and Information Technology committee. Budike expressed her intentions to assess the pilot version of PittGPT alongside her committee to provide feedback.
In matters of personnel, President Mayer updated attendees on the search for a new Dean of Students. The search process, resulting from a vacancy since May 2024, has shortlisted five finalists, each undergoing comprehensive interviews this week. Mayer encouraged students to engage with the candidates over midday meals scheduled in the WPU’s 9th-floor conference room, offering a platform to enquire about the candidates’ experiences and future plans for the university.
Additionally, the board finalised its selection for the position of Support, Advocacy and Prevention Chair, appointing Ella O’Rourke. Mayer expressed enthusiasm for O’Rourke’s future contributions, particularly her focus on sexual assault prevention. O’Rourke laid out her strategic initiatives, which include launching workshops on consent and victim support, along with a mentoring program aimed at enhancing survivor support mechanisms.
Neal Gupta, an SGB board member, introduced a proposal to rename the current Facilities, Transportation, and Technology committee to the “Campus Operations and Innovations committee.” The suggestion awaits approval following a period allocated for public and student commentary.
In terms of financial allocations, several requests were considered:
- Strong Women Strong Girls Pittsburgh’s request for $2,342.48 for rideshare services was denied in full.
- The Chinese American Student Association and the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers’ request for $10,500 to secure a guest speaker was initially advised against by the allocations committee but ultimately approved by the board.
- The Women’s Club Soccer team’s request for $13,642.56 to finance a competition trip was amended and approved for $3,000.
- Finally, Club Swimming’s request for $7,474.04 for lodging expenses at a competition received full approval.
These decisions reflect the ongoing administrative and operational activities of the SGB to support and improve the student experience on campus.
Source: Noah Wire Services
