The University of Maine Student Government (UMSG) held its sixth meeting of the semester on Feb. 25, led by President Keegan Tripp and Vice President Memphis Peterson. The discussion covered upcoming elections, the SAF referendum, budget allocations and an upcoming rally to support survivors of sexual assault.
Club Presentations and Guest Speaker
Senators Kyle Ricker and Dylan DeMerchant gave a presentation on behalf of Model United Nations, which hosted a conference they attended at the University of Pennsylvania in January after receiving event funding from UMSG the prior semester. Ricker expressed that his favorite part of the trip was getting to network with other experienced students in international affairs programs, while DeMerchant believed that the trip had bolstered his confidence in professional situations.
Senator Casper Cowan was the guest speaker, addressing the Senate in his role as Event Coordinator for UMaine’s campus chapter of Take Back the Night, an annual rally that allows sexual assault survivors to speak about their experience in a safe and reaffirming environment. Cowan shared that sexual assault is an issue affecting everyone and noted that many prominent campus and community speakers would be attending the rally. This year, Take Back the Night will be held on Friday, April 11 on the steps of the Fogler Library.
Executive and Periodic Reports
Tripp reported that he had lifted from his executive fund to purchase a small microphone, with the intention of Director of Communications Abbi Downer using them for student interviews. Tripp also mentioned that election week is approaching and will feature elections for both the presidency and vice presidency. Students will also vote on the Student Activity Fee (SAF) raise.
Vice President for Financial Affairs Oliver Bois reported a starting unallocated budget of $54,310 remaining for disbursement throughout the rest of the academic year.
Vice President for Student Entertainment Dillon Leeman announced that only 1,275 tickets remain in the Black Bear Cinemas free student ticket program. He also said that his department would soon announce the opener for the upcoming spring concert featuring Ricky Montgomery. It has since been shared that the Maine-based Oshima Brothers will open for Montgomery.
Fair Election Practices Commissioner Zoe Stankevitz reminded the Senate that elections, including the SAF referendum, would be held on March 14.
Senator Jordan Thompson held a productive meeting with Associate Provost Scott Marzilli, broaching issues such as the Academic Materials Program (AMP) and making tutorship positions more accessible to students who had been limited by certain circumstances.
According to Cowan, the Winter Carnival went well, with the Center for Student Involvement reporting an attendance of over 250. Cowan shared that he had actively engaged with attending students in support of raising the SAF.
The Honors College Student Activities Board held elections for their executive board the week prior to the meeting and remains in search of volunteers for the annual Maine Day Meal Packout.
New Business
The Senate unanimously passed a resolution authored by Tripp, Vice President for Student Organizations Amanda Levesque and Cowan that supported the adoption of a “comfort canine” that would assist the University of Maine Police Department (UMPD) in their operations on campus. According to the authors, UMPD is currently focusing on a breeder in York County that has previously produced comfort canines and hopes to have the puppy adopted by April.
