The Student Government Association (SGA) Senate swore in three new senators at its meeting on Feb. 20, 2024.

 Alex Dolgin joined SGA with a desire to get more involved and help students more easily connect with SGA.

Damian Orozco joined SGA with a plan to create an advocacy group for students with disabilities and mental health issues.

Ken Hester, a Justice Studies major, joined SGA to advocate for enhanced campus safety, including transportation services for shuttling between NEIU’s campuses. He also advocated improved meal plans for NEIU students.

SGA also received an email from an NEIU student residing at the Nest, NEIU’s campus housing, complaining of “vermin,” specifically rodents, in the building.

Two amendments to SGA’s bylaws were proposed in a first reading. The first proposed change was to bring the bylaws in line with SGA’s current roster of standing committees. 

The second proposed change would be to the makeup of the Council of Clubs (CoC), responsible for approving the creation of, and funds student organizations on campus. The proposed change would require clubs that receive annual funding, such as the Greek Council and the Student Media Board, to appoint one member to serve as a representative to the CoC.

However, two SGA members, Senator Eryn Nelken, and Student Trustee Edwin Medina, pushed back on the proposal. They said that it created a potential conflict of interest, as those members may vote collectively to approve of their own organizations’ budgets.

Both proposed changes will undergo a second reading at the next SGA Senate meeting before they are put to a vote.