The previously vacant position of Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Academic Affairs was filled and the Punjabi Club was the newest to gain funding from SGA this Monday.

Laura Shaban, a sophomore education major, ran for the AVP of Academic Affairs position unopposed and gave a short presentation. She campaigned noting that she was already a member of Academic Affairs, and the position wouldn’t be a difficult transition.

Shaban, upon questioning about her ability to handle multiple commitments including the new SGA position, said that she would reprioritize and let go of some of her responsibilities outside of the SGA.

“I think I could balance it,” she said.

SGA president Zackary Brown accepted a motion to vote by placard, a faster way for senators to vote. With a quick and unanimous vote from those who participated, Shaban was elected.

For the next part of the night, the Punjabi Club presented to ask for $2,000 to join the SGA clubs.

The president of the club, Mehakjot Singh, argued the club would “Promote understanding and appreciation of Punjabi culture” through food, events, language classes, and more.

The club would also, “Advocate for the needs and interests of Punjabi students,” Singh said.

He continued with the presentation, saying the funding would go towards helping communities in need, like those affected by the recent wildfires, as well as putting on events, lessons, bhangra dance classes, and guest speakers, among other things.

During the discussion period, Christopher Douglas, who represented the 3D Printing Club, praised the club.

“I think diversity and inclusion is something that Rowan does really well,” he said. “I think this would be a good addition to the university.”

Senators voted to give the club its funding.

Students were then open to raising concerns. Kevin Jenner, president of Hillel at Rowan, brought up concerns about how clubs can use their money for food, especially the $100 limit for food purchases outside of Gourmet Dining.

“For us, it’s very tedious,” he said.

Jenner explained that to feed his club during events, he’d have to go to stores multiple times to fit within the budget or spend a lot of money with Gourmet Dining.

Molly Fitzpatrick answered saying it’s a University policy and not SGA’s, but they would look into it.

“We want to be able to use our funds accordingly,” Jenner said.

Students found Rowan’s announcements lacking when smoke from the wildfires descended on campus last Wednesday, Nov. 13. There was also a concern raised about soot or mold in Holly Pointe vents, which is not an independently verified claim.

Students also brought up the lack of air conditioning in the older first-year dorms, and how it could be a health hazard for tenants.

AVP of Facilities and Operations Brody Schneider said that the university found the issue to be a “prohibitive expense” to add AC units in buildings such as Magnolia. He also mentioned the university is interested in phasing out those buildings in the next decade.

Finding air conditioning accommodations, such as window AC units or moving rooms, is possible through contacting housing.

For a lot of the concerns, Student Trustee Yuval Saar made it known that there will be a Board of Trustees meeting on Dec. 11, which is open to the community.

“The more voices they’re able to hear, the more likely they’ll do something about it [these issues],” she said. “These are the people who directly control that money, so they have the most power to do something about it.”

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