On the heels of the University Assembled open forum last Tuesday, the Rowan Student Government Association (SGA) hosted Student Assembled, a forum for Rowan University students to come ask questions to members of the university administration regarding student life and other on-campus concerns. 

The forum took place in Pfleeger Concert Hall on Nov. 11. Hope Campbell, the SGA president, and Yuval Saar, the SGA’s assistant vice president of Student Advocacy and Community Belonging, hosted the event. 

The panelists consisted of Dr. Ali A. Houshmand, the president of Rowan University, Kevin Koett, the vice chancellor for student life and dean of students, Lt. Cmdr Rachel Baum, the police chief for the Rowan University Police Department, Heidi Kovalick, director of student financial aid, Jennifer Tole, associate provost for academic program quality and compliance, Gokhan Alkanat, associate provost for international education, and Melissa Wheatcroft, general counsel. 

Dr. Houshmand opened the meeting with a focus on safety and addressed the recent FBI arrest of a Rowan student suspected of terrorist activity. He assured that the FBI confirmed there was no harm to campus, and wanted students to know he values them. 

“No matter who you are, what your religion, political affiliation, race, gender, nationality, orientation, whatever it is, I hope you know that from the bottom of my heart, I hope you have a dignified life.” Dr. Houshmand said. 

Unlike University Assembled, Student Assembled focuses on specific issues related to students, rather than large-scale campus projects or partnerships. 

Before students asked their own questions, panelists briefly covered recent issues and topics they felt were important. 

Wheatcroft, Kovalick, and Alkanat updated students about the federal government’s changes to education regarding DEI policies, financial aid, and international students. These changes included a now-limited amount of loan money for parent plus borrowers, changes to graduate loans, and potentially making international students reapply for a new I-20 every four years. 

Tole talked about AI and how the university is adapting to the technology by having faculty learn about it, use it, and find ways to incorporate it into their teaching. 

The most prominent issue brought up both by Koett and students was parking, which was also addressed at University Assembled. Koett explained that the university is aware of the issue, but the fix is not as easy as building a new parking garage, a project that would cost upwards of 40 to 50 million dollars, and that the university has put together a shuttle committee to try to find a solution.

“In order to improve, in order to change our infrastructure, there is going to be a bit of an inconvenience,” Koett said. 

Despite Koett’s mention, in the open mic portion, students still raised concerns and questioned the university’s ability to adapt to the influx of new students, and how much they care about commuters, despite them being the majority. 

Panelists also talked about safety, with Lt. Cmdr Baum telling students that the RUPD has taken action to protect students, such as the police being higher staffed than ever, restricting access to Holly Pointe, and a successful operation with the Glassboro Police Department and the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office to curtail gun violence. 

Maria Carroccia, a freshman history major with a minor in Italian and anthropology, asked if campus security would assist ICE if they were to come to campus. In response, Lt. Cmdr Baum cited the Immigrant Trust Directive, which prohibits municipalities from aiding ICE, unless a federal warrant has been issued, and shut down the rumors that ICE has been on campus. 

Students not only brought up physical safety but also mental safety, with two students asking about what the university can do regarding preachers who come on campus and yell at passing students. 

The administration told students they could not do anything because the university is public, and it would be a violation of the First Amendment, but that if students contact the police and go to court with harassment claims, there could be a change. 

“To be honest, I did think that they overall did a good job of answering student questions,” said Bar Leshed, a junior marketing and management major. “It was very broad, and they did keep answers generic, which I understand, timing-wise, but I do think that I was surprised by the bluntness of a lot of the answers.”

The forum highlighted the issues students care about and allowed students to listen to what their peers, the SGA, and administration had to say.

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