Boston University Student Government concluded its work for the 2024-2025 academic year Monday, approving two funding requests, electing positions for next year, discussing the results of a sexual assault survey and assessing the impact of ongoing federal funding cuts on BU.
The meeting was opened by incoming Student Body President Matthew Feliciano.
“Everyone comes here to really make an impact and make change at BU’s campus, and I think that all of us come together and really accomplish that,” Feliciano said. “I’m really excited with the upcoming administration.”
StuGov unanimously approved a request for $322 in funds for seven customized graduation stoles for the Senate’s graduating committee chairs.
StuGov also approved $1,400 for the African Student Organization to hold a fake African wedding event next semester. The funds allow the organization to afford a photographer and cater food for the event.
Co-chairs of the Expect More Committee, senior Senthil Meyyappan and junior Mason Carlucci, presented the findings of their recent survey conducted in collaboration with 16,000 Strong, a StuGov committee against sexual assault.
The survey aimed to obtain student opinions on the progress of efforts to combat sexual assault. Meyyappan said the 97 responses reported “mostly dissatisfaction” with the current state of existing initiatives.
Meyyappan and Carclucci presented recommendations based on their findings, including taking new measures to broaden access to sexual assault resources and work to normalize the use of them.
“We think that Student Government and the University administration at large can help to create a more fostering culture to normalize using these resources,” Meyyappan said.
Meyyappan said the survey respondents emphasized the need for improved University-sponsored training initiatives for students.
“A lot of respondents said that the training [was] not elaborate enough and that they didn’t go into alternative, non-traditional forms of harassment, which may include emotional harassment [and] verbal harassment.” Meyyappan said.
StuGov voted on candidates for the judicial branch’s two new associate justices. Sophomore Luke Gialanella and freshman Alexis Grasdock were confirmed without opposition, and will serve as associate justices for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The Judicial Advisory Commissioners presented a report on the potential impacts of the Trump administration’s ongoing conflicts with higher education institutions on BU.
Pointing to the Trump administration’s recent withholding of $2.2 billion in federal funding from Harvard University, Senior Commissioner Addison Bloom highlighted the risk of BU losing federal funding should administration defy demands from the White House.
Sophomore Charles Albrighton spoke about the closing of the Center for Antiracist Research, and voiced frustration over the University’s decision to not commit fully to the concept.
“If we’re putting so much money and resources into these initiatives [that] don’t really have any results to show for it, that’s definitely something that’s quite concerning,” Albrighton said.
Albrighton said the sharp drop in acceptance rates among students of color at BU, following the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against affirmative action in the admissions process, is an alarming sign of BU’s need for a stronger commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Concluding the report, Gialanella examined the impact of cuts to National Institute of Health funding on research at universities nationwide.
“BU is going to be affected,” Gialanella said. “Research universities are going to be affected, and so while we have court relief right now, that is going to probably be changed very soon.”
Outgoing Student Body President Akwasi Antwi offered insight into his most recent discussion with BU President Melissa Gilliam.
“She is very aware the administration is looking to slash programs,” he said.
Lastly, StuGov voted to elect graduating Senate Chair Tommie Lee’s successor. Sophomore Sean Sutton ran unopposed and spoke about his vision for the role.
“It is a privilege to stand here today, not only reminisce on the past, but to ask what we can build together in the future,” Sutton said.
Senators unanimously voted to hand the gavel to Sutton, electing him Student Government’s incoming Senate chair.
To end the last StuGov meeting of the semester, Lee presented the Senate’s 2024-2025 school year in review. Lee highlighted StuGov accomplishments, including hosting discussions with guests from BU administration, using StuGov’s widely followed social media to endorse student-led initiatives and redistributing more than $23,000 in funding.
Speaking to her colleagues, Lee lauded their efforts throughout the year.
“We aided over 20 plus organizations, and we approved funding requests anywhere from $400 to $2,000, and that was only possible because you guys showed up,” Lee said.
