San José State student government organization, Associated Students (A.S) hosted its first in-person board meeting of the semester on Wednesday.
The board covered 14 different items which ranged from housekeeping duties to petitions for cultural expression.
Much of the housekeeping included things such as removing and appointing different board members to different committees because of scheduling.
In the board meeting, there was a motion to add extra time to the meeting and A.S. directors were still not able to address everything on the agenda.
“We had a lengthy agenda so we had to table board reports,” A.S. Director of Communications Geoffrey Agustin said.
The board was also greeted by SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson who went into detail about the new initiatives centered around the newly instated Time, Place and Manner policy on campus.
This was preceded by a report from Student Affairs Vice President, Mari Fuentes-Martin, who covered the oversight of things such as student involvement and student conduct.
Fuentes-Martin also offered more insight in regards to the Time, Place and Manner policy as she spoke before the board, explaining more of what this policy entails.
This policy reserves the right for students and staff to exercise their right to protest as long as it doesn’t endanger anyone else or disrupt university events, according to (the California State University Time, Place and Manner Policy document).
The boardmembers were later introduced to a presentation delivered by Alan Gouig, who serves as the president of the Filipino Alumni Network.
The SJSU alumnus talked about the plans for the construction of a mural on campus highlighting Filipino farmworkers.
Leonardo Plazola, A.S. Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities, discussed his resolution concerning the federal recognition of the Muwekma-Ohlone Tribe.
Plazola urged his fellow colleagues to support this cause as the Muwekma-Ohlone people fight to get federally recognized once more.
The aerospace engineering senior’s efforts were well received by the board of directors.
While this was the first board meeting of the year for everyone, it was also the first ever in-person board meeting for A. S. Vice President, Chima Nwokolo.
Nwokolo was elected as vice president in April allowing him to serve in his first term at Associated Students.
Nwokolo, a political science senior, presided over the entire meeting from calling the meeting to order and adjourning the meeting.
“I was very excited,” Nwokolo said. “I will admit we had a lot of items on the agenda.”
In the board meeting, there was a motion to add extra time to the meeting and A.S. directors were still not able to address everything on the agenda.
“We had a lengthy agenda so we had to table board reports,” A.S. Director of Communications Geoffrey Agustin said.
Nonetheless, the computer engineering junior said that it was a very productive meeting.
The first meeting of the semester wrapped up and posted on their website, students can go back and look further into what was discussed.
A.S. President, Ariana Lacson, a biomedical engineering senior, is looking forward to working on her passion projects as the new president of this organization.
“I think that we were able to really lay down the foundation of what our future board meetings will look like,” Lacson said.
Board meetings will occur every second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 3 p.m.
With more events to come this semester, it’s safe to say the Associated Students board of directors will have much to talk about in the coming weeks leading to their next meeting.
