Editor’s Note: An Ithaca College student came to speak to the council about a project but asked to be off the record.
The Ithaca College Student Governance Council met Oct. 6 to hear the appropriations committee financial report and senator reports, as well as to discuss recent budget cutbacks and the introduction of an artificial intelligence major.
The council was supposed to hear from Elyse Nepa, Assistant Director of Clery Act and Prevention Education in the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management, but Nepa could not attend due to a family engagement. Nepa rescheduled for Oct. 20.
Junior Juno Brooks, vice president of business and finance, presented the appropriations committee financial report. Brooks went through the club and academic events that were being funded and said that $26,007 was allocated to the host organizations. These events include American Academy of Physician Associates hosting a physician assistant appreciation week, International Club’s International concert and Pitch Please’s fall showcase. The appropriations committee will look at nine budget proposals from other campus organizations next week.
Brooks said the maximum amount that an organization can request over the academic year is 10% of the appropriations committee’s full budget, which is $23,000. Brooks said in an interview with The Ithacan that despite the college’s restructuring amid the budget deficit, the allocated funds are approximately the same as last year.
Restructuring has affected other aspects of finances for students. Brooks recently met with Tim Downs — senior vice president for finance and administration and Chief Financial Officer of IC — where they discussed the issue of student employment hours being cut. Brooks said there is a great deal of pressure within different departments to cut costs on campus, and it is affecting student employment.
“Student [employees] are really upset, because their hours are suddenly cut, where they were expecting a certain amount [of hours] that they’ve had in years prior,” Brooks said. “Now they kind of have to scramble for a second or third job on campus or off campus.”
During senator reports, senior Asata Rothblatt, vice president of academic affairs, said she would be meeting with Melanie Stein, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs, in the upcoming week. Rothblatt then opened the floor for the council to bring forward ideas to Stein.
Sophomore Abe Marron, senator-at-large, said the uneasy student reaction to the administration’s recent statements on AI should be brought up to Stein. This was supported by sophomore Ash Beall, senator-at-large, who said that he had heard concerns regarding the AI-integrated therapy program,Wysa, that the college adopted in Fall 2024.
Junior Emmi Chen, varsity athlete senator, and first-year student Ari Medvinsky, senator-at-large, both brought up the idea of having a clear AI guide book within the classroom. Medvinsky questioned to what extent was AI going to be utilized in the classroom as a tool.
Brooks brought up how the administration would handle student’s objection to AI usage when it is mandatory for a class.
“Some people are reaching out to their professors and saying that they don’t feel comfortable [using AI] and are getting an accommodation,” Brooks said. “Is that something that is going to be formally written down and protected?”
Senior Rishabh Sen, president of the student body, said that his meetings with President La Jerne Cornish this past month have given him insights on how the administration is approaching the use of AI within the classroom. Sen paraphrased these ideas.
“She said to me that the aim is to prepare students for the future,” Sen said. “Not be left behind in preparation for technologies that are evolving currently using artificial intelligence.”
Sen said the Presidential Working Group on AI, the group of faculty and students who worked to create AI guidelines and plans during the 2024-25 academic year, had extensive student input. He encouraged the council to bring up their concerns so he could bring them to Cornish to change the policy.
Rothblatt said that during a past meeting, Stein said there are plans to make an AI major in the Department of Computer Science. Ty Sayahi, senator-at-large, inquired about what this major would include, research of AI or using AI. Rothblatt said her understanding is that the major would include both research and utilization.
The council discussed the process of writing a piece of SGC legislation. Senior Nikki Sutera, senate chair, went over the different types of resolutions that members of SGC can create. The council then practiced creating bills and presenting them before the other council members.
Sen then presented an open position for an ex-officio member of SGC. An ex-officio member has a position on SGC while being a member of another organization. The position available is the student director at the Alumni Association Board of Directors. This position would be the student liaison for the alumni network. This can only be filled by a current junior, sophomore or first-year student.
Next week the council will hear from Barbie Bargher, Director of Student Financial Services, who will be speaking about general school financial services.
The SGC is the sole representative body for the Ithaca College student community. The SGC meets from 7-9 p.m. every Monday in the Taughannock Falls room of the Campus Center. The SGC can be contacted at [email protected].
