Check out some of the great events GSA has to offer this month!
Message from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
A Message from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Dear Students:
After the harsh and ugly rhetoric of the campaign, many of you are concerned about what might happen next.
Let me be clear: This is the State of New York, not a state of fear. We will not tolerate hate or racism.
We have been and always will be a place where people of many backgrounds have come to seek freedom and opportunity. Almost all who live here can trace their roots to someplace else.
We cherish our diversity. We find strength in our differences. Whether you are gay or straight, Muslim or Christian or Jewish or Buddhist, rich or poor, black or white or Latino or Asian, man or woman, cisgender or transgender, we respect all people in the State of New York.
The Statue of Liberty is a proud symbol of American values, and she stands in our harbor. We feel a special responsibility to make her offer of refuge and hope a reality every day.
As long as you are here, you are New Yorkers. You are members of our community, and we will stand up for you.
The State of New York has strict laws against hate crimes and discrimination and we fully and firmly enforce them. It is illegal in this state to target, harass or discriminate against a person because of his or her race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation. We are a tolerant people, and cannot and will not let our freedoms be undermined.
New York State has a toll-free hotline where people can report incidents of bias and discrimination. Our responsibility is to protect all who are here, whether native-born or immigrant, whether documented or not. The hotline strengthens our efforts. Contacting us will not affect your immigration status.
New Yorkers who have experienced bias or discrimination should call the toll-free hotline at (888) 392-3644 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday.
If you want to report a crime or fear for your safety, call 911 immediately.
New Yorkers feel a particular affection for young immigrants. For centuries, our state has thrived on the energy and ambition of the young people seeking to build their lives here. Your intelligence, your creativity, your idealism enriches us all. You are welcome here.
Sincerely,
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
SUNY Student Government Presidents Will Not Stand for Hate
Student Assembly President Marc J. Cohen and the collective Student Government Presidents across SUNY speak out on hate speech at Geneseo, New Paltz, and Elsewhere
For Immediate Release: November 15, 2016
Contact: Nicholas Simons, Nicholas.Simons@sunysa.org
“The collective students of the State University of New York will not stand for acts of hatred and discrimination on our campuses or in our communities. We will not cower in the face of bigotry, discrimination, or prejudice. We will move forward united in the spirit of equality and meet such adversity head-on. Those committing these heinous crimes should know that you will be found, prosecuted, and brought to justice. We call on law enforcement to continue their investigations into these acts, and we call on students to be active bystanders. To everyone feeling discouraged by the recent messages of intolerance, know this: you are not alone. We as the elected leaders of the State University of New York’s 600,000 students across our 64 campuses will not be silenced, we will not be intimidated, and we will not back down. We will keep fighting for diversity, we will keep fighting for equality, and we will keep moving forward. We’ve got your back.”
Student Leaders Pass Historic Agenda
SUNY Student Assembly Charts Progressive Path at Record-Breaking Conference
Immediate Release: Nov. 16, 2016
Contact: Tyler McNeil, Tyler.McNeil@sunysa.org
ALBANY — Over 350 student leaders gathered in the state capital to chart out a new path forward for higher education in New York State.
This event, the largest Student Assembly conference on record, was focused on strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion in the system, along with advocating for a comprehensive legislative agenda which passed with an overwhelming majority.
“I am feeling an immense amount of hope and pride following the conclusion of our Fall Conference,” Student Assembly Vice President Bridget Doyle said. “We passed progressive initiatives, participated in the SUNY’s Got Your Back campaign which allowed us to fill 10,000 bags for interpersonal violence survivors, and engaged in critical conversations.”
“It is so important that we stand together in solidarity as one comprehensive system of public higher education, and I believe this conference helped us unify more than ever before,” she said.
The voting delegation of the Student Assembly passed the most comprehensive legislative agenda in recent history. The resolution was first approved by the executive committee over a month ago at SUNY Old Westbury.
The agenda touches upon issues such as rational state reinvestment, textbook affordability, support for campus child-care centers, mental health resources, food security, disability access and sustainability measures across the SUNY system.
“We walked into this Fall Conference hoping to inspire students,” said Marc J. Cohen, Student Assembly president and SUNY trustee. “As tends to happen, however, they inspired us.”
“We passed the largest and most comprehensive legislative agenda in the history of our organization,” Cohen said. “And most importantly we came together and vowed to act as a system of student governments to create lasting and meaningful change in higher education.”
During the conference, student leaders passed several resolutions including support for same-day voter registration and a SUNY-wide day off on Election Day.
Among new platforms, student delegates called for stronger student input in campus affairs by calling for greater student representation in presidential search committees and shared governance. Students called for the legalization of marijuana in the state in the spirit that 30% of all revenue be reinvested into the State University of New York.
Beyond the business meeting, student leaders helped advocate for change throughout the two-day event.
Working with SUNY’s Got Your Back, student leaders helped support victims of domestic and sexual violence with 10,000 comfort bags.
Fighting against sexual violence, the Student Assembly also inched closer to getting every SGA leader across the system to take the It’s On Us pledge.