By Raeanne Raccagno
Staff Writer
Student Government discussed two new club proposals, open applications and a new course offered to students at its general body meeting on Sept. 18.
Aria Chalileh, SG’s vice president for governmental affairs, gave the general body an overview of two new clubs looking to become Recognized Student Organizations. The proposed clubs are Disney Club and Stomp n’ Shake Lions.
Clubs on campus can be an RSO or a potential student organization. RSOs have more access to on-campus resources like booking rooms and spaces for meetings, vendor tables, utilizing Student Finance Board funds, opening a fundraising account and having a table at the Student Involvement Fair.
Compared to RSOs, PSOs walk on a tighter line with their limited resources while they try to become established on campus.
The Disney Club “wanted to create that magic that Disney provides here on campus, and they'll do that through the events and meetings that they have,” said Chalileh.
There is currently no other Disney appreciation club. The PSO is looking to become acknowledged because its events need more space and funding to handle the crowd they attract.
The second PSO, Stomp n’ Shake Lions, would be a stepping team derived from tryouts to perform at sporting events, organize community service and celebrate Black culture.
Stepping is a high-energy art form with synchronized clapping, spoken words and stomping to create cross-rhythms. The percussive movements began in the early 1900s to express pride when African Americans began attending college in greater numbers, and created Greek-letter organizations to serve surrounding communities and support students, according to Step Afrika!
Stomp n’ Shake Lions would be the first of its kind at the College and wants RSO status to qualify for SFB funding and “to feel more cohesive, feel like a team and feel like they're supported by the school,” said Chalileh.
Both of the PSOs will be attending SG’s meeting on Sept. 25 to give a 15-minute presentation on the club. The general body will then vote on whether or not to pass the organizations.
Along with SG’s mission to better student welfare on campus, they also strive to make SG a fulfilling experience for all members by offering different positions and duties.
Delegates looking to become more involved in SG were notified of open applications by Micheal Bulluck, speaker of the general assembly, and Danny Wilson, vice president for finance. Bulluck is looking for a deputy speaker to appoint in the upcoming weeks, and Wilson is holding applications for assistant SG representative to SFB, which are open until Sept. 24.
Members were also notified of academic requirements changes. Italian for Beginners, a class offered every semester, now satisfies the Civic Responsibilities and Proficiencies requirement in some majors’ course plans, according to Nicole Brajczewski, the college core council representative.
Chalileh also encouraged attendees to take the pledge to vote during the general body meeting, in an effort to further exercise their rights and participate in the Ballot Bowl, a voter participation competition between higher education institutions.
“This pledge is super important because over the past four years, TCNJ has won the ballot bowl in our district,” said Chalileh.
The New Jersey Votes Campus Summit, an event to support New Jersey students in nonpartisan voting involvement, will be taking place on Sept. 28 at Princeton University. Students looking to attend must register for the convention.
Correction Sept. 26: A previous version of this article stated that stepping began in the 1990s. Stepping actually began in the early 1900s.
