SGA Meeting Addresses TrinTalks, Bantams in Balance

Kip Lynch ’22
Staff Writer

The Student Government Association met on Sunday, Feb. 10, in order to hear committee updates, hear a presentation from Bantams in Balance, and to discuss the recent TrinTalks.

The Sustainability Committee discussed its upcoming role in assisting Green Campus to hold GREENFest, an event focused on celebrating and promoting sustainability at Trinity College. The Sustainability Committee highlighted its progress on composting in Mather, as well as several new initiatives. One focuses on introducing composting to the Crescent Street Townhouses while another is an amnesty program that will attempt to lower Chartwells’ costs in replacing lost or stolen items by openly allowing students to return anything taken from Mather Dining Hall. The Sustainability Committee also highlighted its progress on building three new water fountains for refilling water bottles in an effort to reduce plastic waste, as well as its new website set to go live in the coming weeks. The Student Life Committee discussed its progress in overhauling the Student Integrity Contract while the Academic Affairs Committee discussed its progress in extending the add/drop period from five days to ten days and extending the drop period to the middle of the semester. Both of these proposals will be voted on by the Faculty. President of the Executive Board of the Student Government Kristina Miele ’19 mentioned the installment of a foosball table and a ping-pong table in Vernon Social Center.

The Student Government heard a presentation from Bantams in Balance. As a part of bettering student wellness, Bantams in Balance hopes that with the visit from the Hazelden Betty Ford Clinic, it will be able to more comprehensively understand alcohol and drug abuse at Trinity College. Bantams in Balance also sought the counsel of SGA, desiring to learn of the successes and failures of certain initiatives from student representatives, and hoping to receive ideas and feedback on promoting and possibly expanding resources such as the Counseling Center.

The SGA also discussed the recent TrinTalks. TrinTalks is a panel-style event addressing political conversations, with the most recent topic being immigration. Noting the negative feedback on the productivity of the conversations, Senator Lucemy Perez ’21 voiced her opposition to TrinTalks, believing that those with immigrant backgrounds are subjected to the marginalization of their identities in such discussions. However, Sustainability Liaison Trinna Larsen ’20 expressed her belief that such discussions are important, especially in the wake of a more politically polarized campus. The Student Government also debated whether or not audience members should be limited to questions rather than being allowed to offer rebuttals.

The Student Government also welcomed four new senators for the Class of 2020 Council following their recent election: Federica Cristofanilli, Hunter Savery, Larisa Bogomolov, and Erick Peña.