Shippensburg University’s Student Government Association hosted its final public meeting and transition ceremony to 2024-25 leadership on Thursday afternoon.

SGA President Harun Pacavar swore in Lillian Sellers as the next SGA president, and Sellers then swore in Natalie Nichols as VP of External Affairs, Katie Huston as VP of Internal Affairs, Ella Zinn as VP of Student Groups and Nathan Garber as VP of Finance. Huston ended the ceremony by swearing in newly elected SGA senators.

Serving as SGA president “has been an experience I’ll be cherishing for a while,” Pacavar said. “It is very bittersweet.”

All newly elected members of SGA — especially members involved in allocating additional funds for student groups — will continue to work throughout the summer.

During the public meeting, multiple student group representatives spoke out about the proposed 2024-25 budgets announced on April 12.

One member of the track team said they do not “deserve the strain” the proposed budget will cause because they consistently bring in recruits despite declining enrollment.

Through a contract that has been in place for several years, the athletics department receives 65% of all funds raised through the student activity fee, according to Huston, and athletics administration determines how much each team receives. There was a roughly $135,000 cut overall.

“Athletics is the reason why I’m attending Shippensburg University,” a statement from junior Nicola Puggé read. “Reconsider the proposed budget.”

As noted in the initial budget documents, the student activity fee increase did not get approved by SU administration in time to be a factor in budget allocations, so SGA’s Budget and Finance Committee will allocate an additional $120,000 in the coming months. A process for groups to apply is not expected until late summer.

SGA formally approved the budget at the end of the meeting; however, senators Reasoner, Conrad, Nealon, Aristy and McArthur voted against the approval.

In other business, Maya Bennett, president of Panhellenic Council, spoke during public comment and criticized coverage of Greek Life from student media organizations. Bennett said negative stories “reaffirms stereotypes” and that it is “very frustrating to see student groups combating on campus.”

Additionally, Senator Ali Sina Sharifi announced his intent not to return to SGA due to his appointment to the PASSHE Board of Governors. Senator Cejay Cocco noted 67 participants in the Wood Honors College Day of Service on April 20, and Interfraternity Council Senator Ethan Sommer announced a community clean-up on May 5.

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