Students criticize Senate during open forum

The St. John’s Senate met at 7:30 p.m. on Monday in Sexton 200.

Assistant Dean for Student Leadership & Engagement Aaron Voth began the session by reflecting upon the act of listening. Voth explained that listening is a skill everyone can practice and improve upon. Voth asked senators to participate in a short listening exercise in which each senator spoke to one of their peers for two minutes while the other listened without response. Next, the senators flipped roles to allow everyone to speak and listen.

During the open forum portion of the session, a collection of SJU students came to the front in support of a protest led by Sens. Kobe Forbes and Aubrey Sherman in response to last week’s vice-presidential election.

Sherman prefaced his statement by explaining that his words are not an attack on standing Vice President Owen Haubenschild.

Sherman expressed that he does not feel his fellow senators have been there for him recently, nor does he feel heard within the institution. Sherman went on to identify and explain biases within the Senate. Sherman feels nothing has been done about the implicit biases and noted that many senators feel they cannot speak up. Sherman described his experience running for PR representative in the general election of 2023. He ultimately did not win the election and was told after by a fellow senator that he was “better suited for cultural affairs, anyway.”

Sen. Kobe Forbes spoke next, addressing injustice within the Senate. Forbes stated that he has defended the Senate through thick and thin, despite racist allegations made against the organization. Forbes expressed a feeling of betrayal due to the actions of his peers.

Forbes ran for vice president during the closed session of the Senate on Feb. 12. Forbes was one of five candidates, including senators Sherman, Haubenschild, De’Andre Forbes and Caanan Cooper. Haubenschild was ultimately elected vice president.

The Senate election process calls for candidates to wait in a seperate room before entering the meeting space one by one for their speeches and question and answer. Candidates also leave the room during voting.

Forbes stated that during the debate he was labeled as an excessive partier due to his association with Johnnies that have a reputation for partying. Forbes explained that fellow senators go to bars and parties without consequence, yet he was stereotyped because of his friendships.

Furthermore, Forbes stated that he was chastised for his relationships with CSB+SJU administrators, yet other senators hold these associations without backlash. Forbes finished his statement by calling for a constitutional revolution and complete renovation of the Senate’s biased format.

Student and former SJU senator Trent Thompson spoke about the history of the SJU Senate. Thompson corroborated Forbes’s and Sherman’s statements by explaining that in the past, racism within the Senate has been addressed without change. During his time as judicial chair during the 2021-22 academic year, Thompson proposed completely rewriting the consitution for structural change.

Thompson urged the current Senate to learn from this instance so that future generations can work to make positive changes within the student government.

SJU senior Jon Davis continued the conversation about listening during his statement. Davis said that many students of color don’t feel heard. Davis urged the Senate to internalize the sentiments and work together to make a tangible change.

President Wes Kirchner concluded the open forum by addressing the students in attendance, stating that those who spoke were heard and appreciated.

Maria Lindsay presented the Spirituality and Social Justice’s (SSJ) Paint for Peace. The club hopes to host a painting event on March 22 to raise awareness about the conflict between Gaza and Israel. According to the United Nations, about 100,000 people have been killed, are missing or injured since the start of the conflict. Lindsay expressed the importance of this opportunity for students to express their feelings and emotions through art healthfully. Additionally, the event provides a chance for students to learn and educate themselves about the conflict in the Middle East.

SSJ anticipates around 20 participants at the event and requested $158.35.

The motion passed.

Next, CSB senior Taylor Barber and SJU junior Brendon Slate of St. John’s EMT Squad proposed a $2,844.30 budget to fund promotional banners and clothing for student volunteers. SJU EMT is a unique volunteer-based organization comprising 21 student volunteers. Barber and Slate expressed that student volunteer’s spend hundreds of unpaid hours working to protect CSB+SJU lives.

Barber and Slate requested that the student volunteers be rewarded for their service with new gear.

The motion passed.

SJU junior Derek Pass with SJU Faith then presented about Easter Brunch. Pass explained that many students will be off campus on Easter Sunday; however, plenty of Johnnies and Bennies will not go home. Pass states that all dining halls will be closed on Easter Sunday; therefore, it is essential, for many, that SJU Faith host a meal. SJU Faith estimates there will be 30 Bennies and 30 Johnnies in attendance. SJU Faith asked for money to cover the cost of SJU students. The event has also been granted permission to cater and provide transportation.

The $750 request passed.

SJU seniors Robbie Smith and Connor Veldman came before the Senate to present their research and request funding to attend the National Conference for Undergraduate Research in Long Beach, Calif. SJU senior Keanu Henry submitted a similar request, approved by the SJU Senate, a week ago.

The $920 request passed.

The McNeely Center requested $865 in funding for the Eric Rego Big Idea Competition. Eric Rego was an involved entrepreneur and a member of the first e-scholars program at CSB+SJU. Rego launched two business ventures while at SJU but tragically passed in 2008, shortly after graduating. The Eric Rego Big Idea Competition was created and named in his honor.

Ten students will present their designs in front of a panel of judges at CSB. Based on the scoring by the judges, prizes will be distributed to the young entrepreneurs. The event will provide food and prizes.

The $865 request was passed.

Haubenschild requested the Senate fund 250 student tickets, at two dollars each, to the SJU basketball playoffs game at Sexton Arena on Thursday. The requested totaled $500.

The request passed.

Finally, for new proposals, Sen. Cormac O’Connor presented about the revival of the Tommie-Johnnie rivalry. The Tommie-Johnnie rivalry was a highlight of the football season, resulting in the teams facing each other 89 times. UST is now a NCAA Division I program. A St. Thomas senator proposed bringing back the rivalry, and O’Connor ran with the idea. The two senators collaborated to develop a possible Tommie–Johnnie Olympics.

O’Connor did not request funding but solely expressed the concept. The Senate was generally supportive of the plan.

The meeting was adjourned. The next SJS meeting will be held on Monday at 7:30 in Sexton 200.