RUSA Report December 4: Spring 2026 budget passes, assembly prepares for next semester

The student assembly passed key funding legislation and reflected on how to improve member engagement at the assembly’s last meeting of the semester.

RUSA DEI Department Director Alejandra Afanador spoke on how the assembly can engage more with the groups they represent and how RUSA as a whole can foster more collaboration next semester. Afanador discussed the importance of equity and engagement in representing the student body fairly. 

Afanador also reflected on the assembly’s Fall Retreat, where attendees discussed finding a balance between civil discussion and open engagement at RUSA meetings. Afanador suggested that instead of being a safe space, the assembly should aim to make meetings a “brave space”, where members may not always be totally comfortable, but are always comfortable to speak for their own views and the groups they represent.

Smriti Pisharodi, Vice Chair of the Allocations Board, presented the student organization budget for the Spring 2026 semester, as well as how the board determined the allocations. Just over $700,000 was allocated to various organizations, funded by the student fee included on the student tuition bill.

In another bill, Student Body Treasurer Sam Meizys asked the assembly to allocate $5,000 for “Birdie” devices, which are keychains equipped with a flashlight, strobe light, and siren sound to make travelling at night safer. The devices will be distributed with personal safety information at tabling events by the Sexual Violence Education Committee.

Both bills passed with unanimous consent.

During the meeting, RUSA President Christopher Godoy and representatives from the Stevens Institute of Technology student government signed and presented a letter promising collaboration and engagement between New Jersey universities. The Stevens representatives said they signed a similar agreement with the student government of The College of New Jersey and plan to meet with student leaders at Princeton University next.

Through an executive order, student Aashna Thakaar was appointed liaison to the Big Ten Conference. In her position, Thakaar will represent the interests of the assembly in her dealings with the athletic conference.

Legislative Affairs Chair Dina Abdelfattah presented a draft of a “Lobbying Tool Kit” with resources for RUSA members who want to bring their student advocacy to government politics. The document includes information on how to start a lobbying campaign and templates for letters to politicians.

During leadership updates, multiple E-board members discussed the currently missing student, Mortimer Wortman, who was last seen in Jackson Township, according to NJ.com. Student Affairs Chair Ang Dinall urged assembly members to help spread the word about the search effort and to come together as a community to locate a fellow student.

Godoy also said the assembly’s Fall 2025 impact report outlining the assembly’s successes and areas of improvement for the semester is expected to be released soon.

The assembly will not meet again for regular meetings until the start of the Spring 2026 semester.

The full meeting minutes for the December 4 meeting can be found here.