RUSA Report November 6: Government Relations representatives speak, funding legislation passes

During a meeting Thursday, the assembly passed legislation to support the university’s Basic Needs Center, elected a new member to the appointments committee, and heard from speakers from the Department of Government Relations.

Funding legislation passed

Sponsored by RUSA President Christopher Godoy, the bill allocated $1,000 of the Presidential Budget to be used for the Basic Needs Center, which provides food and clothing to students in need. The bill also calls for other governing bodies to make similar contributions to the center.

According to Godoy, this legislation is in response to pauses in food assistance programs, such as SNAP benefits, caused by the federal government shutdown. In a mass email last week, the Basic Needs Center recently reminded students of the center’s resources as students lose benefits and need for food assistance grows.

Assembly members voiced enthusiastic support for the bill, with one asking if more money could be given. Godoy said he hoped the bill would be the start of a “collective effort” by governmental bodies to continue lending support and that RUSA’s work with the Basic Needs Center was far from over.

The assembly also passed legislation funding special events for several student organizations. $250,000 was allocated across nine student organizations and their respective events.

Both bills were passed unanimously.

Department of Government Relations speakers

Ian Grubman, Senior Director of Federal Relations, and Samantha Booth, Assistant Director of Federal Relations, discussed fighting for greater student aid and better tax policy for educational institutions.

Grubman and Booth also highlighted several Trump administration policies affecting higher education. Policies include research grant cuts, immigrant student deportations, dismantling of the Department of Education, and ending diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

Grubaman also discussed the Compact for Academic Excellence offered by the Trump administrations to some universities for greater federal support in exchange for restricting political speech for students, limiting foreign students, and freezing tuition rates. 

No universities offered the deal has taken it, though Cornell accepted a similar deal Friday. Rutgers has yet to be offered the deal.

Speakers also discussed internships and opportunities for students to get involved, such as the Scarlet Service Internship Program and Rutgers Advocacy Corps.

Appointment Committee election

Assembly member Isabella Horowitz was elected to the assembly’s Appointment Committee following an internal election. In the position, Horowitz will be responsible for selecting students to fill empty positions in the assembly.

In a campaign speech to the assembly, Horowitz promised to help make sure people of all backgrounds will have representation in RUSA and a platform to tell their story.

Her opponent, Jonathan Sebbag, focused his speech on addressing the number of assembly members who have minimal attendance to meetings. Sebbag highlighted the 9 seats currently vacant due to attendance-related impeachments, making for a “shameful” 12% impeachment rate.

Assembly members asked the candidates what criteria they would use to make appointments. Both said they would prioritize potential appointees who intend to be active participants in the assembly and maintain a consistent attendance record.

Full minutes of the November 6 RUSA meeting can be found here.