Student Association Holds First Meeting of 2025-2026 School Year

By Lucienne Burns | September 1, 2025

Student Association Senators convened for the first meeting of the semester. 

Photo Credit: Mattie Fitzpatrick / The ASP

University at Albany’s Student Association (SA) Senate convened Wednesday (8/27) to hold their first meeting of the 2025-2026 academic year, with a fully staffed executive branch, plans for big events, and swearing in new members to fill vacancies.

The legislative agenda outlined 11 new appointments, which were all passed through the Senate with unanimous consent. This included swearing in two new justices for the Supreme Court and to a variety of other positions such as a Senate clerk, and 8 other directors overseeing various areas. With the absence of a clerk, their meeting minutes from the last meeting have not yet been approved. 

While several new appointees were confirmed, there are still notable vacancies such as Vice Chair of the Senate and Chair of the Board of Finance. 

“Even though there are a lot of filled positions, there are still many opportunities within the Student Association,” said President Trevor Pettit, addressing the Senate. “But not just to you all, to the student body as a whole.”

The election for Vice Chair of the Senate along with general representative positions is slated for Sept. 17. Two senators resigned over the summer, leaving two additional vacancies to be filled in a special election date to be determined. 

In addition to elections, details regarding the upcoming Student Association run Block Party were discussed at this meeting, as developments happened over the summer break. Students voted and chose the theme “Freaknik,” and according to Pettit, they have capped tabling at 213 organizations. 

The close of UAlbany’s wilderness retreat Dippikill was a point of contention amongst the SA Senate and UAlbany alumni at the close of last year. 

Dippikill was briefly mentioned at the meeting by President Pettit who spoke on a plan for the UAlbany-owned property. President Pettit spoke of a proposed three-way split model, which would divide the fiscal responsibility for keeping Camp Dippikill open among the Student Association, University Auxiliary Services and the Alumni Association.

“In terms of Dippikill, we are making solid progress on a solution, we are still pursuing the three-way split model,” Pettit said.“The UAS and Alumni Associations have passed resolutions in support of a restructured and operational Dippikill, and the Dippikill board itself will be passing a resolution in line as well.”

Senator Carter Schum briefly addressed a change made by the Parking & Mass Transit office which converted the Indigenous’ Quad commuter lot to a faculty parking area. With this change, Indigenous Quad no longer has a student parking lot. 

Senator Schum, however, was optimistic. 

Schum said, “I’m happy to say that I had a great meeting with the head of Mass Parking and Transit to discuss my concerns.” 

The change occurred due to an increased need in faculty parking lots on the uptown campus.