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Syracuse University’s Graduate Student Organization discussed the results of the United States 2024 general elections during its Wednesday evening meeting. GSO also filled one vacant internal senate position.

GSO President Daniel Kimmel addressed the room at the beginning of the meeting with a short speech about the outcome of the presidential race, of which Donald Trump was declared the winner as of early Wednesday morning.

“Make no mistake, the national stage affects the local stage we stand upon,” Kimmel said. “No matter what we must face in the months and years ahead, we must ensure that graduate students and those for whom we care about are never without a voice and are never without aid.”

Kimmel also said higher education institutions are facing “impending financial pressures” that may impact the standing of graduate students at SU. They ensured that they would continue to work with the organization to try and “build up the leaders of the future.”

After Kimmel’s speech, GSO conducted its elections. The organization did not fill any of its four open University Senate seats. GSO is permitted 11 total seats in USen, per USen bylaws. USen representatives attend monthly meetings with administrators, faculty and graduate representatives.

The organization filled one at-large senator vacancy, unanimously electing Agathe Baggieri for the position. Senators represent each graduate program at SU, and graduate students from any area of study can fill the at-large seats, according to GSO’s website.

Baggieri, who will represent the French department, said that her sister motivated her to get involved, as she is also a part of GSO.

“It’s a great opportunity, and I really wanted to be involved in the diversity, inclusion and equity community. Because as a woman I think that it’s very important to have a voice, especially in difficult times like this,” Baggieri said.

GSO passed a resolution to help support the Syracuse Graduate Student Employees United and its bargaining efforts at SUNY ESF, which will increase unionization for graduate students, GSO Vice President Roger Rosena said. The next meeting will be on Dec. 4.

“The resolution was designed to make visible the struggle that they are having in their own union negotiations to land an equitable contract in a timely manner,” Kimmel said. “They asked for our assistance to just raise that situation of visibility.”

After the elections, GSO approved $2,000 in funding for SUNY ESF’s Graduate Student Association to go towards its GSA day. The event aims to celebrate inclusivity among graduate students and foster community, Rosena said.

GSO approved $825 in funding for SU’s English Graduate Organization, which will be allocated toward efforts to increase membership. The Biotechnology Graduate Student Organization requested $375 for similar reasons, which GSO also approved.

The Philosophy Graduate Student Organization’s request of $1,200 for its annual conference was approved. The majority of the funds will go to travel expenses for the conference’s commencement speaker — Claremont College professor Rima Basu.

“I’m very pleased with the results of the funding requests,” Kimmel said. “We are really striving to develop mutual and reciprocal cost-sharing relationships with departments because we think it’s important that departments support their graduate students directly.”

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misquoted Kimmel’s opening remarks. It also stated that they said the election results would pose “impending financial pressures” on graduate students. This was incorrect. Kimmel made this comment in reference to how the general financial struggles of higher education institutions may impact these students. The article also incorrectly stated that GSO approved $8,660 for SUNY ESF’s GSA Day. The organization approved $2,000 for this event. The Daily Orange regrets these errors.

Published on November 7, 2024 at 1:13 am

Contact Henry: hdaley@syr.edu