ISSUE: I-SP12 SUNY ROCKLAND STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSN." APRIL 2, 2012

ISSUE: I-SP12 SUNY ROCKLAND STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSN" PAGE 1

Lisa NewmarkVice President Our diverse Student Government has helped the campus and the students in various ways. We represent the student body and all the needs that the students have. Being a part of SGA I am able to effect the campus and students directly. I encourage students to get involved and join SGA; you will meet amazing people and have a huge impact on our school as well as develop yourself as the person you wish to be.

This publication is not affiliated with Outlook Student Press.

This is our newsletter!

Executive BoardChristopher BarkerPresident SGA has provided me with the opportunity to not only be a leader for our student senate, but for our entire student body as well. My fellow board members and senators have provided me with a rewarding experience and have allowed me to grow as a person. SGA has provided me with a great idea of friendship, leadership, and community.

The Student Government Association (SGA) is the governing body of Rockland Community College made up of student representatives, elected by you, the students of RCC. We have ten Freshman Senators, ten Sophomore Senators, and six Executive Board (E-Board) representatives. The E-Board consists of the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Student Activities Board Executive Chairperson (SAB Chair), and Board of Trustee Representative. This newsletter, which will be released two times per month will serve to educate you, the students, about the inner workings of your representative organization, the SGA. Our room (3215) is right across from the Office of Student Involvement on the Second Floor of the Student Union. Our Phone Number is: (845) 574-4376. Remember, we’re here to help you! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call or visit, someone is always around to help. Please read on to learn more about each individual representative-- in their own words.

Angel TorresBoard of Trustee Representative SGA is proof that no matter what your background is, or where you come from, you can be a leader in your community by believing in yourself. Join SGA to make a change for others and yourself.

Jeff Lim LiSecretary Our Student Government consists of diverse cultured people, bringing 26 different types of ideologies and leadership to the table. By working as a team, we are able to make the impossible, possible due to our unique characteristics. Everyone has a voice, collectively, we can use our voices to improve RCC for the future.

Rafael D. MartinezStudent Activities Board Executive Chairperson SGA has been a life changing experience for me. The friends and connections I've made here will last me a lifetime. All the while doing the best I can to make this campus active and interesting. Do you want to make a change? SGA is a great place to start. This is your life. Do what you love and do it often. Live your dream and share your passion.

Jennifer EboigbeSGA Treasurer As Student Government Treasurer, I work hard in maintaining a budget of $500,000.00. With my other extra-circular activities such as the Student Ambassador Program and Student Nursing Association, I focus on raising the cultural diversity on campus by bringing different groups together for an event known as the International Luncheon.

SGA Members are a group of student advocates, who represent the diverse student population at RCC. They are leaders who work with various administrators and faculty to ensure that RCC students needs and concerns are met. They are dedicated to leadership and service.

SGA Mission Statement:By David Brustein-Cotler

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ISSUE: I-SP12 SUNY ROCKLAND STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSN" PAGE 2This publication is not affiliated with Outlook Student Press.

Freshman SenatorsAngelina ShymonFreshman Senator Student Government Association has undoubtedly had the most positive impact on me since I began my studies here at RCC. It is an organization that strives to fulfill the needs of the student body and through hard work and teamwork, succeeds in making the campus a better place and sets precedents for our future generations. I have developed an abundance of new skills that have helped me in all of my endeavors thus far, and I highly encourage you to join SGA and make a the change you wish to see in our college.

Sophomore Senators

David BrusteinFreshman Senator As a Senator, my goal is to do whatever I can, using the power of the Student Government Association to make Rockland Community College a better place for my fellow students. Our college, though flawed in some ways, has the potential to be an amazing institution for learning. I joined SGA with the mentality to better our campus. I am extremely proud of everything we have accomplished, in addition to the amazing things that we are about to achieve.

Ronald LawyerSophomore Senator Joining Student Government Association, has thus far been one of the smartest decisions that I have ever made. Through my service to my colleagues on campus as a Senator; I am able to learn and develop incredible leadership skills, meet and work with people of all kinds of ideological backgrounds, and made some influential friends. My college life and experience would have been incomplete without SGA, and I therefore urge students out there to please consider joining SGA in order not to miss the opportunity to grow into a future leader.Amanda Marshall

Freshman Senator I came to SGA in hopes of making new friends and benefitting my fellow students. SGA has provided me with amazing friendships and the ability to represent the student body. I am so happy I joined, and could not have asked for a better experience in leadership, education, and friendship.

Tamoy FullerFreshman Senator The Student Government is without a doubt one of the best ways to get involved in the school community and to take part in improving the life and college experience of the student body at Rockland Community College. The SGA provides the opportunity for a student to nurture his/her abilities in leadership, team work, and in making a change.

Jerry MilfortFreshman Senator Deciding to join the Student Government Association (SGA) was one of the best decisions that I ever made during my time at RCC. Through SGA I learned to ameliorate three important values of leadership, self-confidence, wisdom and respect. I feel compelled to leave my learned footsteps behind, so others can dream of following.

Alex OjedaSophomore Senator RCC’s Student Government Association has provided me with unique opportunities to build strong relationships, enhance leadership skills, and maximize my college experience. [...] I personally believe it's one of the strongest clubs at RCC, and that joining would only benefit you. My time at RCC would not have been the same without SGA's contribution to my extracurricular activities and the great people that I have met from joining it.

Rene MidouinSophomore Senator Joining SGA gave me the opportunity to be part of a diverse and motivated group of students working towards the same goal: Improving the quality of life on campus, teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success. I strongly encourage students to join SGA and be part of the team to make a difference.

Yuki NakayamaSophomore Senator Rockland Community College has good conditions for students to study eagerly and meet a lot of people. The Student Government Association works for the students’ individual satisfactions. Additionally, it helps to create enthusiasm on campus. These benefits of students are constructed by members of the SGA who can make good conditions and improve the quality of RCC. I therefore encourage students to join the SGA and have a big impact on the campus and students with the wonderful SGA members.Justin George

Sophomore Senator I don't have much to add to what's already been said. By now you've understood what the mission of 20+ students within the campus is. The question then is do you see anything that is not addressed? Do you believe there's something you could contribute to the betterment of your 2-year institution. Progress will be evident when there are dedicated students making an effort and in the end that's all it comes down to.

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ISSUE: I-SP12 SUNY ROCKLAND STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSN" PAGE 3This publication is not affiliated with Outlook Student Press.

Segundo Angel Guallpa Freshman Senator The Student Government Association has the ability to inspire one to make a change, and it only takes dedication to make change happen. It’s a challenging path, but together, we in SGA will accomplish our goals. We are the models of the next generation.

Mohammed ZaidFreshman Senator Being a part of the Student Government Association is the best way to begin accomplishing the goal of becoming a future leader. Becoming a leader in SGA has provided me with the rewarding opportunity to improve students’ lives on campus. In fact, SGA had a great impact on my way of thinking about tomorrow; it motivated me to apply for and get accepted into the Clinton Global Initiative.

Navid SafaieFreshman Senator By meeting such a diverse crowd with so many different stories and experiences, one may come away with completely new morals and perspectives on life. Self-improvement, along with making a difference in the community around us is among the benefits of joining The Student Government Association.

Andry SilverioFreshman Senator I am so glad that I am part of the Student Government Association. I feel important because I'm working with a lot of great minds, and people that want to work together to give the best to the student body here at RCC. My leadership skills have improved enormously because each of us on the Senate are equal and have a voice. I am proud to say that I am a Freshman Senator of the SGA because we as a group work very hard to give back to our community and our fellow colleagues. We are here for you!

Alexander KieneFreshman Senator As a Freshman Senator, I have collaborated with a number of talented and intelligent students on the SGA who serve on the Executive Board and Senate, all of whom have worked to make RCC a better place. As for my own projects, I am currently working on a fundraiser as a cooperative effort with RCC Fit to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and make a donation on the behalf of the students and benefit many of the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, a number of whom now attend Rockland Community College.

Shane O'HanlonSophomore Senator My name is Shane O'Hanlon. I am one of five children to an Irish-American family who lives in Monroe, NY. I'm currently organizing volunteers for United Way's Spring day of caring in Rockland County. Being a part of our SGA has given me the opportunity to surround myself with a diverse group of hardworking, motivated individuals that want nothing more than to succeed and help others reach their goals. I wouldn't change my team for the world.

Frank GalosoSophomore SenatorBeing a Sophomore Senator in student government has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had during my stay at Rockland Community College. It has been a privilege to serve the community here at the college. I look forward to hearing about the continued success of the SGA.

Khanh NguyenSophomore Senator As an international student from Viet Nam, I have never been in any professional organization like the Student Government Association (SGA) at RCC. I have learned leadership skills, teamwork, and ways to interact with all of my colleagues. Besides that, being a part of SGA, I have gained a sense of responsibility not just for myself, but also for RCC students. I love to create new things to help people, and SGA gives me a lot of opportunities to do so.

Mike FleischmannSophomore Senator Being a part of the Student Government Association is a great way to make friendships and make a positive difference in students’ lives. All of us are incredibly diverse, geographically and ideologically. We come from countries such as Ghana, Haiti, Ukraine, the Dominican Republic, Yemen, Ecuador,India, and Vietnam. We all have different beliefs and personalities, which enable us to discover and develop our own leadership and life skill potentials. The 26 of us come together to make RCC a better pace.

Kelsey Diaz-KuhnSophomore Senator [...] SGA is a group of students that truly want to [...] [make a] difference. Every single one of us brings something new to the table and it is a wonderful thing. I believe all students should try to get involved, especially in SGA, because you will not only gain hands-on experience for your career but you will also find yourself growing as a person as you help be the voice for your colleagues.

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ISSUE: I-SP12 SUNY ROCKLAND STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSN" PAGE 4This publication is not affiliated with Outlook Student Press.

Debra BalestraDirector of Student Involvement As the Director of Student Involvement, I act as the advisor to the Student Government Association My office is located in Room 3208 of the Student Union. Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions or stop by the office. My e-mail is dbalestr@sunyrockland.edu. Do yourself a favor and get involved. Make the most out of your RCC experience. You won't be sorry! As the SGA motto states, Make a Choice to Make a Change.

Our office is in in room 3215 (across from Student Involvement and Outlook) and our phone number is (845) 574-4376.

Representatives are available to speak with frequently throughout the day.

Feel free to drop by and say “Hello” anytime!

By the way, Student Government holds meetings every Thursday at 3:30 PM. Guests are welcome!

Questions or Comments?Fill out this form and leave it in our comment box outside our door. (Room: 3215)

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