SGA passed a bill to approve funding for an interfaith dinner event after much debate that was fueled by the organization’s budget cuts. While SGA has passed four resolutions, this was the first bill to pass this academic year.

After the vote, Sreekar Reddy, a business school representative studying marketing who is also an international student, stood up and spoke for over 15 minutes accusing SGA and DePaul University of inaction on helping international students find employment after graduation to pay back loans.

“Nobody is talking about providing jobs to students. We as SGA should talk about that,” Reddy said.

Reddy, who will graduate in the spring, stressed the urgency of helping international students who graduate after he does.

“Debating over $200, whether to spend it or not — I would give you the $200 right away. Let’s end that topic right now,” Reddy said in reference to the debate over the dinner funding in the bill.

While his seat may be uncontested, Reddy said his constituents consistently ask about his progress as their representative.

“Every time they see me: ‘Bro, we voted for you. What are you doing? You don’t get any job, you promise that you will get internships,’” Reddy said. “What is the point of this tag and title?”

Reddy apologized and promised to bring pizza to the next meeting.

Taras Mytrofanyuk, chair of the academic affairs committee, said he would meet with Reddy to discuss his concerns.

“Since becoming aware of the issues presented by him, I have begun working together with him, members of the Academic Affairs Committee, and the Chair of DEI to support his initiative focused on helping DePaul international students obtain Illinois state IDs and other ideas he brought up,” Mytrofanyuk told The DePaulia in an email.

The chair also noted that SGA created a committee to support international and undocumented students last quarter.

SGA is hosting a dialogue event to get student feedback — planned before the meeting — open to all students on Jan. 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Arts & Letters 104. The event will be held in a small-group discussion format, with an SGA representative moderating each table.

“We just want to make sure students know that not only is that feedback heard, but it’s valuable,” said chair of campus affairs Peyton Deck. “So we’re hoping to just use this as an opportunity to both connect with constituents but to also motivate some forward action given their concerns.”

Deck, who is leading the event with mission liaison Olivia Hanif and chair of membership Anya Forrester, said she plans to compile the feedback in a report to give to the DePaul administration. 

In addition to the dialogue event, students can meet with SGA representatives at the Division of Mission and Ministry’s Foundation Day event on Thursday, Jan. 22.

There was a new addition to the cabinet: Muaz Hussaini, a third-year accounting student was appointed as secretary. Hussaini recently transferred from Harper College and is replacing Tinbit Dogisso, who served as acting secretary last quarter and now serves as chief of staff.

In an email to The DePaulia, Hussaini said he is grateful for the opportunity and is excited to “support the efforts to better connect students with their representatives.”

“I’m especially looking forward to staying organized behind the scenes, keeping clear records and helping make sure student voices and ideas are accurately represented,” he added.

Related stories:

• Manuel, administrators address budget, ICE concerns at SGA meeting
• SGA fall election voting opens, Manuel to speak at Wednesday’s meeting
• Reach out for ‘anything,’ DePaul student gov president says