On April 13, the Dartmouth Student Government Senate voted 2-3-14 in closed session against creating an emergency immigration fund proposed by general senator Sabik Jawad ’26.
The proposal aimed to create a $15,000 emergency fund to reimburse any out-of-pocket expenses faced by an undergraduate student due to immigration-related issues, particularly legal fees. The DSG president would maintain “discretion on what constitutes an eligible expense to be reimbursed,” according to the proposal document.
The vote took place at the weekly DSG meeting. Led by student body president Chukwuka Odigbo ’25, the Senate also discussed updates on various student life initiatives and a constitutional amendment proposal to change requirements for senators.
In an interview with The Dartmouth after the closed session, Jawad said he was “very hopeful” that the proposal would pass.
“Multiple students have expressed concerns publicly and privately to many of us that they are scared right now and they want help,” Jawad said. “And I expected that this would be the bare minimum in a case like this, but it seems that was too much to ask.”
He added that he believes DSG “doesn’t have its priorities straight,” pointing to a proposal to purchase a $12,250 nap pod.
In an interview with The Dartmouth, East Wheelock House senator Sudiptha Paul ’27 expressed concern that international members of DSG could face repercussions for any “outwardly, very politically-taken stances” of DSG. He argued that if DSG “puts it out there that there’s $15,000 being spent on protecting international students,” it could put itself in a “politically problematic situation” because the federal government could choose to review anything that’s potentially “against” the government.
In an interview with The Dartmouth, projects director Samay Sahu ’27 said the Senate had a “robust discussion” on the proposal.
“It seemed to be the general consensus that DSG needs to continue being more transparent about what we’re doing to help our international students,” Sahu said. “We thought that it’s more important to continue pressuring our senior administrators as well as third party stakeholders to be the ones paying for any student’s legal fees who need it.”
However, Sahu also noted that the proposal lacked an “oversight mechanism” and “checks and balances” on the president’s discretion to reimburse expenses.
“There is no mention on how requests will be evaluated, tracked or audited, nor what mechanisms will prevent fraud or ensure confidentiality and sensitivity,” Sahu said. “DSG could be legally and ethically vulnerable if [its funds are] misused, especially if the funds involve legal fees and immigration law.”
Jawad also proposed a constitutional amendment that would require senators to have no overdue components in the Sexual Violence Prevention Program and to consent to voice recording by The Dartmouth reporters, barring “exceptional circumstances” that would need to be “formally” explained to the President.
The amendment requiring senators to complete their SVPP requirements was well-received by the senators, although concerns were raised about its implementation and its language.
Jawad said he explicitly mentioned The Dartmouth in the recording amendment to “make it more digestible to the Senate” because allowing anyone to record could lead senators to have “safety concerns.” Jawad said that he introduced the amendment to address concerns about DSG’s “transparency,” noting that “most deliberative bodies” allow “recording at open body meetings.”
North Park House senator Jude Poirier ’28 said he thinks it is “upsetting” that an amendment would give “special privileges to one specific publication,” noting that he should not “need to waive [his] American right to privacy” to hold his DSG role.
“This isn’t the White House press room,” Poirier said. “We don't need to have a list of approved media outlets. We can or cannot, according to New Hampshire law, allow ourselves to be recorded. I don’t think our constitution is somehow more important than New Hampshire law.”
Allen House senator Jacob Garland ’25 said he believes that some students have “lost their faith in DSG, partially because of a perceived lack of transparency.” The amendment would be “one potentially effective way” to increase transparency, especially because DSG tackles “pressing issues that directly impact people’s livelihoods,” he added.
General senator Evan Gerson ’27 said he believes the Senate needs to think about the amendment “pragmatically.”
“Only The Dartmouth is really coming to record,” Gerson said. “… I think [the DSG] should give them just the basic courtesy of, let them record it. I feel like we’re mincing our words over nothing. It's The Dartmouth. Let them report. I don't see [The Dartmouth Review] coming in here and asking for reporting privileges.”
Student body vice president Jon Pazen ’25 countered that the amendment being rejected would not be against “transparency.”
“My assumption is that [The Dartmouth] would still report and still jot down all these notes, so it isn’t eliminating transparency,” Pazen said.
Further, DSG will be piloting a pots and pans rental project and laundry cubbies in the coming weeks while assessing the use of temporary bike racks installed in front of Robinson Hall and the Class of ’53 Commons, according to Odigbo. Students will be able to check out pans, mixing bowls, baking dishes and other cutlery items from “central locations” on campus in the next few weeks.
Odigbo also noted that the Student Issues Survey this year was the “largest [DSG] ever run at Dartmouth,” with around 32%of all undergraduates responding.
In the closed session, School House senator Hanna Bilgin ’28 was appointed co-chair of the Student Life Committee and West House senator Reece Sharp ’28 was appointed deputy project director, both by unanimous consent.
DSG Senate meetings occur weekly on Sundays at 7 p.m. in Collis 101 and are open to all students.
Correction appended (April 17, 6:11 p.m.): A previous version of this article misstated Samay Sahu's title. He is the projects director, not chief of staff. The article has been corrected.
