The State and Federal Organizing Committee is charged with advocating for UMass Amherst students as well as public higher education overall on the local, state, and federal level. This Committee informs the Senate on relevant and important legislation that may affect UMass Amherst students, and it acts as the Senate’s liaison to local governments, such as the Town of Amherst.
Meeting Time: Wednesdays at 6 P.M. in the SGA Office (Student Union room 420)
Members: Chairman Sean O’Connor, Vice Chair Gabrielle Cook, Senators Sophie Zaman, Renée Barouxis, Savannah Van Leuvan-Smith, Kyle Jessey, Brad Rowbotham, Chris Lehman, Willis Chen, and Special Assistant Matt Bonaccorsi
According to the SGA By-Laws, the State and Federal Organizing Committee shall:
- Develop a primary, year-long campaign using the guidelines and procedures outlined below, in Title 2, Chapter 32, Sections 1-3.
- Review and report to the Senate on Federal, State, and local legislation that affects the interests of students at the University, and in issues of public higher education in Massachusetts.
- Organize publicity campaigns and employ media outlets to inform students and the campus community of the SGA’s activities relating to federal, state, and local campaigns and legislation.
- Collaboarate with the United States Student Association, and other state-wide and federal student organizations and coalitions on campaigns that advocate for fully-funded affordable, accessable, well staffed, and democratic system of public higher education, and mobilize student to lobby for these state and federal campaigns and legislation.
- Act as the Senate’s liaison to the Town of Amherst and the communities surrounding the campus, including Franklin Country and the Greater Springfield area.
- Assist the Secretary of Public Policy and Relations in the effective implementation of Acts of the SGA within the committee’s jurisdiction.” [T2,C31,S6]