The University of North Florida’s Student Government (SG) committees approved an associate justice appointment, travel requests, and solidified the February survey topic on Friday, February 6.

The Rules and Oversight (R&O) committee appointed Sophia Rivera to the associate justice position. The Budget and Allocation (B&A) committee approved three travel requests, and the University and Student Affairs (USA) committee decided on this month’s Osprey Voice topic.

Rules and Oversight Committee

Psychology major Sophia Rivera was appointed to the judicial branch with a letter of recommendation from Student Body President Amelia Dyal.

“I am confident that she will be a great addition to the judicial branch as an associate justice,” said Dyal in her letter.

Rivera referenced her experience as a research assistant and gymnastics coach in relation to her focus on SG’s judicial branch.

“It’s taught me a lot about communication, group communication, and patience, which I think are traits really needed in this position of associate justice,” said Rivera. 

The R&O committee unanimously passed Rivera’s appointment.

On the agenda for the Feb. 6 R&O meeting, senator Serenity Miller was scheduled for an absence appeal hearing. An absence appeal hearing is held after multiple unexcused absences from required SG Senate meetings. 

Due to Miller’s absence from her scheduled hearing, she will be moved to the formal removal process, according to R&O Chair Winter Slaughter, according to SG’s enforcement policy. 

Budget and Allocation Committee

During the B&A meeting, Treasurer Katherine Toro Villanueva reported that B&A will be voting on the 2026-27 budget during the Feb. 20 committee meeting. 

“Two weeks from now, I’ll be presenting to B&A, and three weeks from now, I’ll be presenting to the Senate, and then, given it is approved without any major changes, it will be presented to the interim president that we have,” said Villanueva.

According to SG policies and procedures, the body is responsible for the Activity and Services fee budget, which varies year to year based on student enrollment. 

“The A&S Fee Budget shall be expended by Student Government for lawful purposes to benefit the student body, in general,” reads the UNF SG Constitution. “It may support activities that reflect genuine student interest and enhance the educational, social, cultural, and recreational interests of the University of North Florida students.”

If the budget passes the committee, it will be subject to senatorial approval.

Following the treasurer’s report, the B&A heard three travel requests for committee members to review. The travel request budget stood at $24,618.98 prior to the following requests.

The American Society of Civil Engineers requested $1,744.09 in their travel request. According to their presentation, the funds will be used to purchase seven minivans and one truck to transport 36 students competing at the 2026 ASCE Southeast Student Symposium in Boca Raton, Florida.

According to the organization’s presentation, the symposium will offer internship opportunities, host a mini career fair, and feature competitions that students prepare for throughout the year.

“We ask that Student Government help fund our travel to go to this event so the students aren’t able to be financially responsible for funding this event,” said the representative of the American Society of Civil Engineers. 

The request was unanimously passed by the committee.

The UNF Club Gymnastics requested $900 to cover hotel and lodging expenses for the National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs competition in Birmingham, Alabama. According to the club’s presentation, six members are competing, and one member is attending to coach the team. 

“This funding would help offset hotel expenses for team members attending nationals,” said the Club Gymnastics representative. “As a first-year national appearance for our club, supporting these athletes helps establish UNF’s presence at the national level.”

The request was unanimously passed by the committee.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers requested $2,000 in funding to attend the 2026 IEEE International Conference on Sensing, Communication, and Networking in Huntsville, Alabama.

According to their presentation, the institute plans to use these funds to support 14 students in attendance.

“The main competition is that students are given a series of tasks, as well as restraints, to build a fully autonomous robot that must go on a gam field, and complete certain tasks,” said the organization’s representative.

Senator Brock Varzaly abstained from the vote due to his personal affiliation with the institute, but commended the organization’s efforts during committee discussion.

“I think it will bring a lot of attention to UNF and bring opportunities,” said Varzaly.

The request was passed with nine approvals and one abstention.

Given that all travel requests were approved, the travel request budget stands at $19,973.89.

University and Student Affairs Committee

During the USA meeting, senators discussed and reviewed the results of last month’s survey. According to USA Chair Shipton Macdonald, January’s Osprey Voice survey was released on Jan. 23 and included various questions on dining on campus. 

The January survey included questions about student satisfaction with dining options, hours, and the quality of campus food. According to the results displayed during the meeting, UNF students are most interested in later dining hours, more fruit in the dining cafe, and cheaper food options.

According to Macdonald, UNF dining services expressed interest in student survey results and are “excited to collaborate on a survey and looking for ways to improve.”

While the January Osprey Voice survey received 387 responses, Macdonald noted that this response rate is “weaker” than in previous surveys. Macdonald attributed this to other senators not canvassing for survey responses.

“Senators outside of USA did not help at all, and I have a couple of fraternity brothers in Senate, so that’s kind of sad,” said Macdonald. 

In an email issued on Jan. 23, Macdonald instructed senators to canvas for last month’s Osprey Voice. The email informed all senators that they must canvass for the survey or face a penalty absence point. 

“I don’t want to punish people, but at the same time, I think senators definitely should at least tell me they can’t canvass,” said Macdonald during the meeting.

In regard to the February survey topic, the committee unanimously voted for the “assessing academic calendar” topic. 

According to the committee, the topic concerns whether students are satisfied with the designated winter and fall breaks on the UNF academic calendar.

The senators specifically referenced a shift in UNF’s “fall break” for students.

“This year, it was one big break for like Thanksgiving, but in years past, we’ve done fall break and then Thanksgiving break,” said SG Senator Alexa Dudkiewicz.

The committee will construct the survey questions during the next meeting, according to Chair Macdonald.

Up Next

The SG Senate will meet Friday, Feb. 13, at 12pm in the Senate Chambers (Bldg. 58E, Room 3200).

___

For more information or news tips, or if you see an error in this story or have any compliments or concerns, contact [email protected].