On Friday, Feb. 13, the University of North Florida Student Government Senate reviewed reports from the legislative and executive branches, passed a joint resolution condemning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and confirmed a new associate justice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Joint Resolution condemns ICE\u00a0<\/p>\n
The UNF SG passed a joint resolution condemning the recent actions of ICE, citing concerns about potential civil rights violations, due process, and the Fourth Amendment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The resolution is officially titled \u201cJR-26S-3850: Joint Resolution Condemning Recent Practices of the Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE).\u201d Slaughter authored the document, and UNF Senator Vanessa Manzi sponsored it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Operation Metro Surge<\/a> is an immigration enforcement operation launched by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in December 2025. Primarily carried out by ICE, federal agents were sent to St. Paul, Minn. The operation drew national controversy after aggressive enforcement tactics and the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.\u00a0<\/p>\n The joint resolution called upon the UNF Police Department and Jacksonville Sheriff\u2019s Office to cancel any existing, pending, or future ICE partnerships. SG also called for safeguards that protect civil rights, community stability, and equitable treatment under the law.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cInstitutions of student government stand for the protection of civil liberties, due process, racial equity, human dignity, and policies that promote safety, justice, and the well-being of all community members, regardless of immigration status,\u201d the resolution stated.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Though the joint resolution does not have direct action against ICE agents on campus, Senator Hunter Hayes supported Slaughter\u2019s call for advocacy.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s make it known where we stand in this room,\u201d said Hayes. \u201cIt matters what we say here. It matters what we do here. I will be voting yes.\u201d<\/p>\n Macdonald, who was also in support of the resolution, pointed out the diversity of UNF\u2019s campus. Macdonald says that UNF is a community where students, regardless of race, can come together and learn.<\/p>\n \u201cOutside of politics, we come to school to learn and get educated,\u201d said Macdonald.<\/p>\n The joint resolution was passed with 15 votes. Senator Chloe Nowak-Vansant voted against the resolution, while Slaughter abstained as its author.<\/p>\n Office of Elections and SG branch reports<\/p>\n In the meeting, the Office of Elections initiated goals to manage the Spring 2026 elections. During a presentation, Supervisor of Elections Asvidhi Ladumor announced that the organization has publicly released the Spring 2026 election timeline and is preparing for the upcoming elections.\u00a0<\/p>\n To increase election awareness and participation, Ladumor says the Office of Elections will have a table during Market Days with flyers and QR codes that direct students to its Instagram page<\/a>. People who are already in SG and plan to run for the Spring 2026 elections must complete and submit a candidate DOI at the Student Government Rotunda by Feb. 20.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ladumor said there will be two mandatory candidacy meetings on Feb. 24 and 25 at the Senate Chambers from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The purpose of these meetings is to inform current candidates about the rules and expectations of campaigning and becoming a senator. Some of the topics that will be covered are Robert\u2019s Rules of Order, time commitments, and the importance of voting.<\/p>\n SG Attorney General Kaley Moale addressed the Senate on university-wide committees (UWCs) and ways to increase student involvement. These committees are typically run at the presidential level at UNF, according to Moale, and address university-wide issues or needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018If you are a part of one, please let me know,\u201d said Moale. \u201cCurrently, the list I have is outdated.\u201d<\/p>\n Senate Pro-Tempore Winter Slaughter\u2019s report consisted of addressing excused absences and finalizing a set of proposed changes to Title IV of the SG Constitution.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen reporting to a future excused absence, please email the chair of the meeting and CC the Pro-Tempore,\u201d said Slaughter.\u00a0<\/p>\n For example, senators absent from a University and Students Affairs (USA) committee meeting should email USA Chair Shipton Macdonald and CC Slaughter in advance.<\/p>\n In her Senate President report, Kamyla Carrasquillo-Lebron asked if there are senators who would also want to participate in the Rules and Oversight Committee (R&O) every week on Fridays at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had some resignations,\u201d said Carrasquillo-Lebron. \u201cI\u2019d like to have at least three more people because we are struggling to meet quorum every week.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Associate justice confirmed<\/p>\n During this meeting, Sophia Rivera, who was appointed<\/a> by the Rules and Oversight (R&O) on Feb. 6, was sworn in by Carrasquillo-Lebron as an associate justice in SG\u2019s Judicial Branch.\u00a0<\/p>\n In her remarks before the confirmation hearing, Rivera highlighted her academic background as well as her extracurricular activities. Being involved in law-related organizations outside her major taught Rivera the importance of nuance in complex situations and empathy.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m confident that my commitment to fairness, integrity, respect and service will be a great addition to Student Government,\u201d said Rivera.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the confirmation hearing, Senator Hayes asked Rivera about her personal code of ethics. Rivera attributed her moral code to her upbringing in Puerto Rico, where she was raised in a diverse environment and learned to be open to multiple perspectives. It was then that Rivera learned that answers to issues are not always straightforward.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hayes also asked what Rivera would do if a friend were to be involved in an SG court case, to which she responded that her constitutional duties come first.\u00a0<\/p>\n Senator Jacob Sumner also asked Rivera how she would manage her role in the judicial branch alongside her other obligations, and she responded that she uses Google Calendar regularly to manage her time.<\/p>\n Rivera\u2019s appointment was then taken to a vote, and she was unanimously confirmed.<\/p>\n Up Next<\/p>\n Student Government\u2019s Committees will hold meetings on Friday, Feb 20. Meeting times and locations are below.<\/p>\n The Rules and Oversight Committee will meet at 10 a.m. in the Senate Chambers (Bldg. 58E, Room 3200).\u00a0 ___<\/p>\n For more information or news tips, or if you see an error in this story or have any compliments or concerns, contact [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nThe Budget and Allocations Committee will meet at noon in the Senate Chambers.
\nThe University and Student Affairs Committee will meet at 2 p.m. in the John E. Sapp Conference Room (Bldg. 58E, Room 3206).<\/p>\n