Duke Student Government senators discussed the recent addition to food points for undergraduate students on financial aid and confirmed newly-selected at-large senators at their Wednesday meeting.
Vice President for Academic Affairs Jax Nalley, a sophomore, explained Wednesday’s rollout of extra food points. In response to rising food prices, the Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support has distributed 300 extra food points to undergraduate students on financial aid or merit scholarships, he said.
“This is something that's been on our radar for quite a while because students were starting to feel the squeeze from inflation, and many students had signed up for food plans that weren't able to support them for the full semester,” said Nalley, who also leads the Karsh Student Advisory Board.
The move is part of a larger 600-point increase in food points for the 2022-23 school year, according to a DukeHub message sent to students Wednesday afternoon. The message explained that students’ dining bills will not increase, and the points should automatically appear in student accounts by Oct. 24.
Nalley emphasized the collaboration between the Karsh Student Advisory Board, several administrative offices and multiple DSG senators and committees in the effort. He also noted that the Feed a Devil program, which enables students to donate their food points, is now accepting donations.
Confirmations
DSG senators confirmed first-years Aiden Pasinsky, Nisha Jakkinpali and Tag Mehbod as senators for Academics Affairs; first-years Alexa Fahrer, Amari Crittenden and Sravya Yellapragada for Campus Life; first-years Jordan Phillips, Katelyn Cai, Liv Schramkowski and Miran Bhima for Durham and Community Affairs; first-years Ishanvi Malayanil, Jaden Rodriguez, Jothi Gupta and Willow Kaplan for Equity and Outreach; and first-years Akshay Gokul, Chris Paré, Dylan Cawley, Mariam Gulamhusein and Matthew Rui and junior Rashad Rahman for Services and Sustainability.
DSG Chief Justice Jonathan Griffin, a senior, swore in the new senators. Taken together with the elected first-year senators confirmed last week, the Senate welcomes 29 new senators this year.
In other business
Senators allocated $3,000 for Duke Asian Student Association’s Asian Creatives Festival night market and $3,956 for DevilTHON: Duke Dance Marathon on Nov. 11. The senators also approved $179.28 for the Equity and Outreach Committee’s open house on Oct. 27.
DSG adviser Jawan Jacobs updated the senators on a reiteration of the Office of Government Relations’ policy about campus events involving political candidates. DSG and the Student Organization Finance Committee will only be able to approve funding for events if “all candidates for office are invited to participate,” according to University policy.
Senators heard updates about Democracy Day from Senator Mick Tobin, a sophomore. Tobin announced that Michael Steele, former lieutenant governor of Maryland and chairman of the Republican National Committee, will be speaking at the event on Oct. 28.
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Senou Kounouho is a Pratt sophomore and a university news editor of The Chronicle's 119th volume.