The Student Government Association (SGA) held its first Senate Speaker Series in Benton Hall, which aimed to connect Colgate University directors with students and SGA representatives through meaningful conversations. The Dec. 3 event outlined upcoming initiatives and featured discussions on advocacy and campus improvement.
First-year and Speaker of the Senate Andres Carvajal shared why the series was created.
“I wanted to create a long-term initiative that fosters productive conversations on issues intersecting various areas of the Colgate community,” Carvajal said. “The vision was to provide a platform for senators, students, faculty and staff to share their passions and priorities, enabling collaborative discussions that could lead to actionable changes benefiting our community.”
The first speaker on the agenda was sophomore Phoenix Verite, whom SGA had earlier confirmed as the association’s director of LGBTQ+ initiatives. Director for Diversity and Equity Amari Simpson and Director of LGBTQ+ Initiatives Lyosha Gorshkov were the first Colgate directors to speak at the inaugural meeting. Both were chosen for their demonstrated positive impact on campus and deep connections to the series’ themes.
Together, Simpson and Gorshkov led the discussion on the impact of microaggressions and biases within the Colgate community. After Simpson and Gorshkov had introduced the issue and contextualized Colgate’s current efforts, the stage was broadened to an open discussion. Senators proposed potential measures, including possible new policies and awareness campaigns, to address and mitigate these issues. Attendees also asked questions regarding what further action is needed as well as what support groups currently exist.
First-year senator Lucas Jimenez attended and shared his experience.
“I was personally very intrigued throughout the entire meeting, hearing SGA members discuss their thoughts and concerns with [Gorshkov] and [Simpson],” Jimenez said. “This kind of dialogue is an event we should definitely revisit to continue seeing and ensuring the safety of all students on campus.”
Jimenez highlighted how the collaborative nature of the meeting allowed for meaningful exchanges of ideas, which is particularly important on sensitive topics like inclusivity and microaggressions. Although this was only the first event, the positive reception foretells future opportunities to speak.
“I believe the first episode of the series was an exciting milestone,” Carvajal said. “Witnessing senators, students and faculty come together in a shared space of dialogue validated the purpose of the series. It was a meaningful start to a project that I hope will leave a lasting legacy.”
Future discussions are expected to build on these themes, focusing on turning proposals into actionable change and bringing awareness to Colgate resources the whole community may not be familiar with.
“Future plans [also] aim to expand participation, ensuring that more students and campus groups feel engaged with the series and grow interest in the series. We hope to hear feedback and insights on how the series can better address the evolving needs of the community, as well as suggestions for future speakers or themes during our Senate meetings,” Carvajal said.
After the meeting was concluded, Simpson shared his feedback.
“It was great to see that SGA is taking the concerns of the Colgate LGBTQ+ community seriously. It is clear that this speaker series, along with future ones, will help both SGA members and the campus community stay informed about important issues that affect our Colgate community as a whole,” Simpson said.
