The Associated Students Government Affairs Committee had its second to last meeting. On the agenda was recycling and contamination, success in participation at events, and voting on the Activity Fee budget (including capital expenditures).
The committee passed the Activity Fee budget, 4-0-0. This yearly budget organizes how student fees are distributed across AS programs, salaries and student government. The committee also approved “one time allocations from our (AS) reserves set aside by last years team to” four organizations, according to Beatrix Teaney, executive vice president and chair of GAC.
Those four organizations were:
- Gender and Sexuality Equity Coalition
- Cross-Cultural Leadership Center
- WellCat Counseling Center
- Internation Education and Global Education
Its final meeting will take place next Friday at 3 p.m., where the committee will vote on a resolution calling for more waste education and signage to improve recycling.
The resolution was passed in the AS Sustainability Committee and was brought to GAC by Sustainability Commissioner Sarah Larum as a discussion item.
“It’s difficult for students to sort their waste, and waste isn’t being properly supported,” Larum said to the committee. “The best way to combat that is proper education and proper signage.”
The policy arose, in part, because of the amount of liquid being found in recycling bins, which has been contaminating items that would’ve been recyclable. In September 2025, Larum received an email from a staff member in Facilities Management and Services asking to help spread awareness about the contamination, Larum said in an email to The Orion.
The resolution would call on AS Dining Services and other vendors, such as Lovebird Coffee, to improve education around contamination. It also asks the university to install ways for people to get rid of any liquid before disposing of the cup.
Teaney said she agreed with the resolution, especially the idea of adding ways for people to dispose of liquids before cups enter the trash. The Commissioner of Community Affairs, Zion Fozo, and Director of Academic Affairs, Kureha Takayama, both agreed the resolution was needed.
The committee decided to bring the resolution as an action item at the next meeting. This would be the first resolution passed by the committee this semester. Teaney attributes this to losing the Commissioner of Student Engagement and Advocacy, Matt Beale, at the beginning of the semester.
Kaylee McCallister-Knutson, the senior coordinator for Student Life and Leadership, finished a presentation that was cut short in the last meeting. She reported large increases, about 16%, in participation in club events. This is due, in part, to a budget increase of $15,000. The budget will decrease next semester to $50,500.
The most popular event was the Pride Festival, which saw 216 reported attendees. All five of the top events took place outside, despite making up 16% of all events. Most events were held at Sylvester’s Cafe (35%) and the Bell Memorial Union (30%).
“Walking through or getting through a doorway is a barrier,” McCallister-Knutson said. “We know when we put something in a room, it’s a lot harder to get there; all these events were hosted on the lawn.”
It wasn’t just participation and funding that increased. There was also:
- 100% increase in events with cultural relevance
- 52% increase in approved events
- 38% increase in completed events
- 31% increase in the total amount of events approved
Reports
The final interview in the search for Executive Director was conducted a few hours before the committee meeting, reported AS President Tia Saunders. She announced it would be brought to the board in an upcoming Board of Directors meeting.
Teaney announced Fozo’s report because she was away for a speech and debate competition. Fozo announced the Community Affairs Committee wouldn’t meet for the remainder of the semester because it can no longer meet quorum.
The Commissioner of Legislative Affairs, Gia Monticello, was absent from the meeting. She’s returning from a trip to Washington, D.C., where she was advocating on behalf of the California State University system and Chico State alongside President Steve Perez.
The last and final GAC meeting will take place next Friday at 3 p.m. in the BMU.
Chris Hutton can be reached at [email protected]
