On Wednesday, Feb. 11, the University of Massachusetts Student Government Association (SGA) held its second meeting of the Spring 2026 semester. The meeting was held in the Cape Cod Lounge in the Student Union at 6:30 p.m.
The Senate passed a motion to increase the Student Activities Trust Fund (SATF) fee by 7.5%, or $21 per academic year. The SATF is an annual fee that is paid by undergraduate students to support Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), SGA and other projects through the recommendation of the Senate.
Ways and Means Chair Darren Truong gave a presentation to explain how the SATF increase would impact RSOs and student agencies.
During the presentation, Chair Truong gave student agencies the opportunity to speak about how budget cuts affected them this year. According to Truong’s presentation, agency funding was cut 49% across the board. RSOs bore an even greater cut at 70%.
“When clubs are operating right now on campus, they’re having experienced about a 70% budget cut of what they’ve cost,” Truong said.
Truong discussed that the potential increase would provide RSOs and agencies more money to keep up with inflation.
Zae Valera, the director of Student Bridges, a student agency that provides opportunities for incoming students in marginalized communities, discussed how budget cuts made it harder for them to travel.
“A lot of the schools that we work with are in Springfield and Holyoke and so we are unable to provide transportation to go to these schools,” Valera said. “We also had to cut our staff as well.”
Kate Dorrity, the assistant director of emergency management, discussed how budget cuts would affect student emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
“It means less gloves, it means less medical equipment. It means that we’re not going to be able to serve as effectively as we would like to,” Dorrity said.
During the presentation, Secretary of Finance Dale Leone said that one of the main goals of the SATF increase was to keep up with inflation.
“RSOs will have more money to put on their events,” Leone said. “And we’re also raising this to keep up with inflation, which we haven’t done in many years.”
Additionally, the Senate passed a resolution to reinstate Mitch Chakour as director of the vocal jazz program and interim lecturer.
Secretary of University Policy Jacob Nevins gathered a petition with around 150 signatures from undergraduate students advocating to reinstate Chakour. According to Nevins, Chakour cannot continue his role because a recent policy change now requires a master’s degree for the director position.
“It is a direct hit to students’ education, and whereas students describe what Mitch Chakour provides not only musical instruction but also a culture of safety, belonging and hands-on training,” Nevins said.
The Senate will hold their next meeting in the Cape Cod Lounge on February 18th at 6:30 p.m.
Isabella Kosiba can be reached at [email protected].
