Board selects two new allocations members

The Student Government selected two students to fill the empty seats left on the Allocations Committee.

Student Government Board President Mike Nites, Allocations Committee Chair Nasreen Harun and Allocations Committee Vice Chair Robyn Weiner appointed two freshmen, Max Kneis and Seth Erlanger, to fill two vacant positions on the Allocations Committee. 

Kneis and Erlanger will attend the committee’s private meetings on Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. and deliberate the requests made by student groups asking for money from the Student Activities Fund. 

The Board chose from 35 candidates who applied for the positions. After Nites, Harun and Weiner reviewed the candidates’ applications, they selected 12 finalists to advance to private interviews. 

The interviews began Sunday at 6:15 p.m., and Harun said each of the interviews lasted about 15 minutes. 

Harun, Nites and Weiner gave the candidates a mock allocations request to review for five minutes before the interviews. During the interview, the three asked the candidates how they would handle the request and what decisions they would make concerning the request.

Harun, Nites and Weiner spent about an hour deliberating before they agreed on Kneis and Erlanger, according to Harun. 

Harun said the two “demonstrated a lot of knowledge of the Allocations Manual.”

“They definitely proved that they are ready to jump into the role,” Harun said. 

Nites and Weiner agreed.

“The interviews showed us that [Kneis and Erlanger] took the time to familiarize themselves with the allocations process,” Weiner said. “I could really tell that these two knew their stuff.”

The pair will replace the two Allocations Committee members Ashley McCray and Michele Buono, who recently resigned.  

Harun asked McCray to resign from her position on the committee last Wednesday because McCray’s class schedule conflicted with the weekly meeting time. Former committee member Buono resigned on Aug. 15 to pursue a co-op with Volvo. 

Erlanger, a finance major, said he read the Allocations Manual multiple times to prepare for his interview.

“I marked [the Manual] up like a literary novel,” Erlanger said. 

Erlanger said he plans to continue on with Student Government after he serves on the Committee, adding that Allocations is currently his main focus. 

Kneis, who plans to major in finance and accouting, said he’s optimistic about his new position and hopes to be a fair judge and honest liaison to student groups.

“I definitely plan to seek a position again on the committee in the spring term,” Kneis said. “[I] look forward to working with SGB over the next four years.”

Nites said he thinks Kneis, Erlanger and the other new arrivals to the Board this semester will bring a “fresh perspective” to Student Government.

“We’re disappointed to see some of the previous people have to go,” Nites said. “But, at the same time, we’re extremely excited to welcome in the new members and work with great new people.”

Pitt News Staff

Share
Published by
Pitt News Staff

Recent Posts

Frustrations in Final Four: Pitt volleyball collects fourth straight loss in Final Four

The best team in Pitt volleyball history fell short in the Final Four to Louisville…

2 days ago

Olivia Babcock wins AVCA National Player of the Year

Pitt volleyball sophomore opposite hitter Olivia Babcock won AVCA National Player of the Year on…

2 days ago

Photos: Pitt women’s basketball falters against Miami

Pitt women’s basketball fell to Miami 56-62 on Sunday at the Petersen Events Center.

3 days ago

Photos: Pitt volleyball downs Kentucky

Pitt volleyball swept Kentucky to advance to the NCAA Semifinals in Louisville on Saturday at…

3 days ago

Photos: Pitt wrestling falls to Ohio State

Pitt Wrestling fell to Ohio State 17-20 on Friday at Fitzgerald Field House. [gallery ids="192931,192930,192929,192928,192927"]

3 days ago

Photos: Pitt volleyball survives Oregon

Pitt volleyball survived a five-set thriller against Oregon during the third round of the NCAA…

3 days ago