Student Government Board Discusses Trustee Initiative and Bus Route Issues

The Student Government Board (SGB) at the University of Pittsburgh is pushing forward with initiatives that could reshape student representation and campus transit. During their recent meeting at Nordy’s Place, the board addressed the ongoing efforts to introduce a student trustee and raised concerns about changes to bus routes on campus.

Student Trustee Initiative

SGB President Marley Pinsky, alongside board member Evan Levasseur, met with David Brown, the vice chancellor of government relations and advocacy. They discussed strategies to advance their initiative for a student trustee with the cooperation of Governor Josh Shapiro and state officials. Pinsky emphasized the necessity of engaging with the state government to potentially nominate a student trustee, stating, “If we wanted a student trustee we could go to the state government to try and request them to nominate a student. The fastest way to get to the next step would be potentially going to the governor.”

Concerns Over Bus Route Changes

Board member Andrew Elliott voiced concerns regarding the recent changes to PRT bus routes on campus. Elliott highlighted the lack of transparency and speed with which these changes were implemented. “The bus schedule is changing with increased speed and with less transparency than, frankly, ever before,” Elliott stated, expressing disappointment over the lack of notification for students and residents in Oakland.

“It was literally overnight that the schedule was changed, and there was no documentation that I could find posted anywhere on campus about these changes,” Elliott added, hoping for better communication from the city council.

Upcoming and Ongoing Initiatives

Board member Kylie Baker announced the SGB’s rapid response training program in collaboration with Frontline Dignity, scheduled for tomorrow at 7 p.m. in room 324 of the Cathedral of Learning. “Come learn from Frontline Dignity on how to be a good and safe legal observer and protect our community from ICE,” Baker encouraged.

Baker also updated the board on the proposed prayer room project in the Hillman Library. “It is going to be on the ground floor, and it’s going to be split into half meditation space — half prayer rooms so people can observe any kind of prayer with a lot of dignity and privacy,” she explained, noting that they are awaiting budgetary and administrative approval.