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SGA VP steps down before start of term

The original Student Government Association’s (SGA) elected executive board will not last the summer, as the incoming vice president for academic affairs resigned Monday.

Amanda Sabia, who ran uncontested for the position in April, cited personal reasons for her resignation.

“I want to make it clear that it was for unforeseen personal reasons,” Sabia said. “It was not anything that could have been helped.”

Sabia, who did not attend Monday’s senate because she is home in Long Island, N.Y., officially announced her resignation to SGA Interim President MJ Paradiso during her visit to Boston Thursday.

This marks the fourth consecutive summer that an SGA e-board member has stepped down.

Sabia said she would prefer not to comment on her reasons for resigning, but said a recent case of mononucleosis affected her decision.

“I had mono this year, so health-wise, that’s another thing that adds to reasons why taking the title would not be favorable at this moment,” she said.

After being appointed assistant vice president for academic affairs in October, Sabia said she worked to improve academic advising and often attended meetings that Paradiso, then vice president for academic affairs, could not attend.

Sabia said she ran for vice president for academic affairs because of her passion to help the student body.

“I felt that I was extremely qualified for the position. If the unforeseen circumstances did not arise, I would probably still be in this position,” she said.

The vice president of academic affairs works closely with the Provost’s office and college deans as a liaison for the student body and monitors academic policies, research and other academic-related issues.

Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael DeRamo said resignations like Sabia’s underscore a loss of support from the university’s administration. He said that since SGA e-board members lost their full-tuition waivers last year, it has become harder for them to afford living on campus year-round, especially since holding a position prevents them from going on co-op.

Still, DeRamo said there is not a shortage of people interested in SGA leadership positions.

“There still are enough students; SGA will still be strong and we’ll still get a lot of excellent stuff done this year,” DeRamo said.

Sabia would have taken office July 1, along with the other recently elected SGA e-board members. Paradiso said an election will be held at a joint senate June 18 to elect a new vice president for academic affairs.

Nominations for the position opened after Monday’s senate meeting. Paradiso instructed senators to send any nominations to him. Nominations will close at 5 p.m. June 15.

Paradiso said Sabia’s resignation this week will give SGA ample time to train her replacement.

“Because the resignation occurred before when she was going to take office, we have enough time to work with whoever else is going to take over the position to prepare,” he said.

Paradiso said it is required for SGA to have quorum in order to vote at the joint senate. He asked senators to notify him or Vice President for Administration and Public Relations Krystal Beaulieu if they will be unable to attend the election meeting.

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