Allegheny Student Government opened with an address from Allegheny College President Ron Cole, ’87.
President Cole’s State of the College
Cole’s address touched on several subjects that students raised concerns about. The Brooks complex, which includes Walker and Walker Annex dormitories, is in the process of several structural overhauls. An elevator system is scheduled to be completed by the end of the fall semester of this calendar year and a larger overhaul of the building’s heating and cooling systems will be completed by the end of the spring semester in 2027. This temperature control overhaul will require many improvements to the building’s systems.
The improvements to Reis Hall that started in 2024 should be completed in fall of 2026, with the new ALIC lab and computer science departments to be placed within.
In terms of fundraising and recruiting, Allegheny has 5,404 applications at this time, compared to 4,998 and 4,462 in 2024 and 2023, respectively. In terms of deposits and commits, Allegheny is up 30 and 50 from these times in 2024 and 2023 as well, Cole reported.
The “In for Allegheny” campaign’s fundraising efforts have raised $130 million of the $250 million goal, putting the efforts on track to meet the 2027 deadline. Major news should come from this effort in the next few weeks as well.
A task force on discussing how and whether to handle, teach and utilize artificial intelligence tools in professional work and the classroom is working on delivering recommendations to the college administration.
The largest area of discussion was focused on government policy emerging from the Trump administration. Cole delivered several key points:
Most headlines are being made by executive orders, which are subsequently being fought over in court, and so are not currently having significant effects on campus.
The real issues which look to possibly impact Allegheny come from Congress through legislation.
As of Feb. 25, “There’s nothing in any of the EO’s or guidance letters that have come out that require Allegheny to make any changes or that are having any direct impact on our operations. Let me be clear on that, so we’re not making any preemptive changes, we’re not going to change things if we don’t need to, and we may not need to make any changes” said Cole.
Further explaining the college’s approach to policy and orders, Cole said “Be active and responsive, not reactive or preemptive.”
Cabinet Reports
Director of Finance Dominic Juliana, ’26, reported club requisition costs for the week. Total costs for the week total $11,757.38. Ski and Snowboard Club, marked the largest requisition of $4,530 to finance their trip. Outing Club marked another $2,117.20 in approved expenses this week, while the United States Institute for Theatre Technology notched their first budget request of the year for $2,500 to cover housing during a conference.
Attorney General Chezka Quinola, ’27, reported that deadlines for applications to run in presidential elections will be extended to March 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Class Senate Reports
Akari Brown, ’25, reported that a senior “Chomp the Comp” event will be coming up a week after spring break. Additionally, work is underway to finalize ideas for a Wii senior tournament, and Senior Week is entering final planning stages. Seniors were emailed with a brief graduation schedule earlier.
Iris Styers, ’26, reported communication with Marketing and Communications on posters for Junior Appreciation Week.
Liam Shields, ’27, reported progress on the students vs. faculty volleyball game planning, with posters to go up soon.
President’s Report
Student Government President Ella DeRose, ’27, reported discussions for what to do with the surplus ASG budget before the end of the year. Proposals currently being considered include an additional light post by Crawford Hall, potential partial sponsorship of a telehealth service for students and adding more fire pits to campus.
Several amendments to the constitution are being considered, most salient being to officially ban outside funding from being used in campaigns for ASG positions. While DeRose noted that it is already against the college’s codes, proper inclusion among Student Government itself could be warranted.