Binghamton University Student Congress met Monday night for its first meeting back from spring break to introduce new statewide policies, elect a speaker for next year and introduce legislation to be voted on at the next meeting.

Sheeva Massoudi, a junior majoring in business administration, was re-elected as speaker of Student Congress. Karla Valdespino, a junior majoring in economics, ran against Massoudi for the position.

The Student Association (SA) E-Board delivered individual updates as well. Amanda Baker, the vice president of academic affairs and a senior double-majoring in mathematics and history, announced that the New York Times’ international managing editor Michael Slackman will come to speak at BU on April 17 at 1 p.m. and Stephen Ortiz, a professor in the history department, will be delivering the annual Last Lecture on May 3.

Bernadette Machuca, the vice president for programming and a senior majoring in biology, announced that there will be a Binghamton Underground Music Presents (BUMP) show on April 16 featuring bands Cayetana and Florist, and said that Spring Fling performers will officially be announced this week following contract negotiations.

In his updates, Vice President for Multicultural Affairs and a sophomore majoring in political science Ruslan Klafehn announced the introduction of an amendment to the Intercultural Awareness Committee (ICA). However, Nicholas Ferrara, a Student Congress representative and a junior majoring in political science — as well as the SA president-elect — motioned to postpone voting on the amendment indefinitely. The motion passed 16 votes in favor and seven against, with five abstaining.

“Typically, amendments will be presented in an email beforehand so members can read them and there’s a review period where people can take them back to their communities,” Ferrera said. “[Ruslan] had amendments that were in writing, but he didn’t present them to the Congress … so I motioned to return to the regular procedure.”

Student Life and Academics Committee Chair Brendan Cunningham, a senior majoring in business administration, announced that the Binghamton Police Department will be releasing all future press releases to the University in an effort to improve student safety.

The Student Congress also approved to vote on implementing the Student Association Child Protection Policy at the next congress meeting. According to Troy Parker, executive vice president and a sophomore majoring in political science, New York state passed a law in February requiring mandatory reporting and prevention of child sexual abuse.

Parker said that this policy will be implemented in student groups that interact with children, including SUNY Kids and J.U.M.P. Nation. The legislation will ensure that the SA complies with all regulations regarding screening these groups before interactions between children and club members.

“This policy will get groups to recognize that they need to be checked every time they bring children on campus, or when they go off campus to visit them,” Parker said. “Every event needs to be put in 45 days beforehand and they [BU student volunteers] need ID cards. Anytime students interact with any children in the community, this is going to affect them, but we’re going to try to make this as easy as possible.”