Barnard SGA hosts New York City Student Government Conference with SUNY, CUNY student leaders
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Student leaders from CUNY, SUNY, and private institutions in New York City gathered at Barnard to discuss strategies on student engagement and the unique hurdles of student governance.
Photo by Jacquie Traenkle/The Barnard Bulletin
April 24, 2026
On March 28, Barnard’s Student Government Association (SGA) hosted the New York City Student Government Conference, the first intercollegiate student government event. Students from various New York colleges, including State Universities of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY)), gathered at the Diana Center Event Oval.
Jordan Jacoel (BC ’28), SGA Representative for Institutional Relations, told The Barnard Bulletin that the conference was a way for student leaders across the city to “learn about ways to tackle issues that are happening within our student government.”
Upon arrival, attendees were assigned to tables with color-coded name cards, encouraging leaders from different backgrounds to find common ground among unfamiliar peers. The conference also featured guided conversations at each table, with volunteers occasionally sharing what they discussed and learned.
Several themes emerged from the discussions, including student governments’ struggle with funding and student participation. A SUNY Buffalo State representative shared the success of “Campus Life Time,” a designated period of the day during which no classes are held, promoting student engagement. SGA president Adrienne Chacón (BC ’26) acknowledged the difficulty of implementing this model at Barnard, given the College’s high enrollment numbers and demanding academic schedule.
Participants also discussed structural differences across institutions. A point of significant focus was that Barnard SGA members receive compensation for their duties, a large contrast to many other student governments, which surprised leaders.
Chacón detailed the association’s internal accountability systems, a “checks and balances” hierarchy designed to hold leaders accountable to their peers, regardless of rank. This model of transparent governance inspired visiting leaders, many of whom expressed plans to implement similar structures within their own organizations.
“As a CUNY student, we don’t really get a chance to sit in a room with other non-CUNY schools, so I feel like it’s important to learn how other SGAs are being managed,” said Hazel Acquaah, a senior at Lehman College. While CUNY, SUNY, and private institutions share a state, they rarely share a table. Through this event, student leaders had a chance to step outside their campuses, and they had the opportunity to find a unified voice.
Leaders also compared notes on campus life, from the famous artists who have performed on their stages like Fetty Wap, Zara Larsson, and previous Bacchanal performer Tinashe, to the creative ways they drive student engagement.
Many student government leaders agreed that the key takeaway from the event was that student leaders must often find creative ways to spark engagement within unique constraints on their own campuses.
By the end of the evening, it was clear that the strength of New York’s academic community doesn’t just come from its institutions but from the willingness of its leaders to branch out and build a better future together.
