Rutgers University Student Assembly

Standing Committees

RUSA is composed of 8 standing committees: University Affairs, Legislative Affairs, Internal Affairs, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Sexual Violence and Education, Health & Wellness, and Public Relations.

Every elected and appointed member of the Student Assembly must participate in at least one standing committee starting at the beginning of their term. General members are free to join any committee at any time. Led by a chair, these committees are where some of the legislative work and most initiative planning is done. Committee chairs are driven and impassioned to serve our University community and guide you through initiatives and help you develop your own ideas. Before you choose a committee to join, feel free to explore committee channels on Slack and ask them questions as well!

  • Chair: Tariq Fahumy

    Email: rusa.academicaffairs@gmail.com

    The Academic Affairs Committee shall be responsible for developing and maintaining a good relationship with the administration and faculty to address student concerns. The Committee shall address student academic issues, including but not limited to student advising, course offerings, research, and scholarship opportunities.

  • Chair: Dina Abdelfattah

    Email: rusa.legislativeaffairs1@gmail.com

    The Legislative Affairs Committee shall advocate for student interests at the local, state, and federal government levels on issues that concern and/or affect the student body. This committee reserves the right to remain unaffiliated with University administration, but may work with them and other groups where student interests and the interests of other groups coincide. The Legislative Affairs Chair should remain in contact with Rutgers’ Office of Public Affairs to this end and track the legislative activities of this Office.

  • Chair: Sehar Malik

    Email: healthandwellness.rusa@gmail.com

    The Health and Wellness Committee shall be charged to investigate and advocate on behalf of issues affecting the general health and wellness of students at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. It shall also be charged with investigating student use of drugs and alcohol, mental health care, any work with CAPS, and any issue charged to its subcommittees.

  • Chair: Angelique Dinnall

    Email: rusa.studentaffairs@gmail.com

    The Student Affairs Committee shall be responsible for working with the campus caucus chairs in hosting at least one RUSA-sponsored event on each campus every year, coordinating RUSA, RHA, and each campus’s respective governing councils. The committee shall disseminate institutional knowledge of Rutgers University, such as various departments and services the University hosts and provides, to Rutgers Students.

  • Chair: Adam Halperin

    Email: RUSA.iacommittee@gmail.com

    The Internal Affairs Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that members act in accordance with the RUSA Constitution and Standing Rules.

  • Chair: Zuhayr Thange

    Email: svedepartment@gmail.com

    The Sexual Violence Education Committee shall investigate the policies and practices that affect incidents of sexual violence and how they are investigated and otherwise addressed by the University; recommending changes to how the University handles these issues and how the Assembly and the University can increase awareness of sexual violence and ways in which members of the Rutgers community can reduce these incidents; and advocate for such initiatives to the wider community. This committee shall further work with appropriate departments within Rutgers, including VPVA and the Student Affairs Compliance Department, as well as campus organizations, to further the goals of the committee.

  • Chair: Samrine Shoha

    Email: rusa.publicrelations@gmail.com

    The Public Relations Committee’s purpose is to reach out to the Rutgers student body to inform them of the Assembly’s involvement with university-wide affairs. This committee shall strive to maintain a good image of the Rutgers University Student Assembly. The Public Relations Committee shall be charged with devising, recommending, and implementing the Public Relations strategy of the Assembly. 

  • Chair: Alina Chen

    Email: rusauniversityaffairs1@gmail.com

    The University Affairs Committee shall work to discern the non-academic concerns of students at the University, and work to investigate the source of these concerns and the appropriate branch of the University that is responsible for these concerns. 

Initiatives in the Works

Preparing the Student Body to vote in New Jersey’s upcoming Gubernatorial Elections (Legislative and Student Affairs)

Leading RUSA’s Doorbell Initiative, which provides an Off-campus undergraduate resident with a free Doorbell Camera

Reviewing Professional School Academic Policies (Academic Affairs)

Leading MidKnight Snacks, an annual event run by the Health and Wellness Committee that helps combat/mitigate binge drinking and unsafe alcohol usage through an event focused on making sure students are well-fed during Syllabus Week and Halloweekend. (Health & Wellness)

Leading Meal Swipes for Charity, an opportunity for students to donate meal swipes to benefit a charitable organization. (University Affairs)