Invasion of Privacy: Sophia Sabatino
Photo courtesy of Sophia Sabatino
Sophia Sabatino’s efforts, along with others, to provide Geneseo with an unforgettable Springfest have been greatly appreciated by the student body.
Have you seen fun upcoming events such as Fright Fest and tarot card reading? These events are all thanks to the Geneseo Campus Activities Board (GCAB), which is funded by mandatory student activity fees. The executive board is currently all female, and among the members is Sophia Sabatino, a senior communication major from Long Island, New York. Sabatino joined GCAB during her junior year as the Concert Coordinator and now serves as the GCAB chair.
Sabatino’s journey to joining GCAB begins with an opinion that many college students shared: “The first two years of Geneseo for me had underwhelming Springfests that did not encapture the true meaning of what Springfest means. Because of this, I decided to apply for Concert Coordinator.” She did not have extensive knowledge of event planning but knew that the student body was capable of something great.
Sabatino could not give out too many details about the planning of Springfest: “Planning for me as Concert Coordinator started in August of 2023. I cannot reveal too much, as that is a part of our GCAB magic. But it is all hands on deck to confirm a place, a time, budget increases, bids for artists, contracting, preliminary planning, and so much more.”
While Springfest is not for many months, GCAB is currently putting on events for Geneseo students to celebrate Halloween! This past Sunday, October 21, Fright Fest was held outside the MacVittie College Union. Sabatino had some impressive statistics, saying, “We had approximately 500 people attend the event, two student bands perform, 500 pieces of merch, 300 food vouchers for Wood Fire Pizza, free apple cider donuts, and beverages!”
Applying for executive positions can sometimes be overwhelming, but Sabatino explained the application process simply, “We are going to be holding elections at the end of this semester or the start of next semester for positions we still have open…The process is an application, a speech, and a vote from the board. When applying you really want to consider your time commitment and schedule, as this can become long and tedious hours—especially before an event!” Sabatino emphasized the fact that everyone involved is a student and, most importantly, a human.
While the position may be time-consuming, Sabatino had nothing but positive things to say about the impact of the position on her time at Geneseo as a student. When asked about the impact it has had on her, she said, “Since joining GCAB, I have been gifted so many opportunities, from internships to job offers and especially hands-on experience for my future career. The job has made me more oriented in terms of my future, which I never expected it would lead to.” Alongside being a part of GCAB, Sabatino has spent her time at Geneseo alongside her sisters in Phi Lambda Chi and is currently also serving on their executive board.
While Sabatino has many great things to say about her time at Geneseo, it did not start perfectly. During her freshman year, Sabatino said, “[I] first came here scared out of my mind, not many friends, and within the first week I was looking up transfer applications.” This shows that one bad month or year does not mean it will be a bad academic career altogether.
Sabatino’s kindness was very clear during her interview, having many thanks to those around her, and more specifically, “Thank you to my ‘core four’ best friends, my GCAB exec– especially my [Vice Chair] Devon, who has been with me since we were roommates freshman year; And to my family, especially Mom and Dad, who have put up with all my shenanigans the last three years, and my brother and sister, for always standing by me!”
Sabatino was incredibly proud to represent the incredible executive board full of dedicated and hard-working women. On another very important note, though, Sabatino shared that Ross Lynch told her she had great tattoos!