USG SENATE MEETING

28th LEGISLATURE

MAY 3, 2005

I.      Call to Order

        Roll Call

II.     Corrections to the Minutes

A.      Approval of Minutes

B.      Approval of Agenda
- EVP Sylvester deletes Senator Applications
-Vice Treasurer Smith adds Summer Training and Summer Budget to Treasurer Myers report.

III.    President Espinosa Report:

A.      Michael Niman is recognized to speak regarding an article that was in the Record.  This article states that students with disabilities will not be able to cross the stage at graduation. There has been a lot of confusion and a lot of misinformation about this issue.  The students they are talking about are in a special College-Based Transition program housed on campus. They are not Buffalo State students. Floor is open for questions.

IV.     Vice President Sylvester Report:

A.      If you did not come to the Banquet please see me after the meeting to pick up your certificate.

V.      Treasurer Myers Report: absent Vice Treasurer Smith will give his report.

A.      Summer Training - Student Life and Hector Gil made a proposal to add 16 more people to the ropes course.  The Budget Committee would like to approve $1,056.50 to send 16 people to the ropes course. President Espinosa makes a clarification that this is a 3 day training course.  This would happen a week before school begins in August.  As it gets closer to the training you will get more information. Vice Treasurer Smith makes a motion to approve $1,056.50 for the summer transition and training.  President Espinosa 2nd.  Floor is open for discussion.  Vote is taken on Vice Treasurer Smith's motion and passes unanimously.  Majority vote for today is 12.

B.      Summer Budget - the Budget Committee will be reviewing packets on Thursday.

C.      Budget - I would like to thank everyone for staying late.  After this meeting there was a unrealistic increase based on the amount of students that we can anticipate next year.  Therefore, the Budget Committee kept all the amendments we did last week but cut out the $32,000 capital for the Bobcat and this balances the budget. We did this because we were over $32,000 and we cut this because it had the least impact on students. This is still tentative because we get this money based on how many students enroll. This year's budget is based on the enrollment for this academic year. AVP Pastwik asks what the Budget Committee did at their meeting this week. Vice Treasurer Smith states they figured out how to balance the budget, looked at the proposal for senate training and looked to see how much money was in a couple of lines. Also, we approved $965 for CSO for banquet, awards, picnic, movie tickets and bowling.  CSO has no more money.  EVP Sylvester makes a motion on the passing of $965 by the budget committee.  AVP Buckley 2nd.  Floor is open for discussion. Senator Sabbs calls to question.  Senator Finn 2nd.  Vote is taken and passes 14 yeas, 2 nays and 5 abstentions.  Vote is taken on EVP Sylvester motion to overturn the Budget Committee ruling of $965 for CSO's end of the year events. Vote does not pass 3 yeas, 9 nays and 10 abstentions.

President Espinosa motions to suspend the rules to go into Rules Chair Crowley report.  After Rules Chair Crowley report we will continue with AVP Blake. Senator Finn 2nd.  Vote is taken and passes 20 yeas, 0 nays and 2 abstentions.

VI.     Rules Chair Crowley Report:

A.      Wilderness Adventures is here to be re-recognized. Wilderness Adventure is recognized to talk about their organization.  Floor is open for questions. The Rules Committee would like to make a motion to re-recognize Wilderness Adventures. Vote is taken and passes unanimously.

VII.    Standing Committee Reports

A. AVP Blake Academic Report:    
- I would like to thank everyone who attended the banquet.
- Study Day is Friday and we will have a table set up in the Union with snacks. Also, there will be Yoga classes in room 415 at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm.

B.      AVP Lafontaine Community Relations Report:
- Questions or Comments

C.      AVP Buckley Sports & Recreation Report:
- Questions or Comments

D.      AVP Pastwik Student Life Report:
- I would like to recognize Gail Wells to speak. Gail Wells states that this past summer many of the USG officer's participated in a program. I have a plaque I would like to present to USG called "Leading The World Into A Brighter Tomorrow".
- Observation - I spoke to the Rules Chair regarding Robert Rules and we discussed when people were to speak and how call to question works. Spring Fest was another observation.  The pre-game party went well and the left over food went to City Mission.  I would like to thank AASO.  Senator St. Rose thanks AVP Pastwik for all her hard work.

E.      Senator Pro Tem Levin-Stankevich Report:
- Liaison Reports are due this Thursday.

VIII.   Old Business - None

IX.     New Business - None

X.      Constituents Questions/Announcements

A. President Espinosa recaps Chuck D.  There was an estimated attendance of 200-225. He spoke for 2 ? hours, did questions for an hour and stayed another hour for pictures. He essentially went for 4 hours. Spring Fest attendance was about 1800. We were happy with this and I would like to thank everyone who helped out with this event.

B.      Vice Treasurer Smith announces that next Friday there is a bye bye BBQ at 6:00 pm in Perry Quad.

C.      AVP Buckley would like to congratulate all the people graduating this year.

D.      Hector Gil states that the training with USG this year really made the relationship with USG and Student Life better.

E.      President Espinosa thanks everyone for participating this year.

XI.     2nd Roll Call

XII.    Meeting adjourned