SENATE MEETING MINUTES

29th LEGISLATURE

FEBRUARY 28, 2006

I.      Call to Order

        Roll Call

II.     Corrections to the Minutes

A.      Approval of Minutes

B.      Approval of Agenda
- AVP Brady adds USG Banquet.
- AVP LaFontaine adds 5 K Run.
- AVP Clarke adds Calana update.
- Treasurer Palka adds SUB and Survey.

III.    President Levin-Stankevich Report:

A.      If for some reason you can no longer hold your position please let us know.  We really need more Senators. If you know anyone please have them fill out an application.

B.      Student Union updates - it's been finalized that we are getting $3.95 million allocated to the Union. We will mainly be focusing on Food Service venues and the Social Hall.

C.      There will be no Senate meeting next Tuesday due to SUNY day.

D.      If there are no objections I would like to invite Lt. Carey to give us an update.  There are no objections so Lt. Carey is recognized.  Lt. Carey explains the walk with a buddy flyer.  I am a member of the College Planning Council which works the strategic planning for the college.  This semester we want to get an update on the strategic plans and the initiatives that are under way and are going to take place on campus. I have volunteered to meet with USG and I will get in touch with you soon.

Rules Chair Ammirato makes a motion to suspend the rules to move EVP Norman report to go after Senator Pro Tem Groover. Senator Daapah 2nd. Vote is taken and passes 15 yeas, 0 nays and 0 abstention.

IV.     Treasurer Palka Report:

A.      Referendum Motion - recognize President Levin-Stankevich to explain this.  President Levin-Stankevich states that we are asking for a $18 increase. Our overall activity fee would go from $95 to $113.  I've called all the SUNY schools and we are not the lowest but we are also not the highest. The last time the fee went up was in 2001. Treasurer Palka would like to make a motion to put the Referendum question for the students to support the activity fee increase to $18 which would go from $95 to $113.  Also, that 50% of the increase goes to improve growth to USG clubs, organizations, campus wide initiatives and USG services and 50% go to improvements to student orient spaces. Floor is open for questions.  Vote is taken and passes 14 yeas, 1 nay and 0 abstentions.

B.      SIFE Motion - this is a Academic Assembly request.  The Budget Committee would like to make a motion to approve $1700 for transportation to Cincinnati and Nicaragua for a competition. Floor is open for discussion. Vote is taken to approve $1700 to SIFE for their trip and passes 13 yeas, 1 nay and 2 abstentions.

C.      Newman Center Motion - this is a Academic Assembly request.  The Budget Committee would like to make a motion to approve $1476 to fund a Alternative Spring Break (non-religious). There will be 20 students going. Floor is open for discussion.  Vote is taken and passes 15 yeas, 0 nays and 1 abstention.

D.      Vice Treasurer Forsythe states that the Budget Committee would like to make a motion to approve a internal line item change for $7000.  The $7000 will come from the game room attendant line and move to the game room supplies line. Floor is open for discussion. Vote is taken and passes 16 yeas, 0 nays and 1 abstention.

E.      Budget Committee dealings - I will report everything to the Senate that I sign off on.

Rules Chair Ammirato makes a motion to go into a Executive session to discuss SUB budget.  Therefore all non-voting members will be asked to leave.  Vote is taken and passes.

F.      SUB budget - Executive session is over and non-voting members return to the senate meeting.  Treasurer Palka makes a motion to freeze SUB's Bengal Pause line for the remaining year and to take $3000 from USG's surplus line to fund a programming series in the game room. Vote is taken and passes 16 yeas, 0 nays and 0 abstentions.

G.      Survey - I will pass this around it is only a consensus.

V.      Standing Committee Reports

A.  AVP Brady Academic Report:
- USG Banquet is Sunday April 23rd at Harry's Harbor.  The Banquet Committee meets on Tuesday's at 6:30 pm.

B.  AVP Buckley Sports & Recreation Report: Absent

C.      AVP Clarke Student Life Report:
- NFTA meeting is tomorrow at 3:00 pm. If you have any questions that you would like me to ask let me know.
- President's Round Table will be held on Wednesday March 8th.
- Calana Festival will be held on Tuesday March 28th.

D.      AVP LaFontaine Community Relations Report:
- Union Bash will be held on March 10th.  USG will be doing Bingo again and I am looking for volunteers.
- USG Bowling night will be on March 14th after our Senate meeting.
- Open House is on Saturday April 8th.
- USG poster - I would like to do an updated poster.  Please go to Press Services to get your picture taken.
- On March 25th there is a 5K Run if anyone is interested please let me know.

E.      Rules Chair Ammirato Report:
- Re-recognition update - I have 15 out of 21 groups that need to be re-recognized.

F.      Senator Pro Tem Report:
- Game Room Grand Opening is this Thursday. I am looking for volunteers to help out.
- Food Service Committee will meet this Thursday at 6:00 pm in room 404.
- Liaison Reports are due March 6th.

VI.     EVP Norman Report:

A.      Open positions - we are still in need of Senators.  We have a new secretary her name is Melissa.

B.      Elections packets are due March 2nd. 

C.      Springfest will be on April 22nd.

VII.    New Business - None

VIII.   Old Business

A.      SUNY update - we will hold off on this for now.

B.      Judicial Council recommendations - Rules Chair Ammirato makes a motion to remove from the table Judicial Council recommendations.  Vote is taken and passes 15 yeas, 0 nays and 0 abstentions. President Levin-Stankevich will state the recommendations from Judicial Council and they will be voted on. Judicial Council makes a motion to deduct 1% from the Psychology Club because they did not attend the organization meeting.  Floor is open for discussion.  Vote is taken and passes 15 yeas, 0 nays and 1 abstention.  Judicial Council makes a motion to deduct 3% from SUB's budget because they did not attend the organization meeting. Floor is open for discussion.  Vote is taken and passes 10 yeas, 6 nays and 0 abstentions.  Judicial Council makes a motion to deduct 0% from the Geology Club because they did not attend the organization meeting.  Floor is open for discussion.  Judicial Council states that they decided not to deduct anything because they have lost a lot of their E-Board members. Vote is taken and passes 12 yeas, 3 nays and 1 abstention. President Levin-Stankevich makes a recommendation that Judicial Council look into Geology Clubs membership.

IX.     Constituents Questions/Announcements 

A.      There are 3 awards that the Faculty and Staff in Diversity office are offering.  They are: Phillip Santa Maria Award, Faculty Members and Staff in Diversity and Leadership Award for Diversity for Students.

B.      NYPIRG Lobby Day has been changed.  We will let you know what is going on with this.

X.      2nd Roll Call

XI.     Meeting adjourned.