SENATE MEETING

29th LEGISLATURE

SEPTEMBER 6, 2005

I.      Call to Order

        Roll Call

II.     Approval of Agenda

A.      President Levin-Stankevich adds to his agenda (F) Pinched Program and (G) will be Questions and Comments.

B.      Vice President Norman adds (A) Senator Training, (B) Contact Sheet and (C) Questions and Comments.

C.      AVP LaFontaine adds (B) Katrina Report and (C) Questions and Comments.

D.      AVP Buckley adds (A) Homecoming and (B) Questions and Comments.

E.      AVP Clarke adds (A) President Meetings and (B) Questions and Comments.

F.      Pro Tem Groover adds (A) Food Service Committee and (B) Questions and Comments.

III.    President Levin-Stankevich Report:

A.      I would like to welcome everyone to the 29th Legislature. Also, I would like to recognize Dr. Payne to give us some opening remarks.  Dr. Payne thanks everyone for having him at the Senate meeting.  He states that the President and I will depend on the 29th Legislature as student leaders to let us know what the students want.  We want to work together with you to make BSC the best place to be for its students. I am proposing tonight that we think about the future of Buffalo State together.  I look forward to working together on projects such as the proposed Student Union. In 1995 we developed a master plan for the Student Union and the center piece was a new campus center. We did complete phase 1 which was the new book store.  We still need to do phase 2 and 3.  I was pleased when President Levin-Stankevich showed interest in adopting the completion of the next phase for the Student Union.  This will be a project that you will be in advancing and advocating for this year.  President Howard and I look forward to working with you to advance the building of the new Student Union as part of the legacy of this Legislature of the Student Government.  We want to partner with you as we did in the past with the Fitness Center and a number of other projects. Last week we worked with you to complete your leadership training. I look forward to work with you on leadership development activities. The college has taken on the development of a leadership minor which President Howard and I will be teaching a course in the spring. I am inviting you and encouraging you to take this course.

B.      Senators take their oath in office.

C.      I would like to nominate Ben Palka for the Vice Treasurer position.  Ben wrote a very compelling letter of intent.  This position was approved by the Executive Council.  The floor is open for questions. Vote is taken and passes 21 yeas, 0 nays and 2 abstentions. Ben is sworn in as Vice Treasurer.

D.      Game Room - I will pass out some information regarding the usage and the cost to run the game room.  Last year we had some vendor contract problems.   We looked into renting equipment for a year with no option to remove our self from the contract for the amount of $6300.00.  After reviewing the contract we found it was not favorable for USG because with the amount of money that was going out there just wasn't enough money coming in. Therefore, we have limited it down to 1 attendant and 2 during the busy hours.  The Executive Council believes that we should not agree to this contract and would like to vote today to hold off on a contract or a service in the game room.  Essentially, this would mean not opening the game room for a while so we can further pursue other options for this space. Floor is open for questions. EVP Norman motions to not sign the contract for the game room and to put together an advisory committee to pursue other options. AVP Buckley 2nd.  Vote is taken and passes 24 yeas, 0 nays and 0 abstentions. If you are interested in being on the game room committee please sign the sheet I am passing around.

E.      College Senate - if you were elected for College Senate please see me after the meeting.

F.      Pinched documentary - was a documentary at Buffalo State. George is recognized to explain this documentary.  This documentary will premiere on Friday Sept. 9th in Rockwell Hall at 7:00 pm. If you are interested in attending please let me know.

IV.     EVP Norman Report:

A.      Senator Training will be held on Saturday Sept. 17th and we will meet in the Union lobby at 10:00 am.  We will then travel to Bullfeathers for lunch.  This is a mandatory training for the senators and last approximately 3 hours.

B.      I will pass around this contact sheet.  If you could please review this sheet to make sure all your information is correct.

V.      Treasurer Myers Report:

A.  There is a National Conference on Student Leadership on November 19th.  We have a conference line of $10,000 and we would like to use $9,000 this semester and $1,000 next semester. I am bringing this to the Senate for approval of  using $9,000 for this conference.  President Levin-Stankevich states that 10 people would be able to attend and it is open to the Senators. If you are interested in going please write a letter stating why you should attend and put it in my mailbox by September 16th.  Floor is open for questions.  I would like to make a motion to approve $9,000 from our conference line to be used for this conference.  AVP LaFontaine 2nd.  Vote is taken and passes 24 yeas, 0 nays and 0 abstentions.

VI.     Standing Committee Reports

A.      AVP Blake Academic Report:
- I am looking for Senators to sign up for the Student Advisory Committee.What this committee does is meets with the Provost of the college to discuss academic issues on campus.  This information is then brought back to the Senate.

B.      AVP LaFontaine Community Relations Report:
- Breast Cancer walk is on October 2nd.  If you are interested please see me.
- Gail Wells is working on a hurricane Katrina Relief program.  If you are interested in helping please let her know.

C.      AVP Buckley Sports & Recreation Report:
- Right now I am working on Homecoming.  If you have any idea's please let me know.

D.      AVP Clarke Student Life Report:
- Tentatively on October 6th we will have a round table for student organizations. We are hoping this will bring better communication within our organizations.

E.      Rules Chair Crowley Report:
-  Student Bill #1 - guidelines to follow for the Executive Council and appointed positions. Open the floor for questions.  I would like to make a motion to approve Student Bill #1. Senator Southee 2nd.  Vote is taken and passes 22 yeas, 1 nay and 0 abstentions.

F.      Senator Pro Tem Groover Report:
- Food Service Committee - this year I am the chair for the Food Service Committee.  My job is to work with Sodexho and to improve the food on campus. If you are interested in joining this committee please sign the sheet I am passing around.

VII.    New Business

A.      USG class - this is a class for participating in USG.  Dr. McFarland is working on the set-up for this class.  

VIII.   Old Business

A.      Dr. Payne mentioned the Student Union Project.  I hope to give you monthly updates on this project.

IX.     Constituents Questions/Announcements

A.      Reminder that the Pinched Documentary is this Friday.

B.      Treasurer Myers informs anyone who is part of an organization to please make sure the Treasurer has signed up for a Treasurer meeting.

C.      Meghan from the Record would like everyone to know that if you are part of an organization you can advertise for free in the Record.

D.      NYPIRG General Interest meeting is on Tuesday September 20th during Bengal Pause.

E.      Student Life workshop is tomorrow at 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Also, on Sunday at 10:00 am there is officer and leadership program.

F.      Every Tuesday in Caudell Hall 213 there is a meeting during Bengal Pause for the Runway Project.  Flyers will be put in the mailboxes explaining this.

X.      2nd Roll Call

XI.     Meeting Adjourned