SENATE MINUTES

29th LEGISLATURE

SEPTEMBER 13, 2005

I.      Call to Order

        Roll Call

II.     Corrections to the Minutes

A.      Approval of Minutes

B.      Approval of Agenda
- President Levin-Stankevich adds Swearing In, Lt. Carey and Union Project Update.
- Vice President Norman adds Katrina Relief Committee and Applications.
- AVP Blake adds Camp Clean-up and Student Advisory Committee.

III.    President Levin-Stankevich Report:

A.      Swearing In of the following Senators: Senator Walters, Senator Nathaniel, Senator Lesniak and Senator Perreault.

B.      I would like to recognize Lt. Carey to give us a monthly report.  Lt. Carey congratulates everyone in their position in United Students Government.  This is our 8th year we have been invited to the Senate meeting to give a monthly report. I would like to thank everyone for allowing us to come and give a report.  The purpose of these reports is to inform you on what we are doing, what's going on around campus and to ask us questions. Our department has 5 defibrillators and we have been trained on them.  There will be 1 in the station and the other 4 will be in control cars for any medical emergency. The college has purchased more defibrillators to distribute around campus.  Regarding the traffic we had additional officers in the morning the 1st 2 weeks of school.  Tuesday and Thursday's seem to be the heaviest class days.  We have 10 officers out on our bike control.  They are on bikes weather permitting and depending on our manpower.  Floor is open for questions.

C.      College Senate - if you are involved with College Senate please see me after the meeting.

D.      CSO Liquor agreement - yearly CSO has a Dollar Jam traditionally off campus.  This year they would like to have it at Club Mecca on October 1st.   They are asking for USG to approve their liquor agreement.  The E-Board has approved their liquor agreement and we are bringing it to the Senate for approval.  Floor is open for questions.  Rules Chair Crowley motions to approve CSO their Liquor agreement.  AVP LaFontaine 2nd.  Vote is taken and passes 25 yeas, 0 nays and 2 abstentions.

E.      Florida letters - we have 10 seats open for the National Leadership Conference on November 18th after classes until November 22nd.  I am accepting letters if you are interested in going.  If I receive a letter from you I am assuming you can go. Please get these letters to my by Friday and state in the letter why you would like to go. All expenses are paid for except your food. There will be no meeting on November 22nd.

F.      Union Support - I will skip this and go ahead to give you an update on the Union project.  I met with Gary Vickers who is the head of the Faculty Students Association (FSA) and explained our proposal and the direction we are going in right now.  There are 2 phases the 1st which we would be looking at as a whole project would cost $30 - $40 million. Where is this money going to come from? The 2nd phase is developing a facilities plan. This is a plan where New York State will come in and evaluate our facilities.  They would do a working plan on what to bring in, what to change, space utilization and about a estimated cost to make these changes. Right now I am putting together a proposal to FSA to assist us in funds needed for the state planning.  The cost will be around $250,000.  This proposal will have to be approved by the FSA Board.  At this time I have put together a support letter and I am going around getting student signatures along with faculty. I have some sheets here for signatures and I will put some in the Senators mailboxes if everyone could get 40 signatures and bring them to the next Senate meeting. 

IV.     EVP Norman Report:

A.      Reminder that the Senator training is this Saturday. We will be meeting in the Union lobby at 10:00 am and will be going to Bullfeathers. One of the things we will be doing is assigning you to your committee.

B.      Game Room - a recap on last weeks meeting we accepted a motion to form a search committee for the game room.  The game room will be open Monday - Thursday 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

C.      Katrina Relief Committee - the college along with Student Life have a committee for this. If you would like to be on this committee please sign the sheet I am passing around.

D.      Senator applications - if I have not contacted you I am sorry but there have been a lot of applications. As you can see, we do have a full Senate but we are looking for Judicial Council members. Rules Chair Crowley is recognized to explain the Judicial Council.

V.      Treasurer Myers Report:

A.      Regarding the conference just a reminder that you will have to pay for your own food.

VI.     Standing Committee Reports

A.  AVP Blake Academic Report:
-  I would like to have a Camp Cleanup weekend. The 2 weekends I am  looking at are October 7th - 9th or October 14th - 16th. I am passing a sign up  sheet around please sign up on the date that is best for you.
- Student Advisory Committee - I would like to meet with you after the meeting.

B.      AVP LaFontaine Community Relations Report:

- Remind everyone of the Breast Cancer Walk on October 2nd.  If you are interested on walking please sign the sheet I am passing around.

C.      AVP Buckley Sports & Rec Report:
-  Homecoming - I've done some research to get something different than our usual rock climbing. We will do the following games: 3 lane bungee run, human bowling and a gladiator joust.  Dawn has ordered 250 backpacks that we will fill with t-shirts etc. which will be used for giveaways.

D.      AVP Clarke Student Life Report:
- President's Round Table is scheduled for October 6th at 5:30 pm.
- NASO will be having a tree planting ceremony on Friday September 16th at 3:15 pm in front of Casting Hall. They are asking USG to please attend.

E.      Rules Chair Crowley Report:
- Questions & Comments

F.      Senator Pro Tem Groover Report:
- Food Service Committee - there is a tentative meeting set with Tim Eckland and Sodexho for October 6th.  I would like to meet with my Food Service Committee before the October 6th meeting.  If you are would like to be on  the committee please sign the sheet I am passing around.
-Game Room Committee - AVP Buckley and I will be starting up a committee. If you would like to be on this committee please sign the sheet I am passing around.

VII.    New Business

-       There are still about 80-100 students living at the Holiday Inn. Is there any status on how long they will be living there? AVP Clarke states that they are trying to move students out according to dorm space. Residence Life's priority list is as follows: Freshman, return students, Transfer, International and then students that live in this area. It all depends on when you got your application in.   

VIII.   Old Business - None

IX.     Constituents Questions/Announcements

A.      AVP LaFontaine reminds everyone about the USG Carnival of Clubs this Thursday. This is being held during Bengal Pause in the Quad. If it rains the event will be canceled.

B.      AASO is having a discussion about Katrina on Wednesday in room 419 at 7:00 pm.  Also, we are having our Mellow Night on Thursday at 6:00 pm in the Game Room.

C.      Michelle George is recognized from Big Brothers & Big Sisters. I will be putting flyers in the mail boxes regarding this group.

D.      Ann from NYPIRG gives an update.

E.      Amy Wilson reminds everyone on the Money Management event on Wednesday.

X.      2nd Roll Call

XI.     Meeting adjourned