SENATE MINUTES

29th LEGISLATURE

OCTOBER 25, 2005

I.  Call to Order  

        Roll Call

II.  Corrections to the Minutes

A.    Approval of Minutes

B.    Approval of Agenda
-  President Levin-Stankevich motions to suspend the rules to have the Daryl from NFTA go first.  We will then go to New Business and continue inreverse order. Rules Chair Crowley 2nd.

III.  I would like to recognize Daryl from NFTA. Daryl states that NFTA is doing about 31,000 rides a month for Buff State students.  Last year in September we did about 5,000.  We are also doing about 132 rides on the shuttle and 4,650 students picked up their passes. I am here today to listen to your suggestions and to encourage you to form a committee so we can try to meet on a continuing basis. On December 26 if some changes need to be made this is when we will implement them.

IV.   New Business 

A.      Student at Large Curtis states that the commencement committee wants to separate graduation by departments.

B.      President Levin-Stankevich speaks on behalf of Judicial Council.  Visual Arts Board met with Judicial and Judicial found that no reduction was warranted to them. Floor is open for questions.  Motion coming out of Judicial is that VAB have no reduction taken out of their budget and their budget be unfrozen.  Vote is taken and passes 20 yeas, 0 nays and 0 abstentions.

V.      Standing Committee Reports

A. Senator Pro Tem Report:
- Liaison Reports are past due.  Please hand in these reports.
- Food Service Committee - I have put the minutes from our meeting in every ones mailbox.

B. Rules Chair Crowley Report:
- Questions & Comments

C.      AVP Clarke Student Life Report:
- President's Round Table will be held on November 9th at 7:00 pm in the Fireside Lounge.

D.      AVP Buckley Sports & Recreation Report:
- Homecoming Wrap-up - I would like to thank everyone who helped handing out the giveaways. The games will be rescheduled for the next Union Bash because of the rain.
- Texas Holdem Tournament will be held on November 10th in the Game Room at 6:00 pm.

E.      AVP LaFontaine Community Relations Report:
- Union Bash is this Friday and USG is doing Bingo.  I will pass around the sheet if you can not make it please take your name off the list.
- Open House is this Saturday from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm in the Sports Arena.

F.      AVP Blake Academic Report: given by Rules Chair Crowley
- Student Advisory Committee is this Thursday at 4:30 pm in Grover Cleveland 519.
- Academic Committee will be doing the USG table on Thursday.

VI.     Treasurer Myers Report:

A.    Organization Reductions - you should have the final report stating what line the reduction will be taken from.  The Budget Committee has voted on these lines.

B.    Bills Tickets - the game is November 27th and tickets are $30.

C.    Vice Treasurer Palka is recognized.  Vice Treasurer Palka states that Buff State's basketball team is scheduled to play UB on November 20th at 12:00 pm.

VII.  EVP Norman Report:

A.    Fall Fest went well. It was a good event but there could have been better promotion.

B.    Spring Fest - we will be forming a committee I will need 2 representatives from USG.

C.    Photos will be taken after the meeting.

VIII.   President Levin-Stankevich Report:

A.    Student Union Update - spoke to State Legislators about the Union.

B.    Parking - there are no plans to build another parking lot or a parking garage. I've been asked to discuss how the students feel about on campus freshman not being allowed to bring cars. Floor is open for discussion.

C.    Tuition - what we need to discuss is a rational tuition policy.  Right now we are on an irrational tuition policy.  We fight off tuition hikes and we fight off the state tuition hike because of inflation. On the state's table now is a rational tuition policy.  In theory it means every year tuition could go up from 2.1 to 4.6 percent of the overall tuition.  What this means is if a freshman came in on this policy it would stay the same for four years regardless of any increase. There are problems with this policy.  I would like to come up with a resolution that will state whether we are for the rational or irrational policy.

Senator Ammirato motions to table this discussion until next week. Vote is taken and passes 22 yeas, 1 nay and 0 abstentions.

IX. Old Business - None

X.  Constituents' Questions/Announcements 

A.  AVP Clarke reminds everyone that this Thursday during Bengal Pause in the meeting room Tom Koller is having a meeting to discuss events.

B.  AVP LaFontaine is looking for help to shop for prizes for Union Bash.

C.    Hip Hop Revolution is Thursday at 7:00 pm although it may be moved to 8:00 pm.

XI.     2nd  Roll Call

XII.    Meeting adjourned