SENATE MEETING MINUTES

30^th LEGISLATURE

MARCH 27, 2007

I.            Call to Order

            Roll Call

II.            Corrections to the Minutes

A.   Approval of Minutes

B.    Approval of Agenda
- President Levin-Stankevich states that the order for tonight’s meeting will be AVP Janik report, Rules Chair McKay, Senator Pro Tem and then rules of the day. Under EVP Brady’s report delete A & B. AVP Ammirato’s report add Scavenger Hunt. AVP Dapaah’s report add Friend Feud.  Rules Chair McKay report add Budget Process rules. Under Unfinished Business add SUNY Resolutions and Parking Resolution update.
- AVP Janik adds Organization of the year.
- AVP Dapaah adds Sign-up for Commencement.

III.            AVP Janik Academic Report:

A.   Organization of the year nomination. This was not represented because in our constitution it says that nominations will be made by Executive Council.  After much talk about this I would like to move that our nomination be accepted for Pride Alliance to receive the Marie L. Bullock award. President Levin-Stankevich says this does not have to be 2^nd because it comes from a committee which is the Executive Board.  The Floor will be open for questions. We will vote to confirm Pride Alliance to receive the Marie L. Bullock award. Vote passes by majority 22 yeas, 0 nays and 5 abstentions.

IV.            Rules Chair McKay Report:

A.   Student Bill #9 - I have an updated version which I will pass out.  This has gone through committee and then we received another inquiry.  We did answer that and there is another addition.  The addition is under Section 1 letter C stating that this cap shall be evaluated by the Budget Committee every 2 years, starting in 2007, and their findings presented to the Senate for consideration.  Rules Committee makes a motion to approve Student Bill #9.  President Levin-Stankevich states the motion over and says that we need a 2/3 vote. Floor is open for debate.  Senator Hirsch says that under #2 no USG club or organization shall receive larger than a 10% increase by a 2/3 vote by the senate. If you look at your budgets from last year clubs got $555.00 which was an increase of at least 10% for some organizations. Student at Large White asks if there are any other schools that have a cap on their organizations. President Levin-Stankevich says he does not know of any SUNY schools but I do know Easton Washington University as well as Gonzaga does have a cap. Senator White asks what kind of effect does this have on the schools that have a cap? President Levin-Stankevich says their caps are significantly smaller than this. I know Easton Washington is like $5,000. AVP Dapaah states that this bill came up last week and all organizations concerned were notified at least through their budgets.  You could have had a hearing if you didn’t approve your budget. Senator Antwi comments on AVP Dapaah and says this is not necessarily true.  My treasurer came to me and said that she did not hear bout this. At last weeks meeting Treasurer St. Rose said as the treasurer he has the ability to raise the cap. If this is the case why are we trying to raise the cap of all the organizations?  President Levin-Stankevich point of information that we did inform all of our student groups about the budget process of the $30,000 cap.  As well as saying it at the organizational meeting and it was in The Record. So all the clubs heard about this cap. Treasurer St. Rose states this is a bill so if you want to vote against it you can or you can amend it. This was an idea from President Levin-Stankevich because he thought it would be a good idea to help organizations collaborate. Senator Stewart states she is confused I thought at last weeks meeting it was already put in place.  President Levin-Stankevich says last week we debated it informally it was not presented in a student bill. Today we are continuing that debate and we will be voting on it. I think what you are confused about is that this years budget has part of this implemented in it.  However, this is furthering the cap for future years and making the senate aware of this. Senator Hirsch says that a $30,000 cap is a good idea to take money from the larger organizations and incorporate it to new and smaller organizations.  It is more beneficial for them to have a fresh start. Treasurer St. Rose says that before I sat down with Mary my idea was to have certain organizations ask for more money for an event they do every year so their overall budget will grow but not that production. But Mary brought it to my attention that it is not fair because all you are doing is sugar coating the cap.  Therefore, I corrected this at the treasurers meeting and I asked if anyone had any discrepancies. The only hands that went up were AASO and CSO and AASO talked to me about this.  Whereas CSO I only heard their opinions on the outside.  It was in the manual on how to do your budget and I mentioned it at the organization meeting. We have the highest funded organizations in SUNY and we are the only SUNY that has a $100.00 student activity fee.  Senator Antwi makes a motion to recommend to vote against the bill. Senator Otero makes an amendment to Student Bill #9 G #2 to change the percentage from 10% to 20%. Senator Dobney 2^nd.  President Levin-Stankevich states that because there is an amendment we will stop talking about the overall student bill and we will now be debating on the 10% and 20%.  AVP Dapaah states that if an organization needs an increase in their budget the budget committee will probably give them more money. I think 20% is too much of an increase.  Senator Perez states that if an organization has a $20,000 budget and it gets 10% increase they get $2,000 if its 20% it will be $4,000. Senator Greco says you know which organizations are devoted by what they do. The Senate can give a budget increase by 2/3 of vote. President Levin-Stankevich point of information is that it is empowering the Senate to make that decision. Senator Boateng states that since some organizations made their plans for next year why can’t some organizations collaborate if they don’t want to then decrease their budget.  President Levin-Stankevich states maybe that could be an addition or a different bill.  Senator Anderson calls to question.  President Levin-Stankevich states we will now only vote if we should change the 10% to 20%.  Rules Chair McKay states we are voting on if we are ready to vote.  Vote is taken and passes to vote on the amendment and passes 23 yeas, 0 nays and 4 abstentions.  Vote is taken on changing it from 10% to 20% and does not pass 3 yeas, 21 nays and 4 abstentions. The student bill will stay as is. Senator Perez states that student organizations are not the only thing that USG funds. USG funds the readership program, library, and printing this is where some of this extra money could go.  Senator Dobney states that organizations are not defined on how much money they have but how much work they are put into their organization.  Rules Chair McKay point of information that of the two organizations one did approach me.  AVP Dapaah states that the hardest hit organizations are the 2 with the highest budget. Senator Stewart states that she now understands the cap. If the 2 largest organizations need more money they can apply for a grant. Senator Anderson asks if G #1 Section C where it says the budget committee would evaluate it every 2 years if it would be possible to evaluate every year because the student activity fee is always growing.  President Levin-Stankevich states we are at the max for our fee and the point of doing every two years is that it allows us to evaluate the effect it has. Treasurer St. Rose states lets not forget the original reason for the $30,000 cap is to get organizations to collaborate. AVP Ammirato calls to question.  President Levin-Stankevich states we will move into vote on this I have had 3 speaker lists and 1 amendment and we debated this for 2 meetings are there any objections.  There are no objections.  Vote is taken on Student Bill #9 and passes 16 yeas, 4 nays and 6 abstentions.  Student Bill #9 will be in our constitution.  If you think you need to amend it or change it we will be accepting new student bills because it is part of our constitution. Treasurer St. Rose asks when does this bill go into effect?  President Levin-Stankevich states it will go in effect immediately.

B.    CRAGG is here to get re-recognized.  The Rules Committee motions to approve the re-recognition of CRAGG.  CRAGG is recognized to explain what their organization does then the floor will be open for questions. President Levin-Stankevich states vote will be taken to re-recognize CRAGG.  Vote is taken and passes 21 yeas, 0 nays and 6 abstentions.  CRAGG is re-recognized.

C.    Constitutional update - Best Buddies has added a voting member position to their E-Board. So moved by EVP Brady. President Levin-Stankevich asks if anyone has any objections.  Senator Antwi objects.  Floor is open for questions/comments. Best Buddies states that they want to add a student advisory to their E-Board because it is very time consuming and hard for one of our E-board members to attend all of our obligations.  Not only do we have duties to perform with USG but we are part of an international organization and we have a lot of things that need to be fulfilled. So moved by EVP Brady.  There are no objections and Best Buddies constitution will be noted. President Levin-Stankevich asks CRAGG and Best Buddies their feelings on Student Bill #9, and USG not getting messages out. Caroline Edwards states that she knows who the E-Board is and who some of the Senators are so if I have any questions I will approach them.  I personally agree with $30,000 cap because we are a smaller organization and we have 16 events next semester.  We started with a budget of $750.00 our budget next semester $4,000. President Levin-Stankevich point of order the budget is only a proposed budget it has not been approved by the Senate. They have proposed a $4,000 budget from $2,300.00. As for Student Bill #9 I agree with it because it will help the smaller organizations grow.

D.   Budget Process - President Levin-Stankevich presented to the Rules Committee Budget Process Rules. Most of these rules are already in our Senate House Rules and part of Robert Rules. There is only one addition which is Bias voting. When the actual budget is discussed we will go into executive session. I will pass these rules around for you to review. You will have 2 weeks to review them because next week is spring break.

V.             Senator Pro Tem Jueckstock Report:

A. This is the last time I will be accepting any attendance sheets, minutes or agenda’s. If you have them please pass them down to me.

B.    I will send around the Senator Contact List.  Please update your information. President Levin-Stankevich states the new Liaison Reports are due April 17th.

President Levin-Stankevich states the meeting will return to the order of the day.

VI.            President Levin-Stankevich Report: I have nothing to report.

VII.            EVP Brady Report:

A.   Senator Stewart asks who is the artist for Spring Fest?  EVP Brady replies that it might be Toni Braxton or All American Rejects there still is no contract. Tickets will go on sale in April.

VIII.            Treasurer St. Rose Report:

            A. I am asking the Senate to please take the budget seriously.

IX.            Standing Committee Reports

A.   AVP Ammirato Community Relations Report:
- The Scavenger Hunt on April 14^th will be mandatory for the Senators to attend. If you can not make it you need to put it in writing and give it to Rules Chair McKay. A memo will be put in your mailboxes.
- Union Bash is April 25^th.  As it gets closer to that day I will pass around a sign up sheet. President Levin-Stankevich states if any Senator has an issue about mandatory meetings or programs you need to see Senator Pro Tem Jueckstock.

B.    AVP Dapaah Student Life Report:
- Friend Feud is Wednesday in the upper lobby at 7:00 pm.
- Sign up for Commencement - Commencement Kick Off is April 11^th and I am looking for volunteers.

X.            Unfinished Business

            A.  President Levin-Stankevich states that everyone should have a copy of the SUNY Resolutions.  The first one is on the cap activity fee and the second one is on the four year mandatory policy on the student activity fee referendums.      These have an impact on the state but they have a huge impact on us. The first one we will talk about will be the cap on the activity fee. We are currently at the cap of $100.00 on the student activity fee.  I am asking SUNY the Board of Trustees and Student Assembly that they make a resolution in raising the cap. The next one I collaborated with UB and basically says that this resolution is asking to change the 2 year mandatory policy on the student fee referendums back to a four year. I will open up discussion on these resolutions. Senator Hirsch makes a motion to vote on the Resolutions. Senator Anderson 2^nd. Vote is taken to see if everyone is ready to vote on the Resolutions and passes 24 yeas, 1 nay and 3 abstentions. Vote is taken to pass these Resolutions on to Student Assembly and passes 14 yeas, 4 nays and 9 abstentions.

B.    Parking up date.  President Levin-Stankevich states he has not heard on any changes in regards to the Parking Resolutions. The last update I received is that they would like us to investigate alternative resolutions that have an impact on the parking. I know the Student Welfare Committee is looking into this.

XI.            New Business - None

XII.            Constituent Questions/Announcements

A.   Senator Pro Tem Jueckstock states that the Golf Club is having a meeting on Wednesday at 3:00 pm in room 404 in the Union.

B.    Senator Anderson states that if you are living on campus next semester room selection process begins tomorrow in the Sports Arena from 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm.

C.    Senator Boateng states that the program EOP Striving for Arts was very successful.

D.   Senator Dobney asks how come we don’t vote for the athletic fee?  President Levin-Stankevich says we don’t vote for any of the other fees because they are state fees and they go to the College Senate.

E.    Treasurer St. Rose said the Bengal 5K run had a good turn out. The Striving for Excellence was a good success although I was hoping more students from USG would have attended.

F.    Ann from NYPIRG is recognized to give an update. Rules Chair McKay states that the number of students that voted up to date is 568 students.  Last year the total of votes for the entire election was 391. President Levin-Stankevich would like to give Ann a round of applause because last night she was calling students to vote for the referendum.

XIII.            2^nd Roll Call

XIV.            Meeting adjourned.