SENATE MEETING MINUTES

30th LEGISLATURE

APRIL 17, 2007

 

 

 

I.            Call to Order

            Roll Call

 

II.            Corrections to the Minutes

A.   Approval of Minutes

B.    Approval of Agenda
- Senator Perreault states that she was excused last week.  President Levin-Stankevich agrees.
- President Levin-Stankevich states to remove AVP Janik from the agenda he has no report. AVP Dapaah’s report will be given by Senator Anderson tonight and delete A.  Also, depending on dependents Re-recognition of an organizations might not happen.  If the organization shows up we will do it at time.

 

III.             President’s Remarks:

A.   I would like to take a moment of silence for the tragedy that happened at Virginia Tech. Dr. Howard and Dr. Payne asked if the students were doing anything and if so to state it in the minutes. Senator Greco suggests that a letter be sent from Buff State to Virginia Tech.  President Levin-Stankevich asks Senator Greco to take care of this.  Senator Anderson suggests a week of peace.  President Levin-Stankevich states he will bring this up with Dr. Howard.  President Levin-Stankevich states that he would like to find out if they are accepting any donations to any memorial funds. I am asking Treasurer St. Rose to look into this.  Before we do anything like this I will bring it to the Senate. Senator Shea states that if you have Face book this is a good way to communicate with people you know there to see if they are ok. Joan McCool (Counseling Center) states that on Tuesday April 24th from 12:15 - 1:30 there will be a Memorial Service in Rockwell Hall. Please feel free to contact me if you or someone else needs to talk. Dr. Howard has already told Virginia Tech if they need any help to ask and we will help as needed. This event is on our home page as well as our emergency response plan.  I will be asking our administration to come in and do a presentation on the emergency response plan at the beginning of next year.

B.    I want to respond to The Record articles.  I feel that this governing body is by far one of the best that we have ever had.  I hope by reading these articles you don’t think any less of what you are accomplishing here.  Look at all the capital improvements, communication improvements and all the Senate improvements we made. The administration and I are very proud on what we have been doing. The article in The Record under “Open Meeting Laws” calls USG a regime and dictators by recommending that we close our meeting.  We did not receive any disputes on this until Monday afternoon. When I received the paper work from The Record I contacted our legal advisor Ben Zuffranieri I did not get a response from him until Wednesday afternoon.  That would be why you see my response as no comment.  I asked The Record not print the story but they wouldn’t wait. I feel it was an unwarranted story and we had two weeks before our first discussion on the budget to correct this. By coming up first thing Monday afternoon and saying we broke the law was not right.  We wanted to check on this but this took some time.  We do have an answer which we will give latter in our agenda.

 

IV.            President Levin-Stankevich Report:

A.   I would like to recognize Lt. Carey to give us a report.  Lt. Carey thanks USG for allowing them to come once a month to give a report.  I would like to give you some information on the incident that happened at Virginia Tech.  Our University Police department has been pro active for several years dealing with these types of situations. We have been training our officers in what is called rapid deployment. You can go to our website to look at our emergency response plan. I would also like to remind everyone to protect your text books and book bags at this time of year.

B.    Joan McCool is recognized to give a presentation on a grant that they received. Joan states that about 3 years ago they applied for a grant to reduce violence against women on campus.  We did not get it then but we fixed it up and resubmitted it and this time we got the grant for $200,000.  This grant is about dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.  We are looking for student involvement and asking for your help.

C.    Student Assembly - President Levin-Stankevich presented 2 amendments (1) $100.00 cap and (2) Mandatory Volunteering Referendums. Also, reported positive feed back from other schools.  Senator Pro Tem Jueckstock talked about rules and procedures of student assembly.

D.   Cassety Move Out - I have sent 3 notices to the organizations regarding the move.  The 4th notice will be the final notice to the organizations. They must be packed by April 27th.  There are 4 organizations that will not be getting offices.

 

V.            EVP Brady Report:

            A.  Spring Fest - tickets are on sale for Buff State students.  The Senate will be getting comp tickets.  UB and Buff State swapped tickets if you are interested in going to UB’s concert let me know.

 

VI.            Treasurer St. Rose Report:

A.    Budget Approval of 10% - there are 16 organizations that received more than a 10% increase.  Most of the organizations that received more than 10% were the smaller organizations. The Budget Committee would like to make a motion to approve the 10% increase.  President Levin-Stankevich states the floor is open for questions. Senator Anderson asks what did they do to deserve a higher increase.  Treasurer St. Rose states that it will be in the budget packet under their organization. Senator Antwi asks if BSC TV is near the cap.  Treasurer St. Rose says they are no where near the cap. Senator Perreault asks how many organizations are under USG.  Treasurer St. Rose says we have 63 organizations. Senator Antwi would like an explanation as to why some organizations are being cut and others are getting an increase.  President Levin-Stankevich states that larger budgets got cut and smaller budgets received an increase.  This was done in hope that smaller organizations would collaborate with larger organizations. Treasurer St. Rose states that paperwork did not have any effect on the Budget Committee’s decision. President Levin-Stankevich states that we will take a vote to see if we should vote on these increases all at once.Vote is not substantial so we will be voting on this according to boards.  If you vote in positive you are approving all the proposed increases under that board.  Even if this is approved during budget procedures these amounts can be changed through amendments. This will be a 2/3 majority vote.  Vote is taken to go over 10% for the Academic Board and passes 15 yeas, 3 nays and 3 abstentions.  Vote is taken to go over the 10% for Community Relations Board and passes 14 yeas, 4 nays and 3 abstentions.  Vote is taken to go over the 10% for the Student Life Board and passes 15 yeas, 2 nays and 4 abstentions.  Vote is taken to go over the 10% for the Sports and Recreation Board and passes 16 yeas, 2 nays and 3 abstentions. All proposed increases will be recognized in our budget this year. Treasurer St. Rose states that the packets I passed out are the 2007-2008 proposed budgets. Please keep this to yourself it is not for the gallery to see. President Levin-Stankevich states if members from the gallery would like a copy see us after the meeting. I will ask that Gail Wells gets 2 copies now.  Treasurer St. Rose states he is passing around a cheat sheet which is given to the administration to break down what is being used for the budget.  The VP Programming/Special Events went up $10,000. The conference line went down $8,000, we funded copies in the library, and contingencies went down $7,000.  Also we did not fund the fitness center maintenance agreement, we have a $26,000 capital for camp operational, and we funded 5 organizations that were not funded last year.  You will also see the $30,000 budget cap for AASO and CSO. I am asking the Senators if you have any suggestions to please have them to me by Friday at 3:00 pm.  President Levin-Stankevich asks Treasurer St. Rose to put the budget changes in the senator mail boxes. The Senate will have until Friday to hand in any written budget changes these changes will be brought to the budget committee.  At next weeks meeting the amendments will be brought up at the senate meeting.  Anything that changes the overall budget will not be recognized and amendments to amendments will not be allowed.  If you have any questions to the procedures please see Rules Chair McKay. Treasurer St. Rose states that the Day Care Center was cut $12,900. Floor is open for questions.  Senator Anderson asks what the difference is between proposed and worked on.  Treasurer St. Rose states that propose are what the organization asked for and working is what the committee worked on.  President Levin-Stankevich states that you are looking at the working budget.  Senator Hirsch point of information is the Day Care Center is on the last page. Vote counts in this report are subject to change with out notice upon voting sheets which are to be produced at a later date by Rules Chair McKay.

B.    And 1 basketball tournament asked me to cancel the event because they were not prepared for it.

 

VII.            Standing Committee Reports

A.   AVP Ammirato Report:
- Union Bash is next Wednesday from 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm. I will be sending around a sign up sheet.  If you sign up you must show up otherwise you will be marked as an absence. I will also be going shopping for prizes if any one is interested please let me know.

B.    AVP Dapaah Student Life Report: given by Senator Anderson
- Senior Week starts on April 30th.  On Monday there will be mock interviews. Tuesday is Senior Spirit Day and we are looking for help. Wednesday we have a guest speaker (Patrick Combs) and every Senator is mandated to attend. Friday is the Carnival and the Senior Dinner, please RSVP. Volunteers will be receiving a t-shirt. I will send around a sign up sheet.    
- Display - if you have any suggestions please let me know.

C.    Rules Chair McKay Report:
- Non-funded Recognition.  I would like to recognize Senator Greco.  Senator Greco states that the BSC Ultimate Coed Frisbee Team is requesting recognition.  I would like to open the floor for questions.  Vote is taken to recognize the BSC Ultimate Coed Frisbee as a non-funded organization and passes. Vote counts in this report are subject to change with out notice upon voting sheets which are to be produced at a late date by Rules Chair McKay.
- Budget House Rules - Section 1 of the Budget Rules was not in compliance and has been retracted.
- Student Bill #7 update. I have had 4 people talk to me about amendments.

Two of these amendments made it to the committee the other 2 will be presented to the committee this next week. We had an open forum today from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm and no one showed up. There will be another  open forum this Friday from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm in the Senate Chambers.

President Levin-Stankevich asks who the people who inquired were. Rules Chair McKay states Senator Pro Tem Jueckstock, President Levin-Stankevich, Senator Hirsch and EVP Brady. President Levin-Stankevich states this is an important bill please ask questions.           

D.   Senator Pro Tem Jueckstock Report:
- Liaison Reports are due today. 
- Senator Announcements - April 20th is the mandatory organization meeting. If you want to come you can come but you are not mandated to come. Patrick Combs is coming May 2nd at 7:00 pm in the Assembly Hall it is mandated that the Senate attends. Another reminder is to please check your mail box and the RSVP deadline for the banquet is tomorrow. 
- Sodexho Staff Appreciation Day is Tuesday May 1st in the Social Hall from 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm. We are currently making the flyers and certificates for this.

 

VIII.              Unfinished Business- None

 

IX.            New Business

A.   President Levin-Stankevich states that the Senior Giving Program is in conjunction with Senior Week we did this last year.  What we do is ask graduating seniors to contribute to a senior fund which purchases a senior gift.  Last year it was suppose to be furniture in the Fireside Lounge however, we received a grant for the Fireside Lounge. This year the senior class gift will be a sitting area within the library which will be for the class of ’07. This area will be maintained by the library.  We also do a senior call center where we ask graduating seniors to make a donation to the senior class fund.  I am asking for volunteers for tomorrow and Thursday and then next week Tuesday and Thursday.  Food will be available for you, and the person who is able to confirm the most gifts will get two round trip tickets on Amtrak any where in New York State.  I also have graduation tickets if you don’t want the Amtrak tickets. If you would like to volunteer please sign the sign up sheet I am passing around.

 

X.            Constituents Questions/Announcements

A.  Senator Pro Tem Jueckstock announces Take Back the Night will be held on  Friday April 27th.  I am asking the liaisons to go to your organizations and remind them of this event.  Also, ask them if they would like to do the student speak out.  If they would like to do it they need two representatives and to see Tammy Kresge.

B.  Senator Anderson states that usually we get 2 weeks to look at things is this in the Rules. Rules Chair McKay says the minimum is a week for Senate House Rules.  President Levin-Stankevich states that any constitutional change you get a week.  Anything else doesn’t need a week but we try to give you a week any time we can.

C.    Senator Perez asks why are the events mandatory especially at this time of year?  President Levin-Stankevich states that these are USG events and they are very important to us.

D.   Rules Chair McKay would like to see his committee after the meeting.

E.    Rob from The Record asks what laws USG violated.  President Levin-Stankevich states that USG did not break any laws.  If we had a meeting behind closed doors we would have broke the law but we didn’t. What we might have been in violation of was that we are allowed to have closed meeting of a board for 4 reasons. New State is very strict on these reasons.

One out of the four is for the medical financial credit or employment history of a particular person or corporation or matters leading to the appointment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation.  What we were discussing is if this falls in line financial history of a particular corporation.  We felt that it was in those lines guideline and we thought we were discussing a particular budget of a corporation.  Our lawyer Ben Zuffranieri recommend that we do not go into an Executive Session that if we did it would be justifiable reasons for someone t declare that we broke the law.  But again we didn’t we gave appropriate time, somebody brought it to our notice and we corrected it.  That is exactly what is supposed to happen. Rob asks why did the Executive Board not mention to the Senate that this might be an issue.  President Levin-Stankevich states that we got the notice Monday night and I called our lawyer right away and if we were not in violation we were not going to mention it. This was something that was correctable after the vote and we followed parliamentary procedures. Rob states that all this follows the open meeting law.

F.    Dan from the Day Care Center is recognized.  Dan thanks President Levin-Stankevich and Treasurer St. Rose for talking to him.  I would also like to tell the Senate that this is going to be a devastating cut to the child care center.

 

XI.            2nd Call

 

XII.            Meeting adjourned.