SENATE MINUTES

31^st LEGISLATURE

APRIL 15, 2008

I.            Call to Order

            Roll Call

II.            Approval of Agenda

            A.  President Brady motions to approve the agenda.  Senator O’Grady so moved. 

III.            Rules & Regulations Greco Report:

A.   My committee would like to motion to re-recognize the Imaginative Sociologists and Chemistry/Forensic club. President Brady states there is a motion on the floor. If the representatives for Imaginative Sociologists and Chemistry/Forensic could please stand and introduce yourselves. President Brady asks if they could please tells us about your recent activities and why you should be recognized. Imaginative Sociologist states that they have a banquet coming up on Thursday and they had to re-train all of their members this semester. The department relies on transfers and new students, so the club helps bolster the major and helps give people information on the major. There are a lot of students who want to get involved and we give them that outlet. Chemistry/Forensic states that they ran in the Bengal 5k. We helped bring in an FBI guest speaker to talk about job opportunities after they graduate, and we re-did the chemistry lounge to make it more inviting for students. It helps unite the Chem majors and give the students somewhere to get together. Senator Yazicilar states that she would like to commend Chemistry for the work they’ve been doing. For Imaginative Sociologists, how many members do you have and how can you better advertise your membership. Imaginative Sociologists states that they have about 14 but it varies depending on the meeting, last semester we had a large membership. Traditionally we do two movie nights a semester; we have discussions with professors and help out with the conference held each year here at Buffalo State College.  Every year we have a banquet and we go to sociological conferences and that is what we hope to continue. President Brady asks if they went to the Ethnographic Conference this year. Sociologist states no. Senator Pro Tem Nunez asks what have done for the students, what you feel you have put out there for them this semester and what you will do in the future. Imaginative Sociologists states this semester we put on a banquet for the department where scholarships go out, and since no one really knows anyone in the department, the club is a great way for the new students to come in and meet other majors. We have people from around the country to speak on sociological issues. Senator Pro Tem Nunez says you said a lot are junior and seniors, is that the club or department?  Will the E-Board be juniors and seniors or are they graduating now? Imaginative Sociologist states they will be juniors and seniors. AVP Jueckstock states that Chemistry/Forensics has been doing an amazing job and I commend you, but for Imaginative Sociologists, all you talk about is the banquet and I feel that is for the department, where else has your money gone? Imaginative Sociologist states that they had a movie night last semester and this semester but no one came to it, and the banquet is the only event that has taken money this semester. Senator Dobney asks what happened to your E-Board. I understand the transition, what do you need from us to help you with this? Imaginative Sociologists states some graduated and the President had a family emergency. I think the training offered at the beginning of the year will be vital and the foundation of a stable E-Board will help. President Brady asks if there are any more questions, seeing there are none we will move into vote. Vote is taken to re-recognize Chemistry/Forensics and passes unanimously.  Vote is taken to re-recognize Imaginative Sociologists and passes 12 yeas, 7 nays and 0 abstentions.

B.    Student Bill #2 will be distributed to the Senate next week. There aren’t major changes just some small name changes and typo fixes. You can look at it online now and please look it over and bring questions and concerns to me. Senator Manz states that he was approached by members of the Step Expression club and was told that they are not recognized and funded, is that true? Rules & Regulations Greco states they are recognized. President Brady recognizes Treasurer Gabriel.  Treasurer Gabriel states that they were supposed to attend the Bi Semester meeting and missed more than one, and then they got cut. They filed a judicial appeal and then they missed the meeting, they lost their entire budget, and when they re-appealed the appeal they missed the meeting again. It was due to carelessness. Senator Manz states that he was under the impression that they were not notified of their judicial meeting, and that all Judicial Council decisions were supposed to be brought to the Senate. Rules & Regulations Greco states yes you are supposed to receive their decisions, but we never received a full memo from the judicial council. Senator Manz asks so no one went to defend USG?  Rules & Regulations Greco states that he handed them his attendance reports and excuses received, they got the same information for Step as anyone else would have received. Senator Manz asks were they notified of the budget cut. The first is 5%, the second is lost for a year, and then the third is loss of recognition, so were they notified? The only thing they got from what I understand is a letter saying everything is fine. Rules & Regulations Greco states that he doesn’t carry the attendance reports with him, so if you want to come to my office tomorrow and look at them with me we can figure that out.  I don’t hand out the 5% cuts, I just make the memo saying they missed the meeting then it carries on. Senator O'Grady asks if there is no decision, do you report that there was no decision. President Brady states I only report what I receive from Judicial. Justice Zomerfeld is recognized and states that all of our decisions are in the cabinet upstairs; if there are any discrepancies you can find them there.

IV.            President Brady Report:

A.   The Bi-Semester meeting is this Friday 4/18 at 3 pm in Bulger North, it is mandatory for the organizations to go so please let them know.

B.     It has been brought to my attention that individuals have been abusing the executive work spaces, using their computers and equipment, so please keep in mind the code of conduct. Please be conscience of respecting others peoples property. These are offices and there is important information on the computers.  Logging off someone’s computer is disrespectful and unwarranted.

V.            EVP Perez Report:

A.   Please don’t forget to RSVP for the banquet and let us know if you area bringing a guest.

B.    If you haven’t heard who's coming to Spring Fest, the headliner is Fabolous with Trey Songz.  Some students with WBNY will be putting on a pre-show so get the word out and support your fellow students.

VI.            Treasurer Gabriel Report:

A.   Up first is our audit, when the school looked at our audit last year they suggested that we look into finding a different company.  Our Business Manager Mary Kirkwood asked three different companies to submit bids to complete our audit. The budget committee reviewed them and went with the cheapest one, which is Toski, Schaefer & Co. for $7,000 - $7,450. Senator Manz asks are we only deciding for this year. We aren't making a decision for three years? Treasurer Gabriel states yes, it is just for this year. Senator O'Grady asks if Treasurer Gabriel can explain what an audit is. Treasurer Gabriel states that we work with nearly 2 million dollars, what the firm would do is come in and collect our books and purchase orders.  They will review the documentation to see if it is in order, accurate, and that everything is signed and accounted for. They do random selections and a brief overview, where they select different books to do what was previously mentioned. Senator Mirsky asks so the audit will cost us $9,500? Treasurer Gabriel states no.  I would like to make a motion to select Toski, Schaefer & Co to do our audit for the amount of 7,450 dollars.  President Brady states the floor is open for discussion. Senator O'Grady asks who the previous auditor was and did it cost less? Treasurer Gabriel states it was the same company for the same amount. Senator Stone asks if there is anyway to table this for a week to look into the companies ourselves. President Brady recognizes Lynn Korn (Program Coordinator).  Lynn states that Mary has reviewed the bids and Toski has been our group for the past few years, it’s easier to stick with them. President Brady asks if there are any more questions seeing there are none we will move into a vote.  Vote is taken and passes unanimously.

B.    I will hand out the budget proposal for 08-09. The budget committee worked very hard on this, so if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please submit them to me in writing by April 18^th by 2 pm. Senator Stone asks if anyone got a 10% increase, I know last year we received notices on who got those increases. Treasurer Gabriel states you will receive something like that on the 22^nd.  Also, where are the budget minutes from all of your meetings? Treasurer Gabriel states she will be bring this to the Senate next week; you will get breakdowns, reviews, and minutes, but please review the packets before then. Senator O'Grady asks are these minutes available to view anytime? Treasurer Gabriel states yes.  Senator O’Grady states the last minutes he saw in the folder were for February 18^th.  Treasurer Gabriel states you will be able to see them and we do have them, they will be put out there. Come to me during my office hours from 1 pm to 3 pm. Senator Manz were he organizations notified of the cut, the freezing, and then the removal? Treasurer Gabriel states as far as I know, yes but I’ not the one that cuts them by 5%. Senator Manz asks if those letters do exist, are they available to be seen. Treasurer Gabriel states yes they are, and I believe judicial did say that all of their records are in the cabinet. Senator Manz asks Treasurer Gabriel if she has to be notified of these decisions. Treasurer Gabriel states that if it does not say that I have to be notified, but when I saw that it was happening I did let him know Id like to be notified and have been since then.

VII.            Senator Pro Tem Nunez Report:

A.   I’m very disappointed with the Liaison reports; I only received two that were fully completed with either an agenda or an attendance sheet.  Those of you who didn’t hand them in will get an absence and the incomplete ones are an absence as well. Some of you contacted me beforehand about getting in contact with your organizations, and you know who you are. See me after the meeting if you are concerned. I would like to remind the senate that this is an important part of your position because it keeps lines of communication open with our organizations.

B.    There is a Food Service meeting on April 22^nd.  In the pizza area pizza logs and mozzarella sticks are back. The smart market is doing very well. I’ll distribute the minutes in your mail boxes. Remember to remind your organizations about the meeting on Friday. Also, I’d just like to congratulate President Brady for winning the Mildred Campbell Student Leadership Award. Senator O'Grady states that he noticed in a couple places, the type on the boards are really small and I have trouble reading them.

C.    Senator Lane brought up an issue last week that wasn’t able to be discussed. The issue was that a convicted child molester was working for Sodexo.  Since then he has been fired and Sodexo now screens all of their workers and they do back ground checks. They can’t go back and do the old workers it is only being done for the new workers. Senator Manz asks why can’t they go back and screen their current workers. Senator Lane states they can’t go back because they need authorization and there are a lot of legality issues. This affected me personally and Sodexo did not take this lightly, they were in contact with me the entire time. If you are interested or concerned, please Google your surroundings and learn who you are living and working with, keep yourselves safe.

VIII.            Standing Committees

A.   AVP Jueckstock Communications Report:

-  If you’re still interested in helping with Spring Fest please stop by my office or my committee meeting to see what needs to be done. The fliers are out, there is tabling tomorrow which Student Life in suppose to be doing. We're going to start chalking and writing on chalkboards on campus. Senior Week is set in stone; fliers are out for that as well. My committee received them today. USG dinner is the 21^st in the Social Hall, I would like the newly elected officers to be there to help promote our events and everyone  else to be there.

B.    AVP Hassan Community Affairs Report:
-  If anyone wants to sign up to help with the black rock clean up please meet with me after the meeting.

IX.            Old Business:

A.    President Brady recognizes Senator O'Grady.  Senator O’Grady states that he did some research on what Senator Lane spoke about in regards of the sex offender.  I found that there is a sex offender registry, and there is a high level offender living dangerously close to the campus

B.    President Brady recognizes Senator Mirsky.  Senator Mirsky asks if Senator Cawthons Bill passed in the Budget Committee. Treasurer Gabriel states Senator Cawthon never submitted his Bill to the Budget Committee.

X.            Constituent Questions/Announcements:

A.   Senator Pro Tem Nunez states that a student approached her about buying Spring Fest tickets, do you need an ID? President Brady states you need to go to the box office with your ID.

B.    Senator Yazicilar states that last Thursday Model UN had a program and it went great, I’d like to thank those who helped. I just got appointed for chairwoman for the International Students Advisory Council, if anyone wants to help please let me know. I’m still setting my goal of 1000 letters for student input, so please help me.

C.     Senator Desimone asks if it’s available to get a copy of how much everyone spent out of their budget this year. Treasurer Gabriel states the problem with this is that it’s not entirely accurate; if they fill out a PO but don’t use it then it’s not taken out of their line yet, but still looks like it was.

D.    Senator O'Grady announces that SPS is holding its torture debate this Thursday during Bengal Pause in Bulger East.

E.     AVP Jueckstock states that last year when we went through the budget process we received activity report statistics; do we have those for this year?  Rules & Regulations Greco states we will.

F.    Senator Manz asks if it is possible to get those items that you spoke of Treasurer Gabriel before the next meeting. Treasurer Gabriel states she will put them in everyone’s mailboxes. Senator Dobney asks if the deadline for suggestions could be pushed to Monday, since we will be getting more information. Treasurer Gabriel states that will be fine just make sure it’s in writing.

G.   Senator Yazicilar announces that Caribash is this Friday night, if you have nothing to do, please go out and support it.

H.   Senator Stone asks Treasurer Gabriel if there will be open chances to meet with her or should everything be in writing beforehand. Treasurer Gabriel states everything should be in writing so I can take it to the budget committee.  Senator O'Grady states that a couple of weeks ago, UPD said we had to be out by 11 pm, but what if we go past 11:00 because of the budget? President Brady states that if need be I can call emergency meetings if we need the extra time.

I.      Justice Markut states in reference to the Step Expression case, the Treasurer and Advisor missed the mandatory meeting and they were told to file a grievance.  We then decided to cut their entire budget and once they heard the decision they called Chief Justice Jerge.  As a Council we decided not to hear the case again. Senator Manz asks how the percent cut is decided. Justice Markut states it is at our discretion but we go by past decisions, the constitution and all of our records are on file. Assistant Chief Rondon states that their mail box had not been checked because we had made the decision early in the semester; I had personally called them AFTER the meeting had started. Senator Manz asks was their Treasurer notified, and is it your policy to notify them? Justice Zomerfeld states it is policy to notify all individuals and all memos issued are in the records. Justice Hickey states the Business office is notified the next day of all of our decisions, and all memos forwarded to parties involved.

J.     Erin from NYPIRG gives an update. Earth Day is next Tuesday and we have events going on all day.

K.   Senator Manz states that he has the decision from Judicial Council given to him by STEP, and it says they are not recognized. Justice Zomerfeld states they have no budget and were encouraged to file for a new one, but their recognition was never taken.

XI.            2^nd Roll

XII.            Meeting adjourned.