SENATE MEETING MINUTES

31^st LEGISLATURE

OCTOBER 9, 2007

I.            Call to Order

            Roll Call

II.            Approval of Agenda

A.   President St. Rose states we will approve the minutes.  EVP Brady states she hasn’t approved last weeks minutes yet.

B.    President St. Rose adds to his agenda Apology, Student Assembly, USG Advisor, USG Assessment and Time.

C.    AVP Hirsch deletes Academic Advisement.

D.   Senator Pro Tem Perez deletes Optional Constitution Discussion.

President St. Rose makes a motion to approve the agenda. Senator Ammirato so moved.

III.             President St. Rose Report:

A.   Apology - I would like to apologize to the Senate for my actions at last week’s meeting.  I take USG to the highest way which it needs to be for the student government.  I have a lot of passion and sometimes it comes out as anger but I just want to see us go for better.  I want us to be a team because if one fails we all fail we are not separate entities. If you feel I was being a dictator I was trying not to be, I don’t ever see myself to be one.  I do see that the Senate is strong enough to do what needs to be done in Robert Rules.

B.    Student Assembly is October 26-28.  I am looking for two or three Senators that are interested in going all expenses will be paid. If you are interested please see me after the meeting.

C.    USG Advisor - today the E-Board voted on Dr. Gary Marotta to be our advisor.  EVP Brady is recognized.  EVP Brady states that Dr. Marotta at one time was the Provost at Buffalo State. Dr. Marotta got his degree at Columbia  he is from Brooklyn and is a very approachable man. 

D.   USG Assessment - Michelle Curtis who is in the SPA Program is doing a USG Assessment.  Last semester she did a focus group to see how students feel about USG.  Michelle is in stage 2 of this assessment and I would like to recognize her to discuss this.

E.    Time - the E-Board and I would like everyone to be on time for the meeting.

F.    Questions & Comments - Senator Stone states that he has a Resolution that he would like to pass out (see attached). Senator Stone states that he would like to seek removal of President St. Rose from office for his actions at the last meeting. I am asking that President St. Rose not be able to continue to be the Chair of the Senate as he has shown he can not act in a non-bias and impartial matter required as a Chairperson. Floor is open for discussion. Senator Ammirato suggests that maybe Rules & Regulations should run the meeting because he knows all the rules.  In other organizations that is how it is done as far as the Chair.  Senator Boateng states that last week she was pretty disgusted with everyone on the E-Board. I think the way everyone handled themselves was unprofessional. President St. Rose did apologize. Senator Mead says she agrees with what Senator Ammirato says.  It would give President St. Rose a chance to step back and see what is going on around the outside. AVP Jueckstock states that she disagrees with Senator Boateng because although it may be the way you see it it looked like an E-Board problem. This was not a communication problem with the E-Board we were just following Rules of order.  I think it would be a good opportunity for President St. Rose because he would be able to voice his opinion. Senator Stone makes the closing statement.  Senator Stone states that its not that President St. Rose went against the constitution and he showed that he was bias to the rules. All I am saying is that he cannot run these meetings. President St. Rose moves to vote on the Resolution from Senator Stone. Senator Gielski motions for a secret ballot.  President St. Rose accepts and hands out sheets of paper. Rules & Regulations will tally up the votes. Vote is taken to adopt the Resolution from Senator Stone and passes 16 yeas, 7 nays and 1 abstention. President St. Rose states that we have to elect a new Chair as per the constitution EVP Brady will take over the meeting.  EVP Brady states that the floor is open to elect a new Chair for the remainder of the year. Senator Ammirato nominates Rules & Regulations Greco.  Rules & Regulations Greco accepts. Vote is taken to nominate Rules & Regulations Greco as Chair and it is a tie 10 yeas,10 nays and 3 abstentions. EVP Brady states that President St. Rose will vote to break the tie.  President St. Rose votes nay.  EVP Brady states that motion does not carry are there any other nominiations. Senator Asibey nominates EVP Brady.  EVP Brady accepts. Vote is taken to nominate EVP Brady as Chair and passes 10 yeas, 6 nays and 7 abstentions. EVP Brady states that she and President St. Rose are both unbiased members of the gallery.  President St. Rose point of information can I voice my opinions now. EVP Brady says yes.  EVP Brady states we will move on with President St. Rose agenda.  Senator Boateng asks if this is for the year.  Rules & Regulations Greco is recognized.  Rules & Regulations states that the Resolution states for the remainder of the year. Senator Ammirato reminds the Senate that it is possible for you to amend the motion.  If someone is not happy with it saying for the remainder of the 31^st Legislature you could have amended it and asked Senator Stone if he would have accepted it.  President St. Rose states make sure you read and understand motions before you vote.

IV.            EVP Brady Report:

            A. Questions & Comments

V.            Treasurer Gabriel Report:

            A.  Student Welfare Committee - if anyone would like to join please sign the

                  sheet I am passing around.

            B.  Vice Treasurer position - I am still working on this.

VI.            Standing Committee Reports

A.   AVP Hirsch Academic Report:
- I would like to meet with my committee after the meeting.

B. AVP Jueckstock Communications Report:
- I have a couple advertisement campaigns that I would like to open up to the Senate they are: Game Room, Camp Weekend, Aids Awareness and UnionBash.  We are also promoting Senator Retention.

C.  AVP Walters Community Affairs Report:
- If you are on my committee we meet Thursdays at 4:30 if you can not make it please let me know.

D.   AVP Dapaah Student Life Report:
- In the constitution under Section I Subsection D it says each standing committee shall report to the Senate on a weekly basis and all legislation is subject to the approval of the USG Senate.  The Student Life Committee is a standing committee so everything that we do I am expected to come back and report it to the Senate.
- Union Bash - we are doing Bingo and pictures that we did for the Carnival of Clubs. I know some people took pictures for the key chains but the ink ran out and they never got them.  We contacted the company and they volunteered to come back for Union Bash. Bingo is a program we have done for years we are doing the 80’s theme. The Student Life Committee would like to motion that the Senate approve $1,000 for Bingo prizes for Union Bash. EVP Brady opens the floor for debate and there is none. Vote is taken and passes 23 yeas, 0 nays and 0 abstentions. If you would like to help out please sign the sheet I am passing around.
- APCA Conference - is a conference that the E-Board attends to broaden their programs and educational ideas for our school. This conference costs about $2500 for 3 people to attend which includes everything.  The Student Life Committee would like to make a motion to approve approximately $2500 for 3 people to attend the APCA Conference. EVP Brady asks if there is any debate and there is none.  Vote is taken to approve $2500 and passes 21 yeas, 0 nays and 1 abstention.
 - Brainstorming & Constitution Debrief meeting on Monday October 15^th at 6:30 in the Fireside Lounge.  This meeting is mandatory for Senators and will cost $50 for food.  The Student Life Committee would like to motion to approve $50 for the mandatory meeting on Monday.  EVP Brady opens the floor for debate there is none. Vote is taken to approve $50 for the meeting on Monday and passes 19 yeas, 0 nays and 1 abstention.
-  Aids Awareness - AVP Jueckstock brought this up we would love for the Senators to be involved with this.
- Questions & Comments - President St. Rose asks if we can rename Bingo to 80’s Babies Bingo.  AVP Dapaah states that she will need to take this up with her committee. Senator Aisbey states that she has class at the time of the mandatory meeting. AVP Dapaah states bring proof that you have class that night.

E.    Rules & Regulations Greco Report:
- Monday I will be at the meeting to answer any questions you may have.

F.    Senator Pro Tem Perez Report:
- Liaison Reports are due next Tuesday October 16^th.  There are still about 14-15 organizations that do not have liaisons.  EVP Brady and I are working on  a plan to make sure these get covered.
- Committee meetings - all our meetings are open anyone can come and sit at these meetings. If you have any ideas you can bring them up although you are not allowed to vote on them.

VII.            New Business

A.   Treasurer Gabriel brings up CSO Dollar Jam. This is scheduled for October 19^th or November 2^nd.  The event is at the Town Ball Room in Buffalo. Today the Executive Board voted on no alcohol within the venue. But alcohol will be distributed by the vendor which is the Town Ball Room.  There are 2 parts to the Town Ball Room and CSO is renting out part B (The Arena). In part A alcohol will still be served and there is full pledge security. You can only drink in the A section if you are 21 and you will not be able to enter into part B with a cup in your hand. I will be bringing this to the Senate to vote in the near future. Floor is open for questions. Senator Manz asked what happens if the rules are broken such as someone entering part B with alcohol.  Treasurer Gabriel states it is not possible because it is going to be bonded by a contract.  We are going to draft the contract with the Town Ball Room they will sign off on it as well as myself. I will make sure that both parties come to an agreement as to how this is going to be the night of the event.  There will be about 5 security people at the door so people in part A should not get into part B. Senator Stone states “I thought they needed to give this to us 2 weeks in advance”. Treasurer Gabriel states they did give it to us but due to unforeseen circumstances it wasn’t brought up.  EVP Brady recognizes Rules & Regulations Greco. Rules & Regulations Greco states that they did give it to us 2 weeks in advance. The agreement also has to be on the Deans desk 2 weeks in advance. Treasurer Gabriel states that the event will have to be November 2. President St. Rose point of information due to unforeseen mistakes at the last Senate meeting it was never brought up, it is not CSO’s fault. Rules & Regulations Greco states that the USG E-Board needs to get the alcohol policy 4 weeks before the event.  The process goes like this: the Rules Committee votes on this then it goes to the USG E-Board from there it goes to the Senate and then it is given to the Dean. AVP Walters asks where is this stated or does Student Life recommend that we do it this way. Rules & Regulations Greco states it is stipulated in the agreement. Treasurer Gabriel states she will let CSO know that the Dean has to have the paperwork 2 weeks in advance so the event will have to be November 2. This event was put on last year and it was a very successful event  we even had some administration attend this event. Treasurer Gabriel asks EVP Brady if the President of CSO could talk on this subject.  EVP Brady motions to recognize the President of CSO. There are no objections for the President of CSO to talk about this event. The CSO President states that this is an annual event and it is very successful. Treasurer Gabriel motions to agree with the alcohol agreement.  EVP Brady out of order Treasurer Gabriel needs to go get the agreement.  Treasurer Gabriel returns to the meeting with the agreement. Treasurer Gabriel motions to approve the alcohol agreement for CSO to hold their annual Dollar Jam.  Senator Stone asks to please explain what we are voting on.  Treasurer Gabriel states that you are voting on CSO to have alcohol at the event provided by the vendor not USG/CSO.  Also, there will be stipulations on where the alcohol will be served. Vote is taken and passes 20 yeas, 1 nay and 2 abstentions.

VIII.            Old Business

A.   Senator Ammirato states that she would like to know the camp weekend dates. AVP Dapaah says November 11^th & 12^th but for the Senator’s it will be Saturday through Monday.  The open overnight camp trip will be Sunday to Monday.

IX.            Contingents Questions/Announcements

A.   President St. Rose asks if there will be a Thanksgiving bus to NYC?  AVP Dapaah states no we are working on Christmas break instead. President St. Rose states that he is working with Student Life Director Gail Wells on a opening ceremony for the Food Service renovations.  President St. Rose states that there is no stipulation in the constitution for AVP Dapaah to make any fiscal $50 spending to the Senate. AVP Dapaah states that it is the idea not the money.

B.    Senator Pro Tem Perez announces that tomorrow at 5:00 there is a Food Service Meeting in the Game Room.  The more opinions we get the better. The Stakeholders meeting is at the Adams Mark at 7:00. Senators have asked for a list of all the things they are mandated to do. Please check your e-mail to get information on the Student Welfare Committee.

C.    Assistant Chief Justice Yolanda asks what the responsibilities are of the Senate. Senator Pro Tem Perez states that they are expected to voice their concerns from their constituents (students), help in promoting activities and legislation.

D.   Gail Wells makes a correction on the Stakeholders meeting it is on Saturday at 7:30 at the Adams Mark Hotel.  This is the perfect opportunity for students to represent themselves.  In regards to CSO the college is adamant to following the policy as you are.

E.    Erin from NYPIRG states that it is the last few days of voter registration.  NYPIRG will be tabling, dorm raiding and going to class’s everyday until Friday.  Erin also states she was on her student government and everyone needs to read Robert Rules.  If anyone needs her help she is available.

F.    Marquis from RHA feels like USG is not representing all of the student body.  He asks “how are the Senator’s really getting out there and really meeting with the students?”  Senator Pro Tem Perez states that he thinks the students need to meet us half way it like the regular US Government.

X.            2^nd Roll Call

XI.            Meeting adjourned.