SENATE MEETING MINUTES

31st LEGISLATURE

NOVEMBER 6, 2007

 

I.            Call to Order

            Roll Call

 

II.            Approval of Agenda

A.   EVP Brady motions to approve the agenda.  Senator Manz so moved.

B.    EVP Brady motions to approve the minutes.  AVP Dapaah so moved. EVP Brady recognizes Senator Pro Tem Perez to give his report first.

 

III.            Senator Pro Tem Perez Report:

A.   Senator Pro Tem Perez recognizes Officer Myers from UPD.  Officer Myers states he is sorry about not showing up at the last two meetings some things came up.  If you have signed on to Banner you will notice that we are asking you to update your contact information with New York Alert.  Treasurer Gabriel asks why do organizations have to pay extra for security at their events. Officer Myers states you need to talk to the Administration about this. AVP Dapaah states that light bulbs are out at Bishop Hall, Perry Quad, and in front of the Union. Officers Myers states this could be due to the construction and he will notify the electricians.

B.    Liaison Reports are due November 27th.  If you have any questions regarding these reports please come up to my office.

C.    Game Room Committee meeting is tomorrow at noon in the Conference Room.

D.   Food Service meeting is November 14 at 4:00 pm in the Game Room Conference Room 105H. You are more than welcome to come and bring your concerns.

E.    We will be moving up two Students at Larges they are David Enderton and Phillip O’Grady.  EVP Brady and I will bring forth Kenneth Crofton for Student at Large.  EVP Brady recognizes Phillip O’Grady and David Enderton. President St. Rose asks if anyone has any questions on the Student at Larges moving up and there are none.  President St. Rose swears in Phillip O’Grady and David Enderton as Senators. EVP Brady states we will continue with Senator Pro Tem Perez report.  Senator Pro Tem Perez states that he and EVP Brady would like to bring forth Kenneth Crofton for Student at Large. Floor is open for questions.  EVP Brady states there are no more questions so we will move into a vote.  Vote is taken and passes 15 yeas, 0 nays and 4 abstentions to appoint Kenneth Crofton as Student at Large. AVP Walters parliamentary inquiry are we suppose to vote on move ups from Student at Large to Senators.  Rules & Regulations Greco is recognized.  Rules & Regulations Greco states that there is no where in the constitution that states that.  President St. Rose swears in Kenneth Crofton as Student at Large.

IV.            Treasurer St. Rose Report:

A. Turkey Dinner - next week is our last meeting before Thanksgiving.  I was thinking of having a Thanksgiving dinner for the Senate. The dinner will be catered by Sodexho and I am looking for your feed back. Does the Senate want to have a Thanksgiving dinner or do you want pizza. Also, do you want to have the dinner at 8:00 or do you want to break during the Senate meeting. Treasurer Gabriel asks who is available at 8:00 for dinner and majority of hands are raised.  Thanksgiving dinner is at 8:00 and the money will be taken from Student appreciation.  Senator Pro Tem Perez asks if we are extending this to all the students since this is coming from student appreciation. I feel this is a service and we shouldn’t be rewarding ourselves for a voluntary service. I like the idea but I would like to see it extended to the other students. AVP Dapaah asks if Sodexho is having a Thanksgiving dinner. Treasurer Gabriel states yes on November 19th and it will be the same dinner.  Treasurer Gabriel states that she thought this would be a better dinner instead of pizza. Senator Enderton states that he agrees with Senator Pro Tem Perez it should be for all students. Treasurer Gabriel motions to suspend the rules.  Senator Manz 2nd.  Vote is taken and passes 17 yeas, 0 nays and 4 abstentions. Floor is open for discussion. Senator Manz asks why the student appreciation line. Treasurer Gabriel states I was only thinking of this being an appreciation for the Senate and the Students at Large because you take the time to come here every Tuesday.  Senator Manz states when we did get food from Sodexho what line did we take it from?  Treasurer Gabriel states it came from USG and I thought it would be an internal dinner. EVP Brady motions to continue with the order of the day.

B.  Thanksgiving bus trip please make sure you advertise.

 

V.            Standing Committee Reports

A.  AVP Jueckstock Communication Report:
- Reminder that Open House is this Saturday at 8:45 am in the Gym.
- Game Night is tomorrow night in the Fireside Lounge at 6:30 pm for the Senators.
- I became an administrator today so I went in and updated the face book. I added some discussion boards about the upper level credit and I will add Spring Fest.
-  Antigone is this weekend and next weekend don’t forget you get tickets for this.

B.  AVP Walters Community Affairs Report:
- Department issue - my Committee is going to see the Athletic, RHA, Volunteering Department and basically anything that associates with  students outside of USG. We are trying to get links out there to bring issues  and concerns back to me.

C.    AVP Dapaah Student Life Report:
- Camp Day is Saturday and I have a list of 13 Senators that cannot go which leave me a list of 7 Senators that can go.  I can’t just bring 7 Senators to camp to represent USG.  The E-Board has decided that we will reschedule camp day for next semester.  We will have a new date scheduled before the end of this semester so you can put it on your calendar.  This date will be mandatory for Senators.
- Spring Fest - I am taking suggestions for Spring Fest.

D.   Rules & Regulations Greco Report:
- I would like to make a motion to recognize under USG the Jewish Student Organization and College Republicans.  EVP Brady states that any questions that are asked to one organization will then be asked to the other one.  Floor is open for questions.  Senator Yazicilar asks what outside community service would you do?  Jewish Student Organization states that they did community service and had some Jewish activities. Treasurer Gabriel asks if they will be applying for funding.  Jewish Student Organizations says we will be applying.  Treasurer Gabriel asks how much will you be applying for. Jewish Student Organizations says for about $5,000 or under for t-shirts and food.  College Republicans states I’m not sure yet. Treasurer Gabriel asks the College Republicans what will you be doing.  College Republicans says they want to promote awareness to get republican views. Treasurer Gabriel states that we have NYPIRG on campus and their job is to promote political awareness.  We pay NYPIRG $46,000. Senator Pro Tem Perez motions to table College Republicans until next week so they can gather their ideas. Treasurer Gabriel 2nd.  EVP Brady asks if there is any debate on this motion.  AVP Dapaah says if they were ready to ask for recognition don’t you think they would be more prepared.  Rules & Regulations Greco states that the College Republicans President is out campaigning so she could not come tonight. Senator Stone call to questions.  AVP Dapaah 2nd. EVP Brady states vote will be taken to talk College Republicans to next.  Vote is taken and does not carry.  Floor is open for discussion.  President St, Rose asks why College Republicans join Student Political Society.  Senator Pro Tem Perez states if College Republicans does not pass could we have College Democrats come in and not be recognized and force both groups to join Student Political Society. Rules & Regulations Greco states no. Senator Mead states that Intervarsity Christian Fellowship have a fellowship, Jewish Student Organization, College Democrats have a fellowship so why can’t College Republicans have a fellowship.  AVP Walters states to give them time to develop and elections is an important time for them.  They were given a date to come and talk and had to come. Senator Stone call to question.  AVP Walters 2nd and motion passes 15 yeas, 2 nays and 2 abstentions.  EVP Brady states we will vote on recognizing Jewish Student Organization and on College Republicans and passes 15 yeas, 2 nays and 2 abstentions. Senator Manz asks if we bring BSC Feminist Group will we have to do this now. Rules & Regulations Greco says no.

  

VI.            President St. Rose Report:

A.   NFTA - I have talked to the Administration and they will be taking over the fee. When the college takes over the fee the student activity fee will go down. President St. Rose nominates himself as the Committee Chair.  EVP Brady states we will vote to nominate President St. Rose as the Committee Chair.  Vote is taken and passes 18 yeas, 0 nays and 1 abstention. President St. Rose motions to suspend the rules. EVP Brady states the rules are suspended to discuss NFTA.  Floor is open for discussion.  President St. Rose states if there are all these concerns join the committee.  Senator Nunez motions to return to the order of the day.  Senator Bancroft 2nd.  EVP Brady states we will return to the order of the day. 

B.    I would like to nominate Senator Dave Enderton for AVP of Academics. Vice Treasurer Stoll 2nd.  EVP Brady states floor is open for questions. Senator Manz call to question. Treasurer Gabriel 2nd.  EVP Brady states we will vote on the call to question and passes unanimously.  EVP Brady states we will vote to nominate Senator Enderton to AVP of Academics and passes 17 yeas, 0 nays and 2 abstentions.  President St. Rose swears in Senator Enderton for AVP of Academics.

 

VII.            New Business

A.   EVP Brady recognizes Senator Pro Tem Perez. Senator Pro Tem Perez states he has a resolution for the Bigger Better Bottle Bill so we can recycle water bottles, juice bottles, etc and expand the 5 cent deposit. This resolution was put in everyone’s mailbox.  I would like to make a motion to pass this resolution.  Senator O’Grady 2nd.  Floor is open for questions.  EVP Brady since the resolution has been in mailboxes for a week we will vote on it.  Vote is taken to support the Bigger Better Bottle Bill and passes 15 yeas, 0 nays and 4 abstentions. 

 

VIII.            Old Business - None

 

IX.             Constituents Questions/Announcements

A.   AVP Walters announces that this Thursday we are taking a tour of the Day Care Center. If you would like to come we are meeting at 4:30 pm in the upper level of the Union.

B.    EVP Brady announces NYPIRG is having a sleep out tomorrow.

C.    Senator Hassan announces that this week is NSBE week.

D.   Senator Mead announces Saturday Spirit Gospel is having a concert and it is free.

E.    Senator Manz asks what does Senate at ease mean?  EVP Brady states it means to quietly talk in a professional manner.

F.    Senator Hassan announces that PASO is having a Pageant this Saturday in the Social Hall.

G.   Treasurer Gabriel announces tomorrow is the Student Welfare Committee in the Game Room at 4:00 pm.

H.   Erin from NYPIRG is recognized to give an update.

X.            2nd Roll Call

 

XI.            Meeting adjourned at 10:40 pm.