SENATE MEETING MINUTES
32nd LEGISLATURE
SEPTEMBER 9, 2008
I. Call to Order
Roll Call
II. President Gabriel Report:
A. President Howard gives a Welcoming address. President Howard states that Buffalo State College engages in a 5 year strategic plan. USG's input is very important because in order for us to successfully engage in this project we need a lot of feedback and input from our students. This semester we will be developing a plan on what the college should be engaged in terms of academic experiences as well as our physical plan for the next 5 years. We are now in the process of writing the plan for 2009-2014. We will be seeking your input and advice. The State University of New York is hiring an architect to come to the campus as early as spring to talk to people regarding the physical plan. How can we improve the academic learning spaces, what other new buildings do we need to add, where should they be located and do we need to look at the Richardson property to expand in that direction? USG is the best group to look into the future to improve the learning environment. USG is also important when you think about Governance. We have a College Senate and if you commit to this responsibility it is very important that you to attend the meetings and speak up. The college makes its policy by discussing the issues which eventually become policy then I approve their recommendation. I will also be working very closely with your President and your Exec team meeting with them once a week. We also want to work with you on programming and see if there are programs we can partner on. This body needs to think about what your legacy will be. The Burchfield Penny Art Center facility is about 98% complete. This center will move within the next couple of months. There will be a grand opening on November 20-22 if you are in the area please come back to campus. Students will have access to this building. Other projects we will be working on are the Butler Quad. Next summer after you leave we will begin working on this and it will be returning to a green space. This is a complex project so I think it is going to be a 2 year initiative. We are on the road to becoming a completely wireless campus community. We are working on a joint process with UB, the City of Buffalo and NFTA. At the end of next spring the Science Building will be renovated to a new building. Next fall we will be working on a new Tech building behind the old Health Center. All of these projects are funded so please bring your ideas forward.
B. Vice President Payne addresses the Senate regarding the improvements in Dining Services. Vice President Payne encourages students to get involved to continue to improve services on campus. This newly transformed residential dining has improved because of the advice from students. There are now two private dining services for your committee meetings and meetings with facility. The retail dining center has improved with a smart market. Jump has improved where you can pick your own ingredients for stir fry. Jazzmans is now opened in Butler Library. In January there will be a complete renovation of the facility. When this renovation is done every dining venue that is available will be recently renovated. Sodexho will showcase Buffalo State as having the model dining facility on college campuses. We've asked them to look at pricing and see how pricing in our dining area is competitive to other food service venues. President Gabriel asked me to talk briefly about housing. We have more freshman on campus than we have since 1992. We have 1600 freshman and our overall enrollment is in excess of 11,114 students. There were 210 students in the hotel, now we have 77 students in the hotel. There are spaces that we have identified on campus and we will be moving students on campus. One thing I want you to know is that the students in the Residence Halls and the Hotel have a full learning and living experience whether they are in the Hotel or the Residents Hall. I would like your feed back as to how well we are doing with this.
C. Officer Moreland gives a UPD update. The last two weeks our department has responded to over 600 calls of service. There are two ongoing investigations involving female students on campus. Actually one was on campus and the other off campus. This is an ongoing investigation so I'm not really able to talk about it. We have received a lot of complaints from residents in the area regarding house parties. I responded to a house party last week on Tremont Avenue and upon my arrival there were seven Buffalo police cars and at least three hundred students there. Empty alcohol containers were all over the place, complaints of public urination and fights with the neighbors. Floor is open for questions. Treasurer Dobney asks if many students are asking to be escorted at night. Officer Moreland states that there are a variety of services available: the NFTA shuttle, campus escort vans and the PSA walking escorts. A student from the gallery asks about the NY Alert and why she didn't get it. Officer Moreland states students need to make sure they sign up for the NY Alert. President Gabriel reminds the gallery that you must be recognized in order to speak.
D. Dr. Kenyon and Dr. Chris give a wrap up of the assessment.
E. There are three Executive Board appointments tonight. Please keep in mind that we have a open position for secretary. I would like to nominate Senator Rohan Johnson for Vice Treasurer. Senator Rohan Johnson was the only applicant we had for this position. Floor is open for questions. President Gabriel states there are no more questions we will move into a vote. Vote is taken by hand raising and passes unanimously. The next appointment is for Senator Pro Tem. The Executive Board would like to appoint Senator Nunez because of her past experience. Floor is open for questions. President Gabriel states we will move into vote seeing there are no questions. Vote is taken and passes unanimously. The last appointment is for the Rules & Regulations position. The Executive Board would like to appoint Senator Mirsky because they feel he is the better candidate. Floor is open for questions. Senator O'Grady asks what qualifications he has. Senator Mirsky states he is major is Criminal Justice and he served on the Rules & Regulations Committee. Senator Desimone asks what ideas he has coming in. Senator Mirsky states making sure that Robert Rules are followed and informing people about Robert Rules. Senator Perez asks would you be willing to stand up to your superiors like the E-Board if you needed to call them out on something. Senator Mirsky states yes he would meet with them to discuss it. President Gabriel states vote will be taken to appoint Senator Mirsky as Rules Chair. Vote is taken and passes 11 yeas, 9 nays and 2 abstentions. President Gabriel recognizes Vice President Payne to swear in the Vice Treasurer Rohan Johnson, Senator Pro Tem Nunez and Rules Chair Mirsky.
F. College Senators are: Peter Hirsch, Narcisa Nunez, Phillip O'Grady, Felipe Perez, Nese Yazicilar, Yolonda Rondon, Renee Johnson, Star Johnson and Henry Zomerfeld. There is a College Senate meeting this Friday and they are looking for a new Student Welfare Committee Chair.
G. Questions & Comments. Senator Perez asks for a quorum count. President Gabriel states 22. Senator Perez asks how 11 makes quorum. President Gabriel calls on Chief Justice Zomerfeld. Chief Justice Zomerfeld states 2/3rds vote would be 22 half of this would be 11 you need 2/3rd vote. President Gabriel states we will do a re-vote for Rules Chair Mirsky. Senator Perez asks to take the vote by Roll Call. Vice President Watson takes a Roll Call vote and does not pass 10 yeas, 11 nays and 2 abstentions. President Gabriel nominates Senator Philip O'Grady the other candidate for the Rules & Regulations Chair. Floor is open for questions. Senator Desimone asks for Senator O'Grady to state his qualifications. Senator O'Grady states he is a senior and last year he was on the Rules Committee. President Gabriel states we will vote on Senator O'Grady for Rules & Regulations Chair. Vote does not pass 9 yeas, 10 nays and 3 abstentions. The position is still open for the Rules & Regulations Chair; I encourage any senator to apply. If you are in the gallery, senator positions are still available. If you are interested in the Rules & Regulations Chair you will need to submit to me by Friday a letter of intent. AVP Yazicilar asks if the candidates can re-apply. President Gabriel states no because they were voted down by the Senate. President Gabriel states there is a correction to the vote for Phil O'Grady it is 10 yeas, 10 nays and 3 abstentions; does not pass because you need a 2/3rds vote.
III. EVP Watson Report:
A. I will call off the elected Senators which means that you are confirmed Senators. Next Senate training will take place at the Conference at Whispering Pines Camp on September 27th.
B. Senator retention we need to have a full Senate and a functioning Senate because that is the main key.
C. Senator bio's - I want to get to know you. On September 13th will be the Robert Rules informational meeting at 12:00 in the Assembly Room.
IV. Treasurer Dobney Report:
A. Personal goals for me this year is to advise, educate and enhance our organizations.
B. Last Friday was the first mandatory Treasurer meeting it went well. I asked for both Treasurer and Presidents to attend this meeting. We will no longer be doing reimbursements. Also, all Treasurers will have Treasurer ID cards. Basically, what this means is that they need to have this card in order for them to sign requisitions and purchase orders. Out of our orgs 7 did not contact me therefore they will have a 5% reduction. There will be a makeup meeting on Monday at noon.
C. Whispering Pines - I would like to put information out on Whispering Pines Camp.
D. Questions & Comments
V. Senator Pro Tem Nunez Report:
A. Introduction
VI. Standing Committee Reports
A. AVP Yazicilar Academic Report:
- There is an Academic Roundtable on Thursday September 11th in the Game Room.
- I'm going to talk to Dolores Battle to try to get a diversity class as a 1 credit course.
- I will let you know when the Student Advisement and Academic Affairs meetings are.
- Provost meeting -we talked about the templates which are basically on how to graduate on time. We are also going to work on how to better promote International Foundation pamphlets.
- Student Stakeholders update - located in the Dean of Students office.
- Degree Navigator issue - there is a technical malfunction between Degree Navigator and Banner the information is inaccurate. This is being worked on.
- Text Book pricing issue - us other alternatives like half.com.
- Professor evaluations
- Every week I will be doing a scholarship and internship of the week. My internship of the week is with Congressman Brian Higgins. My scholarship is with allnet.com.
- Questions & Comments
B. AVP Dann Communications Report:
- Toilet Talk - this will be put in all the resident bathrooms, and hopefully in the lobby.
- Peace Conference - I was approached by Dr. Gounard to promote this it will be on October 23rd in Rockwell Hall.
- Game Room hours have changed.
- Questions & Comments
C. AVP Kennedy Community Affairs Report:
- Breast Cancer walk is October 5th
- Commuter Week is October 14th - 17th. I will be collaborating with Commuter Council.
- Questions & Comments
D. AVP Hassan Student Life Report:
- We will be doing the Olympics for the fall semester. The Carnival of Clubs will be the first Olympic event. The USG Carnival we didn't get to have last semester so it is scheduled for the 20th from 6:00 - 10:00 pm in G lot. There will be a sign up sheet soon.
- Questions & Comments
VII. Constituents Questions/Announcements
A. Treasurer Dobney - states that she has been working on a survey during the summer. This survey basically asks the students what they want from us.
B. AVP Kennedy announces Hotel Feud will be on September 11th at the Adams Mark from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.
C. Senator Perez announces the Asian Organization is having their Moon Festival on Friday in the Fireside Lounge at 7:00 pm.
D. President Gabriel suggests to the Senators to step out of their position and try to go above and beyond their position. I would like to recognize our Judicial. Chief Justice Zomerfeld announces on Thursday at 9:30 there will be a memorial service for 911 at the Newman Center.
E. NYPIRG - Corey states she has registration sheets for voting.
F. Gail Wells congratulates the newly elected officers and senators.
VIII. 2nd Roll Call
IX. Meeting adjourned