SENATE MEETING MINUTES

32nd LEGISLATION

OCTOBER 7, 2008

 

 

Meeting called to order 8:46 pm

 

 

I.            Call to Order           

            Roll Call

 

II.            Approval of the Agenda

            A.  President Gabriel adds to her agenda UPD update.  AVP Yazicilar adds NYPIRG Text Books. There are no other amendments. President Gabriel makes a motion to approve the agenda.  AVP Dann so moved.

 

III.            President Gabriel Report:

            A.  I would like to recognize Officer Moreland to give an UPD update.  Officer Moreland states UPD has responded to over 1,000 calls. NFTA is working well and at Adam's Mark they promoted safety tips. The police department would like you to control off campus house parties. A reminder that starting November 1st winter parking will go into effect. 

            B.  A reminder to the Senator’s and the Gallery please put your phones on vibrate. Thank you.  The Mandatory Bi-Organizational meeting will be on October 24, 2008 in the Classroom Building in B122.  Please inform your organizations this meeting is mandatory.

            C.  College Senate is this Friday if you are a Senator and are not attending because of the long weekend please call the College Senate office.

            D.  Free practice graduate exam Thursday October 23rd.  If you are interested please come see me.

            E.  Dr. Cornel West will be speaking on November 6th at 7 pm in Rockwell Hall. Tickets go on sale for students on October 15th through the 22nd.

            F.  Pre-registration - the Senate as well as Judicial will have be able to pre-register.  I do need your Banner ID please see our Administrative Secretary Cindy Sciolino.  I do need this by Friday.

            G.  I would like to recognize Chief Justice Zomerfeld.  Chief Justice Zomerfeld states that there were 3 grievances:

·      Geology Club - brought to Judicial by AVP Yazicilar because they possibly had a defunct E-Board.  The verdict was that they would get a 5% budget cut plus an additional 2%.

·      Dead Economists Society - they have no members and no E-Board. There is only one student involved. The verdict was a 10% budget cut. 

·      Phil O’Grady vs USG - in regards to the mandatory meeting not being held the fourth Friday in September.  There was a conflict with Senate training and it did violate the constitution.  The verdict was because President Gabriel came to me to discuss this and I advised her to postpone the mandatory meeting to train the Senate. Judicial did say that if another violation occurred we would not be so lenient.

            H.  Question & Comments           

 

IV.            EVP Watson Report:

            A.  Attendance - if you are not here for the first roll call you will receive a 1⁄2 absence after the second roll call you will receive another 1⁄2 absence. If you need to be excused from the meeting there needs to be a written memo in my mailbox.  If you have an absence that needs to be rectified you have seven days to speak to Rules & Regulations Chair Hamilton. At three absences you are removed from the Senate.

            B.  Code of conduct - the code of conduct will be placed on the 4th floor.  Please remember you are working in a professional atmosphere and you should conduct yourselves as such.

            C.  Questions & Comments

 

V.            Treasurer Dobney Report:

            A.  Grade reports - I have the grades for the Community Affairs Treasurer books. Next.  I  will be collecting Communication books next and hopefully they will do as well as Community Affairs.

            B.  Budget Committee update - we meet on Mondays at 8:00 am and I am very proud of them. I will be updating you on everything.  One thing I would like you to know is if something is $1,000 it is approved by the Budget Committee then brought forth to the Senate for approval. Anything under $1,000 does not have to come to the Senate.  We have approved a line item change for the French Club for $75.00 from their Movie Night line to their Francophone Festival line. Also, Health & Wellness was approved for a line item change to move $200.00 from their Wellness Fair line to their Special Events line. The following line item changes have been tabled until next week: Commuter Council, Silver Screen and Jewish Student Organization. If you would like more specifics on this you can check our Budget Committee minutes upstairs.

            C.  I would like to recognize Vice Treasurer Johnson.  Vice Treasurer Johnson states Raheem DeVaughn are on sale. Tickets are $5.00 for students and based on ticket sale prices will be determined for faculty, staff and general public.

            D.  Questions & Comments

 

VI.            Senator Pro Tem Hemingway Report:

            A.  Senator Liaison assignments are complete. Please see me if you have any questions.

            B.  Questions & Comments

 

VII.            Standing Committee Reports

A.  AVP Yazicilar Academic Report:
-  Text book passport - I am working with NYPIRG in setting an initiative for text books. Please help us and get involved.
-  Academic Mixer is coming up Wednesday October 15th at 6:30 pm in the Social Hall.
-  Professional Committee meeting is October 16th during Bengal Pause at Caudell Hall room 216.
-  Provost meeting is next Tuesday at 11:00 am regarding the advisement issue.
-  Cultural Diversity Week - this will be in November.  I will be having a meeting with Dr. Battle on how we can better educate students with culture.
-  Scholarship & Internship of the week - I have two Scholarships: Burell Scholarship and Communication Scholarship. There are three Internships: NYPIRG which is in Albany for the spring semester 2009, Chamber of Commerce and New York State Assembly.
-  Questions & Comments

 

B.  AVP Dann Communication Report:
                  - Street Team update - we are finally up and running and we are putting USG out there.
                 -  October Toilet Talk is in the making. We will include the opening story about The Record and Senator of the month.  I will send around a sheet if you could give us some suggestions.
                 -  Upcoming Promotions: Raheem DeVaughn, Peace Conference, Union Bash, Academic Mixer, Open Camp weekend, Promoting NYPIRG and Commuter Week.
                 -  Senior Pictures - starting tomorrow you can go to Press Services and get your picture taken so we can put it on the website. You will have until next Friday to get your picture taken.
                 -  Questions & Comments

 

C.  AVP Kennedy Community Affairs Report:
                  -  Commuter Week starts Tuesday October 14th.  We will be bagging breakfasts and handing them out in Lot G because commuters don’t feel like they are part of the campus.  I will go over the list of events.
                  -  Questions & Comments

 

D.  AVP Hassan Student Life Report:
                  -  Movie Night wrap-up.
                  -  Window Contest - we will be judging the windows tomorrow.
                  -  Book Knowledge and Street Knowledge is October 20th.  If you have any questions you want to ask see me or one of the AVP’s.
                  -  Union Bash - USG will be doing Bingo I am looking for help.
                  -  Fright Week at Open Camp weekend October 27th - 31st.
                  -  Questions & Comments

 

E.  Rules & Regulations Chair Hamilton Report:
                  -  I would like to make a motion to recognize Tha Ink Club to become a USG recognized organization.  President Gabriel states that she would like to recognize a representative from the Tha Ink Club to explain what they do.  Tha Ink Club representative states that they mix poetry and charity together.  Admission would be perishable goods and clothes which will be given to charity in the Buffalo area. We are also hoping that our E-Board members including ourselves will go to schools and hospitals and where ever needed to read poetry to the sick patients.  President Gabriel opens the floor for questions. President Gabriel states we now take a vote. Senator O’Grady makes a motion to take a voice vote.  AVP Yazicilar 2nd.  Vote is taken to recognize Tha Ink Club and passes 25 yeas, 0 nays and 0 abstentions.
               -  Alcohol Agreement for CSO Dollar Jam. This event will take place on November1st at the Town Ball. I would like to make a motion to approve the liquor license for this event. President Gabriel opens the floor for questions.  Senator Desimone asks if it is going to be the same set up. Rules Chair Hamilton states. President Gabriel explains how the set up was last year. President Gabriel states since there are no more questions we will move into vote. Vote is taken and passes 23 yeas, 2 nays and 0 abstentions.
              -   Questions and Comments.  Senator Lane states she would like to make a motion for an Ad Hoc Committee for the Hotel.  President Gabriel rules this out of order because we are in questions and comments for Rules & Regulations Chair Hamilton.

 

VIII.            Constituents Questions/Announcements

            A.  Senator Lane makes a motion to form a Ad Hoc Committee for the Hotel Committee.  AVP Kennedy 2nd.  Senator Lane states that being a commuter student it is hard to know what is happening on campus. I would like to create this committee so that I can care for these students and we can become closer. Also, on the committee agenda I would like to put issues, concerns and comments. Floor is open for questions. Senator O’Grady asks how many students are living in the hotel now.  Senator Lane states 200. Gallery is recognized from a resident who is in charge of the hotel.  The resident states there are about 162 students living in the hotel. President Gabriel asks Senator Lane if she will be working closely with the Resident Life staff.  Senator Lane states that she plans to work with RHA, Residents Life and anyone else she needs to talk to. Senator Richardson states that she lives in the hotel she has experienced problems like her room not being cleaned, information with things happening on campus not getting out. When I would go to a RA and they said they would address it nothing happened.  I believe this would be a way to voice our concerns.  Treasurer Dobney states she thinks someone should talk to RHA to see what they are doing about this. AVP Dann states that she thinks we should talk to RHA first and then maybe form a committee.  President Gabriel states Dr. Ecklund is in charge of the agenda for the once a month Town Hall meeting and I asked him to put USG on the agenda. I was going to ask if anyone would like to take a trip with me to the hotel and talk to the students that are staying there. Senator O’Grady makes a motion to lay Senator Lane’s motion on the table until Senator Lane presents information from RHA. AVP Yazicilar 2nd.  Vote is taken to lay the motion on the table until Senator Lane presents information from RHA and 23 yeas, 2 nays and 0 abstentions.  President Gabriel states that Senator Lane is to bring back to the Senate information from RHA on what they are doing for the students living in the hotel.

              B.  Senator Perez state that Asian Students Organizations is holding there first Asian Week and I would like to encourage them.

            C.  AVP Kennedy announces that her committees meeting are on Wednesdays at 4:30 and everyone is welcome to come.

            D,  Treasurer Dobney states that Tha Ink Club needs to get a Treasurer to see her ASAP. I would like to motion to create a Ad Hoc Committee for Whispering Pines Camp. AVP Kennedy 2nd.  Floor is open for questions.  President Gabriel states vote will betaken to form a Ad Hoc Committee for Whispering Pines Camp and passes 21 yeas, 1nay and 2 abstentions. 

            E.  AVP Kennedy makes a motion to appoint Senator Rosie to be chair for the Ad Hoc Committee.  Treasurer Dobney nominates herself. President Gabriel states the candidate that gets the most votes will be the Ad Hoc Committee Chair for Whispering Pines Camp. Vote is taken to appoint Senator Rosie 13 yeas,7 nays and 4 abstentions. Vote is taken to appoint Treasurer Dobney.  Senator O’Grady point of information, can I vote yea twice.  President Gabriel states we have to check Robert's Rules. Senator Perez states shouldn’t we do a secret ballot vote.  Treasurer Dobney would like to amend to remove her nomination for the Ad Hoc Committee chair for Whispering Pines. EVP Watson 2nd.  Vote is taken and passes 13yeas, 8 nays and 3 abstentions. Senator Rosie asks if there can be a vice chair.  Chief Justice Zomerfeld states no because it is not in the constitution.

            F.   Senator Hemingway states to see him after the meeting for your liaison assignments.

            G.  Senator Desimone point of information, does Senator Roise need to accept his position.  Senator Rosie states he would have to decline. President Gabriel states he was voted in and if he wants to resign then he needs to put a letter of resignation in her mail box.

            H.  NYPIRG update.

 

IX.            2nd Roll Call

 

X.            Meeting adjourned at 10:35 pm