SENATE MEETING MINUTES

32nd LEGISLATURE

OCTOBER 21, 2008

I.     Call to Order

     Roll Call

II.     Approval of the Agenda

     A.  President Gabriel asks if there are any amendments to the agenda.  AVP Yazicilar deletes Professional Academic Committee Meeting and adds NYPIRG Tap Assistance.  AVP Hassan adds Senator Appreciation.  President Gabriel motions to approve the agenda.  Student at Large Stoll so moved.

III.     President Gabriel Report:    

     A.  Free Practice Graduate exams are on Thursday October 23rd.

     B.  Speaker Series update - Dr. Cornel West ticket sales are doing well; general admission tickets go on sale Thursday.  The Box office is now open.

     C.  Bi-Organizational Meeting is this Friday October 24th at 3:00 pm in Classroom Bldg. B122.  This meeting is mandatory for all organizations and each organization needs to have two representatives present.

     D.  Student Assembly updates - this was very successful and very informative.  Senator Desimone, Senator Lane, Treasurer Dobney and I attended. I will pass out a packet that states some of the Resolutions that were voted on. As for the tuition increase they couldn't give us a concrete percentage. Floor is open for questions in regards to the packet that was handed out. Senator Lane states that President Gabriel did a great job in representing our institution.

     E.  Questions & Comments

IV.     EVP Watson Report:  Absent

V.     Treasurer Dobney Report:    

     A.  I requested the budgets from Student Life they are due on my desk tomorrow by 4:30. Organizations that don't give me copy of their budget will be frozen until they get them to me or Vice Treasurer Johnson. As for the Academic organizations their letters will be sent out tomorrow and their budgets will be due next Wednesday by 4:30.

     B.  Budget Committee update. Last week there was not a update because the Budget  Committee had to move their meeting to Wednesday therefore I will give you two updates. On October 15th there was a request for Chief Justice to receive a stipend.  The Budget Committee approved this. Commuter Council was denied to move $100.00 from their water line to a budget line. Silver Screen wanted to move money from their Homecoming line this was denied because Homecoming money cannot be moved. HIPERG wanted to move $500.00 this was denied. Imaginative Socialists' requested $1300.00 for a conference and this was approved. Anything that is approved over $1000.00 has to be brought to the Senate for approval, once the Senate votes on it then the money will be allocated to the organization. This was voted on this Wednesday and the Senate met on Tuesday, it didn't end up being a problem because they only need $940.00. CRAGG requested $93.20 for a Halloween party this was tabled and I requested that they meet with me or Vice Treasurer Johnson. They did meet with us and I will report on this Monday. CRAGG also requested funds to buy materials to have a Nerf Team Battle this was approved. On October 20th we did allocate CRAGG the funds for the Halloween party. Health & Wellness requested to move $400.00 from their guest speaker line to their banquet line and this was denied. Students for CEC requested $1506.00 for a conference and this will go under New Business tonight. Our new Budget Committee times will be on Mondays at 11pm in the conference room.

VI.     Senator Pro Tem Hemingway Report:

     A.  Today I had a Food Service meeting and a Game Room meeting. At the Food Service meeting I brought some complaints like cleanliness at Taco Bell, Sub Connection closing before they should be. The Chinese Jump place has improved since last year. People are stealing from coolers and some of the machines. There have been a couple of ideas in regards to this.  Every Tuesday and Thursday we will hold tournaments in the Game Room. We are going to do more advertising.

     B.   Liaison reports - everyone should have received a memo that these reports are due a week from now. I strongly suggest if you have any problems with your organizations you come see me. Just be aware for every report you do not turn in it is a 1/2 absence.

     C.  Questions & Comments

VII.     Standing Committee Reports

     A.  AVP Yazicilar Academic Report:

           -  The Academic Mixer was a success. 

           -  Academic Skills update - working to form a committee to get students involved.

           -  Auxiliary Services Grant Allocation - if you are looking to get a grant the application is due by November 21st. 

           -  NYPIRG Tap Assistance - I would like to pass this around and get everyone to sign this. It's basically saying that we don't want Tap to tap into funds within the SUNY school system.  This will be going to Governor Patterson. 

           -  Town Hall discussion - please inform student about this there are flyers in the buildings.

           -  The Scholarship for this week is Roni ITT Technology and the Internship is Washington Research Group.

               -  Questions & Comments

     B.  AVP Dann Communications Report:

           -  Street update

           -  Peace Conference is this Thursday October 23rd from 8:30 to 4:30 pm. Please get students involved.

           -  October Toilet Talk is coming out next week.

           -  Promotions update

           -  Questions & Comments

     C.  AVP Kennedy Community Affairs Report:

           -  Commuter Week wrap-up.

           -  Reading at the Day Care - I talked to the Director of the Day Care and he would like us to come over and read to the kids at the Day Care. There is a sign-up sheet

               in the back.

           -  On Thursday I have a meeting with the Director of Athletics Jerry Boyes, if anyone has any questions or would like to come let me know.

           -  Questions & Comments

     D.  AVP Hassan Student Life Report:

           -  Olympic wrap-up. The next Olympic event is cake decorating.

           -  Union Bash is this Friday USG will be doing Bingo.

           -  USG Fright Week starts on Monday.

           -  Open Camp Weekend is October 31st. There are signup sheets in the back.

           -  Senator Appreciation - we will be going bowling if you can go please sign the sheet in the back.

           - Questions & Comments

     E.  Rules & Regulations Hamilton Report:

          -  Committee Attendance - attendance is going to be enforced 3 absences and you will be off the Senate. 

          - Questions & Comments 

VIII.     New Business

     A.  President Gabriel states that Cory (NYPIRG) is asking USG to support the Resolution

           that was past at Student Assembly regarding restoring funding to TAP, EOP, CSTEP, HEOP.  I would like to make a motion on behalf of the United Students Government of the 32nd legislation to support this resolution on behalf of NYPIRG.  Senator Lane 2nd.  Vote is taken and passes 25 yeas, 0 nays and 0 abstentions.

IX.     Old Business

     A.  Hotel Committee - Senator Richardson states that currently there are 160 Buffalo State students living at the Adams Mark Hotel. These students do not get to experience the same experience as on campus students.  Students staying at the hotel were given packages that included a calendar that the RA's were on duty, the rules of the hotel and a bus schedule to get to campus. There was no information about campus activities, food, library etc. things that they should give to students that aren't even on campus to make them feel more welcome.  Also, the school did not provide the normal campus list of what to bring to college. Senator Lane reads the hotel committees mission statement.  Senator Lane makes a motion to vote for a hotel committee.  Senator Richardson 2nd.  Floor is open for discussion.  Senator Nunez call to previous question.  AVP Kennedy 2nd.  President Gabriel states all in favor of ending debate and moving to the previous question.  Vote is taken and passes unanimously. President Gabriel states vote will be taken to recognize the Hotel Committee as an Adhoc Committee.  Vote is taken and passes 23 yeas, 1 nay and 1 abstention. President Gabriel would like to nominate Senator Richardson as the chair. Senator Richardson declines.  President Gabriel nominates Senator Lane as the chair. Senator Lane accepts.  Vote is taken and passes unanimously.

X.     Constituents Questions/Announcements

     A.  Treasurer Dobney makes a motion to approve $1506.00 for six students from Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) to go to a conference in New York.  This includes their transportation, food, registration and room and board. Senator Alinur 2nd.  Floor is open for discussion.  President Gabriel states we will move into vote to approve  CEC to attend this conference.  Vote is taken and passes 24 yeas, 0 nays and 1abstention.

     B.  Senator Rosie states the Whispering Pines committee will meet Friday at 1 pm in theUSG conference room.  Please come.

     C.  Senator Lane states that she went to the library to swipe her card and she found that she had $3.00 on her card. Senator Desimone states that everyone has $3.00 on theircard because people were upset that the system was changing.

     D.  AVP Hassan reminds everyone to sign up for events.

     E.  Treasurer Dobney states that text messaging during the meetings has to stop.  Also,  please don't start packing up in the middle of the 2nd roll call.

     F.  AVP Dann please sign up for the Peace Conference.

     G.  President Gabriel states for the Senators to see her after the meeting to get their tickets for Raheem DeVaughn. 

     H.  NYPIRG gives an update.

XI.     2nd Roll Call

XII.     Meeting adjourned 10:35 pm