USG Senate Meeting - November 4, 2008

SENATE MEETING MINUTES

32^nd LEGISLATION

NOVEMBER 4, 2008

Meeting called to order 8:53 pm

I. Call to Order

Roll Call

II. Approval of Agenda

A. President Gabriel asks if there are any amendments to the agenda; there are no amendments. President Gabriel motions to approve the agenda. AVP Dann so moved.

III. President Gabriel Report:

A. Election update.

B. Speaker Series update - Dr. Cornel West is this Thursday at 7 pm. I will hand out the tickets to the Senate and the E-Board. Tickets sales are doing great we are almost at capacity.

C. Appointment - there is one Student at Large appointment and that is Brittney Edwards. I would like to make a motion to nominate Brittney A. Edwards for the Student at Large position. Floor is open for questions. Vote is taken to appoint Brittney for Student at Large and passes unanimously. President Gabriel swears Brittney Edwards in.

D. Questions & Comments

IV. EVP Watson Report:

A. BSC Budget 2008/2009 - Senator Renea Johnson and I will be preparing a presentation this week.

B. Questions & Comments

V. Treasurer Dobney Report:

A. Manners Matter - I will state the attendees for Manners Matter. There are 2 spots available if you are interested please see me after the meeting.

B. Budget update - I told all the organizations that e-mails are to be sent from now on to the USG Treasurer e-mail not mine or Vice Treasurer Johnson personal e-mail. If they are sent to our personal e-mail they will not be recognized. Also, eight organizations from Academic Affairs did not hand in their budget outline so they will be frozen until they contact me or Vice Treasurer Johnson.

C. Budget Committee update - the main information will be given under New Business.

D. Questions & Comments

VI. Senator Pro Tem Hemingway Report:

A. Food Service Committee Report update.

B. Senator of the month Felipe Perez will receive his certificate.

C. Senate Volunteers - I need four more volunteers for Dr. Cornel West.

VII. Standing Committee Reports

            A. AVP Yazicilar Academics Report:
                  - Sojourn to the past - a tour of the Civil Rights Movement. The deposit of $100.00 is due before Thanksgiving break to Dr. Grace. You will be earning 6 credits.
                  - Provost meeting - I will be meeting with him next Monday if you have any questions, comments or concerns please let me know.
                  - Relaxation week is December 1^st - 5^th. I’m looking into possibly getting the ice rink.
                  - Internship is the Washington Bar Association and the Scholarship is the McNair Scholarship.
                  - Questions & Comments

             B. AVP Dann Communications Report:
                  - Street Team update.
                  - November Toilet Talk will be coming out in two weeks. If you have any idea’s please let me know.
                  - Senator Picture - after the meeting I need to see everyone to get their picture taken.
                  - Promotions update.
                  - Questions & Comments

C. AVP Kennedy Community Affairs Report:

- Poverty Week update.

- Questions & Comments

            D.   AVP Hassan Student Life Report:
                   - The next Olympic Event will be Cake Decorating which will be held during Bengal Pause in the Social Hall November 13^th.
                   - Senate Appreciation is bowling next Tuesday for free. Everyone will be taking the bus so please have your bus passes.
|                   - Fright Week wrap-up.
                   - Movie Night
                   - Questions & Comments

             E. Rules & Regulations Chair Hamilton Report:
                  - AEL update - the Rules Committee met with AEL last week and the recommendation to remove their recognition did not pass. They will receive a 15% budget cut, 20 hours of community service, three years banned from camp and their programming is limited to the Fireside Lounge until after they complete their community service hours.
                  - Recognition - The Rules Committee would like to make a motion to recognize the Spanish Club as a USG non-funded organization. President Gabriel opens the floor for questions and comments. Senator Perez states that the Spanish Club has been             active for the last three years. They are a pretty well established group they are just looking to be recognized by USG. Senator Mirsky asks if they are open for collaboration. The President of the Spanish Club states yes they are definitely open. AVP Dann asks why they want to be recognized? The President states they are looking for support and they have a lot of members. AVP Yazicilar asks how many members the Spanish Club has and why they don’t collaborate with AEL. The President states 18 people come to the meetings and they do more academic activities. President Gabriel states we will move into vote to recognize the Spanish Club as a non-funded organization. Vote is taken and passes 21 yeas, 0 nays and 3 abstentions. The Rules Committee would like to make a motion to recognize Technology Education Collegiate Association (TECA). President Gabriel opens the floor for questions or comments. AVP Yazicilar point of information don’t we have a Technology organization. President Gabriel states yes we do we have IPA, HIPERC and CTE.   Senator Perez asks if the organization can speak on behalf of their organization. The President of the Technology organization states that they focus on energy and research on being more efficient with energy. Treasurer Dobney call to previous question. AVP Dann 2^nd. President Gabriel states we will move into vote to end the debate. Vote is taken and passes 21 yeas, 2 nays and 0 abstentions. President Gabriel states we will now vote to recognize Technology Education Collegiate Association as a USG non-funded organization. Vote is taken and passes 22 yeas, 1 nay and 1absentation.

Treasurer Dobney motions to adjourn the meeting. Senator Rosie 2^nd. President Gabriel states we have the Whispering Pines report left to do. President Gabriel states we should go over the budget request first before we adjourn. President Gabriel states we will go into a vocal vote. Vote is taken and President Gabriel states division of the house therefore we will vote again by a raise of hands. President Gabriel states vote passes 14 yeas, 7 nays and 2 abstentions. President Gabriel states the vote will have to be taken over because it did not pass by majority. Vote is taken by Roll Call and does not pass 12 yeas, 7 nay and 5 abstentions. President Gabriel states we will continue with New Business.

VIII. New Business

A. President Gabriel recognizes Senator Rosie to give the Whispering Pines report. Senator Rosie states that the Budget Committee brought the ATV forth. The ATV at Whispering Pines is in rough shape and they want to buy a new one. FSA said they would go in with us to purchase a new one. The ATV is needed to mow parts of the grass that is unreachable by the tractor and it’s more powerful, etc. Also, my committee had a meeting with Mike down in camp and some other things need to be done. In the Laug lodge the ceiling needs to be replaced, in both lodges the chimneys need to be replaced because of misuse. AVP Yazicilar asks if they are looking into making Whispering Pines more handicap accessible. Senator Rosie states it is not possible because the way it is setup now it would have to be re-leveled and we would have to start fresh again. Treasurer Dobney states her Budget Committee would like to make a motion to approve $4,303.25 coming from the camp deposit account for the ATV. President Gabriel states vote will be taken to approve $4,303.25 for a new ATV for Whispering Pines. Vote is taken and passes 22 yeas, 0 nays and 1 abstention.

IX. Constituents Questions/Announcements

A. AVP Hassan announces NSBE week.

B. AVP Dann announces Casting Hall show.

C. Senator Lewis asks when we can register. President Gabriel states tomorrow at 6 am.

D. NYPIRG update.

X. 2^nd Roll Call

XI. Meeting adjourned at 10:24 pm