Minutes for Feb. 02

Student Senate Home > Get Informed > Minutes > Feb 02  2006

Opening & Reports

(No statements are direct quotes unless specified by quotation marks.)

President Cailao called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. by the Senate Clock.

Roll call

Guests:

• Temie Giwa

• Joseph Rapp

Approval of the Agenda

Bard moves/Obach seconds approval of the agenda

Unanimous approval of the agenda

Approval of the Minutes

Bard moves/Haken seconds approval of the minutes

Unanimous approval of the minutes

Public Hearing

Braddock

On behave of Senator Oni and myself I would like to request that the standing diversity committee be added to ballot. We will go through the constitutional process
 

Reports

Advisor Wiese

SAFR has made some recommendations, and would appreciate your input on those. It has been suggested that it would be a good idea to create a library advisory board. Goodman, the library director would love to have a representative of senate serve on the board. This will not be a heavy time commitment. It will however, help shape different policies, procedures, and services within the library. The University planning budget committee began process of providing update information through thier website. This is a process that will take several months however they encourage students to log on now and then,in order to keep track of work plans and updates. Any feedback would be welcome.

No questions on the report


 

Justin Schwegel (Treasurer)

(No Report)

No questions on the report

James Cailao (President)

Greetings Senators,

I hope that thus far, this week has been a productive and enjoyable one for you all.

Nicole Booth submitted her resignation to me yesterday evening.

As you know, this past weekend, several others and myself attended the January MSUSA conference, hosted by Metropolitan State in St. Paul. It was, far and away, one of the most productive conferences I have ever attended. The wonderful staff and leaders at MSUSA put together a lobby day game which allowed us to become very familiar with the bonding bill proposal and the information we will need when we travel to St. Paul this April. I plan on discussing this information with all of you at our Senate retreat, because I believe that it is extremely important that we have a working knowledge of what we as a public university are requesting when we speak with our legislators. Please review the attachments I sent you regarding the minutes from General Assembly and the Board of Directors to familiarize yourself with the happenings of MSUSA.

I hope you have all had a chance to review the Senate goals that S.P.A. Mihal put together from our list. I believe it provides an excellent template for a long-range plan so vital to this body. Of course, any one can come up with a goal, an aim to be achieved; the trick is to find a means to reach that goal. Therefore, for any of the goals each of you note as worthy, I would like you to develop at least one way of achieving that goal, and bring your ideas to retreat.

I noticed that two of the goals listed were:
• Build up a reputation. I feel we don’t have the respect we should have. We need the students’ and faculty’s support. [Better inform students on key issues the Senate handles.] [Advertising- be more well known about what Senate does.] [Have a better recognition of senators so people know who to go to.] [Get the word about Senate. Inform the Student body of us and make us even more approachable.] [Getting the word out about Senate- what we do, and how we make a difference.] [Increase positive image of Senate through proper media outlets]

• Be very active on campus.
In accordance with this wish, I am happy to announce that on Wed., March 8th, Student Senate will participate in an Alcohol Awareness Fair hosted by CAB and the C.O.G. This event will include participants from a number of student organizations, and I believe will help Senate to work alongside other student groups and provide exposure to our campus community.

On a related note, on the 9th of Feb., I will attend the second F/M HESS Student Summit at NDSU to continue our work on drafting a Shared Values Statement with our 3 fellow institutes of higher learning. I am optimistic about this endeavor, as its completion will mark the first of it’s kind in the nation.

In response to an obvious concern among students on this campus, and on behalf of the Executive Committee, I am going to recommend that we include a provision to create a standing Diversity Committee on this springs ballot.

On a related note, we have decided that retreat will not be on the same weekend as MSUSA’s Cultural Diversity conference, in order to help facilitate attendance.

This week, and past, I attended SAFR and SABC. We’ve approved 3 of the 4 requests, and TFOC will have some information to share with you tonight.

Again, I would like to remind all committee chairs, if they haven’t already done so, to email me goals for your committee.

New Senators, if you have any questions on office hours, committee work, or anything else related to Senate, please do not hesitate to contact either VP Braddock or myself.

I like to commend those of you who helped to staff the Textbook Table yesterday on the absolutely fantastic job you did. I can honestly say yesterday was the most engaged and energetic I’ve ever seen Senator’s at a table. You were enthusiastic and aggressive in your approach to students, and caught them with your appeals to help lower the costs of textbooks. This is shaping up to be a vital campaign addressing a real student concern. We will also have a table next week in Flora Frick, to capitalize on the heavy traffic flow there.

I’m excited for the work we have ahead of us, both with MSUSA and on our own campus. We have a chance to define our vision of the future and develop our imprint on the present. With that, I will open myself to questions.

No questions on the report
 

Chris Braddock (Vice President)

-Since our last meeting I attended MSUSA in St. Paul.  I attended SAFR and SABC committee meetings.  I posted the tabling sign up sheet.  Senators need to show up when they agree to work a table.  Jessalyn and Peter did a lot of the work themselves. 

-I also solicited give away items from the ETC Shop, OSA and CAB for the textbook table. 

-I interviewed candidates for Campus Rep, Arts & Humanities Senate seat, and Election Chair.  There will be appointments tonight for Campus Rep and the Arts & Humanities seat.  

 -I chaired the Campus Safety Committee meeting. 

 I refined the Senate quick reference guide with the help of Chair Elkin and S.P.A. Mihal. 

-I will be administering the A.R.S. in the coming week, so new senators need to contact me to take the test. 

-My new office hours are posted at the front desk so you'll know when to find me. 

-I still need someone to fill in for me at the FM Student Summit.  Please contact me if you would like to participate.

No questions on the report
 

Jennifer Costley (Secretary)

• Did minutes

• Did attendance

No questions on the report

Emilie Mihal (Special Projects)

-The goals I sent out via the listserv were to extensive to process in this meeting. 

-I am currently working on getting Nicki a table

-I have set some travel dates for this term and will be absent from a few meetings.

No questions on the report

Committee Reports

Committee on Committees (Chair Obach)

-COC buisness as usual, I am looking for unanimous approval of the nominations.

-There are still some new senators not on committees.  It would be much appreciated if you would come to me so that we may set you up with a committee.

-COC started work on the transition manual, there were quite a few changes to be made.

Unanimous approval of Committees

-MSUSA training went great, some of own delegation pushed for this training, and MSUSA has finally used it. Moorhead has developed a really good reputation, they have gotten everyone involved, and taken an active role.  Also Everyone did a great job at the table

- St Paul council was looking to charge a 25 dollar fee, claiming that the colleges were benefiting from the city and not making it worth while.  That was voted down.
-Both the cultural diversity conference and DC trip are coming up.  We would like to get more new people to attend the MSUSA conferences. 

-The 27-29th of April will be our last conference of the year
-We would like to get some members of the board to attend the retreat.

-We will be pushing this months retreat back to the 24th and 25th of this month.  As of right now no one has claimed the Fargo YMCA overnight.  Everyone needs to bring sleeping bags, and clothing you can move around in, as there will be physical activities. We will also be breaking into small groups in order to decided how to improve Senate.  The retreat will begin at noon on the 24th and end at noon on the 25th.

Ludden

What were the times again?

Obach

That would be, 24 hours nothing but us!

Ohren

The MSUSA conference on the 1st and 2nd.  Where will that be held?

Obach

In the cities.

Campus Affairs (Chair Randhawa)

Attendance:

     Randhawa

     Bard

     Ellsworth

-Dean Enz-Finken was contacted hopefully a sculpture will be up soon.

-CA talked to a former student about a professor being late.  The professor was sick so hopefully the professor will not be replaced. The professor is now showing up.

-CA is also looking into the difficulty students have in trying to find good apartments.

No questions on the report

 Cultural Diversity Rep. (Oni)

Attendance:

     Oni

     Vrtis

     Weber

-We discussed tabeling

-We talked about the cultural diversity conference scheduled for the the weekend of February 17th and we also made changes to the tabeling poster.

-We finally talked about the International Student Insurance Policy and what can be done to fix things.

No questions on the report

Legislative & Internal Affairs (Chair Wilson-Mattson)

Attendance:

      Zeiher

      Ascheman

      Wilson-Mattson

      Lovcik

Guests:

      Bard

      Mihal

      Strohmeier

      Larson

List of Goals

     - Voting Poll

     - Student Senate Constitution

     - Textbook Campaign

     - Caucus Campaign (Joe Larson-Intern)

     - ND Candidate Forum

     - Small meetings with State Leg (talk about bonding bills)

Idea

     - Elections once a year

Peter and Joe discussed Caucus Campaign.

Forseen difficulties

     - Students do not know what caucus is.

     - Students from other states

     - Tabeling (Dem/Rep) leg for table

CMU Caucus Recruitment

     -3 Tables for College Dem/Rep/Senate

     - Request Leg to sit at table

     - Larson will help with general recruitment

Democracy Summit

     - Offer a chance for College Dem/Rep to discuss the who, what, where, why and when of Caucuses.

     - Will need help for marketing

     - Would like to try and get free food

     - Strohmeier will prepare scripts for people to talk to classes

How do you let people know what a Caucus is?

     - There will be a script at the table.

     - There is also the script for classroom presentation

Mail Box Stuffers

     - Dorm stuffers, TTN, Advocate, Reader, Student Organization mailboxes, Location required by the 15th.

     - Professors in a dunking booth, to stimulate the student interest in learning about caucuses

     - Caucus simulator-training conducted by Strohmeier.

Elkin will be discussing Lobby Day on January 8th 2006 for Leg/Ints

No questions on the report

Marketing (Chair Brown)

Attendance:

     Brown

     Short

     Ludden

-Our goals were finally made up.

-We will be receiving sweatshirts/long sleeve shirts next week.

-A tentative date is set for the Spring Banquet April 27th.

Tuition & Fees Oversight (Chair Elkin)

Attendance:

     Elkin

     Ellefson

     Morse

     Ohren

Guests:

     Braddock

     Karen Mehnert-Meland (Director of Student Union and Activities)

Reports:

      SAFR: SABC budget approved

      Athletics budget approved

      CMU budget approved

      SABC New Requests

      Special groups

      700 extra dollars will either be put into general reserve or dispensed among the groups or possible travel reserve.

CMU budget being reviewed and student fees

Motion passed TFOC

Karen will be returning next week and Treasurer Schwegel will also be attending.

Campus Safety Committee (Braddock)

-We discussed blue light locations.
-Also discussed the safety education day that we want to do this semester.
-We want to do a this is how you stay safe tact, a full day of seminars, where they can learn common sense safety things that they sometimes don’t know, or ignore.

-We have picked a day in April, hopefully students will come and attend the seminar which appeals to them most.

Mihal
 

Have you considered using peer advisors as a resource?

Braddock

No I have not, good call.

Ascheman

How will students will react, how much entertainment value is there? Students tend to get annoyed by parental guidance tact.

Braddock

That is exactly what we are trying to avoid. We want to show ways in which you can have fun and not necessarily get in trouble. But again that is up to the presenters, so choosing presenters can be a challenge.

Schwegal

Did you rank blue light phones in order of preference?

Braddock

The first two are our first priorities. Unless anyone on the committee would like to make a suggestion.

 

Old Business:

None

New Business:

Motion SP06-8  (Lovcik/Ludden )

Lovchic

I think we should nominate someone for snow court. The candidate must have above a 2.5.
 

Elkin

Yield.

Obach

For the male I nominate Kendall Bliss, but he must be clean shaven and have a good haircut.
 

Bliss

When is this?

Cailao

The 8-15th.
 

Elkin

I nominate everyone that had their hand raised a second ago.

Schwegal moves/Obach seconds that chair be able to vote

Motion approved

Kendall Bliss, and Jennifer Ohren
 

Unanimous aye.

Motion Carries

SP06-9 ( Executive )

Obach moves/Bard seconds to suspend the rules

Bard

Lets ask him questions...

Unanimous aye

Rapp

I am a double major in theatre arts and business.  I am pretty involved and have tried to get more involved. I was asked politely by SABC to apply for this position. I am also a pretty nice guy.

Randhawa

There is a person in the gallery.
 

Unanimous

We aren’t in executive session!

Bard

What past experience do you have?

Rap

 I have served as executive assistant to the President of a company in St Paul. I also serve on the academic service learning  board, here on campus.  I have been on several different theatre committees. I have experience chairing new theatre organizations. My experience with these organizations have made me qualified to a point. More experience on this would aid me.

Ascheman

 
Due to the fact that it is very important to have students participate. How would you go about encouraging students to vote? How do you expect to represent students?

Rapp

I get out there and talk to people, I enjoy that, if anyone has been to renaissance fair, you know that the way you sell things, is by talking to everyone you can, shake hands, make people realize how important this is to our campus. I think that it is a huge deal, to physically talk to people.
I think, I want to speak for them, from what they tell me, a big part is listening to what students want, the way they want to be represented not just what is in my own best interests.

Zeiher

How do u view senate and how do u feel u can be asset?

Rapp

I don’t know enough about senate. What I have come to realize, from SABC, is it seems like senate actually does do a lot of things. It makes me feel like our student senate is quite involved.
I think as I feel, I am pretty outspoken. As I said to Chris in my interview, I am pretty good at voicing my particular opinion. It is good to have people really willing to tell you what they think. I would like to make senate as aware as possible of the arts and humanities. The Arts are pretty close to my heart.

Elkin moves/Zeiher seconds to move into executive session

Motion Carries

SP06-10 ( Executive )

Obach

Basically that person is holding a seat that someone useful could use.
 

Randhawa

Have we ever seen her?

 
Cailao

No

Vote by secret ballot.
Motion Carries

SP06-11 ( Executive  )

Cailao

As a reminder this trip is not contingent on experience.

Obach

Can each person on board please come up to front.

Motion Carries

SP06-12 ( Executive  )

Giwa

 I am a junior, a double major in political science and international law. I have been Involved in MSUSA for two years. I started as a city representative and am now a chair of the women's caucus. I was also an intern for MSUSA this last summer. I also got a chance to participate in the DC summit last year.

Mihal

I think you could do the job well. However, in the past I have seen you burn out people, and accuse them of being racist . How do you respond to this?

Giwa

This past break I went home and lost my car. It was only a  week that it was gone, but there was nothing that I could do to change it and  I have learned to be patient from this experience. I am an RA, through that I have learned to listen actively as well as undergone a lot of training. I don’t think anyone that I know is racist. I said those things, and am completely sorry, I apologized to those two people. I was comfortable enough to say those things and I apologized to them and to senate. I have become more patient and it will not happen again.

Mihal

For people whom you may or may not have said things to.  How would you turn them around? I have heard that you are hard to work with in the past?

Giwa

I work hard, I have my opinions I am not very charismatic, the only way that I can show that I have changed is if I am given a chance.

Obach

Some people at MSUSA mentioned you as hard to work with, I think you need to seek these people out and explain the change to them.

Giwa

It was really hard not to be voted in.  I applied first to work with cultural diversity.  I  did not receive any reply from the chair. I tried to get involved but was not given a chance. I don’t know who said I was hard to work with, but if I do get a chance I would like to change that. I can only try to know the information and try to change it.

Elkin

How do you think you did as the cultural diversity chair.

Giwa

People thought that cultural diversity meant working against racism but, I tried to incorporate women's rights.  I represented MSUSA very responsibly.

Elkin moves/Bliss seconds to move into executive session

Motion fails

SP06-13 ( TFOC )

Randhawa

This is for meetings, specifically TFOC meetings? Do your committee members not go?

Elkin
 

No my members rock, but we are looking for students at large to be involved in these budgets. If they have problems with these issues they should be involved. They cannot go to SABC so why not come to ours.
 

Ohren

Students just don’t really know of a place to go to discuss these issues, these posters would show students that they can have there voices heard.

Randhawa
 

Well I don’t see why we need food for these meetings to be successful. I can find the same reasons and say CA meeting need money so that people will come because of the food and then  we can ask them about their problems.

Lovcik
 

If we have money in our budget to get food I don’t see why we cant use it.

Ohren
 

I think it’s a one time thing and it does encourage students to come.

Braddock
 

I am afraid of the precedent it sets, if every committee decided to do this it could snowball.

Elkin

I understand that it would be relevant for other committees to take same initiative. But what are we here for, if not to attempt  to get student involvement in whatever way possible. We are trying to take a step. If u have a better idea let me know.

Obach
 

For a one time event I approve.  If it gets out of hand…

Schwegal
 

I was just talking about frivolous spending. People will grab the food and leave without staying. People attracted to free food and people interested in serious issues are not the same type of people.

Bard
 

I like free food but I didn’t go to the collegians for life party to grab pizza and leave.

Braddock
 

Call to previous question

All in favor raise hand
All opposed raise hand

Motion carries.

SP06-13 ( Campus Affairs )

Randhawa

 This is for students and since we are working for students this sends a  message that we are for student welfare.
 

Braddock
 

Will security see a matching increase?

Wiese
 

No that hasn’t been determined. What it does is raise the base range for student employees. The policy is not set in stone yet.

Ascheman

Since money doesn’t magically appear, it has to come from somewhere, where is it coming from?

Wiese
In terms of work study funded students, those students will work less hours. Other students will be dependent upon departmental budget. I suspect some departments will feel little or no effect. Other departments will feel a difference. The thought is that it will be absorbed into the departmental budget where those students work.

Motion carries.

SP06-14 ( Campus Safety Committee )

Braddock

Hope you can all see, these are the locations already approved. These are open to preferential order. I would like to see one down at the higher ed services.

Cailao

Higher ed is the Wellness Center.

Braddock
 

There are wireless technologies available so that we do not have to wire all the way  to the Wellness Center.

Randhawa

The one by the softball diamond, is that inside the fence?

Braddock
 

No outside.

Elkin
 

Has the  money already been allocated?

Braddock

Yes 20,000 has already been allocated and a lot of that will go to the initial set up.  After that the phones just get cheaper.

Ohren

I wasn’t around when you agreed on this,  does 20,000 just pay for the two?

Braddock
 

We don’t know it is still being quoted, that will cover at least two though. It is important that we do this, so that the administration knows where students would like to put these. If there are other locations please tell me.

Ellsworth

 Will the wellness center phone be able to transfer?

Braddock

Yes it can be moved, but the Wellness Center will still have students.

Randhawa

Everything outside of the diamond is not under our jurisdiction. There is no one there, the fence gates are locked, I don’t see how security would be able to take care of this. If someone picks up the phone we cant do anything.

Braddock

 
They can call the police.  Many students live here, at 3-4 in morning that phone could be crucial. There were three domestic assaults in front of the security parking lot. This just adds a quicker response time. The dispatcher can get the police out there. There maybe alternative funding to address here.

Schwegal

The previous speaker made a great point about 18th.  After intramurals people walk home past that fence. It is a high traffic area for those living there.

Weber
 

Traditionally I have heard that, that has always been a high traffic area, I think it is a good idea to have a phone there to solve the problem.

Obach
The chair of this committee has done a  lot of work, and I think he has a pretty good idea  about where these phones should be.

Elkin

There are lots of places I would like to put other phones, but you have to start where you start.

Randhawa

I wasn’t opposing it.  I live in that area. I have 3 and a half years of campus security, I just don’t see why we should spend funds on that location when so much police is already there.

Elkin moves/Bard seconds to call previous question


Unanimous aye
 

Schwegal moves /Bard seconds to open COC nominations


Haken moves/Brown seconds closing COC nominations.
 

(List of nominees not yet submitted to secretary)

Points for the Good of the Order

Braddock

That was a good meeting two hours and  fifteen minutes. Thanks for all of your great opinions.

Obach

I would ask that at least one of the newer senators, look to attend some MSUSA conferences in the future.
 

Also If there is more than one appointment I think it is unfair that the person after them does not get to vote in the next election. You have no more experience than the person before you. That is something for the body to think about revising.

Ascheman
 

Good job

Braddock
 

Reminder, if you were elected for DC please talk to me in senate office after meeting. I  want to get info in to MSUSA soon.

Bliss
 

I think it is really great that you want me to represent you in Dragon Frost.

Ascheman
 

I just want to say that there were no other candidates.

Mihal
 

Also I Encourage Giwa to stay active, I just do not want to lose your contribution.

Cailao
 

Great meeting, hopefully people will become involved with MSUSA, I will send a tabling sheet over email.
 

Announcements

Obach

Last week we told u about movie, the dayam thing better work tonight. Nine O'clock Fargo theatre.
 

Braddock

1 week for ARS
 

Elkin

Can you explain ARS?

Braddock
-yes it is the assessment of required skills, potentially a test to take to see if you know about senate. The handout will help you a lot.

-Feb 9th history club trivial pursuit.

Adjournment

Schwegal moves/Brown seconds to adjourn

Adjourn at 7:19