Minutes for Feb. 09

Student Senate Home > Get Informed > Minutes > Feb 09  2006

Opening & Reports

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

President Cailao called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. by the Senate Clock.

Roll call

Guests:

• Katie Young

Proxy:

          Emilie Mihal for Mikan Lovcik

Approval of the Agenda

Bard moves/Weber seconds approval of the agenda

Unanimous approval of the agenda

Approval of the Minutes

Braddock moves/Zeiher seconds approval of the minutes

Unanimous approval of the minutes

Cailao

Thank you Peter and JJ for coming down tonight.

JJ

Thank you for letting us talk tonight.  I have been talking with Vice President Braddock and others regarding the campaigns we are working on this term.  There has been a bit of confusion on a few of the goals. 

-Caucus campaign: Just look at what has happened to higher education in the last three years.  In 2003 190 million dollars was cut from the budget, resulting in large increases in tuition for students.  Nearly 13 million dollars were cut from student loan programs.  Because of this the interest rates for students will increase on July 5th.  In St Paul they are trying to pass a 25 dollar learning tax on every college student.  They claim that they want to pass this in order to pay for the police and fire department.  However, I think that students pay taxes in many other ways that contribute to the economies where they live.  It seems that when the government has a problem the solution is always to tax college students.  The caucus campaign will get students more involved.  We will begin the caucus campaign process on March 7th.  It is the last time in over twenty years that nearly every single elected seat will be up for election.  The idea behind the caucus campaign is to encourage the students to attend, so that they can be involved in deciding who these candidates are.  We want to get students involved in the political process.  I know that in college towns lots of candidates try and go around to all precincts.  If they see a number of students at all of these precincts they are going to pay more attention to higher education. 

Two important things to remember:

1. We are planning a democracy summit for February 22nd.

2. Lobby day will be held April 3rd.  This is an unusual year as we usually have lobby day in February.  The board has decided to have a smaller lobby day this year instead of holding a rally.  We have been working with James and Nicki in order to get an idea of the list of candidates.  However, I would caution against heavy recruitment as we are envisioning more individual, quality meetings with legislature.  Two years ago, virtually every campus wanted to meet with all of the higher education committee members.  There ended up being 5,6,7 meetings or so with students all conveying the same message.  Feel free to mold however you like but 14 is about the number of meetings key for you to cover. 

- Also thank you for being one of the few campuses to get its DC summit list in on time.  Your rooms are secure but some campuses are going to have problems.

Ascheman

Last semester there were numerous text book action days.  The biggest message I received from students was, "yeah, we know they are expensive what is the point?"  We are getting the word out to students who already know about the problem.  It would be very beneficial to call representatives but I am really confused as to what good these textbook action days are doing.

JJ

I think that the problem with the textbook campaign is that it is the publishers that are making the books so expensive.  Action day was born out of some ideas that the national groups were working on.  We are hoping that publicity on this stuff will help to pressure the publishing industry.  The textbook action day did not end up being very effective.  At the last conference we set goals to mold the campaign.  One of the goals was to collect stories from students and put them together in a sort of year book that we can present  to legislature.  We are also going to approach higher education to hold hearings about these problems.  The biggest problem is that we have stories, but we need to first get our information from students here and then figure out what kind of legislature we can pass.  Another thing we want to do is start doing surveys of faculty addressing the issues they see.  Another goal is to help campuses that do not have a book swap program.  I think that the stories from students combined with the surveys from faculty members will be able to help us get to the bottom of this.

Strohmeier

The main goal of the caucus campaign is to get students integrated in the political process.  Our goal is to get students educated about caucuses.  That is a primary reason for the democracy summit.  We can start advertising the summit now, we will need a lot of bodies to do that.  A lot of our in class presentations will focus on political science classes.  If there is a class that you are in or could go to please sign up to give a short presentation.  Someone from MSUSA will contact you with all the information you need.

We will be using dorm stuffers as well as several other tacts in order to make students more aware of the summit. 

Thank you to everyone who helped out collecting textbook stories at the table.  MSUM has collected roughly 250 stories.  These are good quality, detailed stories and may help lower textbook prices by holding publishing companies accountable.

Public Hearing

Mihal

A student recently reported to me that a teacher passed his/her paper back during class and then stated (in front of the whole class) I didn't grade your paper you need to go to the write site.  Also Subs and Sweets microwave

burns stuff, maybe that should be labeled.

Cailao

Valid point, I once had a bagel disassemble itself in that microwave.

Oni

The bathroom in the library stinks, we need an air freshener.

Bliss

Many gateway students are being charged twice for several fees including the Hendrix Health Center fee and Wellness Center fee.

Wiese

That is probably an automatic kick that can be fixed.

Braddock

This is a self serving comment but...when you are the Vice President you are supposed to get a 425 dollar tuition deposit.  Financial Aid did me a great disservice by using part of that to pay down my grants.

Vrtis

There will be a safe zone committee meeting on campus in order to bring awareness to GBLTA issues on campus.  The trainings will be March 30th from 9pm to 11:30 pm.

Cailao

If you are trained in safe zone do you require relicensing?

Vrtis

No

Cailao

Nicki will now present a power point presentation.

Elkin

JJ already went over a lot of what the caucus campaign is.  Here is a visual example of something that might be presented at the democracy summit.

Presents power point

Wiese

Did I hear you say that MSUSA does not endorse any particular candidate?

Elkin

It is illegal to endorse  a particular candidate due to our non profit status.

Mihal

I refuse to affiliate with any party does that mean I am out?

Elkin

You can attend but you cannot participate.

Bard

I went to one in 2004. It is just signing a paper, its probably best just to find one that is closest to your belief.

Haken

Do you have to be of legal age to vote to participate?

Elkin

Yet again, you can attend but not participate.

Reports

Advisor Wiese

The alcohol task force has come up with a new policy that will effect students next fall.  The University Planned Budget Committee is a good thing to pay attention to, they have a great deal of control over where a lot of the money goes.  Unless you watch what is happening things can slip away, including where funds are allocated.  There is likely going to be a campus policy for buildings to be closed at 8pm.  Students would still be able to get into their night classes, but at 8pm the doors will electronically lock.

Braddock

Can students still get ID cards coated for the buildings?

Wiese

Yes

Cailao

Once the new alcohol policy is in effect how will it be communicated to students?

Wiese

It will be included in the student handbook, the website, and possibly have its own printing.  Students will also be made aware during orientation week.

Justin Schwegel (Treasurer)

(No report)

No questions on the report

James Cailao (President)

(No report)

Randhawa

Were you looking at me when you said that you had not recieved the goals?

Cailao

No, I was not looking at anyone.

Chris Braddock (Vice President)

(No report)

Bard

I noticed the times for safe zone training interfere with some of my classes, what happens if you cannot attend?

Braddock

That is fine.  If you cannot make it you cannot make it.
 

Jennifer Costley (Secretary)

• Did minutes

• Did attendance

No questions on the report

Emilie Mihal (Special Projects)

-I took the list of goals and selected the ones that can be worked toward.

-We no longer need a table.

-Please fill out these new forms and return them to my box.

No questions on the report

Committee Reports

Committee on Committees (Chair Obach)

The YMCA is not as a available as I had first anticipated.  The earliest we can begin there is eight in the evening. The pool however, will be available.  We must be out by eight am in the morning.  I am going to need some kind of approval regarding whether or not to stay there or find another venue.

Ascheman

Would it be an option to do some stuff here in the Senate Office earlier on Friday?

Obach

Spacing could be a bit compacted. One other option that we could go with is to utilize the MN Guard Armory.  I could probably pull some strings and get that, we wouldn't have water sports but we could still have plenty of fun. I can go in tomorrow and make that happen.

Elkin

How much is YMCA.

Obach

350 dollars

Elkin

How much if we switch to the armory?

Obach

Nothing, but someone from the armory has to be there.  I may be able to fill that position myself but if not, there is a fifty dollar fee. 

Elkin

Were there any people working Friday that pushing the time back would make able to come?

Obach

Only one.

Randhawa

I might not be able to attend at noon because I have a job interview on Friday.  If I am late may I still attend?

Obach

Yes, you will just need to call so that I may let you in.

Campus Affairs (Chair Randhawa)

Attendance:

      Bard

      Randhawa

      Ellsworth

-Sent email regarding smelly bathroom.

-Art project was thrown out a long time ago. 

-Sent email to inquire about different possibilities.

-CA will talk to Subs and Sweets about microwave.

No questions on the report

 Cultural Diversity Rep. (Oni)

(No report)

Elkin

Which people are going and how many?

Oni

There are five people.

Elkin

If those two spots are not filled then can we open it up to the students?

Oni

I talked to some students about it and got some responses.

Legislative & Internal Affairs (Chair Wilson-Mattson)

(No Report)

No questions on the report

Marketing (Chair Brown)

Attendance:

      Ludden

      Brown

      Short

-I talked to C.I. Apparel about  our sweatshirts.  They will be here tomorrow. 

-The student savers club cards should be here next week.

-Senator Ludden contacted Jay P. about fall semesters Senate picture.

-I personally helped campus affairs with the apartment survey.

-Senator Short is currently working on the mission statement.

Mihal

Are you planning on taking another picture?

Brown

I hadn't thought about that.

Tuition & Fees Oversight (Chair Elkin)

Attendance:

     Elkin

     Hepola

     Morse

     Ohren

Guests:

     Braddock

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

-CMU budget approved

-Athletics budget approved

-SABC approved

**Food was present but no extra students attended**

Short presentation on budget breakdown

Wiese

The reason that this group meets every year is to review all fees listed here.  When our enrollment changes, we have fewer students taking fewer classes, this results in less money to fund our programs.  If enrollment declines we must make up for that difference.  Also inflation causes change.  In most cases, unless otherwise noted your fees maintain the services that you are already accustomed to.

Mihal

Does this head count include summer?  Are we no longer charging summer students fees?

Elkin

I don't believe we are, I don't believe we were charging them before either.

Mihal

General accounting, is that going up because of bargaining and salary raises?

Elkin

Yes.

Vice President Wiese presents breakdown of budget sheet

Short

I would like to know how often our renting leases are renewed.

Wiese

They are reviewed annually.  Due to the fact that this is a student funded building your fees are not used to maintain the building.  The University pays the student budget rent for those spaces. 

The hair place is reviewed annually as well.  Also Copies Plus is a big money maker for the student union. 

In order to see if a better service could be provided a study would need to be conducted.

Elkin

The food money that we spent did not  bring in new people, but there is still food in the office if you want some.

Campus Safety Committee (Braddock)

No report this week I yield.

Old Business:

None

New Business:

Motion SP06-15  (Diversity Committee)

Oni

Basically it is two copies on each page and candy will attract people.

Braddock

I fully support the use of white paper.

Rapp

I definitely support candy.  That right there is a good idea.

Mihal

Is enabling Rapp to have candy a good idea?

Unanimous Aye

Motion Carries

SP06-16 ( Executive )

Braddock moves/Elkin seconds to suspend the rules
 

Young

I am a student designer for the publications department.  I also work for IT tech.  This is my third year with MSUM.  I was on student government in high school.

Elkin

Why haven't you ever joined Student Senate?

Young

Well I was sitting on the computer and I saw the Vice President position.  I interviewed and they told me about election chair.  I suppose I applied for the wrong position.

Bard

What type of ideas do you have right now?

Young

I am a publicity designer on campus right now.  I think that it would be cool to get more ideas from people who have a better visual sense on what could grab peoples attention and get them to vote.  It would be nice to get a big posting in one place, in which all the candidates are displayed.

Obach moves/Haken seconds to move into executive session.

 

Motion Carries

SP06-17 ( Executive )

Braddock moves/ Obach seconds to suspend the rules

Zeiher

I became involved with MSUM last term and now sit on the Leg/int committee, doing so has allowed me to work closely with the textbook campaign and caucus campaign.  MSUSA has great ideas but we need to get students more involved.  I am really excited about these things and the position.

Elkin

What is your favorite thing about MSUSA ever??

Zeiher

Goals, in general looking at the campaigns and what they have planned out.  MSUSA has passion and that is the great thing about it.

Ascheman

Do you have any experience working with the previous person who held this seat?

Zeiher

Yes we worked with him for the textbook campaign.

Bard

If MSUSA were a bicycle or sport or piece of recreational equipment what would it be?

Zeiher

I think the handlebars, they steer people in directions.

Call to previous question.

Unanimous Aye

Motion carries
 

SP06-18 ( Executive  )

Braddock

These budgets are on a tight time table, students have been involved at several different levels, they passed SAFR with zero objections.  I don't see any thing wrong with the budget.

Mihal

Why did TFOC remove this motion?

Elkin

We were not overly happy with the budget.  The budget was created before figuring in the $7.00 hr minimum pay wage raise.  Because of that additional change we decided that we would prefer to have the motion go back to TFOC and have the chair of SABC come and speak with us.

Braddock

According to the budget the cheer and dance team were moved out of the budget leaving a 10,000 dollar difference.  The 10,000 in question is being actively used by students today.  When you break it down it is 6 cents a credit and we are effectively using that money.

Schwegal

The students pay activity fees up to 12 credits though right?

Braddock

Yes, so every student is actually paying 72 cents.

Obach

What this 10,000 did is kinda helped us out when the the taxi program went over.  It would probably be implemented if we were to have that problem again.

Schewegal

Is it somehow misrepresenting SABC to request similar amounts.

Bard

No, how SABC allocates those dollars is up to SABC, it is all discretionary.

Elkin

The problem that TFOC had is that we were not sure if the 10,000 dollars was strictly necessary.  This new budget is 600 dollars thicker for salaries yet SABC has 10,000 dollars.  It is not that we are saying we disapprove it is merely that we are asking for more time in order to review.

Mihal

What is the time table for budgeting?

Wiese

The most important budget that needs some kind of action is the student union budget.  MNSCU requires us to report that.  They need to present that budget to the board of trustees in March.  The student activity health service fee will be approved by the board later in the year.  The health service fee is critical to have some kind of recommendation on soon.  The Wellness fee is also critical because we are right in the middle of a budgeting process for the new meeting. 

Also general activity reserve has diminished in the last few years.  It is never a bad thing to but money in a reserve.  None of the budgets has assessed any kind of increase due to the minimum wage increase, that is an inflated piece and is not built in to next years allocation.  It could still be built in but is not currently.

Braddock

In reference to the previous speaker.  I would not say that there is extra money in SABC.  That is far from the truth.  Should we table this indefinitely.

Mihal

What is the difference between tabeling normally and indefinitely?

Cailao

Tabeling indefinitely would allow TFOC to bring it back up.

Braddock

It does not have to be brought up next meeting.

Obach

I think we do need to pass and pass it the way it is.  I suppose we could give TFOC more time, but I hope that it comes back the

same way.

Unanimous Aye to table indefinitely

SP06-19 (TFOC)

Elkin

Athletics is increasing the budget by 3 percent, due to inflation.  Also SABC's 10,000 was moved over to athletics so actually it is a bit more than 3 percent.  Dance and cheer are now out of the athletics budget.

Braddock

Just to clarify it is not the money that has moved, but the group.

Unanimous aye

Motion carries

SP06-20

Elkin

I really appreciate the way that motion was read.  I have passed out some information on it, so hopefully you all had a chance to come, Laura came and looked it over, it looks good, yield.

Mihal

CMU really seems to be one group that is trying to make every dollar count.

Braddock

I don't want to know what happens when you cross Karen.

Wiese

In all of this I am a bit concerned that the student union has such a large liability due to the minimum wage raise.  I am not sure how you all feel, but any additional information you might suggest would be appreciated.

Cailao

Would passing this budget, not take into account the wage rate?

Obach

Will CMU have to rewrite the budget themselves?

Wiese

It could come through many bodies.

Obach moves/Ellsworth seconds to table.

Motion carries.

Obach

We want to see a increase of minimum wage , the budget we are considering right now does not take that into account.  I am concerned that we are not giving them the money to do the things we are asking them to do.

Elkin

Can we pass this motion with the increase of student salaries, instead of going through the whole process?

Braddock

Would we have to go through SAFRA again?

Wiese

No, what we are looking for is senates blessing and approval of what the fee committee did.  All fees are ultimately at the discretion of the President.

Ohren

Karen expressed that the wage increase is not going to be an issue and that she may be able to plan around that.

Obach

Is it true that this won't cause any issues?

Elkin

She gave the impression that people could work less hours and that it could be worked into the budget.

Obach

Permission to withdraw the motion to table indefinitely?

Bard

I like the tabeling idea.

Mihal

Call to previous question

Unanimous aye

Motion carries with two abstentions

Morse moves to open COC nominations.

Haken

There is only one, Chris Paul to the comstock union.  We are seeking unanimous approval.

Schwegal moves/Mihal seconds to close nominations.

Motion carries.

Points for the Good of the Order

Obach

First of all, new senators do not be afraid to speak up, if you have a question ask it.  Also do not be afraid to vote no, if you are not sure abstain.  Speaking of abstentions... If you leave for part of a meeting, don't vote on an issue that you were not here for the entirety of.  If not here for part of the discussion do not vote.

Braddock

The debate was good.

Weber

My name tag in the mailbox is gone.  If someone could find it that would make me happy.

Elkin

Discussion makes me happy.  This is not the last of the TFOC motions.  We would love to have more senate involvement in meetings. 

Haken

I have taken on the bulletin board project.  I would love to get pictures of everyone for it.

Mihal

Congratulations Young and Zeiher. 

Wilson-Mattson

Senator Ohren and Bliss are finalists.

Obach

I wasn't here for the COC report, although I am sure it went smoothly.  Also if you are a Senator get on a committee.  I can't give Alex every seat I have.

Announcements

Oni

I need two years sales experience, so I am forced to sell Avon.  We are practically like family so I can use you.

Schwegal

Do you sell nair like products?

Braddock

History club and econ society is having trivial pursuit.  Also please attend the diversity conference if you can.

Wiese

Please bring budget sheet back to the meetings.

Braddock

I used to sell those color printers, color copy costs a lot.

Adjournment

Mihal moves/Brown seconds to adjourn

Adjourn at 7:30