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Student Government Association Senate

Agenda

22^nd of October, 2014

Call to Order

Becca Jo calls the meeting to order at 8:04pm.

Roll Call

Approval of Minutes

Ken suggests a change to the minutes. Change to the minutes passed unanimously.

Announcements

Who’s Who at EMU

Each executive members and senators are receiving a packet of faculty and staff members at EMU.

Subcommittee reporting

Fill out the subcommittee form by next Friday, explaining what was discussed during the meeting.

Introduction

Aliese Gingrich is here joining us tonight.

Old Business

Exploring Discipline at EMU event

This event is happening on November 11-13. There is an online signup for students to sign up for the different meetings facilitated by John Swartz. Becca Jo explains that she is forwarding all emails to the Safety Committee.

New Business

Task Force Proposal: Aliese Gingrich

Aliese Gingrich is a senior studying Spanish and English as a Second Language. She is requesting the formation of a task force to address sexual violence at EMU. She expresses that we (EMU) rarely discuss sexual violence and its affect on our community. Very few people feel equipped to deal with sexual assault due to the lack of resources at EMU.

She is pushing for a group to constantly push for open dialogue. Without institutional support, students’ requests to organize educational opportunities around sexual violence will be scattered.

Kat asks for clarification on what a task force is. Aliese responds that a task force is developing a group of professors, faculty, and students to meet regularly and discuss what is happening. The purpose of this task force is to facilitate how various efforts can work together to make lasting changes.

Jane comments that she has been the Take Back the Night for the past seventeen years, and has never seen the administration as ready to move forward as they are now. Jane affirms Aliese’s request for a task force, and shares that if the student body shows readiness for this movement, the administration will jump on board as well. Overall, there is a general feel of readiness.

Isaiah asks if the task force will need funding down the line. Aliese shares that this depends on what the task force chooses to initiate.

Erin asks why Aliese chose this route to deal with sexual assault. Aliese shares that she grew up talking about this “issue”, her work as a camp counselor and hearing stories of friends made her feel very equipped to pass positive empowerment. Aliese realized this summer how little training EMU provides for new students, and became more and more outraged. The more she dug into this topic, the more she has discovered possible ideas for EMU to be putting into action. Many policies at EMU are interwoven into this issue, and its past time that we start talking about those factors.

Ken asks if any (non-first years) were aware of new components in orientation. Becca Jo recalls that there was some sort of bystander training. Kat recalls a few slides in general orientation. Becca M has heard very little about this training. Emma asks if this is only available to first-years. Ken shares that they are working on putting the bystander training on moodle.

Becca M affirms Aliese’s idea to have the task force unite and coordinate various efforts already going on on campus.

Jane asks for clarification on “real data” within her proposals. Becca Jo suggests striking “things like” on the proposal.

Isaiah made a motion to support the task force. Kat seconded.�� 10 in favor. Motion passed unanimously.

Open Floor

Becca M asks if senators have been meeting with their institutional meeting.

If you cannot make a meeting, email Erin.

Charlie created a Facebook event, and asks for everyone to invite EMU students via facebook.

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Hans motions to adjourn the meeting. Kate seconds. Meeting ends 8:46pm.

Senate Agenda

13th of November 2013

i. Call to Order.��Called to order at 8:36 pm

ii. Roll Call/Prayer

iii. Approval of Minutes

iv. New Business

a. Peace Fellowship: Funding Request. Funding for trip to School of Americas in Georgia. Will be leaving a week from Friday, and there will be a number of students going. Peace Fellowship has a history of going, and it is a protest against a school that teaches torture tactics to people that are under American jurisdiction. Trip: $780 with gas, lodging, etc. Requesting $265 from SGA, asking each student for $25. Last year, Peace Fellowship asked for funding for two off-campus funding events, both of which will not be repeated this year, so this is the only off-campus event. If possible, student vehicles will be used, but they budgeted for EMU vans. Want to take from Orie Miller fund, but they want to ask SGA first before using that last resort. Students will be leaving Friday afternoon, and be back late Sunday night. Kate makes a motion to grant Peace Fellowship the asked for $265; Charlie seconds it. 14 in favor, 2 abstaining, 0 opposed. Motion passed.

v. Old Business

a. Aikido Revised Constitution. A constitution was revised and readmitted; SGA specifically was interested in clarifications concerning officers, meetings/classes, and if the club is affiliated with Sororities/Fraternities or if it is tailored specifically to EMU. Were elections/election times discussed during the meeting with them? Their level of specificity is probably sufficient. Mariah motions to approve the constitution; Tyler seconds it. The constitution will be passed to the President’s Office. 15 in favor, 1 abstaining, 0 opposed. Motion passed.

vi. Announcements

1. Lunch this Friday with the Board. This Friday, the Board of Trustees is inviting SGA to lunch. Student leaders on campus, plus club leaders are invited. RSVP is preferred. The free meal is catered; voices should be heard! It’s a drop-in event.

vii. Committee Reporting

Alicia went to Campus Ministries on Monday, and talked about Muslim and Christian relations. One student asked about a space for Muslim and Christian students to talk about differences and learn about one another without the school getting involved (without the formality).

Andrew visited Development Office for the Suter Science Campaign. Funding for the renovation is almost completed, which is a happy surprise. There is not cap for the funding, so now they are thinking about renovating S-104 (the Head Room) as well. They will raise the roof and then separate into two rooms. Still talking about involving students, but it will be towards whatever the students wish to renovate (features, etc.). How to get the kids from marketing to the website, and from the website to making donations? Development Office wants a committee within SGA for next semester. They will talk during SGA’s last session this semester.

Christine talked about the Strategic Plan that is being reevaluated after its 5-year term.��BJ Miller presented a survey about (The National Survey of Student Engagement) Freshmen outlook. EMU was higher in Cross-Cultural engagement; “Would you attend the school again?” we were higher than area schools; Lower in discussions with “diverse others”; Lower with interaction with faculty (which arouse questions). Etc. Results were above average on social justice and sustainability.

��

viii. Open Floor

Shen has officially hired a consultant, Mary Stickler, to teach a class for the yearbook and oversee the production. Hired, and got 16 more pages, and glossy pages for the same price. She hired her two main editors-in-chief, and would like to proceed for hiring more students.

�� �� �� �� International Food event was a HUGE success; 266 students came.

Next week, CJP will come and talk about Restorative Justice; the general meeting is limited to 45 minutes. This will be a public meeting.

��ix. Adjournment

Mariah motioned to adjourn the meeting.

Charlie seconds it.

Meeting adjourned.

Attendance:

Senate Agenda

6^th of November 2013

“Perhaps it’s impossible to wear an identity without becoming what you pretend to be.”

? Orson Scott Card, Ender’s Game

i. Call to Order Called to order 8:35 pm

ii. Roll Call/Prayer

iii. Approval of Minutes Minutes passed.

iv. Announcements

v. Committee Reporting

Institutional Effectiveness met to discuss the planning document based on a recent survey. Discussed the new academic and non-academic development aspects of the programs.

vi. New Business

1. Development office question. Christine and Andrew met with the Science Center development team and the development office wants to know how to market student involvement/the campaign for funding the Science Center. Marketing would take the technology and work with it, but they’re more interested to take it to the development side. Bulletin boards still seem to work really well; individual letters also work through campus mail. Emails or texting would work better to actually get the students onto the website. Will send out an email, but many emails will be lost in the mass of impersonalized emails.
2. More development office: Development office has really liked all of SGA’s development questions; someone is interested in a matching grant for student generated funds, without a deadline of December. Possibly have activities with funding slants (marketing, etc.), advertise with selling t-shirts, etc.
3. CJP Restorative Justice question: Jonathan Swartz is part of a CJP project that is interested in meeting with SGA senators to have a conversation about the perception of restorative justice on campus to understand what students think and feel about it and what the concept means to EMU. This could be fit into our agenda time (with nothing else) to keep the time reasonable. This has been an on-going conversation especially in Res Life, and a lot of students have very strong opinions about restorative vs. punitive justice. EMU is a leader in the restorative justice field but many students don’t know a lot about it, and when it is utilized here, it seems like it is done sporadically or not well. A meeting will be set up and minutes will be taken for transparency’s sake.

vii. Old Business

viii. Open Floor

Vi reports back about Turnitin; apparently EMU already has its own repository. Faculty can choose which repository to store submissions in. All EMU-submitted papers are checked against the larger database but do not become a part of that database.

Litza is apart of the MLK Community day, and the committee is wondering if SGA would like to be more involved in the planning and participation of the day. Last year, SGA was involved. As of right now, the MCC Relief Kits are planned to be the MLK day event. Caleb and Curtis will be a SGA representative.

Hospitality committee wants to use clear water-resistant paint to use on campus; designs could be on sidewalks when it rains, but normally it will be clear. Eldon from Phys Plant ok-s the idea, so we should submit ideas (to SGA or Chantelle) if we have them.

ix. Adjournment

���������������������� Jacob Moves to adjourn the meeting.

�� �� �� �� ��Kyle seconds the motion.

�� �� �� �� ��Motion is passed.

Attendance:

Senate Agenda

30th of October 2013

i. Call to Order at 8:36 PM

ii. Roll Call/Prayer

iii. Approval of Minutes. Minutes passed.

iv. Old Business

a. Balfour Vote. Co-presidents decided that the decision for 900 yearbooks was not in the best interest of the student body (at the end of next semester, there might not be 900 students on campus; chance of students not wanting yearbooks would result in excess yearbooks). This veto can be vetoed by a super majority of the Senate (2/3s). Andrew proposes the 600-option, with purchasing more, and a first-come, first-serve basis for free books. If departments and other students order more books, then they will be more expensive (the minimum paid to Balfour would be the per book rate). We have to lock in the rate now, regardless of timing. SGA is completely funded by undergrad enrollment (each semester, each student pays $70). If we buy the 600, then if students appear for picture day, then you could get a free yearbook (or at least a reduced rate book)! Could get the extra 300 by students contributing half the cost. Kate makes a motion to buy 600 books; Jacob seconds. Can still create excitement with the 300 extra books. All in favor: 8. Abstaining: 1. Opposed: 3. Motion passed.

v. New Business

a. Common Grounds: Funding Request. Common Grounds’ sales have been increasing. They are looking to buy a new refrigerator and dishwasher. The old fridge is too small. Common Grounds has to wash dishes by hand, and sanitation is questionable. Both new appliances are Energy Star rated and would help efficiency. Asking for a total of $5,000; would provide $1,1131 itself. This would make for a cleaner, more efficient Common Grounds. Some things would still be washed by hand; this dishwasher reaches sanitation levels very quickly and wouldn’t use a lot of water. If able to sustain with dishwashing, then why need this level of dishwasher? This option is for commercial use to reach optimal levels of sanitation, but this one is good for sanitation (doesn’t use bleach, which is concerning).�� The refrigerator would be energy efficient as well as students would save time and money by not going to the store 3x a week, would eventually pay for itself. Propose cover the cost of the POS system, as well as new light bulbs; if that is included in the analysis, then total, the costs would be split 50/50. $20,000 is already allocated to Common Grounds. That business normally does not turn a profit—will they this year? Their POS (Point of Sales System) does accounting for everything that we buy; trying to update to give helpful statistics. More efficient electricity use would make a huge difference.�� This would dip into our roll-over funds (roughly $22,000). Could we simply transfer money from the roll-over fund to the general? Chantelle moves to make a motion to give full funds. Caleb seconds it. All in favor: 7. Abstaining: 2. Opposed: 1. Motion passed.

b. Frisbee: Funding Request. The club wants to reimburse players for a tournament that the players paid for out of pocket. The entry fee was $150.00, and they are simply asking for that back. SGA gave $300 earlier this semester for another tournament. Because Frisbee Club is “off-campus” (meaning community members can join), they are not allowed to get an account/allocated funds.�� Mariah moves to offer full request; Charlie seconds the proposal. All in favor: 10. Abstaining: 2. Opposed: 0. Motion passed.

vi. Announcements

vii. Committee Reporting

Chantelle went to the QEP meeting: sustainability focus. Keep “sustainability” a part of the EMU community: writing intensive courses on sustainability; students on Cross Culturals learn about a sustainability aspect of culture. Cross Cultures are carbon-intensive—offset projects?

���������������������� Kate talked with Bruce about getting student photographs in the cafeteria, and he said just to email him and give him the pictures and that he would get them up (both in frames and for the tvs).

viii. Open Floor

ix. Adjournment

Kate makes a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Mariah seconds it.

Motion passed.

Attendance:

Senate Agenda

23rd of October 2013

“You can do anything, but not everything.”—David Allen

8:30-8:40 Subcommittee breakout groups

i. Call to Order Meeting called to order at 8:48 pm

ii. Roll Call/Prayer

iii. Approval of Minutes Minutes passed.

iv. New Business

v. Old Business

a. Voting for one of the Balfour options: Andrew thinks that it should just be 300 for the seniors because it’s the first year. Kate advocates for the 900 copies because if the only people who see the yearbooks are seniors, underclassmen are less likely to advocate for the yearbook in the future. We would give out 900 books creates excitement for the yearbook, and our budget is much bigger now, and we spend much less than prior. 600 yearbooks is a nice middle ground spot. Would the technology allowance be allocated for us to spend on our own technology—would EMU own it? Could we ask money to pay for the “free” books? The 300 would cover Seniors, but we’re already through the first half of the first semester, and there’s a lot that we haven’t covered. And we don’t know what product Belfour will produce, and we should see what we’re getting before we pay lots of money for it (900, etc.). Can make it an opt-out program, but only at the end of the year. Chantelle thinks that we need to go with the 900 to generate student excitement, and could possibly ask students for other pictures to contribute. What is the difference between starting now, or starting next year? Getting an advisor, student leaders, etc. Could start a first-come first-serve basis with 600 yearbooks with sign up sheet. Ken has a pool with potential advisors and student workers. The first option is not even in our budget—already allocated. Only the 900 option would dip into our reserves. If we are considering the 600 copies, it is only a few thousand more, so 900 would make sense. But how can we generate enough student interest? Curtis makes a motion to buy just 300 copies; Camille seconds it. All in favor: 6. Abstaining: 0. Opposed: 8. Kate makes a motion for 900; Alicia seconds it. All in favor: 8. Abstaining: 1. Opposed: 5. Motion passed.

vi. Announcements

1. SGA meal with the Board of Trustees on November 15^th. We will get an email to join the Board of Trustees for lunch. Personal time with people who are involved with policy measures.

vii. Committee Reporting. Krista went to the Safety Committee meeting; talked about global harmonization of chemicals; lift safety; insurance. Potentially closing the Dark Room in the art building. Also talked about the mold situation in the Psych department. Ryan went to the IS committee meeting and the email will go to Gmail supported instead of Squirrel Mail.

viii. Open Floor

ix. Adjournment

Jacob moves to adjourn the meeting.

Chantelle seconds the motion.

Meeting is adjourned.

Attendance:

Senate Agenda

16th of October 2013

���������������������� “The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway.” Henry Boye

i. Call to Order called at 8:35 p.m.

ii. Roll Call/Prayer

iii. Approval of Minutes. Minutes passed.

iv. New Business

1. �� �� �� �� �� �� Balfour Report. Shen opportunities through yearbook production company presentation. Most students want a yearbook, yet most do not have copies of past year’s Shen. In 2003, the SGA budget was $40,000, and $30,000 was allocated to yearbook—however, today, with $100,000+ SGA budget and only $15,000 budget for yearbook, which will pay for yearbooks for seniors. If there is more support for the yearbook, the more kids will be interested and buy, and the there’s more support, etc. We could do an “opt-out” instead of an “opt-in” policy of undergrads purchasing the yearbook. We might need multiple years of quality yearbooks to entice enough students to buy. Is it worth it to dip into the rollover money to support the revamping of the Shen? There are over 900 undergrads at EMU. If we were to continue just purchasing yearbooks for Seniors, we would have enough money allocated for their 12,500 price tag. Could aggressively advertise that the yearbook will be different to pump up excitement about the yearbooks. Chantelle makes a motion to work with Belfour, Mariah seconds that. All in favor: 13. Abstaining: 1. Opposed: 0. Motion passed.
2. �� �� �� �� �� �� Aikido club constitution report. Aikido club (pacifist self-defense martial arts) asking for club accreditation. Formerly a club at JMU that had to move; was possibly an unofficial club at EMU for awhile. Advisor is assistant coach Eric Payne, and officers are Megan Nafziger, Dennis Valesquez, and someone else. More than seven students are interested in taking one of the 3x a week classes. The club is planning on meeting in the aerobics room.
3. �� �� �� �� �� �� SWIP funding request. Limited to Social Work majors, but have open events. They fund/perpetuate Take Back the Night—event devoted to raising awareness of sexual assault. They have a panel, yoga session, etc. SGA usually gives some money for events, but because it is only open for SW majors, doesn’t get actual funding. Requesting $400 to cover all expenses for speakers, food, chalk, “clothesline project,” supplies & posters and miscellaneous expenses. The Orie Miller fund is also being asked. This funding is for the week of Take Back the Night, which is well-received by the student body and has been proven to be helpful. Have not decided on a chapel speaker yet. Campus Ministries is donating some supplies and time, but still need some funding. Kate makes a motion to give the full amount, Curtis seconds it. All those in favor: 11, Abstaining: 3, Opposed: 0. Motion passed.

v. Old Business

1. �� �� �� �� �� ����Jacob Mack-Boll returns for Earth Keepers to ask for the $800 allocated for registration, but only $650 was used. Hopefully this extra $150 can be used for gas. Curtis motions to allocate the remaining $150 for whatever, Tyler seconds. In favor: 12, Abstaining: 0, Opposed: 0. Motion passed.

vi. Announcements

1. �� �� �� �� �� �� Leadership Conference October 26^th. If anyone is interested, Senators �� �� should talk to Christine after the meeting.

vii. Committee Reporting

1. Undergraduate Council update: Andrew and Christine. Roselawn is planned to be renovated this summer. The top two floors will be converted into classrooms and office rooms, will need to add an elevators for handicap accessibility. Potentially student housing in the current department houses. Department chapel updates are not exciting, so professors aren’t sure if they’re getting to students. Spain and Morocco trip passed for another language credit (added 3 more credits for 120 hours).
2. Tyler Denlinger Book Store committee. Money saved with rental savings: $45,000 saved. 10,400 with the used books. It’s more effective the more people use it. If the entire student body bought books at EMU book store, then it would be just as cheap as online.

viii. Open Floor

ix. Adjournment

Mariah motions to adjourn this meeting.

Krista seconds it.

Motion passed.

Attendance: