The weekly meeting of Student Senate was held on the Bates Meeting Room at 1:30 on Monday, October 28. Rebecca was present and taking minutes
1. Approval Of minutes
Elizabeth: I move to approve the minutes seconded. No objections
Michelle: The approval of the minutes passes by silent consent
2. Chair’s report
a. Michelle: I just want to urge everyone to come to the meeting tonight at 9. Next week we’re going to have about 20 minutes dedicated talking to what it’s like to be in senate. The last thing I would like to say that Spencer Barnett is having a Quaker memorial service on Thursday and I wanted to urge everyone to come.
3. Treasurer’s Report
a. Haylee: Also, Joanna from SadieLou resigned and I just wanted to tell everybody that her wages are going to being split between the two remaining directors.
4. Roll Call
Present: Lucy, Bobby, Pam, Jasmine, Lily, Hayleigh, Maddie, Michelle, Kara, Aiden, Durga, Neil, Angelina, Emily, Eliot, Lindsey, Jonathan, Amanda, Shayna, Elizabeth
5. Committee Reports
A. SSSF
a. Aiden: There is still an open SSSF position. Nobody’s stepped up to run for this position. We’ll be sending out another email to the community to remind people. Hopefully all of you got my save the date email for Homecoming on November 14
B. General
a. Michelle: Brian and Cat aren’t here
C. Admissions
a. Angelina: We still have not met yet. I am following up on this.
D. Curriculum
a. Jonathan: We’re discussing who’ll be teaching first year studies next year. And we’re also talking about a change in the course catalogue next semester.
b. Elizabeth: Are you going to update the community about that?
c. Jonathan: This wasn’t discussed but I’m sure they will
E. Student Life
a. Jasmine: We discussed the upkeep of the campus. We got a letter from a Bronxville community member complaining about the trash so we’re thinking of organizing a monthly volunteer thing where people pick up trash. We also approved a SSSF banner and will be having a discussion about the blood drive tomorrow.
b. Bobby: We’re starting a coalition for community respect. It’s based on student interest and keeping students safe with other students.
F. Alcohol and Drug Task Force
a. Elizabeth: We looked over the policy and we’re deciding if we want to have a panel about what our thought processes are and why we decided on sanctions.
b. Hayleigh: We’re meeting tomorrow
G. Bylaw
a. Kara: Please email us if there are any bylaws you want us to talk about in meetings
H. Publicity
a. Eliot: We’re meeting tomorrow at 5
b. Amanda: Talking about fall formal, we’re trying to pull things together quickly.
I. Club Liaison Check-In
a. Kara: I’ve been talking to my club. Baking some baked goods
b. Aiden: I contacted my club chair and haven’t heard back
c. Durga: I haven’t contacted my club
d. Neil: I sent an email and haven’t gotten a response
e. Angelina: I hang out with Emily and Rocky Horror was great
f. Emily: I don’t have a club yet
g. Eliot: I don’t have a club yet
h. Amanda: I haven’t gotten in touch with my club
i. Shayna: I don’t have a club yet
j. Elizabeth: My club’s meeting is the same time as SSSF. But we’re in touch
k. Bobby: The club’s been going strong. We’ve been in constant contact.
l. Pam: My club doesn’t have any events
m. Jasmine: They’ve been contacted and I’ve attended a meeting
n. Hayleigh: Ive contacted my club. We’re talking about what kinds of things they want to do this year
o. Maddie: I’ve contacted my club but haven’t heard back yet
6. Club Recognitions and Liaison Assignments
A. American Sign Language Club
a. Emmy: We’re having lessons once a week with a deaf teacher. We’re going over introductory things. We’re planning on organizing a Bates Lunch table to anyone who wants to learn or practice.
b. Amanda: Motion to approve. Seconded. No objections
c. Michelle: Who would like to be the liaison?
d. Shayna: I will
B. Comic Appreciation Club
a. Tim: It’s going to be focused around movies. There are lots of comic book movies.
b. Amanda: Is there a lot of interest?
c. Tim: Yeah, I have a list of interested people
d. Jasmine: I motion to approve the CAPES. Seconded. No objections
C. SPAAR Club
a. Maddie: We’re looking in working with the application of human rights. We’re interested in bringing speakers to campus.
b. Kara: We’re also thinking about doing some bake sales
c. Jasmine: Would you be interested in bringing a speaker for human rights day?
d. Kara: Yes, maybe.
e. Elizabeth: I motion to approve SPAAR Club. Seconded. No objections.
f. Lucy: I will be the liaison
g. Michelle: Now we’re going to go down the list because there are a number of clubs that don’t need approval but definitely
h. Emily: I would like to be the liaison to Common Ground and QVC
i. Michelle: I’m going to ask Eliot first
j. Eliot: I’ll do WSLC
k. Neil: I’ll take Sadie Lou standard
l. Angelina: I’ll take on Transaction
m. Lucy: I’ll also do SLC review
n. Elizabeth: I’ll do Harambee
o. Lily: I’ll do Midnight Cabaret
Shayna: I’ll do First Step Productions
7. New Business
A. Discussion of Anti-Opression training
a. Michelle: We’re going to do a reflection on our Oppression Training
b. Elizabeth: I was frustrated because I felt really out of touch. I think it’s frustrating when we dance around things that should be talked about.
c. Angelina: In relation to the facilitator, she kept recommending that we not talk about senate related things but she didn’t offer an alternative.
d. Jasmine: Overall I liked her a lot but I really had a problem with her definition of racism. Anyone can be racist. I’ve seen plenty of people be racist who are of color.
e. Lily: Overall, I felt like because we spent so much time skirting around problems, I didn’t feel like it was helping me that much. We didn’t apply the exercises to the other things we did.
f. Kara: I’ve done Oppression training before and I’ve heard that definition before but it is jarring because it’s not the way we traditionally use it.
g. Neil: In general, I really wanted to be there so if anyone feels like they want to say something so I can get a good idea of what went on.
h. Michele: I think one of the problems here is that a lot of the strong voices from Sunday aren’t here today
i. Bobby: I really changed my opinion from the beginning to the end. At first I didn’t like her but by the end, I was really into it.
j. Amanda: I felt really intimidated by her. I’ve done other training like this before and she way she went about it made me really uncomfortable.
k. Hayleigh: I was disappointed that she didn’t call on people more who were quiet. So I was a little frustrated that some voices were allowed to keep dominating the conversation. I’m not sure she did that well as a facilitator.
l. Elizabeth: I thought she was cold and rude.
m. Durga: I think we should keep in mind that she only had a day to do this and she normally takes much longer with groups.
n. Kara: I agree with Durga. And in the future maybe it would be good to find someone who can do their agenda in 4 hours.
o. Maddie: I agree that she was really unfriendly. I don’t like the way she didn’t talk about calling people out in a way that was constructed
*Rebecca decided to stop taking minutes in the middle of this discussion because of potential confidentiality issues.
B. Discussion: Alchohol and the Fall Formal
a. Michelle: So in order to have alcohol at the fall formal we would need to have a 2/3 vote.
b. Neil: There are so many things that we fund that are not technically opened to the community. So I think we should overturn the bylaw.
c. Maddie: So I support funding alcohol for this event but I don’t want to overturn the bylaw because I think that having alcohol at an even inevitably excludes people.
d. Elizabeth: I agree with Maddie. Alcohol does alienate some people.
e. Bobby: It alienates people who can’t drink legally. I think doing this would encourage people of a different demographic to the event, but younger people will still come.
f. Lily: I think safety is an issue when we’re talking about alcohol. We do have a history where people got alcohol poisoning. While, yes, people who were not of age would drink illegally but I think it makes things safer, especially because it’s beer.
g. Aiden: I would urge anyone interested in changing this bylaw to come to a bylaw meeting.
h. Durga: To address alienation, I feel like our campus does promote certain parties which alienate people. For example, parties where you don’t wear clothes. Also, I know the Kamikaze group is having an event for people who do not want to drink alcohol so that’s a good outlet for people.
i. Angelina: Who made the rule that it’s one drink per hour?
j. Mary: It’s just healthy responsible drinking. It’s pretty much a standard on college campuses.
k. Amanda: Can someone explain the rope concept?
Michelle: The front part of the tent will have a little section that’s cornered off where if you’re drinking, you have to stay in there.
l. Mary: From my perspective, I see alcohol at this kind of an event as an enhancement. Students commented on how they really liked the enhancement of having the option of having alcohol. From the perspective of the college, we’re supportive of whatever your decision is but I see it as an enhancement.
m. Kara: I motion to deem it appropriate to have alcohol at the fall formal. Seconded
n. Michelle: It has been motioned and seconded to deem alcohol at fall formal appropriate. Are there any objections? None
o. Maddie: Roll call vote. < unanimous yes> passes
Michelle: So the budget for the alcohol was $1200 for beer and $300 for the ropes.
q. Elizabeth: I motion to fund in full. Seconded. No objections
r. Maddie: Roll call vote:
C. Bylaw Changes:
a. Michelle: So to reiterate, these proposed changes are coming from the bylaw committee
b. Kara: Three tardees is equal to one absences
c. Bobby: I don’t think that not blogging and not showing up to a meeting is like comparing apples and oranges. The notion of a penalty for this really bothers me.
d. Lily: I understand what Bobby is saying. When we were talking about this we were talking about the responsibilities of a senator . We need these blogs to be transparent and to inform the community.
e. Amanda: I see the importance of both arguments. But I agree with the fact that blogging or showing up to a meeting are two different things
f. Jasmine: I’m really against this because we have so many requirements as both students and senators. We’re responsible people and we understand the need to be transparent.
g. Kara: I just want to make it clear that blogging is already a rule.
h. Angelina: I would like more explanation on how long after a meeting, do you have to blog and who is in charge of keeping track of this? Some committees don’t meet every week.
i. Aiden: I move to table this discussion and move on to other bylaws. Seconded. No objections.
j. Kara: So moving on to the club liaison rule about having to email your clubs within 24 hours after the assignment
k. Neil: I think we should make sure we have the club member’s information when they get assigned.
l. Lily: I think that getting an email with the information would be so helpful.
m. Bobby: I’d like to make a motion to approve the bylaw Rule 10, Section 5, Part 1 with the proposed amendment. seconded . no objections
n. Maddie: We’re going to do a roll call vote <16 yes 1 no>
o. Kara: Moving on to Standing Rules Rule 10, Section 5, Part 3
Neil: I think it’s a good idea for the committee reports
q. Bobby: I support this. It encourages transparency
r. Angelina motion to approve the proposed bylaw change Rule 10, Section 5, Part 3. Seconded. No objections
s. Maddie: We’re going to do a roll call vote
t. Kara: So now we’re going to discuss the constitutional bylaws of Title V, Article I, Sections 1 & 2
u. Lily: Part of my job is talking about clubs so being able to see what clubs exist are important. If that’s something that Exec is willing to take on, then I think it’s a good idea
v. Maddie: It’s really important to hear what the clubs are all about
w. Neil: I want things to be friendly and nice, but if people just want to do their own thing then we should just let them do it
x. Bobby: I support the current procedure for re-recognizing clubs that have been around for more than 2 years. But for the new clubs, it’s important to hear presentations.
y. Lily: I think that we have to look at it in a way where it’s our needs vs. the needs of the club chair. But as a senator, I want to make sure that the chairs are feeling comfortable.
8. Announcements
a. Mary: Bring your senate cups for beverages
b. Bobby: Please email the coalition club
c. Michelle: Fill out your strategic planning survey
9. Adjourn
3: 15 pm