The regular weekly meeting of Student Senate was held on Tuesday, November 18 2008 in the Bates Meeting Room. Rebecca was present and taking minutes
1. Approval of Minutes
My computer died but I will be getting my stuff sent to me so I will post as soon as possible.
2. Chair’s report
a. Michelle: So I wanted to add that we need to be thinking about being respectful and kind and I know things can get really heated but I think that’s important. Don’t forget to use your snaps.
b. Kara: I’m going to make a point to say “point of order”
3. Treasurer’s report
a. Hayleigh: We funded gospel choir for $468 and the Solidarity club for $183
4. Roll call
Present: Michelle, Maddie, Lily, Lindsey, Hayleigh, Elizabeth, Jasmine, Bobby, Cat, Kara, Myles, Hayleigh, Aiden, Emily, Angelina, Eliot, Jay, Lucy, Durga, Neil, Amanda, Shana, Lana , Vera
5. Committee Report
A. SSSF
a. Aiden: Last week was homecoming. We raised about $200 and the game and pep rally were both well attended.
B. General
a. Cat: We had a discussion about when to ask students to leave during faculty meetings.
C. Admissions
a. Angelina: We are going to demand to meet face to face with Steven.
D. Student Work
a. Jay: Two students requested they not be present for their hearings.
E. Curriculum
a. Vera: We got permission to hire 2/5 professors for tenure track
F. Student life
a. Jasmine: Teahaus is approved to have weekly events on Thursdays from 9-12. We have two possible new people who are going to be reps for the foodservice contract committee.
G. Alchohol Taskforce
a. Elizabeth: We didn’t meet
H. Bylaw
a. Kara: We talked about a written process for now a newly elected treasurer is trained and we talked about implementing that process for parliamentarian as well.
b. Aiden: One thing that was discussed earlier this semester was making contracts with students when we weren’t sure if the funds were definitely be there to be allocated so we discussed allocating funds for all 32 weeks of the year so that would be there.
I. Liaison updates
a. Amanda: Solidarity club is having some great events
b. Emily: QVC has Kate Bornstein speaking Thursday night
c. Jasmine: SPAR had a very well attended event
J. Class President Updates
a. Elizabeth: We had a sophomore class block party last week. We couldn’t to smores, though. I’m using my left over money to do smores another time
b. Eliot: I want to have an event before the end of the semester.
c. Jay: Diversity subcommittee met two weeks ago and we talked about forming a support group for students on financial aid.
d. Neil: We are working on the senior gift and fundraising.
K. Funding discussion: Booze and Blues
a. Jen: This has been an ongoing event. We decided to make this a fundraiser sponsored by the Solidarity club for Katrina survivors. There will be blues from the blues ensemble and anyone can come jam. To clarify the fundraising aspect, we wont be advertising for fundraising and we wont put the name Booze and Blues on the poster.
b. Elizabeth: I wanted to let everyone know that at SAS we had a big discussion. It was a 3:3 vote.
c. Kara: I wanted to clarify a couple of things. SAS did vote to fund the event. So what we’re talking about is deeming the event appropriate to fund alcohol.
d. Vera: Is this going to be similar to the blues thing at the end of the year?
e. Jen: It’s a lot less formal than that. This is more of a jam session.
f. Kara: There is a bylaw that’s about funding alchohol. We need a 2/3 vote to overturn it because it’s not open to the whole community. People under 21 can attend the event but they cannot drink
g. Vera: I think that we should fund this event
h. Bobby: Are you sure this is not the same as the blues concert that’s happening at the end of the semester?
i. Jen: I made sure to communicate and coordinate with the Friday night ensemble.
j. Maddie: I would like to have a larger conversation about funding alcohol events. We should put this on the agenda for discussion that’s not attached to an event.
k. Angelina: In the interest for this being an open event, there is considerably more alcohol than non-alcoholicbeverages.
l. Mary: The amount of alcohol that is being purchased is the equivalent of 1 beer an hour for every legal student.
m. Neil: I think that people planning the event know these things. We talked about this before. Alcohol is not anymore exclusive than meat is. It’s a question of the law being higher than moral values. I think we should stop making alcohol being exclusive than other things.
n. Neil: I move to deem this appropriate and fund it the way SAS has suggested. Seconded. No objections.
o. Maddie: We’re going to take a roll call vote.
6. Old Business
A. Continued: Bylaw changes
a. Michelle: We were in the middle of a motion, which was made by Aiden
b. Aiden: The bylaw in question reads “Votes in Senate” in reference to the Parliamentarian. And I want to change it to “not a voting member of senate” effective immediately.
c. Elizabeth: I was going to call the question
d. Michelle: Now we’re going to vote on voting. <4 yes 16 no> So we are going to continue the discussion
e. Maddie: Aiden, can you repeat what bylaw this is?
f. Aiden: Title 1 Article 1 Section D Part 3 Item 9
g. Bobby: I don’t think neutrality and not having a vote are separate
h. Aiden: I want to make sure you realize that this is not part of this motion. We should confine this conversation to the bylaw change. I move to divide the motion. I would like to discuss the immediacy of the motion.
i. Michelle: We’re going to vote on this motion. Are there any objections? Objection. Let’s move into a discussion
j. Myles: it think its helpful to be able to discuss the whole question at hand.
k. Lily: I agree with Aiden. These are two separate issues that we’re dealing with. They both affect the way senate is run.
l. Maddie: I call the question
m. Michelle: We’re going to take a vote on voting to dividing the question <15 yes 5 no> So now we’re going to vote on the motion of dividing the question. <11 no 9 yes> So the motion will stay together in one piece.
n. Vera: I think Neil’s point is important but aside from this. We’ve talked about this for 3 weeks. I support this motion .
o. Neil: There’s nothing more I can do but point out that anytime the Parliamentarian has voted, it has been illegal. The main reason that I don’t think we should vote for this particular motion is because it will end the discussion on neutrality. Every decision we make is skewed by who can limit debate when.
Michelle: in the bylaws as they stand says that the Parliamentarian votes.
q. Aiden: One thing about getting things done, we have to have a motion. While we can abstractly talk about what things should or shouldn’t have, actually doing anything takes the form of a motion.
r. Kara: When I ran for this position, I did it knowing it was a knowing position and where I would be able to state my opinions and having a role in facilitating meetings. For me the issue of voting and for neutrality are two very different things.
s. Jasmine: Can I take an informal poll of people who agree the Parliamentarian should not have a vote.
t. Lily: I’d like to motion to extend the time by 10 minutes. Seconded. No objections. This passes by silent consent.
u. Angelina: I call the question
v. Michelle: So now we’re going to vote on voting on changing the Parliamentarian to a non-voting member of senate effective immediately.
w. Michelle: All those in favor of voting, raise your hand. <19 yes 1 no> So now we’re going to vote on Aiden’s motion. All those in favor of this motion, say yes . The motion did not pass <3 abstention 10 in favor 7 opposed>
x. Bobby: I motion to continue this discussion. I would like to motion to extend the time for 5 minutes. Seconded. Objection.
y. Michelle; All those in favor of extending the time 5 minutes, raise your hand <15 yes 4 no>
z. Bobby: I have a sheet I’m going to pass out that discusses everything I want to discuss.
aa. Lindsey: I agree with the idea that Parliamentarian should be a non voting member of senate. But this year, the parliamentarian was voted on by the community to be a voting member so we should hold off for this year.
bb. Maddie: I agree with Lindsey. I think my position should also be discussed as well. I would really encourage silencing positions on this committee.
cc. Amanda: A big part of why this discussion was brought up is Kara said it was okay if her position gets taken away from her to remove her vote. But if we cannot refer to her by her name, then we should also not be able to consider that.
dd. Neil: The parliamentarian’s role is to maintain the order and structure of the meeting. Those are the main roles that need to be filled. It doesn’t make sense that one could exclusively focus on these things if they’re too involved making their own opinions.
ee. Angelina: Where is evidence that anything you’re saying is true?
ff. Neil: There is no mention of this in the minutes online
gg. Amanda: Point of information. Can we acknowledge the fact that what Neil is saying is not accusatory?
hh. Emily: I call the order of the day.
7. New Business
A. Student Senate Brainstorm
a. Jay: I wan to talk about wages. It’s something we were hit with in the beginning. I wanted to smart a small investigative task force to go out and get that information on where wages come from within the school that are funded by the senate.
b. Aiden: I’d like to move to form a subcommittee to investigate student wages. Seconded. No objections.
c. Michelle: This passes by silent consent.
d. Vera: I wanted to talk about constituency issues. What we have in the room are people with strong opinions who are not necessarily representing the student body.
e. Angelina: It says in the bylaws that we are supposed to have meet your senator events. It might be prudent to talk about having a senate-wide event.
f. Neil: I wanted to bring up something about administration . But the school lost 32% of its endowment. There has been a lot of discussion about where cuts can be made. If those discussions are being had, we need to be in a position where we can help guide decisions based on what students think about this. It’s a shitty discussion to have, but we need to be in sync with the rest of the school. We need to discuss what we don’t need.
g. Elizabeth: I agree with Neil. And I think students do have a big interest in electing a parliamentarian who wanted to keep senate in order.
h. Amanda: I agree with Neil. I make a motion to form a subcommittee about looking to the future for Sarah Lawrence open to the entire community. Seconded. No objections
i. Michelle: This motion passes by silent consent
j. Myles: I think we should consider having senate positions being paid. Here is my reasoning. First, we do a lot of work. I think we are limiting who can run for senate because of the amount of time put into this so people don’t have to make that decision.
k. Mary:I wanted to support Neil’s recommendation. The president met with the staff and faculty and what she said was we have a multi-million dollar deficit in the future.
l. Michelle: I’m going to close the call list now.
m. Amanda: With that Myles is saying, opening this discussion would cause lots of issues because it would be impossible to be biased.
8. Announcements
a. Mary: We’re making changes for Orientation for next year. We will be recruiting orientation leaders.
9. Adjourn
3:15