36Th Student Senate

36th Student Senate 1st Session Agenda for September 24, 2015 I. Call to Order at 4:39pm II. Roll Call III. Approval of the Journal Journal is approved IV. Approval of the Agenda Chairman Loans moves to strike point D from Appointments Motion Passes Agenda is approved V. Officers’ Reports A. Speaker – John Daniels Lot of people in different roles today due to members celebrating a religious holiday. Chairman Loane is acting Pro Temp. Senator Raminpour is acting Clerk. Please notify chairs if you are unable to make an event/committee. You must notify chairs 24 hours prior to event/committee. Have to declare committee to be able to vote in it. B. Speaker Pro Tempore – Farah Elherazy (Acting Pro Tempore-Chelsea Loane) Reminder that a motion to consider when discussing a bill/resolution is not necessary. Only when discussing an appointment. Code Bill Amendments due next Tuesday by 4:30. C. Clerk – Musirah Khan (Acting Clerk- Leila Raminpour) VI. Committee Reports A. Administrative and Financial Affairs – Chelsea Loane Spring Financial Event is being planned with 2 different dates being looked at. More info to come on the event. Bill and Appointment coming through today B. University Services – Greg Warren C. Diversity and Multicultural Affairs – Zanib Cheema Different members reaching out to alternative organizations on campus to connect with the committee this semester. Working with Academics for a Flash Lecture around Columbus Day to discuss Native American History. Working on getting OK for Hoodies and Hijabs event. Take Back the Night is on October 6th, looking for advertising and supporting the event. D. University Life – Nathan Pittman Witch Watch resolution passed 6-1-1. Come out to Take Back the Night. Patriots in Action committee time will be finalized next week. Gold Rush resolution will be in first reading today. Appointment for Undersecretary for Athletics going through today. Teaming up with Athletics to plan “mini gold rush” on October 3rd for Mason soccer game against VCU. Athletics will supply scarves for fans that come out. E. Government and Community Relations – Laura Heger Discussed carpooling for handing out flyers for Witch Watch to local businesses. Working on partnership with Mason Ambassadors for mentorship with local high schools. F. Academic Affairs – Jessica Green Have Bill and Resolution for fall AAE going through first reading today. Deans and Provost dinner with be in late November. Working with Diversity on flash lecture. G. Senate Military Liaison – Ryan Powers No Report. VII. Public Session A. Executive Report – Student Body President Khushboo Bhatia and Vice President Ali Zaidi President Bhatia: Sexual Assault Implementation Committee looking into long-term plan to combat sexual assault on campus. Will be breaking into subcommittees- looking for more SG involvement in those. Finance Town Hall was this past Monday-JJ Davis gave report on University Budget. Looking to have Town Hall through A&F sometime towards the end of the semester. Lunch with Dr. Cabrera happened this past Wednesday. Looking to get more people to come next month. BOV update- University is in a lot of debt with added infrastructure in recent years, looking to combat that. Will be sitting on committee for Dr. Cabrera’s renewal contract negotiation- great as we have a student voice. Looking to get feedback through student body. B. Student Government Advisor – Sara Heming Not Present. C. Graduate Assistant – Jennifer Khoo Fall Retreat has been moved from October 10th to October 23rd. Will be from 3-8pm. Campaigning begins this coming Monday. D. Mason Life Representative Alex: Mason Life students starting new jobs and interning with GMU radio. Mason Club football game this Saturday. E. Other Members of the University Administration F. Gallery Members Ronni Grinam (Secretary of Public Relations): PR team is here to help with any marketing. Ask that people fill out new PR document for marketing 3-4 weeks prior to event so that they have time to prepare different tasks. Alex Seals (Secretary of University Services): Wifi survey was done this passed week by 3rd party to help with Wifi situation in Johnson Center. IT meeting today- #1 priority right now in IT office is Wifi. VIII. Appointments A. Iman Rehmatullah – Senate Finance and ISOM double major. Sophomore. Involved in PSA, Investment club, Looking for leadership position in ISOM club, Looking to join MSA, transferred from Marymount two semesters ago. Currently interning with Wharton Club of DC (internship is done on campus by answering phone calls, emailing, etc.), prioritize is very important and SG would be a high priority. Never joined SG in high school due to lack of confidence-realizes how important it is to have a voice and wants to represent student population. Can develop many skills through being a part of the organization such as team building, communication, etc. No initiatives, but wants to work on different initiatives on finances and University Life areas. Questions: No questions. Discussion and Debate: Krupp: perfectly qualified and enthusiastic. Support the candidate. Jones: Has no initiatives. Does not seem passionate. Was not in business casual attire. Does not believe she can do the job Djavadi: Candidate passed 5-3-1 Lanham: Positive remark-paid attention in committee; Negative remark- questioning time to commit. Raminpour- talked about having a common goal, which is important. Looking for ways to give services. OK that she does not have any initiatives, sometimes being a team player is not a bad role at all. Support Vaughan: Wants to see Senators come in that have passion for Mason. Did not see that in the candidate. Gregg: Wished she had a speech in committee. Great speech today. Discussed in committee that this may not be the best place for here, however I feel she is more capable for Senate now after speech. Stubblefield: Not involved in anything. Changing why she wants to be involved between committee and Senate today. Cook: A lot of assuming in discussion. Seems extremely qualified and we should give her the benefit of the doubt. Heger: Not in support of candidate. Believed that she did not use speech time wisely. Appeared to only want to be in SG to better herself which is not right. Loane: When someone comes in, it is not our job to decide whether or we believe they have enough time for SG, are involved in enough, etc. Initiative debate is a lose-lose. Either do not have any or the initiatives. Not fair to her. Ellison: Wondered why she did not run in the Spring. Sensing possible resume padding. Djavadi: We are being way too hard on this girl. Resume building is an obvious thing that we all do. Give her a chance. Pitts: Changed my mind after Djavadi’s speech. Believes that she is only here for a resume builder. Carse: Voted no in committee because of belief that she is using this as a resume builder. Pittman: Nitpicking small portions of speech which is not fair. Involvement is also a lose-lose situation for candidates. Was involved in more than we say she did. She has many qualities that would be great for SG. Open to learn with regards to initiatives, which is just as okay. Green: Did not have initiatives, but she had a focus. Hypocritical for us to judge her for not having initiatives. Only as sophomore. Kitchen: Started in SG without knowing much about the organization. Learned a lot over time and grew in different ways through SG. Supports candidate. Motion to vote. Candidate passes 15-7-1 Candidate sworn in. B. Jayme Murray – Executive Undersecretary of University Services for Facilities Appointment table for one week C. Dylan Davis – Executive Undersecretary of University Life for Athletics and Mason Recreation Statement from candidate: Junior. Civil Engineering Major. Patriot Leader in past. Currently serve on executive board for Patriot Platoon. Looking to increase attendance at events and increase Patriot Pride. If elected, I will be able to flourish in my role as undersecretary. Executive Report: Dylan is great. He is passionate, dedicated, and committed to Mason and Mason Athletics. Discussion and Debate: Pittman: In discussion with Gaby Peda, felt that Dylan is the perfect candidate for position. Jones: Davis is a great candidate and would be great for the position. Move to vote. Candidate passes 21-0-1. D. Kendall Courtney – Executive Undersecretary of University Services for Dining Services, Chair of the Student Dining Board IX. Old Business A. Resolution #3: A Resolution to Support Witch Watch 2015 Chairman remarks: Witch Watch is a longstanding Mason tradition. Great for both University Life and GCR aspects of the both SG and the University. Event is being held on Halloween and is a mandatory event. Discussion and Debate: Committee Report: Passed in committee 6-1-1. We believe it will be a great event. Motion to amend resolution. Debate and Discussion on Amendment to the Resolution: Kitchen: I voted “no” in committee because there was no ballpark mention of costs. This amendment prevents the Senate from committing to undisclosed funds prior to the bill going into General Senate for the vote. Pittman: Understand where the amendment is coming from, but this amendment Warren: Not necessary. Move to vote Amendment does not pass: 4-16-1 Warren: Do not need any more discussion on a resolution that is happening. Motion to vote. Resolution passes 20-0-1 B. Bill #3: A Bill to Allocate Funds for Patriots in Action T-Shirts Opening Remark from Authors: Chairman Pittman: This is for branding for the Patriots in Action related events as well as showing the Mason community that we support the action against sexual assault. Chairman Loane: There are no financial problems that could arise with this bill. Committee Report: Bill passed 8-1-1. Discussion and Debate: Ellison: Do not support the bill because of the number of larger sizes of t-shirts. Pittman: Do not understand the argument there, the discussion and debate should not be about the number of t- shirts. Loane: Echo the other Chairmen’s statements. This is a bill to support action against sexual assault. Remember that. Motion to vote. Vote passes: 19-0-2 X. New Business A. Bill #4: A Bill to Allocate Funds for the Fall 2015 Academic Advising Expo Bill has been sent to the Administrative and Financial Affairs Committee due back in one week. B. Resolution #4: A Resolution to Support the First Fall Academic Advising Expo Resolution has been sent to Academics Affairs Committee due back in one week. C. Resolution #5: A Resolution to Support the Tradition of Gold Rush 2015 Resolution has been sent to the University Life Committee due back in one week. XI. Announcements Daniels: Great discussion today. Remember we are one organization. Do not talk unless the Speaker has recognized you. Loane: Abstentions are when there is a conflict of interest. Raminpour: Retreat is mandatory. Good luck with recruitment this weekend. Warren: Shout out to Leila for all th great work as Secretary of Senate. Very hard work. Bhatia: Great meeting. Give respect and patience to Senate Leadership, especially with regards to Parliamentary Procedure. Krupp: More events this month? Bhatia: Sepetember 28th: Beacon Survey Day event and then also kiosking throughout the day. A. Next Meeting – October 1st, 2015 at 4:30 pm in Merten Hall 1201 XII. Adjournment at 6:06pm “Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” ~ Mattie Stepanek