The following are meeting minutes from the Senate meeting. The Senate meets every Monday at 5:30 PM in Room 318 on the third floor of The Commons. These meetings are open to all students to listen to discussion. If you would like to present an issue, please contact the Speaker of the Senate, Steve Gilmore, in advance so you can be added to the agenda.
---
January 29, 2007
5:34 meeting begins.
Elani not here yet.
Approval of minutes: yes.
In review:
Thaddeus –
Met with Dr. Brown from athletics. Dr. Brown said that athletics wasn’t getting a lot of help from the school. Athletics not included in 10 year plan when drafted in 2003 (10 year plan given to regents). Said not enough money to keep athletics going, definitely can’t be building new stuff (like tennis courts, basketball courts, etc). Donations of corporate sponsorship would have to fund, not student fees.
Jay –
Working to get a better online undergraduate catalog search engine going. Should be up and going soon. Will be sending out a giant report of everything he’s been doing soon.
Adrienne –
Formal dance committee. This topic one of the possible topics in the Retriever next issue.
Steve –
University Steering Committee and Retention committee. Researching how we can improve retention. People will be coming to SGA meetings to present what they think will strengthen retention – want our opinion and support to develop.
Also, Jay and Steve have been attending Super Bowl Party committee. Still want to do a party in the Commons.
________________________________________
The Event: Frequent Fan Card
Wanted to start this Feb 10. Between SGA and Athletics, and Student Athletics.
Incentive for individuals to attend athletic events. In pats have had incentive for organizations – this more individual. Get card punched, then eligible for certain prizes.
Plastic cups, t-shirts, stuff from bookstore, professional sports tickets, etc.
Targeting students first, secondly staff, and thirdly off-campus community.
Asking SGA to co-sponsor.
Money is for card development, advertising, and initial prizes.
Looking for $1,500 ish ball park figure.
Might be more likely to get money from the House instead of the Senate’s GL. (Nayana) Have you gone to other organizations to try to get money? (Nayana) Not yet, no. Will
though. Wanted SGA to be primary co-sponsor.
Since this requires man power, SAAC is required that they wouldn’t be able to do a few events. Could SGA help out with this? Also, requested money from House during budget hearings and were denied. Can still get money. Just means they were denied initially. (Nayana)
To get best response, will probably need layout to see what money is going to specifically. Where is the money going to be coming from in the future? (Alex) Depends on the success in the Spring semester. Being a new program, was not budgeted within the athletics budget. Athletics has said that if it is successful, will take it over in the future.
Athletics isn’t giving any money to this right now? (Steve) Right.
Have you looked into donations from outside companies? (Danielle) Sponsored by Coco-Cola, and some other larger corporations. Looking into it currently.
________________________________________
JL__-0607
General Ledger Allocation for SGA ad in Retriever Weekly, Spring 2007
To clear some things up from last meeting: Event turn-around can be within a few days.
SGA can use Retriever to bring up large concerns within University, promote our own events, letters from administration, etc.
Have had this space for maybe 5-6 years. Last year never missed an ad. This last semester had 2 weeks where there wasn’t anything to post.
Jay and Phil asking for this to pass.
If organization had event coming up and needed space, they could approach Jay about it? Cost? (Adrienne) No cost.
How much is allocation in SGA budget? (Thaddeus) Only for fall, $4499 or so. $50,000 given to Retriever. Not really going to get more money on top of that, haven’t needed it in the past. Reason not budgeted for Spring, SGA was working with increase cost and decrease revenue. Chett only budgeted money for Spring in prediction that there would be money from last year that would roll over from last year to pay for Spring ads.
One of the things we talked about was relationship between SGA and Retriever. Because we give them 50 grand, why are we paying them another 8 for ads. (Thaddeus) Giving them 50 grand say they can run. They are providing us with a service. They don’t need that money to operate, though. One thing both sides are looking for is that SGA doesn’t need to give them 50 grand. If we start taking freebies from the Retriever, where is the line drawn. (Phil) If we took this money away, they wouldn’t need the money anyway to operate. (Jay)
With that mentality, couldn’t we demand to be admitted to any event from any organization for free since we fund everyone? The 50 grand that we give the Retriever is given because we are the SGA and that’s what we do. (Alex)
Relationship between SGA and Retriever is getting better. Some things have changed within Retriever, and things are a lot more flexible. (Adrienne)
Not looking at it like, “we don’t like you, so why should we give you more money?” More like, we’re providing you with a third of your money every year, it shouldn’t be a big deal for the SGA to get one page a week. Are we asking for a freebie or asking them to do their job since we give them 1/3. (Thaddeus)
The proper way to do that, then, would give them 40 grand and then 10 for ads. Better to keep ads separate and pay for ads like anyone else or else where does special privilege end. (Phil)
In future, if we wanted to talk to them about making a compromise about including our ads for free within money we give them, but for this semester, it seems we have the option of either having ads of not buying them and not having them. (Alex)
Agree with Thaddeus, but also think Alex’s point is valid too. Would rather students know about organizations on campus, be informed. (Danielle)
Especially with all big projects coming up, cultural events, etc, would be inconsiderate to let us not have ads in Retriever. (Elani)
$360,000 in GL. 50 grand rolled over from unspent money last year. (Phil)
Even if we get the ads for 8 grand, not killing us. (Steve)
In favor: 10
Opposed: 0
Abstain: 0
________________________________________
JL__-0607 General Ledger Allocation Super Bowl Party
Asked to sponsor game room, IFC in Sports Zone, GSA Pub…
Is our $500 only to Game room, or other things too. Would go to Office of Student Life as our contribution. Easier to have money centralized in OSL. Not only people contributing money to this event, lots of others.
In favor: 10
Opposed: 0
Abstain: 0
________________________________________
Winter retreat this Saturday, 10a-5p. Providing lunch and breakfast. If anyone can help out, let Steve or Nayana know.
Can we attend portions? There are different sessions. Will send out schedule. (Steve)
Gabe:
Starting study group program again for Spring. 5 new classes. BIO 100, PSYCH 100, PHYS 111, MATH 150, ECON 100.
Nayana:
Thursdays at 8, House meeting time.
David:
Election planning coming up soon.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Adrienne – putting final touches on formal dance.
Danielle – Readership program. Representative coming here soon.
David – any discussion needed by Senate before representative gets here.
Phil – GSA and RSA have separate budgets that could help. (GSA has no money – Jay)
Steve – retention group meeting Wednesday 1-4
Roll call: everyone here.
Meeting adjourned at 6:29