The following are meeting minutes from the House of Organizations meeting. The House meets every Tuesday 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 House, Nayana Davis, in advance so you can be added to the agenda.
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Call to Order
8:22
Roll Call
Absent: Ozelle
Approval of Minutes
Approved
New Business
A. JL14-0607-Amendments to SGA Constitution and By-laws
Ross- is there anyone who wants this to be clarified? We have been talking about this for a while.
Nayana- One change, you h
David- the legislation itself, the very last clause talks about the to decide who is in the finance board… look who is the higher in the election and they get the first pick. The glitch in that is if there is a contest in the house, then the votes aren’t weighted properly. We should take this off the legislation and bring it back next week.
Nayana- I friendly amend to remove the last paragraph, and the “and” and change the further to finally.
Brady- I have no problem with most of this; the different boards are great ideas that will benefit everyone. All of us are invested in SGA and students of UMBC. We are an org who hasn’t shied away from new things. The challenge I propose is to take a closer look at the 5-member org group. I would like to remove the election and allow every student org to have a sit, this is about 230, I don’t think they should be in control of money. The elections and appointed turns people off. We should be serious about involving students, this would change the reputation of SGA. We would be offering these groups the voice. This is making this org an org with two prongs, one to tackle finances and orgs. This would make the meetings much more available to the organizations and the students. I don’t think that everyone will show up. If we choose to confront this, I am committed to this. This is a way to defeat the student involvement problem on campus. Many people that I have talked to have been receptive. I see people voting yes to this on the ballot. This is something the students can own. I would like to open up to questions.
Joy- Would all the students be receiving stipend?
Brady- No, the only requirement is one member from each org and it is up to the organization.
Joy- why would people go unless it involves their organization?
Brady- they can come here as students and resolve their problems. All students have real issues and we would be offering them a forum.
Ross- You did not mention a single organizational issue. Our body does not work very well. I would like to see a body that is to look at problems with organizations. Your body serves a different purpose. But lets not change our constitution. Lets invite every student on this campus, lets do it now.
Brady- The larger body can be a lobbying group for the financial board and a check on the financial board. Think about the voice that we would be giving for the student orgs.
Carrie- I think that many things in life and SGA are a process. I would hope that sometime SGA would have a body with 240 people. But we need to have a group that exclusively helps and supports our organization. I don’t think that this is the time for a 240-member body.
Brady- I argue that we are having a VP with a staff to support student organizations without a limit. We are creating a new VP office to benefit student organizations. if we create another 12-member body, the image of SGA on this campus doesn’t change. We are creating an elected VP office with a staff all to themselves. I think 250 members is a reach, but getting that capacity is something to work for. It won’t happen in the 1st two years but it will work towards it.
Stan- Over the past 7 days, did anyone else help you ask students about your proposal?
Brady- Yes, I had a few other students help me ask, we have been targeting the average students.
Stan- Commuters?
Brady- we did some in the Commons, I can’t give you a percentage.
Nayana- We these random students?
Brady- Yes. the interest is there. We aren’t average student, we can’t predict what will happen. This might fail, but I don’t think that is reason enough not to consider it.
Ross- I think that it is a long-term sort of process. Why don’t we pull together some town hall meetings. Why don’t we as an entire SGA work on things to involve as many students as possible. I would work with you to put this together. Let’s try to get those hundred students in a lecture hall just to talk about this. Did you talk to any organizational leaders?
Brady- I think that the town hall meetings are ebb and flow. They are great when they work. They are not written into the Constitution. Writing it into the constitution makes it a policy and a commitment.
Nayana- Why are you limiting this to the House of organizations?
Brady- I think that we can address as a two-prong body, rather than two single prong orgs. I didn’t target specific student leaders. I will work to make sure this is ready to be put active on day 1.
- Town hall meetings are a great idea, there is no set organizational body. This way there is an official body. In terms of long-term power, this will be more effective in the end.
Joy- I agree, even with elected people they drop. with 230, I think they will come only when they need something.
Ashley- I don’t think that 100% would ever come but even if you only had 60 people.
Brady- I agree, they don’t have 100% participation rate. If we get sixty people.
Carrie- I see this an entirely separate issue. This is much different than the student advocates. I think they are separate issues.
Joy- I don’t see why what he is proposing can’t work with this. Everyone will work together for student organizations. Every student organization can be represented and those things that the VP of student affairs can be presented in that the general.
Liz- There doesn’t need to be a body for their voices to be heard.
Ashley- You mention having a two prong body, what other type of universal organizational purpose, what would draw all the different organizations together?
Brady- long-term services. Orgs that have annual events. How can we increase attendance to events. I see a small org advocate body and small cabinet. All of these people are elected.
David- The vision has been affected, every student is a member of SGA, how do you make it meaningful and identify with organization. I think that it is all going to be in the work.
Brady- They don’t have a way to channel that.
David- Aren’t these just town hall meetings for a select number of people?
Brady- we are giving them power. I think that it is a foundation for this body to expand. When we have committee meetings but they only see us in small numbers. We can show them power in numbers.
Tabassum- I understand that is very difficult for a constitution to be changed. There are two issues are together on: what you decide to do with the new house of organizations. We made a commitment to make sure we are heard and seen. If we could make ourselves heard everyday, I would ask you to commit to it as an SGA.
Ross- You are concerned about 2 bodies doing the same things. I see it as one board providing resources for the orgs and the student advocates would address sports clubs, Greek life, those kinds of things; every year there are new issues. We are all working towards the same goal but at different angles.
Brady- I see them working as the same purpose. The hope is that you have a diverse array of organizations that have different purposes. I think this is creating a more diverse body that allows every org to have a representative.
Nayana- in the event that that would happen, that would encourage a more diverse people to run and encourage people to get their reps out there.
Brady- I think that creates competition.
Carrie- It would inspire them to advocate for themselves. It would encourage them to be active. I don’t think it would benefit student organizations to get rid of this small group. I don’t see this as the same changes.
Ross- There is no rule to the number of times the bylaws can be amended. Lets continue to talk about it. Maybe this can be in a different spot in the SGA. If it doesn’t go through tonight it doesn’t die.
Stan- I am ambivalent right now, diversity would be pushed but you don’t want to go to far at the end of the spectrum. I say let’s stick to what we have and see how it goes and keep Brady’s proposal together.
Ashley- I think that there will be some people that will be grossly under represented. I see this leading towards many factions.
Liz- I don’t think that there is a need, there won’t be a huge uprising immediately.
Brady- the VP of student organizations has no limit. They will have much more influence. There will be one position to be committed to answering questions of all the orgs. It is undefined.
David- Every house member present must vote to approve this.
Joy- does it have to be voted on today?
Carrie- There is nothing that says the SGA constitution can only be amended a limited number of times. This just says you don’t vote on it today.
Nayana- ready to vote as is?
VOTE For 4 Opposed 0 Abstaining 0
B. HL86-0607- Additional Allocation for Jazz with Tom Lagana Group
Joy- We voted to give them $400 for the players, SEB and SIC are helping with many other costs.
Nayana- two of the members a people from UMBC so we were confused if it would be like an honorarium.
VOTE For 3 Opposed 0 Abstaining 1
C. HL87-0607- Additional Allocation for Recruitment Meeting
Joy- They are having their recruitment meeting, one of the first since their formation. We gave them what they asked for.
VOTE For 3 Opposed 0 Abstaining 1
D. HL88-0607- Additional Allocation for Back Pack to Briefcase
Joy- One is for PSCOF, with alumni coming in and seeing about the major. Food is from sodexho for $10 per person.
VOTE For 3 Opposed 0 Abstaining 1
E. HL89-0607- Additional Allocation for Back Pack to Briefcase
Joy- History COF, it is the same thing another day, about 40 people.
VOTE For 3 Opposed 0 Abstaining 1
F. HL90-0607- Additional Allocation for Jambo Nite
Friendly amended to $1500.
Joy- They came to ask money for $5000, they asked for $7000 and they were cut to $1500.
Mathonie- That is the quote from the SAFE meeting. This money will not be sufficient to put this event together. We need a generator, staff.
Ross- the reason this is cut down so much is because we don’t want to give one organization all the money. We need to figure out a figure to make it work.
Mathonie- You won’t be funding the whole event. We are paying $8000 of our own money. We have spoken to people to get pledges and looking for sponsorship. As equity, this event is huge, we had over 700 people. We are also putting our own money in there.
Nayana- You are free to ask for another additional allocation meeting. Here we are deciding whether you are getting $1500 for security. We need to do it within the confines of the finance committee meeting, on Tuesday. You should turn in another additional allocation form.
Mathonie- Jambo Nite is a big cultural show from ASA to encourage diversity. It celebrates African heritage with lots of performances. Security is a necessity.
Stan- Last time I talked to Tokunbo, he said there was a problem getting electronics from the commons.
Mathonie- We can only get in there at 12 pm. Commonvision cannot get there and set up so we have to go to an outside contractor.
David- have you learned more since the safe committee meeting. As of Monday, it hadn’t been resolved whether the commonvision will be able to help.
Mathonie- We have to act as though they won’t be able to be there or else we could be in a big mess.
David- I was at the Safe committee meeting, whether they can get help from the commons will affect the cost dramatically. it will either be 7500 or 15000.
Ross- When did they go to the safe committee meeting?
David- Monday
Carrie- Why can’t they get in the RAC early?
Ross- because the RAC will not let them come early. Why haven’t they gone to a safe committee meeting before.
David- This is the second time they have been to the safe committee meeting.
VOTE For 3 Opposed 0 Abstaining 1
G. HL91-0607- Additional Allocation for Chapter Fee and Intro Meeting
Joy- Engineers without Borders, they are requesting money for their first meeting, we gave them everything they wanted.
Nayana- I would like to friendly amend it only for the intro meeting.
Ross- How new are they? I have never heard of them. Do they really exist?
VOTE For 6 Opposed 0 Abstaining 1
H. HL92-0607- Additional Allocation for Chapter Fee
Nayana- one time investment for them to be associated with headquarters that they will only have to pay once.
Macaulay- everyone in the club then gets that membership.
VOTE For 6 Opposed 0 Abstaining 1
I. HL93-0607- Additional Allocation for Shabbat Dinner
Joy- JSU is having kosher food for Shabbat dinner, we cut down some of their costs .
Nayana- how many expected?
Joy- 30
Nayana- the food is so expensive because it is kosher food.
VOTE For 3 Opposed 0 Abstaining 1
J. HL94-060- Additional Allocation for Broken Bread
Joy- taking place in UC ballroom. Combination of different orgs. It is an event that is related to poverty, they will be having porridge representing how people are living with aids and other stuff.
Nayana- they are expecting 300 people and 2 speakers. They hadn’t met with the safe committee so they might come back.
Ross- they are getting the porridge shipped to them.
Nayana- they don’t know if they are getting the ballroom.
VOTE For 3 Opposed 0 Abstaining 1
Committee Reports
Nayana- talk to Ross about student life committee meeting.
Ex-Officio Reports
David- The oath of office may be that last time that it is recited.
Macaulay- I met with Charlie Fay, 4% overhead comes out of our budget. The university as a whole doesn’t earn interest on its money. We want to petition the comptroller of MD. It is a large project that we may have to unify the large number of universities.
Carrie- The budget: Readership, leadership, and stipends. I was going to talk about election ground rules. Email rules that you think will be important. Please give me suggestions. There are things you need from me on days I can’t be there, I am going to put a drop box on my door with a schedule on it on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Steve- rep from NY times to come and talk to us. Readership is still in the budget.
David- Application deadline is due Tomorrow. HELP get people to complete apps.
Tabassum- Volunteer for quadmania in SEB office. 4 hrs gets free concert. Dance committee let us now what is up.
Topic: In House Election Policy
David: Some years ago, SGA considered in house processes and set limitations because bringing people in selectively had limitations and considering them was taking a lot of time. We do not have legislation documentation that says what limitation is on the house. That number would limit the in house elected members to 2 at this time. We as the house need to decide how many we need to elect and decide.
Carrie: I witnessed this piece of legislation.
Ross: We were worried then because there were personality conflicts and took a lot of energy out of the body. Right now, I am not worried about the limitations placed on the body. back then, the biggest concern was to bring more people in. We should be careful and train the members who come in well. I don’t think we should arbitrarily set a limit on 2 individuals because there seems to be a need to fill a hole in the bylaws about how many people we let in
David: Just to be clear, the house and the senate get below half of their membership, they could add the members back, the limitations permit you to add half of the members back.
Carrie: I think it was definitely a different time in SGA, but I think we still need to have members that are not with alternate motivations. Take that into considerations, as numbers normally increase right before elections for next year. Consider not changing the membership and dynamic in the house drastically could change the hard work and rhythm behind the house.
Stan: To be clear, are we saying we have a limit of whom we can take right now?
Ross: We can say amongst ourselves we can only take 2 new members.
David: Yes, because we cannot have the original issue resolved right now.
Carrie: If you fall under half, you can take the certain percentage written of your membership. The total membership is for the percentage of the body exists towards the whole year.
I think part of the reason that we discussed this legislation was that we were not discriminatory. It would encourage the members to be selective. I think we should definitely say that the people selected don’t have a guaranteed seats in the SGA.
Ross: If they are all qualified, they can all be trained by me. I do wish to take on that responsibility. Thinking about changing that aspect of it, I would be interested in filling that gap and making sure
Carrie: Don’t forget that herein lies the problem, we have looked everywhere forever for this legislation. We cannot find it.
In House Elections
Special Projects
A. Share Objectives for “Spotlight on Organizations”
General Discussion
Announcements
Stan: Did PSU association come back for money.
Michael- Someone in the organization left the old price on the flyer even thought they had to change the price.
Stan: I think they took the budget word for word, rather than reallocating.
Roll Call
Absent: Ozell
Adjournment
10:59
Pass the Gavel