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.
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5:35 meeting called to order
Jen Kent, Thaddeus and Mike Pollard absent.
Week in review:
Adrienne –
• 1st meeting march 30th
• advertising started – facebook group
New Business:
JL14-0607
• original idea have top 10 vote getters; problem is that if you’re in a race that’s contested, people will vote either you or opponent. Solution: run election without indicating who is running for which seat.
• Adoption requires 2/3 of senate. Requires 7 people to pass (8 people to vote).
• New exec board would have VP for student organizations
• Staff will be appointed
• Will contact student orgs directly to tell them about new procedures
• Financial board group that student orgs will go to request money – only deal with money. Financial committee sub part of entire house; also can serve on other committees and projects.
• student advocates don’t have money of their own, but can request money to work towards certain goals/projects
• VP for student orgs will still be on financial committee, but can’t vote
• Financial board will only have to deal with money, in an attempt to not overload them. idea is to have members focus on one part of the process rather than multiple things.
• Will notify candidates and give opportunity to change what they want to run for – even senate/house switching.
In favor: 7
Opposed: 0
Abstain: 1
Absent: 2
Phil – Budget time
97.5% budgeted normally
100% budgeted this year
budgeting to spend more than we plan to get – know not all of money will be spent. Allows us to support more programs. In order to not dip into too much, other things may have to be cut.
Cutting retriever budget down from 50k to 45.5k.
Leadershape
Readership
Stipends
DVD’s in library
Quadmania
Things for commuters
Planning to spend 45-50k more than get in. Probably at most spend 20-25k more than get in.
Stipends
President and vice president make much more than should be relative to other members of the SGA. Came up with modified numbers.
7,000 down to 4,500 (president)
3,300 (VP)
2,200 (Treasurer)
11,100 total pot vs. 5,000 before
New draft that Phil will be sending out – final budget to be decided soon.
Stress free zone up’d to $5,000
Both house and senate will vote on this the week after spring break.
At a lot of schools, presidents get tuition remission.
Would not be good if president had to take on second job in order to fund school.
Adding more money and cutting from top.
Readership
SGA contribution has to be at least $20,000 (70,8% contribution)
Could be some kind of program, even if it’s not USA Today program
Leadershape
40-50 students every winter
program costs a maximum of $30,000 – in the past SGA has contributed $12,000 and each person pays $100 to go. Rest of money has come from Division of student affairs and Res life.
Dr. Fey has decided he would not like Leadershape, and instead would like an in house program. Dr. Fey would probably view SGA’s support of this program (leadershape) as irresponsible.
Dr. Fey wants OSL to come up with own program that will be held here (haven’t started working on this yet).
Half of cost for leadershape is food and lodging, other half is use of curriculum and materials.
Enter Thaddeus, who thought today was Wednesday
Ross – leadershape doesn’t just affect students that go, but also all those that those students talk to when they return.
Dr. Fey could give recommendation to SAFRB not to approve our budget (works with Dr. Hrabrowski)
Dr. Fey thinks SGA would like to continue program, but looking for ways to save some money on his budget (what with the 2% budget cut across board).
What’s the likelihood of OSL of doing this?
Dr. Fey hasn’t agreed with the program for some time, but hasn’t ever been as direct about not supporting in any way before.
Leadership development plan does not include a week long retreat.
Steve – no other program that impacts students as much as Leadershape (in terms of leadership).
OSL helps staff Leadershape – OSL staff might not be available if we do it anyway, since Dr. Fey won’t let them.
Thaddeus – we should have it, even if it costs some money, as it clearly serves the students (not just those who go, but those who are affected by those that attend)
EXECUTIVE REPORTS
GABE – Dr. Schwartz meeting about saving Arabic and ASL
TABASSUM – candidate applications are in, elections and campaigning coming up. Asking for feedback.
• Elani – no change except encourage people to vote
• Jay – restrict discussion of topics with people in and not in SGA
• Alex – candidates not allowed to use office to work on campaign
• Danielle – can’t use SGA’s resources
• Thaddeus – office should be place to think of way to get people to vote.
DAVID – Greek expansion committee (look at what can happen that will lift moratorium on Greek Life). Report out in next few weeks.
CARRIE – yay for women’s basketball team.
Yay for dance.
JAY – any concerns with OIT?
Survey link will be posted in paper. Will go onto myUMBC soon.
PHIL – half hour about budget… you know
Announcements –
Thaddeus –
1, why is the only building on academic row with elevator locked
2, why is it locked when people should be using those buildings for space and resources
How can we have a weekend climate if all the academic buildings are closed on the weekends.
Adrienne –
Meeting Friday march 30th free hour
Danielle –
Eco fest, April 13th, food and bands.
Phil –
Tomorrow, main street, close combat Israeli defense force simulation
Everyone here except Mike, Terrance and Jen.
7:05