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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May 14, 2007
5:33
minutes approved
week in review
Adrienne
Cruise was a success!
Thaddeus
IT steering committee: awful software system we’re moving towards. Proposal for renovation of classrooms sits in Art Johnson’s office. Trying to find funding for that. Computer replacement initiative – to use Vista. Thaddeus brought up GPS thing – concern for near future, campus battling for satellite phones. Thaddeus is going to get one of these this summer, apparently.
Danielle
Town hall failure because of lack of advertising. Good idea, and maybe next year’s senate can work on for next year.
Steve and Thaddeus
Commons advisory meeting – noise in student orgs, especially clubs and orgs (dance teams, etc kicking people out). Trying to address concern because space isn’t reservable.
Space intended for student orgs meeting in that space. Obviously lots of students use it who aren’t, but they aren’t preventing students who are in student orgs from using that space.
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GPS legislation JL21-0607
GPS could be up and functioning this fall if it is passed today.
They provide website with interpretation of data – any student could go to website which would show where buses are on map that updates constantly. Along with that picture, they give us back end information so if students wanted to create notification system or whatever, we have access to do that. Educational opportunity for programmers / IS people
Displays by entrances of Commons not being used next fall – but will be getting LCD in commuter lounge; going to do flyers at bus stops, Commons and maybe get a banner just to let people know of the program. Commons front desk will link it on all of it’s laptops. Newspaper ad, newspaper article ,OCSS, transit site.
New students will be notified by Steve (OPA).
Signs where you get your parking permit maybe.
Maybe in the packet of information that new students get.
Word of mouth and actually having people use it.
In favor: 9
Opposed: 0
Abstain: 1
New Business
JL22-0607 Changes to the SGA Student Org Policy
SOP response to student orgs doing things we didn’t want them to and the SGA not being able to do anything about it. It outlines improper behavior of student behavior and ways to punish.
Debt, judicial action, minimum number of members, etc..
Lots of changes have to do with the reorganization of the SGA.
Specific section for Greek organizations.
Not really as rough as “you don’t have 5 members, you’re not a group anymore.” More like, “you don’t have 5 members? We’re concerned.”
In favor: 5
Opposed: 3
Abstain: 2
Moratorium on Greek life was in place because there was only a part time Greek advisor. Also, policy for dealing with expansion was written recently too.
As of now, time for derecognizing is… forever.
This policy just says that if group isn’t turning in form with 5 members every year, SGA has power to look into the matter deeper.
5 = 4 officers and 1 member
5 member rule isn’t an issue right now, because it’s already been voted on and is in place. What people aren’t seeing here is that the House won’t exist as it does now and this will be a policy to deal with that change; rules aren’t really changing.
This isn’t a weapon against student organization. When that happens, there’s always a dialogue between group and SGA/OSL. Can’t see 4 members immediately meaning the group can’t be a group anymore. Will mean that SGA will try to work with student org to try to get student org more members.
Adrienne concerned with 5 member rule – doesn’t seem to take into account the process that every organization uses to get new members.
Greeks are almost literally exempted from this rule. Issues go through Greek Life advisor specifically.
If you’re a non-Greek organization, must have 4 officers and a member; not recent, has been that way for years. Not something to just get rid of people. Without this document, new members wouldn’t have any power since this document names those new people as power holders. Meanwhile House would, but since the House doesn’t exist… yeah, there’s a problem there.
Final decisions are made by OSL staff anyways.
Favor: 9
Opposed: 0
Abstain: 1
JL23-0607
Unrecessed (not really a word, Steve)
Going to just let the House take care of this.
Announcements
Last adopt a road this Sunday at 2 cleaning up Wilkens Avenue.
Umbc lacrosse beat college park, in quarters now.
Final words
You should jump into huge projects that are going to take a long time but will have big impacts. Formal dance a great time.
Apparently Tabassum stole the Stress Free Zone.
If you want to continue to staff through student orgs, keep in touch with them. emails has been sent out, PS.
GABE –
Study groups dominated Gabe’s year. Successful! Went from 1 member last semester to over 100 members this year. Hoping to expand program next year if back.
JAY –
Met with Dr. Hrabrowski and have things lined up to order for next year.
PHIL –
Almost finished, getting ready to train new person.
TABASSUM –
Kind of committed to Welcome week…
Announcements
Quiz bowl – went down played. Lost 4 games by a question. Finished 11th overall, 11th nationwide. Had a good time.
Magic the Gathering… Gathering, 12-3 gameroom Wednesday.
6:58 meeting adjourned.