UMBC SGA Senate Minutes
Monday, February 16, 2009
Commons 318 5:30PM
I. Call to Order: 5:35
II. Roll Call: All members present except for Chidi (Late @ 5:40)
III. Approval of Minutes from last week and previous Monday: Minutes approved
IV. Open Discussion
A. Review of past week
Whitney: I went to the dining hall meeting. Over the summer they will get remainder of the construction done. Showed us the layout of what everything will look like. More info will be online.
They are renaming campus dining hall. Having a Competition to get it narrowed down to three. Students will submit potential names.
Starbucks will be open in the fall, not sure of exact location in UC.
They are doing an Initiative for grad students (half price). Want to get more people into the dining hall.
Brian: Legislative committee met on Friday. Josh Michaels came to explain the situation with the budget, specifically the tuition freeze. Discussed the tuition freeze and textbook policy. Textbook policy was passed on Friday.
A few members of the committee will write an op ed in the retriever to start educating students about tuition freeze and what we can do support it.
Toby: this tuition freeze will be covered by Baltimore sun reporters?
Brian: yes
B. New project ideas/continuation of old projects
Naina: can we go over projects we will defiantly continue?
Rahilla: the three ongoing projects right now are increased library hours, reaching out to international students and black and gold campus signage.
Increased library hours:
Matt, Simi, Toby, Naina, Brian
Reaching to international students:
Chidi
Black and gold:
Whitney, Toby Aditi
Project Ideas:
Amber: I think those three projects are manageable in one semester, we could just have three, a lot of these commitments will be long term.
Brian: I agree but need to work on relationships with students. Not sure how to go about doing that. We need to find ways to engage students more.
Simi: From the retreat we talked about building communication. I think we should make sure some one does take care of it. I know Director of communication is going to be looking into that. We were talking about rewriting the constitution.
Rahilla: There were other ideas, strengthening relationships with students or Increasing SGA visibility.
Amber: I think one of the other ones was reinforcing the definition of the roles for different offices. We were planning on having an info session for people applying for the SGA. We make positions our own, but people need to know what the realistic retirements are.
Michel: What about the stress free zone
Jen: I assumed I would be doing that again. We do it every semester. I will do it.
James: In response to Brian’s comment I think that reaching out to student body is can be done through the projects that we already have. Reach out through student orgs.
Josh: another project that would be a good idea to take on would be fees. Not just transcripts fees, but fees in general. UMBC has the highest mandatory fees as a state. Take on the idea of fees as a whole. Like how we pay 10 cents a page for printing. Maybe we should be taking more active stance on fees.
Toby: What happened to transcript fee?
Gabe: We are going to meet with Freeman first so he knows who we are. We have written a letter to him informing him that he has mostly likely broken policy for school: bringing up a fee that is hard on students that didn’t get approved by USM legislative council. Brought it up with USMSC and they were concerned. I think they are planning on bringing it to chancellor’s office as well.
Reese: not every project has to be huge. Last semester Gum issue is interesting. If we can find hidden issues and they help.
Whitney: Ill take that one.
Paula: there are concerns about transit on campus. SGA has been active with this in the past.
Downtown line just got cut due to lack funding at UMBC. Something I'm am interested in.
James: Transit as a whole could use some work. We did pay for trackers. Where did this money go?
Chidi: SGA website: I dint remember it being updated.
Gabe: new director of communication is working on that.
Jen: We go through projects we have and see who wants to do what>
Rahilla: We have 4 new project ideas: Looking into fees, relationships with students, and looking into transit tracker, gum.
David: The thing about the gum: Doesn’t have to be something that will take the whole semester to do. May still be worth our while to do something small.
Jen: I think strengthening relationships with students is already something. It shouldn’t be a senate project, because it’s already project.
Naina we personally don’t have the time
Jen: I think that there should be priority with these projects. Difference between what we want to do, and we need to do. I think there a fun projects and pressing projects.
Someone was looking into something last semester.
Jen: what new departments do you have to work on these projects? If we have 6 projects, we may not be able to get any of them done.
Gabe: cabinet will probably be the same except CGA is gone community governmental affairs is gone.
Gabe: I can bring it up at the cabinet meeting and see if anyone wants to do them.
Amber: why do we feel like we have to do all these projects right now? If the interest isn’t there, it’s not going to get done anyhow. We shouldn’t feel pressure to add committees just because we think we should
Chidi: feel like were not very informed as to other comities are doing. Would like to know what they have done in past semester.
Paula: Brought this up a few meetings ago: ask all directors to come to senate meeting. Still think that’s a good idea.
Rahilla: so for Increased Library hours I have matt, Simi, Naina, Toby and Brian
Jen: do we need that many people?
Naina: all people who are currently working on it.
Amber: people are on more that one comities.
Rahilla: People, who are on more than one project, don’t feel pressured to be in just one committee.
Transit Tracker: Rahilla, Matt, Jen, Simi, Amber
Fees: Aditi, Chidi, Jen, Rahilla, Josh
Gum: Whitney
Rahilla goes out for reaching out to students; Simi takes self off still Toby Jen Whitney
6 committees
V. Project Updates
A. Increased Library Hours
Library hours
Naina: two weeks ago posted a poll on UMBC underground, got about 30 responses people were interested in it, but a lot said they didn’t think it was a priority. Made surveys of 100 and went around school and got peoples data. Proposed 2 hours for every day.
Scheduled meeting with Nancy Young.
Simi: She said it was a project for many years. We should look into five-year plan. Have an “in the meantime” approach.
Brian: talking about the master plan. Also making sure we include 1st year students.
Naina: we did not want to ask for money, we wanted her to help us figure out how to approach problem.
Amber: Director of it at library? Did you spoke to her?
We met with her
Amber: did she talk about plan to revamp the library?
Yes
Stay in communication with her.
Naina: she showed us a little bit, they don’t have money.
Josh: library funding might be easer if we look outside of school funding. Might be some Agency department on federal level that gives away grants for a lot of things. Jen: just cost is the issue?
Naina: yes
Jen: got the same thing my freshman year. Make sure you tell them we would be willing to sacrifice the renovations for longer hours.
James: majority of costs?
Naina: staffing and security
Amber: everything Jen said is true should convince them that our goals are the same. Negotiation.
Simi: They tried longer hours a few years ago 2003, not that many people used it.
Jen: Do they use full time staff?
Naina: Two security and one person behind the desk
Jen: is the person behind the desk student?
Naina: Not sure.
Paula: something that would be a short-term goal: open longer during finals week. Might be more attainable this semester.
Naina: problem is that budget is already set for upcoming exam semester
Paula: I wonder how much it would cost, would SGA fund it?
Josh: assuming issue is staffing, don’t need someone at the circulation desk
Rahilla: what are your next steps
Simi good suggesting so far, we will have plan by next week
B. Reaching out to International Students
I got information on Event planning and how to reserve spaces. I went online and I reserved Skylight room for March 28th. Meeting with them. Having a meeting Thurs at 11am. Budget is out right now. Were supposed to have money coming from David’s class, which is $5000
David: $5000 is to split among class and 6 groups are eligible
Aditi: Look at the Mosaic Center. They are always looking for programs.
Michel: OIA for funding?
Jen: SGA has the money, Senate does not. Don’t think we need to worry about it right now.
C. Black and Gold Campus Signage
Aditi: We are ready to go, we are just waiting on Nancy Young. James and Simi went to meet with her. We went to athletics. We are currently waiting for Nancy to tell us how much she can give us. As soon as we do that will have $10,000 and we can start the contest.
James: meeting went well. She is currently looking for pulling money from foundation account for Chevy Chase Bank
Jen: how much money do you have so far?
Aditi: we have half of it.
James: how is the first year council’s money is tired to SGA? Might be better for that money go to first year council, could spend money from foundation account.
Simi: the money foundation account can’t go for something solid like a banner, but can go to student initiative. Were trying to get school spirit every Friday.
Joey: with this black and gold campus, what are you getting 10 thus for?
Aditi: $8000 is for instillation and getting images uploaded. $2000 is for publicity and unveiling on black and gold Friday.
Joey: are the banners focused solely around sports?
No, that’s why we allow students to submit. Sports are not the only way people are proud of their school. I want students to see different aspects of UMBC.
VI. New Business
A. SR06-0809 Senate Resolution to support domestic partnership benefits for Maryland State Employees
Matt: LGBTQA community Health benefits for same sex couples will put same sex couples be on par with heterosexual couples. If we support this we will be able to put it on our nondiscrimination policy and we will be attracting faculty and staff to our school.
Toby: does any other school support this or just UMBC?
Brian: other student govs have been supported
Paula: Collage park pres will support
Brian: Funding still might be cut. Trying to lobby from it.
Toby: Paula, is there a community within staff who are in LGBTQA have you talked to them
Paula: yes. Other Profs who are on and off campus. This is estimated to effect 300 state employees.
Brian: I had a concern abut certain requirements for a domestic partnerships requirement. Paula said people cant say there gay to get benefits.
Paula: There is a whole set of requirements.
Naina move to approve, second Jen
9,0,1,1 Amber left 6:43
B. SR07-0809 Senate Resolution to support the Early move-in initiative
Simi: basically to get support to have student be able to move on Saturday instead of Sunday after winter break.
Brian: move to approve, Jen second
David: the resolution doesn’t talk about trade offs, any downsides?
Jen: are you saying it should be in resolution? We had a lengthy conversation about it before. We put cons out on table, but decided they weren’t enough.
David: what are you committing the senate to? If reslife increase the charge? Do you support that? So how will resolution be used?
Josh: instead of making this broader, we could say we understand that it will cost this but we think it should be done.
Jen: we have written broad legislation before that were like this. They haven’t hammered out details. We can’t amend it because we don’t know costs. We can table it, but I don’t think that’s necessary.
Paula: I do think this is a great idea, but like the library fees, we need to be considering cost. Mozie-Ross felt what she had done was justified because she talked to Jay. We can’t endorse this without considering consequences. We are going to have to deal with responsibility. Can’t pass without information.
Michel: Details will come in this week. Should wait till then.
Jen: I don’t really think it’s a big deal. She’s probably not even going to read it. Easer to negotiate with broader stuff
Naina: maybe it’s not a big deal, but if someone later picks it up and takes legislation seriously, then will have problem
Gabe: from what I understand, we are hoping SGA will cover the cost, don’t think it will be a lot of money, and reslife would pick it up after that. This needs to be tabled.
Michel: needs something saying SGA supports it, split it into two peaces of legislation. One saying we support this idea, and once that happens we can go through and say specifically what the SGA supports.
Brian: if we pass this tonight, then we can have more legislation in two weeks
Brian move to vote.
Objection
Jen: change word “initiative” to “idea”.
Rahilla: Either amend or table. We can have a straw pull.
Josh: I still think that the amendment still needs to be more than just that one word.
Brian motion to straw pull Jen second
6 vote in favor of amending
Gabe: I think this is a waste of time. Should have well thought out peace of legislation, may veto this.
Jen it’s not a big deal. I don’t think this can hurt anyone.
Paula: I don’t think that its necessary to pass this legislation, we may not think its a big deal, but we need to be careful about what we pass. Come back next week and pass a well-written piece of legislation.
Josh: this is poorly written.
Brian second what Jen said. We are supporting idea of what students want.
Brian: move to approve.
Chidi: Second
Gave object. Need to change that.
Vote for legislation:
6 in favor, 3, 1, 1
Passes
VII. Team Building Activity (Sunaina Khandewal) 7:05pm
Rahilla: Who wants to do next week’s?
Brian
VIII. Executive/ Ex-officio Reports
First project is the fee increase James is working on. Peer advisors program, (students helping with advising), transcript fee, and judicial peer advisor.
Paula: new idea for myUMBC web space for student orgs. Next week I’m starting a project looking into gender-neutral restrooms. Is an issue for disabled and transgender students.
David: SGA election app deadline is March 13.
Gabe: will be meeting with freeman next Monday. Will be a meeting about activity fee increase. Cabinet meetings held Friday 5pm in student orgs space. Had a discussion about Structure of cab as well as accountability this past week. I am going to be holding them to office hours. Directors to 3, assistant directors to 1. Will be getting rid of Governmental affairs, legislative committee is now handing a lot of those jobs.
Catherine Will be looking into temperature management in the dorms. Yasmin looking into UC ballroom and how it’s already booked up. Trying to talk with scheduling so that student orgs get priority for that.
IX. Announcements
Toby after meeting with Nancy Young, she mentioned walk in hour to meet her after 4:30pm on Monday.
Simi offices close at five, but she’s there till six. Nancy will have office hours
Michel: parking services fees are no longer attacked to student account. Will be attached to MVA record. Registration can’t be renewed online anymore.
Harsh came over and talked about shuttle service for trips to DC. Updated our procedures. Cab retreat: James and Aditi came out. Numbers lower than expected. Katy boon coming out this week to talk about housing costs. And meeting after that to discuss the master plan. Need SGA rep (Rahilla).
Whitney: basketball game in the RAC, second to last home game.
Don’t forget office hours.
X. Roll Call: All members present except for Amber and Aditi
XI. Adjournment 7:29pm
XII. Pass the Gavel