STUDENT SENATE Meeting of April 30, 1998 Hamerschlag Hall B103 Unofficial Meeting was called to order at 5:41 PM. Roll was taken at 5:41 PM. Senators Present: Brown (HSS) -1, Butler (CIT) - 1, Candela (CFA) - 2.5, Chang (MCS) - 0, Christoforatos (MISC) - 2, Devine (HSS) - 0, Falso (SAL) - 2, Gray (HSS) - 0, Guerra (CIT) - 1, Guzy (HSS) - 2, Hardjanto (SCS) - 1, Hunt (CIT) - 1.5, Hutsko (MCS) - 2, Joshi (MCS) - 0.5, McCartin (CIT) - 2.5, Meier (CIT) - 0, Ng (CIT) - 0, Rothschild (CIT) - 0, Rumpf (CIT) - 1, Shah (SIA) - 2, Sinnamohideen (SAL) -2, Stovall (MCS) - 2,. Senators Absent: Betz (SCS) -1.5, Ditterline (CIT) - 1.5, Gross (HSS) - 1.5, Jones (CFA) - 2.5, Merry (SAL) - 3, Phelps (SCS) - 2.5, Schneider (CIT) - 1.5, Tassone (SCS) - 0.5, Tham (SIA) -3. Approval of the Minutes: Minutes for April 23, 1998 were amended and approved. Joint GSA and S.Senate Meeting Minutes for April 23, 1998 were approved. Ex-Officio Reports: Activities Board (Shubo Mookerjee): I apologize for not being at the past three Senate meetings but I was tied up with something or the other or Carnival and didn~t have enough time to find someone else. Basically, I~ll give a rundown of what~s been going on. (1)Carnival went well. We had two big shows and lots and lots of people. The weather behaved. (2)Vince Perreria, an independent filmmaker showed his movie and spoke on Tuesday 4/21 to a packed McConomy audience which included Kevin Smith - who is really cool. (3)Asian American actor B.D. Wong spoke on Wednesday 4/22 and that went well. (4)The past weekend was the last regular weekend of films. It capped off what was, by far, the best year in the history of films on this campus between AB and SDC - both technically, in popularity/feedback, and in numbers. The Seventh Annual Student Film Festival, held on Thursday 4/23, was a huge success - it drew in approximately 1100 people. It was held by filmmaking at CMU with a little help from AB Films. Since that was the night of the big Senate meeting and most of you couldn~t be there, a re-screening is being considered during finals week. We have been flooded with requests to show it again from both people who came and those who couldn~t make it. Tentatively, it will be scheduled for 7:00pm on Wednesday 5/6. (5)This weekend~s films are - tonight: ~Miller~s Crossing,~ at 7:30, 10, and 12:30, tomorrow: ~Good Will Hunting~ and ~Pee Wee~s Big Adventure,~ it~s free, outdoors, at 9pm and 12am, Sunday night: ~Destroy all Monsters,~ at 8, 10, and 12. Films are currently being decided for next semester and the bi-annual AB/SDC wrestlemania over picks is scheduled in a couple of days. If anyone has ideas/suggestions/comments, feel free to let Shubo know. (6)Tomorrow is Fiesta Primavera. Unfortunately, it looks like it might rain. The inflatable toys and stuff and the food will be in the UC gym if it does rain. The Fiesta will being at 4:30 or so. Movies will be in McConomy beginning at 9am (~Good Will Hunting~ an ~Pee Wee~s Big Adventure~). There will also be some entertainment. A couple of bands organized by H&SS will be playing in the UC (Connan room or Rangos) as well. Anyone who would like to be a part of it or wants to help out with grilling/giving out food, please let me know. It is a great way to get to know your constituents and meet people and stuff. (7)Saturday at 7pm, the legendary Fugazi will be playing in Rangos Ballroom. It is a benefit concert for WRCT which AB is co-hosting. There are still tickets available at the Info Desk for $5. (8)We are heavily recruiting/looking for people who want to get involved in any way whatsoever with the Activities Board for next year. If you are interested or know anyone who might be, please let Shubo know or ask them to contact him. (9)Shubo was reelected as Chair of the Activities Board for the year 1998-99. The rest of the Activities Board is still being put together and will be announced in early September once we draw some freshman blood. Graduate Student Assembly (Grant Bromhal): Not present. Greek Council (Cyndi Vuong): Not present. Division of Student Affairs (Barbara Prevost): Congratulations to all resigning Senators. Thank you for all your hard work. I am looking forward to next year. Tuesday is ~Almost Midnight Breakfast.~ It is free and will start at 11 and run till midnight. Senior events are coming up. Tickets are on sale at the Info Desk. There is a Kennywood outing this Saturday. Tickets are $17 and includes lunch. The ticket allows entrance all summer except on Sundays. Tickets for the May 10th Pirates vs the Reds game are on sale for $9. Good luck on your finals. Student Dormitory Council (Earl Crane): Our new Constitution has been approved. We are also holding our own finals events (such as Bagels and Doughnuts). SDC has one more meeting next Thursday. Student Body President (Bryon Krug): Not present. Student Body Treasurer (Avinash Jain): Not present. Committee Reports: Academic Affairs (Amy Ng): Thanks to all of our committee members for all your hard work. This semester~s goals were to address student concerns and improve the quality of academic resources. Some of our accomplishments are - Course Info Study, On-line registration improvements (including FCES and detailed course descriptions), the Spring Break and Calendar issue, TA evaluations, a textbook return policy, the 2nd degree tuition discount, and the passing of two resolutions (Spring Break and Academic Integrity). Some issues to follow up on next term are - undergraduate academic advising, standardized course units, per-registration, and a HUB phone-in-for-grades system. Campus Affairs (Sarah Gross): Basically, we worked on our UC improvements report everyday this week. I want to thank my committee members--everyone worked really hard. I also wanted to say that we hope that our project will be continued next semester so that we can see these changes through. Funding and Recognition (Drew Stovall): (1)Over the course of the last semester, F&R has dealt with approximately fifty organizations seeking special allocations or recognition. This resulted in about twenty agenda items, all of which were approved on the floor (though tonight is not yet over). (2)Though the JFC is not directly linked to F&R, I do want to mention that several of the senators on F&R served on the JFC, dedicating tears, sweat and blood to make sure the first year with the JFC went smoothly. (3)Larry McCartin, with a little pestering from myself, has setup and implemented F&R~s new electronic request submission. Organizations can now be directed to Senate~s web page to request special allocations and recognition. These pages are still being updated, but are up and running as we speak. (4)We also looked into a new re-recognition process to keep tabs on the organizations that we have recognized over the course of the last 100 years or so. This issue has not been resolved, and will be given to the next F&R committee for completion. (5)Over all, the committee has completed a vast amount of work, and we~ve had a lot of fun doing it. I~d like to send my congratulations to the lucky person who gets to Chair this committee next semester. It is a lot of rewarding work. (Note both that it is a lot of work and that it~s rewarding.) Human Resources (Jamie Chang): Basically, we worked on election results. Please fill out the evaluations. Public Relations (Michelle Brown): Not present. Chair (Jen Gray): This term set a precedence for the JFC members selection process, and the joint budgeting process. They all went very well. We got a lot accomplished. I recommend more communications between committees and Senators. Thanks to Senate and Ex-Com. New Business from Committee: S98-036 - Non-funded Recognition of CMU Kendo. This organization~s goal is to promote the Japanese art and sport of Kendo. Passed by acclamation. S98-037 - Special Allocation to Orientation. $3,500 for a Comedian and Band approved by voice vote. S98-038 - Special Allocation to Friends of the Board. $300 for a mini-ramp used in Carnival and in the future approved by acclamation. S98-039 - Special Allocation to Hillel. $200 for 50 years of Israel~s existence celebration event (balloons, tent, and food) approved by voice vote. S98-040 - Approval of AB Chair. Shubo Mookerjee approved by voice vote. Recess at 6:25-6:40pm Old Business: S98-034 - Approval of Recommendations from the CEO. Motion 1- Revised copy of Motion 1 to replace last week~s first reading of Motion 1 approved by voice vote. Friendly Amendment: to article VII, section IV ~...by an organization recognized as either a funded or non-funded organization.~ add ~Student Senate~ at the end. Motion 1 approved by handvote (17-0). Motion 2 - Replace copy of Motion 2 to replace last week~s first reading of Motion 2 approved. Sen. Stovall~s Amendment: in article V, section V, subsection R, strike ~budgets~ and insert ~budget proposals.~ Motion 2 approved by handvote (22 - 2). Motion 3 -Approved by handvote. Special Business: CA Report on Survey Results - It is the Campus Affairs committee~s belief that the UC may not currently make use of it~s full potential. Many students have voiced complaints including the aspects of variety, cleanliness, and cost of food currently provided by the food court; the hours of various facilities; the difficulties involved in obtaining rooms for student use; and the limitations on accessing the building after midnight. The purpose of this study was to determine which aspects of the UC facilities satisfied students and which students would like to see changed. One of the most controversial issue that we surveyed on was the dining area right outside of the aerobics room and the cardiovascular exercise room. Our results show that people do not like to exercise while others watch when eating and vice versa. The University should look into solving this problem, such as frosting the windows or putting up walls instead of windows. As for the food court, we found that not too many students patron some of the venders. We suggest that the unpopular vendor be replaced. For the Athletic Facilities, people would like to use the gym longer, and the pool should have extensive hours. For the late night use issue, we suggest that there be card readers installed at some of the doors to increase accessibility after hours. CA also recommends that the next CA Committee pick up this project and make sure improvements are implemented. Old Business from the Committee: S98-035 - Adoption of the revised Bylaws. Motion to NOT table failed by handvote (4-17). Motion to table Adoption of revised Bylaws approved by handvote (15-4). New Business from the Floor: S98-041 - Validation of Student Body President Election. Sarah Gross (Pres) and Will Toraason (VP) approved. S98-042 - Validation of Student Body Treasurer Election. Keith Rothschild approved by voice vote. Motion to condense election validations of CIT, CFA, MCS, SCS, and SIA approved by voice vote. Validation of CIT, CFA, MCS, SCS, and SIA approved by voice vote. H&SS tie between Lorilei Laird and David Liu - David Liu chosen by handvote. Validation of H&SS election approved by voice vote. Points of Discussion: Sen Meier: I feel that there is a problem with not allowing Senators to voice their opinions. There is also a problem with the lack of respect in Senate (stereotypes). I would prefer to have full, complete discussions. Announcements: Sen Rumpf: If anyone wants (or wants to look at) my three Senate binders, please see me. Sen Butler: I just want to say thanks to all of our senior Senators. Meeting adjourned at 8:02pm. Respectfully Submitted, Lori Lee