Student Senate Minutes

I. General meeting of the Student Senate was called to order by Speaker Hogan at 6:00 PM.
	A. Absent from the meeting were members:
	B. Also attending the meeting was:
II. Preliminary Items
	A. Roll Call
	B. Corrections/Approval of the minutes
	C. Gallery introductions/business - Dr. Paino, Jaime Menown, Courtney Wallace, 			Mandy Martin (Nursing Student Association).
			- Flanagan - Moves $1000 to be spent on the Nursing Student 				Association’s HIV testing no later than….
				- Flanagan - This amount is in the standing budget.
				- Hayes - In the past, Senate has contributed $300. Where 					do the rest of your funds come from?
				- NSA - Prism and Marty Eisenberg. There are two separate 				costs. One for the kits and one for the actual test 						processing. Each year the cost for the kits and the tests go 					up. They need $2200 this year.
				- Hayes - Feels this is one of the student initiatives we used 					as an example when creating the student initiative budget. 					Even if this tells one person they are HIV positive, it is 					truly beneficial.
				- Jenkins - $1000 will not cover the cost. Where is the rest 					coming from?
				- NSA - Student donations and Prism.
				- Esfeld - How much is in the budget?
				- Gilmor - $1000.
				- Approved. 
	D. Guests of Honor
	E. Membership Issues - Jamie Menown has resigned.
	F. Appointments/Administration of the Oath
	G. Changes/Approval of the agenda
III. Executive Reports
	A. Secretary - Sign up for an office hour and for the Senate Snack. 
	B. Treasurer - Be prepared to update the budget for the semester. This month we 	matched the copy log. Please be careful and use the copy log.
	C. President - We will not talk about the budget tonight because everything is on 		hold until the Governor’s budget is finalized. The timeline will need to be pushed 	back a few days to a week. We will lose a little bit of our momentum but it is 	important to know where we will stand. Obama’s budget has been released and a 	lot of money will be going towards primary education. States will get some 	funding for K-12 freeing up more money for higher education. Professor Rating 	presentation next week. 
	D. Vice President - Committee Chairs are meeting with Larry to discuss semester 		goals. Have come up with 2 committee jobs related to economic issues. Hannah 	will work on efficient campus and JoEllen will work towards protecting the 	Truman Experience. UGC now has three representative spots. Met with Bret 	Wiley after UGC and discussed having a retreat this semester.  
IV. Auxiliary Reports
	A. Faculty Advisor - There is a faculty fundraising group asking for staff and 	faculty to donate 2% of their salary. Starting a new loan fund for students. Any 	thoughts on what kind of loan you would like to see, email Dr. Alberts. Hoping 	that if there is an extra fee, those students that are not considered “needy” can still 	receive help. You need bodies on this body! VH 1000 and the Hub will be 	reserved tomorrow for the inauguration.
	B. Staff Advisor - If you are interested in senate scholarship hours and having a 	problem setting it up, send Laura an email.
	C. BOG - Biology department is getting a fancy new toy from a grant. Be thinking 	about people that want to help with the budget situation. We need to utilize them. 	The facebook group has over 920 members. Budgetinfo.truman.edu has been 	getting a lot of feedback. The Textbook Task Force has been formed. They will be 	looking at how to save money with textbooks.
	D. Speaker - Really pleased that he did not forget Parli Pro over break. The 	updated Constitution and Standing Rules are up on the website as of this 	afternoon. Thanks everyone for being productive and succinct in discussion time.
V. Committee Reports
	A. Academic Affairs - Please take curriculum survey. It is very important and 	goes up this week. Meeting with Dr. Riggle about the first semester of topical 	WACT courses. Research Mentor of the Year Award is going well. Meeting with 	Dr. Kelrick about the first round of student initiated courses
	B. External Affairs - Storm the Capital will be either February 24th or 25th. There 	have been issues renting buses from DPS. Info sessions and publicity table dates 	will need to be changed. First meeting tomorrow at 6 PM.
	C. Student Affairs - All roundtable dates have been emailed out. They will all be 	on Wednesdays at 6 PM. Will try to add SUB events to the calendar. If you have 	anything for JoEllen to talk about during Org Visits or roundtables, email her.
		i. Campus Diversity - Almost done planning diversity week. Progressive 			Dinner will be in Ryle on that Sunday. 
		ii. Campus Environment - No report.
	D. Technology - The demo tech room is almost done. The money came from the 			Parent’s Council. Classroom TIVO and push to talk microphones at each 			seat. There is a smart board and all computers are run off of one tower. 
	E. Other Reports
		i. Historian
		ii. Communications Director
		iii. Webmaster
		iv. Ethics Justice
		v. Recruitment
		vi. Legislative Director
		vii. Constitutional Review
VI. Old Business
VII. Money Motions
	A. Hayes - Move that no more than $250 be spent no later than March 1, 2009 for 	an incentive (in Kirksville Cash) for the Curriculum Survey.
		- Hayes - The survey is 17 pages long and a lot of the questions asked do 			not require background information. Including FINS courses, language 			requirement, plus/minus grading system, health & wellness requirement, 			etc. $250 sounds like a lot of money, but this is one of the most important 			issues we will see in our time at Truman. So far we have spent no money 			on the issue.
		- Esfeld - What other ways will the survey be advertised?
		- Hayes - Does not feel there will be too many ways to promote this 			effectively in the time frame we have. Posters will not work. Students will 			see the survey in a personal email from Lizz and a Truview announcement. 		If the email stresses the importance of the survey and the large incentive, it 		should be effective.
		- Crump - How would this $250 be divided?
		- Hayes - Thought about giving an incentive to every student who takes the 		survey. Feels a large lump sum to one student would be a great incentive 			for students. We spoke about alternate ways of getting students to take the 			survey such as requesting professors to use class time. Feels there is not 			enough time plan something to that extent. The survey is 17 pages in order 		to mimic the survey given to faculty.
		- Jenkins - Would like to see a link on the website, an article in the Index 			or an ad on facebook.
		- Gilmor - Do we think $150 would be enough to encourage students?
		- Hayes - Thought anything under $100 would not have enough impact and 		that $500 would be too much to spend. 
		- Hogan - Feels it is wise to push the importance of the survey in the email 		but do not mention the length. Would hate to see people be put off by the 			length. Feels $200 is the “wow threshold.”
		- Flanagan - How long will the survey be up?
		- Hayes - Until February 7th. 
		- Alberts - Would like data before University Conference Day. This is a 			good time in the semester for surveys. A few years ago we gave away an 			Ipod and only got 80 responses. That same semester, old t-shirts were 			given away and they received 800 responses. A facebook ad with a good 			tagline could be helpful.
		- Summers - Feels this is a really good idea. 
		- Gilmor - We mentioned changing the price. Does anyone have ideas 			about it?
		- Hayes - It is a nice number. 
		- Esangbedo - Doesn’t think the prize will be enough to get a lot of 				response.
		- Yu - What about smaller incremental prizes?
		- Passed. 
	B. Robinson - Moves that no more than $416.69 be spent no later than January 30, 	2009 for advertising as banner ($11.69) to reimburse Suzanne Russell and 			$405.00 to the Index for one half-page ad @ $145.00 and a full-page ad @ 		$260.00 for Educator of the Year.
		- Esfeld - Last year, we decided that the Index was not a great advertising 			tool. Not sure about a full page ad. 
		- Gilmor - the standing budget for EOY has $600 for publicity. This is the 			primary part that needs to be advertised.
		- Esfeld - Offers motion to remove the Index ads and only includes the 			reimbursement for the banner.
		- Robinson - Would like to leave the first Index ad but omit the second. 
		- Esfeld - We should reimburse her for what she has already purchased. 			She should meet with her committee to discuss advertisement and then 			come before Ex Comm. Calls question to eliminate the second Index ad. 			(Approved). Calls question on second amendment to remove the first 			Index ad. (Approved). Calls the question on the reimbursement. 
		- Jenkins - We just had a long discussion about spending $250 on an 			incentive but we feel that $450 in the Index are ok. If we are scaling back, 			we should do it across the board.
		- Esfeld - The Index ads are very expensive. Last year we did a survey 			through the Budget Review Committee and found they were not valuable 			tools. 
		- Passed. 
	C. Hayes - Moves that no more than $130 be spent on posters for the Outstanding 	Research Mentor of the Year Award no later than March 1, 2009.
		- Hayes - This was budgeted money. Willing to pay for them personally if 			not approved.	
		- Sumter - There is a typo on the posters. If it was not on the template, they 		should be free.
		- Passed.
	D. JoEllen - Moves that no more than $150 to be spent no later than February 14, 	2009 on the RHA, ResLife, Athletics, and SAB/FAC roundtables.
		- Flanagan - The roundtables are important to get more info about different 		organizations, get Senate more involved with the students, and to get 			feedback on campus wide issues. This semester there will be written 			feedback from each roundtable.
		- Summers - We will be talking a lot about budget.
		- Passed.
VIII. First Readings
	A. Esfeld - Moves first reading of the Rec Center Resolution.
		- Esfeld - Not much has changed since the Ex Comm meeting. This would 			allow academic programs and intercollegiate athletics to occasional use the 		rec center.
		- Russell - Has problem with the word occasionally. It is too subjective. 			Does not want someone to use it indiscriminately. 
		- Esfeld - ROTC doesn’t
		- Gilchrist - If it is only 2 or 3 times a semester or taking a class to the rec 			to show them how to use the weight room, then that would be occasional 			use. If someone is trying to schedule a course or other program, it would 			not be occasional.
		- Jenkins - The ROTC wants to schedule daily?
		- Gilchrist - Yes, until march when the weather improves.
		- Paino - They do their training every morning from 6-7AM. They try to do 		it outdoors as much as weather permits.
		- Crump - They meet 6-7 AM Monday Wednesday Friday.
		- Russell - What is your policy towards the athletic department? The 			football team has a hard time finding space. Would they be allowed?
		- Gilchrist - They were denied access last year. They have not requested 			the space this year. The ROTC can not use Pershing because the football 			team uses it in the morning.
		- Russell - What would your policy be now after opening the door for 			ROTC?
		- Gilchrist - The intention of the referendum was that intercollegiate sports 		would be primarily in Pershing. Not her intention to turn the rec over to 			daily football practices. Would work it out that the ROTC could use the 			rec without any additional cost. Would not be possible with the 150 			member football team.
		- Russell - The athletics department would be willing to pay for the use.
		- Gilchrist - That is an option but she would have to come speak to Senate 			about it first before making a decision.
		- Russell - Not against athletics using the Rec Center. Feels the space 			would be better used. Sprints in the hallways are not safe when better 			options are available.
		- Esfeld - If there are hours when traffic is not high, it makes sense to use 			it. This resolution would stop athletics from using the Rec at 5 or 6 PM on 			a Friday.
		- Gilchrist - the Rec is not open until 6:30 AM. This would require the Rec 		to open early. If the center was opened for the ROTC and the football 			team, more staff and student workers would be necessary. 
		- Alberts - All of the other things that are student initiated are reviewed 			every three years. Senate has not had an opinion on the Rec since 1994. 			You’re still paying the fee, so you should have your opinion heard. The 			original intent was to not allow athletics and academics to use the space.
		- Jenkins - Understands how opening it up to one sport could open 				Pandora’s box but wonders why it is a necessity to have student workers 			present?
		- Gilchrist - It is a controlled access facility. Someone needs to be at the 			door to keep people from walking in off the street. If the weight machines 			are being used, it raises liability issues. People need to be there trained in 			medical emergencies. It also raises facility issues. In order to keep the Rec 			nice, workers must be there to monitor activities.
		- Robinson - Who pays to keep the Rec open for the ROTC?
		- Paino - No one. They would only use the multi-purpose room not any of 			the weights or equipment. 
		- Gilchrist - There is a female custodian that cleans the male locker room 			at 6:00. The ROTC will not use the locker room facilities. Liability is 			minimal.
		- Lambert - Feels the building should be used to its fullest extent. 
		- Passes 9 - 0 - 0. 
IX. Discussion Items
	A. Wickell - Moves 10 minutes of discussion time on Storm the Capital.
		- Wickell - Wants feedback on summaries. What should/should not be 			supported? SB23 has money coming out of a fund for 					elementary/secondary education. Not sure how K-12 schools feel about it.
		- Esfeld - Budget should be issue number 1.
		- Robinson - Would like to see SB107. 
		- Sumter - We need to pick battles we can win.
		- Alberts - Would speak to Candy Young first. 
		- Esfeld - While speaking with faculty, bills 152 and 40 directly impact 			Truman. That is why she is leaning towards them.
	B. Flanagan - Moves 10 minutes of discussion time on international student 	housing over midterm break.
		- Flanagan - Spoke with Andrea O’Brien. It could definitely be a 				possibility next year. In the past, Grimm was the International dorm. There 		is no space on campus available to house more than 2 students.
		- Esangbedo - Spoke to Melanie. Feels that all the breaks are a problem. 
		- Flanagan - Thrasher Apartments need to be fixed up but could be used.
		- Crump - There are a lot of logistical constraints. Supports the idea but 			needs more information.
		- Esfeld - Would like to see a way to designate a dorm as open all year 			long. Students would have the option of picking that dorm in advance. 
		- Summers - Pick Ryle or C-Hall (cheaper dorm) to keep open year round.
		- Sumter - If there is a year round dorm, the fee would be higher for the 			students living there.
		- Flanagan - O’Brien was adamant about a fee for staying the dorm. 
		- Alberts - Would students who are not international be interested in 			staying over breaks? Next step would be to visit the International Club.
		- Hayes - Agrees with Andrea O’Brien. Afraid that if one dorm is 				designated year round, the International students would be less integrated 			into the community. 
X. Other New Business
XI. Announcements
	- Veggie potluck Fridays at 7 PM @ 411 E. Jefferson.
	- Peanut butter salmonella outbreak.
	- Email Lizz ideas for mandatory events.
	- Place for the Senate party? Email Lizz.
	- Send Tom emails about agenda items.
	- This weekend is String Fest. 
	- Attend an MLK event this week.

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Secretary Piel on