Student Senate Minutes
September 23, 2007

I. General meeting of the Student Senate was called to order by Speaker Poindexter at 6:05 PM.
	A. Absent from the meeting were members:
	B. Also attending the meeting was: Cody Sumter, Amy Goodwin, Cassie Phillips, 
II. Preliminary Items
	A. Roll Call
	B. Corrections/Approval of the minutes
	C. Gallery introductions/business
		- FAC Representatives- 
- Wisa – The FAC did a survey last semester on events. Update on the results?
- In the process of getting a new historian and then the info will be
passed along.
- FAC Representatives – FAC timeline. One item has already occurred and everything else is moving along with the timeline.
	- Miller – Is there a way that you can bring us a timeline before
	events have already occurred?
	- FAC – According to the FAC bi-laws all posters for applications
	must be up within the first four weeks of school. That is why it was
	finished before the timeline is done. 
	- Time line approved. 
	D. Guests of Honor
	E. Membership Issues
	F. Appointments/Administration of the Oath
- Poindexter – Moves to appoint as a slate Cassandra Phillips, Anya Pechenina, Hannah Hemmelgarn, Thomas Hughes, Amy Goodwin as associate senators. 
- Approved.
	G. Changes/Approval of the agenda
III. Executive Reports
A. Secretary – Quick review of absence policy. 10 total with only 3 unexcused. Send all excuses (committee meetings, general meetings, and office hours) to senateabsence@gmail.com. New senators, please see me to sign up for an office hour. Committees please send me minutes and attendance!
	B. Treasurer – There are 8 committees left that he needs budget requests from. 
		(SOCC, Athletics Fee, Comm Director).
C. President – Made it to the final round of BOG representative selections. 3 total applications. The VP of Academic Affairs search committee is carrying on. One important point discussed at this week’s Ex Comm was the application and interview process. Several senators suggested an interview committee. All applicants from now on will be interviewed by the President and BOG Rep Kiddoo. Also discussed a recruitment/outreach issue. Welcomes new people who are newly elected. There are several positions still open. It should be the goal of the body to fill any open seats. Proposed idea of using October as a recruitment month for Student Senate. President Szewzcyk will be visiting several organizations to recruit and hopes that several senate members will accompany him. If you are interested in helping, contact Matt. Also discussed a Senate outreach day/week. Libby had the idea of calling it a “Human Suggestions” box. Several senators would be out on the quad talking to students and writing down issues and ideas that they have. 
- Alberts – It used to be the job of the vice president to run senate outreach. It used to be part of the attendance policy to hold their office hour in a public place or to visit an organization.
New members are crucial in helping keep connections with the student body. Your perspective is highly valued. Be critical of the body and speak up. Would like to thank Lizz Esfeld, Slavina Stoyanova, and Thomas Hughes who worked at the Perspective Students’ Day. Thanks all senators who attended the new member
retreat. Please send comments about the retreat to Speaker Poindexter. 
IV. Auxiliary Reports
A. Faculty Advisor – Welcome. Dr. Alberts teaches statistics at Truman. Passed around handouts regarding GPA and “Meeting Someone Famous”. The implications of the Senate OMNIBUS bill have been talked about. Faculty are frightened of public teacher evaluations. 
	B. Staff Advisor
C. BOG – Welcome new members! Come out to dinner with us! Remember that you approve a slate to send to the Governor of BOG reps.
D. Speaker – We had a mini retreat today for new members. We will probably have another one soon for those that could not make it. If you would like to be involved, contact Daniel. We had 5 people run during elections. There were no
ethics violations! A report will be written up shortly. New members, contact 
Daniel to join a committee.
V. Committee Reports
A. Academic Affairs – If you are interested in academic affairs please stay after the meeting to help choose a meeting time. On Friday, finalized learning objectives for the Curriculum commission. They will be going before Ex Comm this week and the full senate next Sunday. Tuesday at 3:30 in SUB Activities Room and Wednesday at 3:30 in VH 1010 there will be informational forums. You all are well informed so please show up! Will be meeting with Garry Gordon this week to talk about the clause in the OMNIBUS bill that deals with rating of professors. If you have any ideas about it, contact Lizz or Matt. 
- Szewczyk – In Arete, one of the things we wanted to improve was professor evaluations. 
Academic Affairs is looking into changing WACT course. Look out for a resolution regarding putting syllabi online before registration. Looking into getting a notation in the course handbook to denote which courses are offered only at certain times. 
	C. Student Affairs –
		i. Campus Diversity
		ii. Campus Environment – Bike CoOp report 
Campus Environment Budget: most of it for Bike coop and Earth Week. And Sustainable guide. TALLOIRES resolution coming soon. Next week first reading space allotment resolution, the first one for bike co op later ones for future space allotment.
	D. Technology
	E. Rec Center Review –
F. Budget Review – Things going swimmingly. Philip is meeting with Marty to talk about taking back the readership program. Committee almost full, freshman interested. Picked dates for forums, Mondays at 7 in oct and nov. 
	G. 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.	Graber – Moves to correct the previous Rec Center Birthday money motion by increasing it from $119 to $120.75.
 - Emily- what happens if we don’t give you the money?
VIII. First Readings
IX. Discussion Items 
A. Slate to the board of Governors: move the two candidates to the next part of the selection process. Senate will interview.
Tom- well prepared through one year of senate representation. Also lots of public speaking experience and representation experience
Cody- involved in lots of organizations. Read the application looked at what Emily had done. Sat on it for 9 days. Put together an application and wants permission for the next level.
Matt- had a selection committee. With confirmation their names will be submitted to gov blut, he’ll pick, then it will be approved by the state senate
Greg- working with state government, do you lean toward one political party? If so will that affect your 
		Cody- he’s a republican. But leans middle
Tom- he doesn’t remember. The board of governers shouldn’t be partisan. It probably won’t come into play, but if it does he doesn’t lean one way
Miller- background checks, is there anything that might come out in the background check.
		Tom- no, he would be surprised
		Cody- one parking ticket
David- Major issues you think will come up and how do you plan to tackle them
Cody- Continuing with renovations on campus. Looking at budgetary constraints of what we can do. Who knows
		Tom- renovations of the dorms, one of the most fascination things. 				Athletic Fee went through and the board approved. MOHELA also.
		Kristel- Other Activities
Tom- Senate. Society of Physics Students. Once every other week to eat pizza. Convert time spent on senate to Gov
Cody- WCS hall senate, the activities chair. RHA. Many other organizations. Not huge time commitments. 
		Greg- relationship with Student Senate?
Cody- doesn’t know many of us. Get in contact with the people he needs to know. He would begin attending these and any other meetings necessary.
Tom- Would have to relinquish some senate power. Different capacity. What he would weigh  in on. He would still be here and still be involved.
		Greg- what levity would you take to decisions made here?
Tom- taken v. heavily. We are the representative body whch holds a lot of weight. Make them understand that the decisions made are important.
Cody- Student Senate represents the student body. Can’t get the opinion of everyone. Try to figure out what was going on.
Emily K.- How would you keep from seeming Student Senate Puppet or advisor.
Cody- hoping that wouldn’t happen. Relaying the thoughts and the intent of the students. Not going to be a single opinion student senate might believe one thing, or have a split. It wouldn’t be the job to say there’s only one opinion.
Tom- the position keeps that from happening, “this is what student senate thinks”, but have the opinions of many other students think. 
		David- how do you plan on gathering other opinions.
Tom- Go to RHA, go to other organizations. SAB, FAC. Call someone in charge and make an appointment. Also be spontaneous, if someone’s complaining, “Let’s have a discourse” Talk to individual students.
		Cody- Talking to students one on one. Focus groups. 
Suzanne- how would their role be different from matts when her presents to BOG
Cody- job to represent the student body. Branch out, focus groups Talk to more students more orgs to get a broader range of views to present. Bring two different perspectives
Tom- Between the two of them they would catch as much of the student body and the administration to get everything. 
		Nadia- Student vote on the BOG. What steps would you take to advocate
Tom- Exciting prospect to have a voice. Not sure how the governors feel about that. Great to have a vote to fully represent students. To say if the students agreed or disagreed with the issues brought forward
Cody- the position right now is just to inform the BOG. Bu it would be a nice next step.
		Nadia- Students have a different view then the BOG. (Parental 				Notification)
		Cody- doesn’t want to burn bridges. Still fight for what students want. 
Tom- make the compromise. But also make sure you don’t compromise too much. Be willing to draw a line in the sand. 
		Casey- Would you meet with the BOG outside?
Tom- get to know them as people as well as work with them. Get to understand them to make the negotiations better
		Cody- Knowing them outside it’s much easier to work with them. 
Lizz- will they be here long enough to fill out term and integrate new student
		Cody- Junior, will be here an extra year
		Tom- will here her four years
		Rachel- Do you know what they do, and any members?
Tom- Chair: Rollins, Secretary: Potter, they deal with sweeping things across campus
Cody- Had trouble recalling the names. Rollins also. They’re in charge of expenditures over 25 thousand. BOG gets sued. Hire and Fire. 
		Nadia- Student opinion on restructuring
Cody- most students don’t understand or don’t like it. Students don’t like it.
Tom- Physics department is happy, but other students think differently. There are many different opinions on campus out there. 
		Emily- Offered an alcoholic beverage
		Tom- don’t drink
		Cody- don’t drink either.
		Anya- how involved in student life? 
Cody- had two jobs in the lab last year. Com. Sci. Major with physics and Japanese. Out on campus a lot, rotate cafeterias. Doesn’t see a problem with being narrow
Tom- Poi Sci and Physics double major. Classes have gotten him outside of comfort zone. Know the campus and the people fairly well.
		Matt- move as a slate for the BOG position.
		GO INTO CLOSED SESSION!!
		APPROVED
B. Budget Review discussion on funding for student led initiatives.
Hayes – Having applications/committee to deal with this first is more inviting to students than having them come to the general body first. This will allow students to have a better idea of senate can and cannot do.
Wiley – You need to set the definition of initiative before posting.
Wisa – Wants to leave applications open so people can bring ideas all year round.
Wiley – The applications should be put up after the Senate’s budget is set.
Phillips – Really like the proposal on several levels. If something like this had been in place for the bike co-op it would have been very beneficial. This will act as a great recruitment tool. Likes the open deadline. 
Mozaffar – Applications can be filled out with only an idea as opposed to a full proposal. It may be a requirement that student senate has to play a role in planning. 
Hogan – The power to reject ideas needs to rest somewhere. A way to check this would be requiring the rejected ideas to be in a report.
Goodwin – Suggestion. Since there is a certain amount of roll over, use it first as an allotment. 
Wisa – That would be the first place we would draw from.
Catron – Will these applications be open to just student initiatives or will funding be considered for orgs that were denied by the FAC last year?
Wisa – It is against our rules to fund org. initiatives that are turned down by the FAC. The purpose of this is to reach out to individuals and not organizations.
Mozaffar – Wary about funding organizations because you get into who is running the event. The org or Senate?
Phillips – Have a discussion forum for ideas where senators can learn about initiatives.
Szewczyk – First come first serve basis? It would be the responsibility of the committee chair to determine the plausibility of the idea, timetable, etc.
Wisa – One of the issues that came up is man power. There would have to be some sort of agreement between the student initiative and the corresponding committees. 
Hogan – If it gets to be too much work, possibly appoint a director and standing committee. 
X. Other New Business
XI. Announcements
	A. Ex Comm meeting at 7 PM Tuesday. Check email for meeting place.
	B. First lyceum event Tuesday night.
	C. Meet with Lizz if interested in Academic Affairs.
D. Invited to International Dinner sometime in November. Can you cook? Can you sing? Contact Slavina.
E. Prism Dance on October 6.
F. October 3-6 “No Sex Please, We’re British” $7/student
G. Critical Mass Friday at 5:30. In front of JavaCo bring a bike.
H. Please contact Brett if you’d like to help plan Earth Week.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM
Respectfully submitted by Secretary Piel on September 18, 2007