Student Senate Minutes
December 7, 2008

I. General meeting of the Student Senate was called to order by Speaker Hogan at 6:05 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 - Dean Gilchrist, Breanna Wagner, Jason 	Bradshaw
	D. Guests of Honor
	E. Membership Issues - Vice President Wiley resigns his position.
		- VP Report - Service Council is on its way. Crafting language over winter 		break. This is his last meeting. He will be graduating next weekend. (Insert 		Brett’s report here.)
	F. Appointments/Administration of the Oath
		- Esfeld - Appoints Delta Sigma Pi to have an organizational rep. 				Approved.
		- Esfeld - Appoints Breanna Wagner to scholarship chair. Approved.
		- Esfeld - Appoints Larry Crump to position of Vice President. 
			- Crump - Thanks to thank Brett for establishing the scope of the 				office. Would like to keep a lot of things the same and bring back 				open communication at meetings. He would like to increase 				efficiency of the body. Main goal would be to allow each member 				to realize what they would like to do with their position. Wants to 				increase Senate communication.
			- Bates - What are your ideas to increase 							communication/efficiency?
			- Crump - Increased diversity among body members. 
			- Bates - Any specific ideas?
			- Crump - Visiting organizations and keeping an eye out for 				students that have “that energy.”
			- Hayes - Why do you desire this position?
			- Crump - Feels he has seen a lot of the inner workings during his 				short time on the body. Ready to overcome his shortcomings trial 				by fire style. Feels he has a broad scope of what is going on across 				campus. 
			- Flanagan - How do you see your time being broken down during 				your term? 
			- Crump - Going to other orgs would be a subsidiary duty. Thinks 				75% of time will be in meeting with Ex Comm, Lizz and President 			Krueger. The rest would be all of the extras.
			- Flanagan - What do you see as Senate’s vision for next semester?
			- Crump - The campus will be facing a lot of budgetary issues. We 				will need to figure out our focus based on what we can rationally 				accomplish. 
			- Closed Session.
	G. Changes/Approval of the agenda
III. Executive Reports
	A. Secretary - No report.
	B. Treasurer - Will completely update the budget over break and will send it out. 	Would like committee chairs to look at it and send him updates. If you have 	moved money and don’t see it on the budget, email Philip. Making a revised 	treasurer handbook. Feels familiar with the university budget and will compile a 	how-to booklet over break so we can have some common language. Send in 	receipts. Use the copy log.
	C. President - Promises to make this go as smoothly as possible and that everyone 	is informed. Please stay connected over break. Things continue to happen even 	when we’re not in school. Please look at the curriculum report. Please think about 	your expectations for your position and how you are/aren’t meeting them. 
	D. Vice President - Met with Brett and the SOC last week to see how they work 	with them. Please forward committee meeting times once they are established. If 	anyone has fun ideas about what we can do with other organizations, shoot Larry 	an email.
IV. Auxiliary Reports
	A. Faculty Advisor - Dr. Albert’s Christmas party tomorrow from 6 - 8 PM. 
	B. Staff Advisor - Please stay updated and well informed. Good luck on finals. 	And come to the 57th Annual Finals Scream.
	C. BOG - Thanks everyone for the earlier discussion. It is important that we stay 	connected. This is the most important thing we will do during our terms. 	Questions about the Board meeting? Email Cody. 4.8% increase in housing costs 	for next year.
	D. Speaker - So happy to see so many people here. It warms his broken little heart. 	We’ve been through a lot this semester and is encouraged by what he has seen in 	the last month.
V. Committee Reports
	A. Academic Affairs - Meeting with Dr. Paino on Reading Day and will be 	begging him for money for the Research Mentor of the Year award. Anything to 	discuss with him, email David. Next semester Academic Affairs will be handling 	curriculum and budget issues.
	B. External Affairs Chairwoman - Tentative dates February 17th/18th for Storm the 	Capitol. 
	C. Student Affairs - Meeting with Ally this week to schedule roundtables for the 	spring. Will be targeting different student organizations. RHA is having a program 	on reading day a murder mystery dessert theater. They have always been 	supportive of student senate so go support them! 
		i. Campus Diversity - Would like to have some Senate members to 				volunteer during MLK Day with the MAC or go read to elementary 			students about MLK. April 18th will be the Mix-It-Up event.
		ii. Campus Environment - No report.
	D. Technology
	E. Other Reports
		i. Historian
		ii. Communications Director
		iii. Webmaster
		iv. Ethics Justice
		v. Recruitment
		vi. Legislative Director
		vii. Constitutional Review
VI. Old Business
	A. Flanagan - Moves to remove the Conduct Code resolution from the table. 	Listed all policies that students have been concerned about. 
		- Hayes - Really pleased with everything she has done this semester. Its 			time for us to give her our seal of approval. Thanks Senator Flanagan.
		- Passes 8 - 0 - 0. 
	B. Wiley - Moves a second reading of the Clinton Global Initiative resolution.
		- Wiley - There are very minor changes from last week. 
		- Esfeld - Did you develop a statement as to why student Senate should 			give this money and not the university? There needs to be a where as 			clause.
		- Passes 8 - 0 - 0.
VII. Money Motions
VIII. First Readings
IX. Discussion Items	
	A. Esfeld - Moves discussion time on the state budget issue (money meltdown ‘08 	AKA the Apocalypse)…..
		- Esfeld - This memo came out on the 4th letting Truman and other 				institutions of higher education to prepare for a 15%, 20% or 25% budget 			cut. The only cut Dr. Krueger is looking at is 15%. We would lose 6 			million dollars and 126 jobs. If we increased tuition to meet this we would 		still lose 56 jobs.
		- Sumter - The state does not allow us to raise tuition above inflation.
		- Esfeld - The options on the table include cutting the money out of our 			budget, a 15% increase in tuition, or the idea of a $1000 fee per student 			per year. This last scenario would keep us level. Any student fee would 			come through Student Senate and would go to a vote of the student body 			in the spring. At this point, this is what Cody and Lizz know. There is not 			a specific number until Governor Elect Nixon and the senate approve a 			budget. 15% cut is our best case scenario now.
		- Hayes - Opposed to the idea of a fee. A tuition increase is more 				transparent to perspective students. Once you institute a fee, recipients 			become dependent on it and it would be hard to remove the fee in the 			future. This will be an extremely hard sell to the students. 
		- Sumter - The fee would provide transparency if we show a slate of fees 			and exactly where the money is going.
		- Esfeld - There needs to be student oversight and we need to understand 			where this money is being spent. A tuition increase would not allow any 			oversight. It would not be morally right to give students less for more 			money. A tuition increase would lessen the experience by losing staff and 			potentially programs. A fee would allow for more student control and 			could enhance their experience.
		- Menown - What would be cut?
		- Sumter - Across the board cuts of faculty and staff. 
		- Flanagan - Feels the cut will be more than 15%. Dr. Krueger thought the 			cut will be higher. This will be a hard situation no matter what. Students 			will have to give more money either through tuition or the fee. Would like 			to see the fee over the tuition raise. A fee would empower Senate and the 			students. We will have to go above the minimum to make students support 		this. What more can we provide to sell this to students? We need to make 			this hurt less. Would like to see scholarship awards for up to five years 			instead of four.
		- Yu - There a so many students in financial need that a 15% increase in 			tuition or fees would mean the difference between coming back to Truman 		or dropping out of school. Would rather have all of us sacrifice a bit (less 			faculty and programs) than to not have some students attend Truman.
		- Esfeld - You must keep in mind that most universities have put a freeze 			on all hiring. So if faculty/staff lose their positions they will have a hard 			time finding them elsewhere. Dr. Krueger wants to make sure that students 		will be able to afford this through finding them work, etc.
		- Sumter - You can’t pay more for less or more for what we have now. If 			we charge students more there has to be tangible evidence of 				improvement. We need to look at how we can make things more 				affordable for students. 
		- Jenkins - A tuition increase will not change. A fee at least has the 				possibility of being repealed. Afraid that Truman will lose its credibility. 			Truman is an investment. The fee allows for us to preserve Truman. 			Supports a fee.
		- Robinson - Agrees with Vice Chair Jenkins. What will the oversight 			entail?
		- Esfeld - Imagines a committee consisting of students that works closely 			with administration. President Krueger has asked every department to go 			through their budgets and decide what they can cut. Would like students 			involved in every one of those decisions. This fee would allow us to ask 			for that with a lot more strength.
		- Crump - Truman is founded on affordability and excellence in education. 		Many are hurting right now due to economy. We need to consider which 			one of these options helps us keep an eye on where this money is going. It 			is our obligation to the students.
		- Sumter - President Krueger has been trying to define what is the Truman 			experience. We need to know what is the experience and sell it to the 			students that we are preserving this experience. How can we lower the cost 		for students? President Krueger has spoke about job programs to make this 		less impactful.
		- Flanagan - Is there any legislation that would offer students more money 			in loans? Thinks it is essential to keep out of class experiences. Feels 			Student Affairs has made great strides since the Liberal Arts and Sciences 			report. Does not want this to be overshadowed by academics.
		- Sumter - This should not be us as Student Senate telling students what 			they want. This should be a unifying event for the campus to say what we 			want as students.
		- Wickell - We cannot look for too much effort on the part of the state in 			regards to more money.
		- Menown - Feels we do not have enough faculty and staff. Our ratios will 			be lost that draw students to Truman. If we are put in charge of the fee that 		would be an enormous amount of responsibility.
		- Esfeld - Has done a lot of thinking about this over the past few days. Has 			come to the conclusion that we need to be unified within the body and 			within the student body. We need to educate them as much as possible 			without preaching and forcing things upon them. We need to listen to 			them, inform them, and respect them. We must be partners in this change. 			Next semester there will be two executive committee meetings a week. 			The first will be with chairs the second will be without chairs. This way 			the chairs will be able to continue to focus on their projects. The second 			meeting will include Lizz, Cody, Larry, Tom, Libby and Ally. They will be 		responsible for tackling this issue. Has also invited the Index to have a 			member on the committee.
		- Gilmor - Truman is already facing the problem that we are not 				fun/appealing. If we cut student affairs won’t that hurt us even more? 			We’d lose the draw. Does not understand how “more for more” can 			happen. We’re already in a deficit. We can only stay where we are now. If 			we have a fee we have control, how do we pick where this money goes? 			Do small programs fall to the way side?
		- Esfeld - There are a lot of decisions that will have to be made. We are 			only a week into this. Hopefully this second ex comm will be able to 			tackle this.
		- Flanagan - Feels the majority of the students we attract are academic 			based. We need to become more appealing through student affairs to 			increase enrollment outside of the academic sphere.
		- Esfeld - In Ex Comm we came up with the idea of writing a unified 			statement. 
			- Schutter - Would like to see a statement that says we support the 				students and will work with them through this issue.
			- Bates - Be serious but don’t create a panic.
			- Gilchrist - Learn how the budget of the University is organized. 				Possibly have Dave Rector come to a meeting and other members 				of the President’s staff.
			- Crump - Would like to open a blog over break so we have some 				ideas when we come back from break.
			- Esfeld - We need to stay connected and informed over break.
			- Wickell - How much will be a 15% tuition increase be?
			- Gilchrist - A fee would give the university more money to work 				with than a tuition increase because of scholarships several 					students wouldn’t have to pay.
			- Sumter - Would like to see forums in every residence hall so 				students can voice their opinion and we can make an informed 				decision.
			- Hayes - Wants this to be the number 1 issue of university 					conference day in February. Over break, we can come up with 				ideas of how to get students involved.
			- Flanagan - Feels like we should have a statement of facts. Wants 				to make sure we know what we can and cannot talk about. Like a 				press release. We are going to need to hit the ground running when 				we get back. Wants to push organizational meetings.
			- Schutter - Would like to hold a forum for Senate. This way all 				members can speak confidently on this issue and so we can all be 				on the same page.
			- Sumter - During Homecoming we had alumni come back, one 				individual would have students speak with her during mealtimes 				and would not be able to eat for 30 minutes with all of the 					questions. Would like to have the private dining room open on a 				weekly basis so students can come ask questions.
	B. Wickell - Moves discussion time on Storm the Capitol.
		- Wickell - SB 23 would take whatever proceeds from casinos are left 			from the money given to elementary schools will be given to higher 			education. SB 107 would make the amount of any qualified higher 				education expenses could be a tax deduction for students or people with 			students that are dependent. Chris Miller wants to know if we would 			support same day voter registration. There has not been a bill filed on it 			yet. 
		- Wiley - Would support those items. Would be interested in seeing what 			they body thinks of the MOHELA funds currently in limbo. 
		- Sumter - closing the fee loop hole?
		- Wickell - Just pre-filed stuff.
		- Menown - SB 23, wasn’t it already passed?
		- Wickell - Its just describing the tiny bit that is left over.
		- Gilmor - Do we have a precedent for lobbying not higher education 			directed things? Seems like it could be a sticky situation.
		- Schutter - We would normally look at things that apply directly to higher 			education and to Truman. That is why we would like your input.
		- Hayes - In the past, we have not supported any legislation that is not 			directly related to funding or student affairs.
		- Wickell - Could see this becoming a partisan issue. 
	C. Hogan - Moves five minutes of discussion time for goals over break.
		- Hogan - Would like this discussion to have happened earlier and with a 			more positive mood in the room. What is one small thing you would like 			to accomplish over break. His goal is to update the constitution.
		- Jenkins - Will get report for semester together and have expectations 			written down. Will have things planned out so the semester will be less 			hectic.
		- Esfeld - Will have a detailed timeline for the second ex comm.
		- Schutter - Working on understanding current legislation and the process.
		- Crump - Figure out the blogging thing. Will try to get things scheduled 			out.
		- Sumter - Plotting budget forums. Working on other things while hidden 			in the mountains.
		- Hayes - Working on how to frame university conference day.
		- Piel - Secretary handbook. Fancy spreadsheet.
		- Gilmor - Treasurer handbook. Budget How-To. Baking a lot.
		- Lambert - Will work to understand the budget.
		- Robinson - understanding the budget.
		- Menown - Research Mentor of the Year
		- Bates - Contact scholarship and EOY chairs. 
X. Other New Business
	A. Esfeld - Moves to consider a resolution in honor of Brett Wiley. 
		- Passed 9 - 0 - 0.
	B. Flanagan - Moves discussion time on the Conduct Code report. 
		- Esfeld - We only got this document an hour before the meeting and has 			not had time to look at it.
		- Flanagan - It includes a list of areas of concerns that students have 			expressed that we are not changing. Felt they should be included within 			the document.
		- Esfeld - This is something that will represent us as a body and we don’t 			know what we’re voting on.
		- Hayes - Flanagan has done a lot of work on this over the semester much 			of which may be difficult to explain to the body. Has no problem putting 			faith in her. Approving this document gives our approval of something we 			have charged her with.
		- Esfeld - Does not disagree with senate Hayes. Concerned that this 			document doesn’t represent all of the work she has done. Would like to 			know the process.
		- Flanagan - Plans on working on this tonight to make it prettier. 
		- Jenkins - We have to have some form of trust.
		- Hogan - There were two components. There was a resolution that was 			quick and to the point. The report was to include all of the details the 			resolution briefly hits upon. We are not in the habit of passing things that 			are not done. Major form and content issues are not in Senate’s best 			interest. Does not see what the rush is. Should give Flanagan the time she 			needs to complete this. This is more of a formality to have it down on 			paper and in our records. We just passed the resolution there is no reason 			the report could take a little longer. 
		- Bates - What is the due date and what is due?
		- Flanagan - The last day is Friday and can be in any form.
		- Robinson - Are we voting on this tonight? (Standing rules have been 			suspended so we are headed for a vote).
		- Hayes - Good faith. If we don’t pass this tonight we must have a special 			meeting later this week.
		- Gilmor - Has no doubt that the content is fine. Not comfortable of 			passing something and then writing it. Would be ok having a special 			meeting this week to pass it.
		- Passes 5 - 3 - 0.
XI. Announcements

Adjourned at 8:51 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Secretary Piel on