SGA Senate Meeting Minutes 11/19

Here are the minutes from our Senate meeting last night (11/19/08). This has a lot of good information about what is going on right now in SGA! Reminder-there will be no meeting next Tuesday!

I. Community Announcements
v Men’s Lacrosse team has a game this weekend
v Circle K International is hosting a Make A Wish Benefit Fashion show tomorrow
v Leadership Tracks workshop “Ethical Breakdown” tomorrow from 5-6:30PM
v Thank you to all those who participated in the 5K Fun Run/Walk
v Volunteers need for Festival of Lights – please sign up! MANDATORY EVENT
v Thank you to those SGA members who came out to support the opening season of the men’s and women’s basketball teams

II. Officer Reports
o President President Lytle
v Special Orders – Resignation of Director McVay
v Excited to see the school senators becoming well acquainted with the organization
v Thank you to:
v Representatives sitting on the 2010-2015 Planning Committee
v Cabinet
v IGA for working on Elections Manual
v We will meet on January 13, the week that we return in the spring

o Intergovernmental Affairs Vice President Cromack
v Committee meetings on Wednesdays at 7PM
v If you see any problems with the Election Manual, please write amendments!
§ Fix problems now, don’t wait until we’re down to the wire

o Legislative Initiatives Vice President Kuentz
v Currently in lots of new legislation in committee
v If you have legislation in this committee, please come to a meeting or appoint a representative to
v Will be discussing the Tuition Cap subcommittee
v LI committee meetings are Wednesdays @ 8PM

o Student Representation Vice President Carroll
v You should be contacted about committee reports this week
v Committee meeting this Thursday at 7PM in the SGA office

o Senior Class Executive Senator Bustos
v Class meeting this week
v Go support our athletic teams!

o Junior Class Executive Senator Bencivengo
v Any ideas for class programs? E-mail Bryce (bbenciv@stedwards.edu)
v Sign up for a Festival of Lights shift

o Sophomore Class Executive Senator Martin
v Working on class social plans

o Freshman Class Executive Senator Peal
v Nothing new at this time

o Schools Represented Executive Senator Duke
v Some vacancies appointments have been withdrawn, but working to get those refilled
v Meeting this Thursday

III. Cabinet Report
o Director/Associate Director of Public Relations
v Working on posters for parking garage and around campus
v SGA now has a blog linked on our Facebook page
v There is a note on Facebook, as well, defining common SGA terms for those who are unfamiliar with them
v Coffee Shop signs (to hold office hours) are in Ginny’s box if you need them
v A sign up sheet to purchase a polo is being passed around, please indicate what you need
v Been working on marketing for cafeteria and library (ideas from retreat)

o Director of Member Development and Training
v Looking into an ice skating event
o Seeing if we can get a group discount, regular price is $10
o Director of Service
v Not present
o Director of Involvement
v Homecoming meeting this Thursday at 6PM in Bain Boardroom

o Chief of Staff
v Please fill out nomination for November Member of the Month
v Draw for Secret Santa if you have not yet
v Gift exchange and food! Sign up if you’d like to make food
v State of the Campus – January 15
v If you are buying something for the association, we are tax exempt so make sure you get the card to take with you
v Any reimbursements need to be cleared by Whitney or Marisa first
v Several people are interested in the Finance Director position – more info coming soon

V. New Business
v S.R. 112 – Campus Beautification
o Our campus is in need of aesthetic improvement
o Would like to make a mural depicting our Holy Cross heritage
o 10 Minute Discussion
§ Not sure the university would be in favor of a mural
§ Look into planting some vegetation instead of a mural
§ Push for this if you want it! Don’t be deterred by what the administration wants
§ Notre Dame has a famous mural, tradition that has already been established and could continue it here
o Objection
§ Voice vote
o Division called
§ Roll call vote
o **Sent to LI

v S.B. 05 – CFL Rebate
o $400 from secondary account and all unused funds will be returned to the account
o Incentive to get students to buy CFL light bulbs and save energy, as well as money
o Cost about $3.50 more than a regular bulb, but last longer
o City of Austin will give a $2 rebate
o 2 options:
§ Give students the $2 rebate (possibly on Topper Tender)
§ Purchase light bulbs as an association and sell them to students at $2 less
o 10 Minute Discussion
o Is this offered to on and off campus students?
§ Would be open to everyone
o SGA would be in charge of this process
o This is a great idea and a good way to spend association funds
o Would be more cost effective to promote the City’s initiative rather than take on the cost ourselves
§ Feel that this a good project to put SGA name on and be in support of
o How was the $400 mark reached?
§ Conferred with several people about how much support they felt it would receive, seemed like a middle ground amount
o Think about a collaboration with the Environmental Club
o Perhaps approach University about changing light bulbs on their own
§ 60% of students live off campus
§ Some dorms and apartments make it the student’s responsibility
§ Primarily targeting off campus and students in apartments
o Objection
§ Voice vote
o **Sent to IGA

v S.B. 06 – Elections Manual Revisions 2.0
o **Bill has been withdrawn

v Motion to Remove S.R. 102 – Athletic Banners from the Table
o Meeting with Athletic Director Debbie Taylor to discuss options
o Would like to keep the door open until this meeting takes place
o Legislation was originally tabled due to a lack of communication on the author’s part
o **Voice vote to un-table
§ Un-tabled

VI. Gallery Comments
o Former President Rudy Trejo would like to reassure the association that they are appreciated and that what they do is important – don’t get discouraged!
o Don’t limit yourselves
o Your job is to represent 6,000+ students – you were elected!
o You’re here for a reason, take the responsibility seriously
o Question your leadership – hold each other accountability
o Campus Affairs and Police Safety committee meeting Thursday at 5PM in Fleck

VII. Advisors Comments Advisor Walden
o Student Organization Events:
o Circle K International Fashion Show – November 19
o Sorin Reel Film Festival – November 21
o Environmental Club recycling drive – November 19
o Sigma Alpha Pi event at Cuba Libre – November 19
o Global Innovators cupcake decorating in Club House 2 – November 19
o Delta Sigma Pi will have a Charles Schwab rep speak about financial crisis and internships
o President, VPs, Exec Senators, Chief of Staff, and Marisa are always available to talk, so schedule a meeting!
o If you have a concerns or want something to happen, talk to them so the issue can be addressed
o Remember to keep the side chatter and cell phone texting to a bare minimum

VIII. Final Comments
o There is no meeting next week – have a happy Thanksgiving!
o We will meet December 2 for our last meeting of the semester