Student Assembly

Minutes - Student Assembly
September 5th, 2013
4:45pm - 7:00pm
Willard Straight Hall

I. Call to Order

U. Smith called the meeting to order at 4:47pm

Members present

S. Balik, J. Batista, G. Block, E. Bonatti, T. Drucker, R. Gademsky, I. Harris, M. Henderson, L. Liu, M. Lukasiewicz, Y. Ma, A. Murphy, C. Pritchett, U. Smith, M. Stefanko, T. Talbot, B. Thompson, N. Tulsky, L. Wershaw

Members tardy

T. Hittinger

Members unexcused

J. Lee

II. Approval of the Minutes

• Minutes approved by unanimous consent

III. Open Microphone

• Pat ‘14: Chair of Student Advisory Committee on Student Life - here to ask members of SA to participate in their meetings. Also looking for new members

IV. Announcements and Reports

Elections Update - A. Muglia

• There are 26 candidates: 1 LGBT, 4 transfer, 1 UA, and 20 freshman representatives
• Campaigning starts after today’s meeting

Office Hours Update - S. Balik

• Office Hours are to be held every Wednesday from 5–6pm in 626 Thurston and Thursday 3:15–4:15 in WSH 4th floor conference room

Shared Governance System Update - S. Balik

• They are still figuring out the system so amendments have not been posted yet, but it will be worked out soon.

Staffing Update - U. Smith

• U. Smith introduced Jordan Berger as the Parliamentarian, Cory Earle as the Executive Archivist, and Chelsea Cheng as the student clerk

Board of Trustees Update - U. Smith

• The plan is to meet once a week. One of the first topics up for discussion is graduate housing.

ClubFest Announcement - I. Harris

• SA will have a table at Barton

SAFC Announcement - G. Block

• The SAFC has chosen to extend the deadline for organization to be registered with the OrgSync system. However, they will not provide funds until registration has been approved.

V. Business of the Day

Appropriations Committee Recommendation: Cornell Forensics Society - G. Block

• An organizations meets eligibility requirements if it benefits the entire student body and is accessible to all students
• There are 4 debate groups within the Society
• The Appropriations Committee unanimously approved their request by a vote of 12–0−0
• There was some debate over whether or not the traveling teams met the eligibility requirements, but overall the Committee appreciated the work the CFS has done in publicizing important debates
• Call to question, seconded, dissent expressed
  • Vote to vote: 14–3−0
• ‘Decision approved by a vote of 16–0−1

Appropriations Committee Recommendation: Club Sports Council - G. Block

• The CSC is an umbrella organization for 38 teams on campus. They applied to provide more money and flexibility in the way they can use their funds
• The Appropriations Committee felt the CSC didn’t meet the requirements to apply for byline funding: service and accessibility for all students
• G. Block: Speaking as a Student Assembly representative (not as the unbiased Appropriations Committee Chair), he thinks the SA should overturn the decision of the Committee. Club sports do meet the eligibility requirements and they have been working to “bring athletics to student organizations”
• James: Club sports is about fostering physical and mental health relationships, not just about the sports and not just about ‘athletes’
• L. Liu: Believe club sports meets both requirements. They greatly benefit their members and for the community, provide equal opportunity to achieve excellence, recognition the teams bring to the university, the fostering of community.
• M. Henderson: Biggest concern with accessibility requirement. Is it practical to expect that people who don’t get accepted into a team can go and create their own ‘lower-level’ one and receive funding?
  • James: There are a couple spots that have both competitive teams and recreational teams, so there is a place for everyone
• E. Bonatti: Worried about the effect on the Student Activity Fee. Also, if considering other groups that are byline funded, Club sports provide more benefits to more people so they should be approved
  • G. Block: The SA is only responsible for considering the eligibility of the CSC and it would be unfair if they allow concerns for ramifications on the SAF to affect their decision
• Motion to overturn the decision of the Appropriations Committee
  • R. Gitlin: To clarify, does every person that doesn’t make it onto a team have equal opportunity to join a recreational team or create their own?
    • James: Yes, definitely
  • M. Stefanko: As a member of the Appropriations Committee who expressed eligibility concerns, he now fully supports an overturn of the decision
  • Cal to question, seconded
• Decision overturned by a roll call vote of 19–0−0

VI. New Business

R. 4: Re-naming the Women’s Issues At-Large Representative - J. Batista

• Re-naming to Women’s Liaisons At-Large Representative as the position serves more than just the women’s community
• Motion to table until the next meeting, seconded
• Tabled until the next meeting

R. 5: Recognition of AIDS Awareness Week - J. Batista

• This is a yearly resolution - events will be held all week long to promote awareness
• This resolution requires SA support to create an ad-hoc committee in order to make this week happen
• Motion to move to Business of the Day, seconded
• Moved to Business of the Day
• C. Pritchett: Would like to suggest that this be made an official annual SA co-sponsored event. Worried that if a member doesn’t take the initiative each year to reach out and work with Haven, this event might be lost in the shuffle
  • J. Batista: Thinks this should be brought in front of the Assembly every year. Plus, this should also be an event that the SA makes an effort to reach out to
• M. Henderson: How much will this cost?
  • Costs should be minimal since planning is starting so early, so there are many chances for funding and co-sponsorship
• Call to question, seconded
• Resolution 5 passed by a vote of 19–0−0

VIII. Executive Session

Respectfully submitted,
Chelsea Cheng