2014-2015 Senate Meeting s1
Student Government Association
2014-2015 Senate Meeting
Minutes for March 24, 2015
Madison Union Ballroom
Beginning 5:15 pm
Call to Order at 5:18
Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence
Attendance
Special Guests:
· No speaker
Business:
· Approval of the Minutes
o Meeting Minutes for March 17, 2015 were passed by unanimous consent by the Student Senate.
· Contingency
o VA 21
§ Virginia 21 is a nonpartisan organization that advocates for change in higher education.
§ Annual Leadership Luncheon is an event where students participate in breakout sessions with other important Virginia figures to enhance their leadership abilities and provide the chance to network in Richmond.
§ Requesting funds totaling $175.00 for travel expenses.
§ Finance Report: 5-0-1
§ Read aloud and debated.
§ Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Student Senate of James Madison University that the Student Government Association allocate $175 in contingency funds to assist with Transportation for VA 21’s Annual Leadership Luncheon.
§ This resolution passes by unanimous consent by the Student Senate.
o Alpha Phi Alpha
§ Develops leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence through the organization.
§ Easter Region Convention on March 25-29 in Newark, New Jersey to help further develop the JMU Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha.
§ Requesting funds totaling $1875 for registration fees.
§ Read aloud and debated.
§ Finance Report: 5-0-1
§ Now, therefore be it resolved by the Student Senate of James Madison University, that the Student Government Association allocate $1875 in contingency funds to assist with registration fees for Alpha Phi Alpha’s “Leadership Through Stewardship” Convention.
§ This resolution passes by unanimous consent by the Student Senate.
o PASO
§ The purpose of PASO is to provide opportunities for community service, political discussion, professional development and networking to undergraduate students interested in Political Science, Public Policy Administration and International Affairs.
§ FVC & PASO Scholarship Glow 5K on April 11, 2015 at 8:00PM at UPark in hopes to raise $10,000 for the FVC Scholarship.
§ Requesting funds totaling $2150 for volunteer t-shirts ($200.00) and participant t-shirts ($1950.00).
§ Read aloud and debated.
§ Finance Report: 5-0-1
§ Now, therefore be it resolved by the Student Senate of James Madison University, that the Student Government Association allocate $2150 in contingency funds to assist with directional and participant t-shirts for PASO’s Scholarship Glow 5K.
§ This resolution passes by unanimous consent by the Student Senate.
o Institute for Healthcare Improvement Open School
§ Our mission is to advance health care improvement and patient safety competencies in the next generation of health professionals at JMU and improve the quality of care in the JMU/Harrisonburg community.
§ 20th Annual International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare on April 21-24, 2015 in London, England. This will allow them to connect with more than 3000 healthcare professionals and possibly be one of the only American undergraduate student attending.
§ Requesting funds totaling $1600 for remaining conference fees ($1040.00), hostel booking ($500) and an oyster card for travel ($60).
§ Read aloud and debated.
§ Finance Report: 5-0-1
§ Motion to amend to $1600.
· The amendment is called to a vote and passes by the Student Senate.
§ Now, therefore be it resolved by the Student Senate of James Madison University allocation $1600 $2150 in contingency funds to assists with Conference Fees and Hotel Expenses for IHI Open School’s International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare.
§ This resolution is called to a vote and passes by the Student Senate.
§ Division is called. The vote stands, the resolution passes by a vote of 29-7-5.
· Resolutions
o Voting Precinct
§ Read aloud and debated.
§ Now, therefore be it resolved that the Student Government Association strongly supports this effort to increase voter participation among the students of James Madison University.
§ This resolution passes by unanimous consent by the Student Senate.
o College Housing and Infrastructure Act
§ Read aloud and debated.
§ Now, therefore be it resolved that the Student Government Association supports Congressional passage of the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act; be it further resolved that the Student Government Association asks the Virginia Congressional Delegation to sponsor the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act.
§ This resolution passes by unanimous consent by the Student Senate.
· Constitution
o Finance Amendments
§ Section 4: Treasurer: Powers and Duties
· Read aloud, explained, and debated.
· This amendment is passed by unanimous consent.
o Motion to amend:
§ Section 3: Removal from Office: Procedures
· Change the word trial to hearing.
· This amendment is passed by unanimous consent.
§ Article XI: Hazing Policy
· All organizations are required to have a Hazing Policy, so this would just be added to our constitution.
· This amendment is passed by unanimous consent.
o Motion to amend:
§ To remove Administrative Officer and replace with Executive Assistant.
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ This amendment is called to a vote and passes by the Student Senate.
§ Division is called. The amendment fails to pass by a vote of 18-13-12.
o The entirety of the Constituion is called to a vote and passes by the Student Senate.
o Division is called. The vote stands by a vote of 35-2-4.
· Bylaws
o Article II: Executive Council: Treasurer
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ This amendment passes by unanimous consent by the Student Senate.
o Article III: Leadership Team: Finance Director
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ This amendment passes by unanimous consent by the Student Senate.
o Article IV: Senate: Finance Team
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ This amendment passes by unanimous consent by the Student Senate.
o Article IV: Senate Communications Team
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ This amendment passes by unanimous consent by the Student Senate.
o The entirety of the Bylaws is passed by unanimous consent by the Student Senate.
· Financial Procedures
o Section 1: Finance Committee
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ The Student Senate passes this change.
o Section 2: Front-End Budgeting (FEB) Process
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ The Student Senate passes this change.
o Section 4: Contingency Funds
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ The Student Senate passes this change.
o Section 6: Internal Procedures and Protocols
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ The Student Senate passes this change.
o The Student Senate passes the entirety of the financial procedures.
· House Rules
o Rule I. Responsibilities of Student Senators
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ This change is called to a vote and passes by the student senate.
o Rule II. Responsibilities of Student Representatives
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ The Student Senate passes the rule by unanimous consent.
o Rule IV. Submission of Bills and Amendments
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ The Student Senate passes the rule by unanimous consent.
o Rule V. Student Senate – Attendance Requirements
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ The Student Senate passes the rule by unanimous consent.
o Rule VI. Senate Standing Committees – Attendance Requirements and Secretaries
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ The Student Senate passes the rule by unanimous consent.
o Rule IX: Proxy Votes
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ The Student Senate passes the rule by unanimous consent.
o Rule XI: Reports to the Student Senate
§ Read aloud, explained and debated.
§ The Student Senate passes the rule by unanimous consent.
o The Student Senate passes the entirety of the House rules.
Senate Reports
· Speaker Nick Maggio
o Thank you for sticking around through everything today.
· Committee Chairs
o Academic Affairs: Robby Smith
§ Not present.
o Community Engagement: Maddie Cairns
§ Pen Pal: Second group is here. Please pick them up and bring them back next Tuesday. Working on doing a Pen Pal meet and greet at the end of the year.
§ Adopt a Highway: Sign up to help clean up the highway on the google doc.
§ Harrisonburg High School Visit: Sign up on the google doc.
§ SPCA: The last chance to volunteer is on April 25th.
§ Relay for Life: Went over our goal for this week! If you don’t register you can’t come!
§ Food Bank: Jenn is working on a needs assessment to see if we need a Food Bank. Wall Street journal will be writing an article about us.
§ The Big Event: Working with Membership to reach out to other organizations.
o Membership: Meredith Parker
§ Funky’s skate night is from 8:00-9:30.
§ Thank you for signing up for the bracket. Kaitlin Thomas is in 1st place.
§ Softball is this Wednesday at 10:00 PM. Come support us! Still sign up by Wednesday at 3:00.
§ SGA Picnic, CAP Event, Sunset Trip and other fun events are upcoming.
o Legislative Action: Josh Humphries
§ Lobbying is April 16th and 17th in Washington DC. Send your house address to the Leg Action team.
§ City Council is tonight.
o University Services: Ryan Windels
§ SGA Serves You is this Thursday. Sign up on the Google Doc.
§ Leadership Team applications are out.
· Directors
o Communications: Michael Comer
§ Working on a follower campaign.
§ You’ve been served initiative.
o Finance: Casey Donnelly
§ Program Grant applications are due Friday.
· Class Council Presidents
o Senior Class President: Lauren Holder
§ 25 Days until graduation is coming up.
o Junior Class President: Dan Brezinsky
§ Today I Learned is still coming along.
§ This Monday at 7:30 PM at TDU.
o Sophomore Class President: Tori Atkins
§ Ring Premiere wrap up.
o Freshmen Class President: Sean Button
§ Selling T-shirts this week.
Advisor Report: Kristin Muncy
· Not present.
Executive Council Reports
· Student Body President: Taylor Vollman
o Meeting with high school people this weekend.
· Executive Vice President: Kaitlin Thomas
o A booking change for this year keeps us in Festival all year.
o Graduation speaker applications are due Friday.
· Executive Treasurer: Aaron Brown
o Ordering SGA 100 year shirts. Sign up on the google doc by Friday.
Executive Staff Reports
· Executive Assistant: Julie Hirschhorn
o Thank you coming out to disability awareness week last night.
o Thursday night there is a deep dialogue at 7PM in SSC.
· Administrative Officer: Kiersten Schierenbeck
o No report
· Parliamentarian: Matt Mueller
o Thanks for sticking with us tonight.
Motion to Adjourn at 7:13.