Full Senate
February 15, 2017
6:30 PM Alderson Auditorium
I. Call to Order – 6:34 pm
II. Guest Speaker: Kelly Reynolds, Director of State Relations
A. Represent KU at the state legislature level
B. Very similar to lobbyists – but not officially
C. Undergraduate student here, worked on multiple campaigns, then moved back to Kansas and started raising money in higher ed
D. Went to Wichita State working for the President there
E. Each university runs their government relations office differently
F. Work closely with KBOR – have to get approval from KBOR for all bills that we want introduced
a. We decide how we’re going to testify/not testify on bills that impact the university
b. Bills we work on the most are the budget and other related bills
i. Roughly 70% of our time
ii. Higher ed has come together over the past few years to push for higher funding
c. Legislators want constant communications with us
i. Very important to have someone there all the time fielding questions and telling KU’s story continuously
G. It’s an honor to represent all of you and everyone else
H. Questions
a. Hanna: Attachment to what you do and bills you’re involved with?
i. J1 visa holders, highly talented researchers, they can’t stay in the state due to our health insurance plan and a clause that is in it – so trying to combat that clause. Every year there are things that are completely different which keeps it exciting and allows me to learn different things.
b. Victoria: I’m spending my semester in the legislature as well and have been in the health committees, do you help coordinate the med center bills?
i. I represent the med center as well, but it depends on if they are speaking on behalf of the university or as an expert in their field. If it is on behalf, it is through my office but as an expert it is just through their own engagement.
c. Pete: Has your office taken a position on HB2074?
i. No, we cannot. KBOR and the law prevent us from taking a position. I am state money, so we cannot lobby for or against gun bills. KBOR restricts our ability.
d. Mattie: How does the legislature perceive KU?
i. 165 different ways. 60 new ones this year, I think the perception that KU is not well received in the statehouse is a false perception.
e. Quiz: Earlier in the year you helped student senate use their reserve account – do you know what the status of going forward looks like with reserve caps?
i. Budget bill was released and that proviso language is not in there and I don’t perceive that coming back.
f. Stephonn: Talked about telling KU’s story – can you touch on some main points?
i. What I try to tell – depends on the legislator – say how we serve the state, how we serve them well, how we serve the students and try to excel. Our goal is to not be mediocre it is to be great and we need that investment and that shared support from them. Talk a lot about research and keeping the best and brightest in the state – how KU excels from all the other universities in doing that.
g. Mady: Are there a lot of alumni in the statehouse?
i. Most of any other university – by one. One has an undergrad at K-State and MD at KU, so we both claim him. That changed this year (us having the most). Legislature has changed personality-wise - if you walk in now it is a lot more positive, excited about moving Kansas forward and working together. Tremendously hard session in front of them – huge budget hole – and other tough issues…seems like they are committed to getting it done and taking tough votes. When you meet legislators – even if you disagree with them – thank them. Nobody is doing it for the money…it is a citizen’s legislature. They work hard, long hours and they listen to people and I know very few who aren’t there for the right reasons – even if I disagree with them they are doing what they think is best for Kansas.
h. Victoria: University taken any strides to meeting Brownback’s $15,000 bachelor degree plan?
i. Closest is a 2+1 degree at Edward’s campus…all looking at where we sit currently. It looks like it would have to be at least 15 hours at concurrent enrollment and max out at a community college. Fort Hays State or Emporia State would be most likely but still don’t think any have the potential to do that without an influx of support from legislature in base funding, which hasn’t been increased in a long time.
III. Approval of the Minutes
A. February 1, Cycle 8 Full Senate Minutes
a. Chance moves to approve, Adam seconds, passes (Vote 1)
IV. Officer Reports
A. Stephonn Alcorn, Student Body President
a. I get to interact with Kelly very often
i. As students we are invulnerable to any of those limitations that Kelly has on speaking out – if you feel strongly about any issues always feel like you can raise your voice
ii. We are the only ones who really have the full power to do so
b. Thanks to all students who attended the Multicultural Students Retreat
i. Making sure this is codified into the future of Senate
c. Chancellor Search
i. Series of forums at all campuses back in January
ii. Dave Dillon and rest of committee took the data and put together a leadership statement
1. Search has officially begun after description approved by KBOR
iii. Student input suggested we want a chancellor that is accessible and open to students and can increase access to higher ed.
d. KBOR student advisory council submitted proposal to have increased student representation on the board’s standing committees
i. At least two members of the council serve on the standing committees as ex-oficio non voting members to give student input
ii. Decide tuition rates, housing and meal plans, weapons policies, things that are very important to us as students
e. Met with dean of KU libraries this week
i. Talking about budget cuts – K-State cut back on hours for their libraries but we will not cut library hours
f. Passed amendment to funding code for Senate bill 175 about religious restrictions to groups
i. California decided not to play any Kansas schools in sports – disrupted a UCLA/KU series that was being planned
ii. Senate Bill 179 would repeal this so we could change our funding structure back
g. Meeting with Vice Provost Burns-Wallace about first gen programs
B. Gabby Naylor, Student Body Vice President
a. Outreach Week Feb 27th-March 3rd
b. Deferring time to Zachary Kelsay, Transportation Director
i. KU on Wheels embarked on a COA with outside consultant analyzing all of our routes to see how we could get more efficient
ii. Final report back a couple weeks ago, will be bringing proposals to the student body
iii. Three meetings – email kuonwheels email account for more info
iv. March 1st will have a meeting outside on Jayhawk Walk
C. Danny Summers, Chief of Staff
a. Acclimating two replacement senators, Amy will take care of this in her officer report
b. Elections Commission – Taylor Austin to be acclimated
i. Previously director of judicial affairs for PanHellenic
ii. John moves to acclimate Taylor, Jonathan seconds, acclimated
c. Need a law and graduate representative on the elections commission still
d. Outreach reminders
i. Assignments for orgs just went out earlier today – required to reach out to those groups – please send an email to me, Connor or Mitch whenever you reach out or meet with these groups
ii. Appendix M
1. Must schedule a meeting with me or Connor – schedule this through Mitch especially if you are relatively new
iii. Hold an outreach meeting or send emails to your groups
iv. Social media – no requirements but don’t do something like call the UDK fake news
v. Attend a certain number of student senate events – number depends on your seat but ask if you do not know or look in SSRR
e. Defers time to Zoya, MA Chair
i. Update on religious minorities ad hoc committee
1. We have finalized most of the language for the survey, thanks to everyone who served on this committee, survey should be live tomorrow morning
2. Working with Edwards campus as well to get all information we can
ii. MA update
1. Unable to reach quorum, hopefully moving forward we can be more intentional when coming to committees, all legislation has been deferred by StudEx to full senate
D. Amy Schumacher, Graduate Affairs Director
a. Spent most of the semester not here – catching up this past week
b. GSAB will meet next week and get back on policy initiatives and platforms to bring together siloed graduate students
c. March 16th and April 6th at Commons – Graduate Colloquium series
d. Replacement senators
i. Benton and Pete
ii. Victoria motions to acclimate, seconded, acclimated
E. Abdoulie Njai, Director of Diversity & Inclusion
a. Multicultural Students Retreat
i. 50 students attended the retreat and had students who typically aren’t involved in these conversations – great to branch out past the group of students who are typically at these events to spread the conversation even further
ii. Chancellor, Provost Neeli, Vice Provost Burns-Wallace, Dr. Durham and Dean Lejuez served on a panel – was great to hear about their journeys
iii. Breakout sessions about navigating at a PWI, managing money, leadership as minority students
iv. Raffled off scholarships and other prizes
F. Allyssa Castilleja and Whit Collins, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer
a. $7,943 going thru - $27.306 left would be about $6,800 left for each cycle
V. Consent Agenda
A. 2017-094: A BILL TO FUND NET IMPACT
B. 2017-099: A BILL TO FUND JAYHAWK AERO DESIGN
C. 2017-096: A BILL TO FUND VIOLIN CLUB
D. 2017-097: A BILL TO FUND NEW MUSIC GUILD H2 QUARTET
E. 2017-102: A BILL TO FUND AERIAL ARTS WORKOUT EQUIPMENT
F. 2017-104: A BILL TO FUND THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
G. Chance motions to approve, seconded, passes (Vote 2)
VI. Regular Agenda
A. 2017-095: A BILL TO FUND KANSAS UNIVERSITY REMOTE OPERATED SUBMERSIBLES (KUROS)
a. Club was started last year – we design and compete with submarines to provide undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in these opportunities that are often limited to graduate students
b. Sophia: Have you got funding outside of student senate?
i. Yes, listed in the bill
c. Adrian: Why was the number changed?
i. Miscommunication over half over a thousand rule
d. Sophie: Coca-Cola as outside funding?
i. Was for t shirts and stuff like that
e. Taylor: Opportunities to use the submersible outside of the expo?
i. Yes, the expo is a great way to showcase this but can be used outside to provide educational purposes for the students
f. Taylor: Can parts be reused for future years?
i. Yes, control unit can be reused for every single competition
g. Adam motions to call to question, seconded, passes (Vote 3)
B. 2017-103: A BILL TO FUND KU PROFESSIONALS FOR INCLUSION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE RESEARCH CONFERENCE
a. Requesting this for an honorarium for our keynote speaker, Alen Foley
b. 51 total submissions representing 53 graduate students
c. Jonathan moves to call to question, seconded, passes (Vote 4)
C. 2017-101: A BILL TO AMEND STUDENT SENATE RULES AND REGULATIONS ARTICLE II SECTION 2.1.2 AND ARTICLE III SECTION 3.5.3 TO ALLOW FOR APPOINTED SENATOR REPRESENTATION ON UNIVERSITY SENATE
a. This allows for more representation for appointed groups and should generate more interest for those seats
b. Still 2 seats for elected and holdovers
c. Victoria: Any talk of adding another student seat and filling it out that way?
i. Yes lots of conversations but staff and faculty senate said they weren’t interested in that
d. Victoria: Lots of orgs don’t assign their appointed senators until the following year, how will this seat be filled?
i. From the incoming body, creates ore involvement, more opportunity for them to have more of a purpose
e. Constanza: Which appointed senators were consulted in the writing of this legislation?
i. Talked to a lot of organizations, board of advisors, etc.
f. Constanza: Given that you are required to attend your organizations exec meetings and senate meetings, do you think adding university senate on top of that would be reasonable?
i. Stephonn: Appointed senators don’t have the same social capital, allowing them – most of whom are multicultural or minority based – to have a seat here is much better than not
g. Sophie: Have you spoken to university senate, what did they say?
i. Yes talked about this at SenEx – thought this was the best option
h. John moves to call to question, seconded, passes (Vote 5)
D. 2017-105: A BILL TO FUND THE FISCAL YEAR 2018 BLOCK ALLOCATIONS
a. Referred to us by finance committee after block hearings
b. Sophie motions to extend the time of the bill by 15 minutes, seconded, passes and time extended
c. This needs to pass by 2/3 and there cannot be amendments made here, or else it is sent back to finance
d. Hopefully we will see fee review bill next cycle
e. Had almost $800,000 in requests
f. $1 in fee translates to $44,290 in revenue
g. KU Band
i. Requested to send 12 people to China, committee didn’t pass that
ii. Costs, guest artists, lockers, etc. included in the block allocation
iii. Similar total to what they have received the past few years
iv. Stated they can’t get commitment on funding from athletics or music department for 6 sousaphones – we fund this in this allocation
v. Over 500 students in KU band
h. KU Forensics
i. Doing very well – currently ranked #1 in the country, includes public and private schools
ii. Are exempted for travel funding, giving them $23,500 to accommodate more travel due to their success but couldn’t give the full $25,000 they requested due to budget constraints
i. KU Info
i. Given them $68,000 the last three fiscal years – more or less stayed the same – spend around $48,000 a year in student wages for 15-18 students
j. KU Natural History Museum
i. Never received block funding before – new request w no history
ii. Requested $43,000, we felt that covering two graduate positions plus funding for mobile museum for KU students could not all be supported
iii. Gave $6,000 to create and operate mobile museum
iv. Sophie: Do you know why they are asking for funding now when historically they didn’t?
1. Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Institute are both housed in Dyche Hall – Biodiversity gets a lot of funding but Museum doesn’t, so looking for new and novel ways to expand that side of their funding