S.G.A. SENATE MEETING
August 29, 2016
The meeting was called to order in the Leaders Suite of the Donald G. Bollinger Student Union at 4:00 p.m. Presiding officer was Vice President Austin Wendt. The Recording Secretary was Dolly McGeever.
The prayer was led by Senator Keilan Kiger and the pledge was given by Senator Josie St. Pierre.
The Nicholls Student Government Association Mission Statement was read by Senator Sydney Moxley and Senator Rabina Tamang read the first value of the Nicholls Creed.
The following Executive Board members were present: President Tommy Thibodeaux, Vice President Austin Wendt, Treasurer Katelyn Cortez, Director of Student Rights and Grievances Peyton Chiasson, Director of Public Relations Abigail Ledet and Secretary Dolly McGeever.
The following Senators were present: Tregg Parker, Sydney Moxley, Madison Kiger, Emily Sauce, Kaitlyn Mistretta, Harihar Ojha, Josie Graham, Josie St. Pierre, Keilan Kiger, Rabina Tamang and Darian Graivshark.
The following Senators were absent: Josue Diaz Juarez, Will Tanner, Dustin Bergeron, Amelia Cummings, Charles Johns, Trey Clark and Al Wilson.
Web Tech was not represented.
Student Supreme Court was not represented.
Election Commission was not represented.
Guests present were Tyler Ussery, KNSU Station Manager and Annie Knight, Nicholls Worth staff writer.
Minutes of August 22 were approved as printed.
GUEST SPEAKER: Mr. Tyler Ussery, KNSU Station Manager
Thank you for your time. We at KNSU are a student run organization. We’re the only student run radio station in Louisiana and we’re proud of that. We like to reach out to the students and bring in students to be DJ’s for special events. I wanted to get our voice heard. I want you to know what we’re about because I feel that KNSU doesn’t reach a lot of you. We have a broad platform. We air all the way to the outskirts of New Orleans and I feel that we could benefit from SGA as well as SGA from us. We’re also getting an online server so now we’ll be able to reach out past Louisiana and to entire United States and beyond. I feel that it’s a good platform as well for SGA. The T.V. Station is undergoing renovations. It’s going to be completed by mid-semester. You can have your Senate meetings live on air. We’ll be partnered with Charter cable. The room is about as large as this so you can set up and have live on air Senate meetings at the T.V. Station as well.
Also, coming up in October, KNSU always does an event called Alley after Dark. We put on a concert and I’d love SGA’s support in doing this. It’s been about three years running. We’re looking into making it a tradition at KNSU to reach out to students and get them involved on campus.
The real reason I came here is because I want our voice to be heard. I wanted you to know that we at KNSU are working for the students. We want to engage the students just like SGA wants to engage the students. I appreciate you hearing me out.
OFFICER REPORTS
PRESIDENT’S REPORT – TOMMY THIBODEAUX
· This is our second meeting and I hope school is going well for everyone here.
OFFICER REPORTS CONTINUED:
PRESIDENT’S REPORT CONTINUED:
· You received the U.S. Senate Forum flyer. Please take a look at it. We’re going to help with the Lafourche-Terrebonne Chambers of Commerce to build this event. We’ll usher people in and out of the auditorium. You’ll be able to meet the Senators and ask questions. Also, networking will be big for us here. Please be here so we can have a really good showing. We’ll post it on our social media so please like or share it with whoever you can. This will be a very important event. We can vote, we have a voice, so please come out.
· We have homecoming nominations and Who’s Who nominations going on. It will be a little different, some of us have already been nominated by other organizations. If so, congratulations.
· For the Who’s Who nominees, the female nominees are: Katelyn Cortez, Josie Graham, Darian Graivshark, Abigail Ledet, Kaitlyn Mistretta, Sydney Richardelle, Emily Sauce and Josie St. Pierre. The male nominees are Trey Clark, William Crenshaw, Jose Dias Juarez, Charles Johns, Tregg Parker, Will Tanner, Tommy Thibodeaux and Austin Wendt. Congratulations and keep working hard for SGA at Nicholls.
DIRECTOR OF STUDENT RIGHTS & GRIEVANCES’ REPORT – PEYTON CHIASSON
· We’re going to have our first “What I’ve Done/Heard.” form due this Friday at midnight. It’s going to be posted on Moodle for everybody to fill out. The instructions will also be there if you’ve forgotten them.
· In the Meet the SGA Committee meeting, I talked about getting polos like the white ones we have, but these will be red. If anybody has any opposition, we’d like to know now. They’ll be red polos to wear on Fridays. I’ll get those ordered after the Workshop because we’ll have more people.
TREASURER’S REPORT – KATELYN CORTEZ
I’m basically going to combine the Finance Committee report with this one because we’re going over the same thing which is the budget. There were a couple of changes. President Tommy T. and I met over the summer and drafted up the budget.
These are some of the big changes from last year:
· Removed the Copier Rent line item because it really wasn’t giving us any revenue so we returned the copier to the company.
· Increased Office Equipment because we spoke with Dr. Dial who suggested we replace our office equipment every five years or so. Our equipment is getting a little outdated. It’s just in case we need to update our office equipment.
· Increased Slack/Miscellaneous just to give us an extra cushion if we need to take more out of another line item.
· Scholarships and Awards stay the same as well as the Wages and Salaries.
· Transferred money from Tailgating Events in Spring because there really aren’t a lot of tailgating events in the Spring and moved it to Spirit Items and T-shirts.
· Increased Campus Improvements to $12,000 each semester because we had that money allocated to a Peltier Garden Project which is basically Campus Improvements. So we removed that line item.
· Increased Senator Projects to give us room for bigger, better quality projects.
· Increased Executive Travel because President Tommy T. is plans to take some of you to the COSBP meetings and the NCSL Conference.
The motion will be tabled this week but if you have any questions or concerns about it, please ask me or let me know if you have any suggestions.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS’ REPORT – ABIGAIL LEDET
· I distributed the Sign-Up Sheet for the Chamber Senate Forum. If you can, please sign up for that because we’ll need as many people as possible. We’re helping put it on so we should be there. You should be there by 5:30 p.m.
OFFICER REPORTS CONTINUED:
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS REPORT CONTINUED:
· Constitution Week is going to be September 16th to the 23rd. On Wednesday, September 21st we’ll have a table to hand out stress gavels and copies of the Constitution. Please sign up for that.
· In the Meet the SGA Committee meeting, we talked about getting t-shirts for the students. If you have any ideas for the t-shirt design, let me know.
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT – AUSTIN WENDT:
· I want to talk to you about recruiting for the Senate. It’s very important that we have representation for all the positions open. I ask you to invite people that you think are great leaders. Invite them to take a look at SGA to see if they would be interested in filling out an application. If you can, before class, ask your professor if you can just briefly mention that SGA is recruiting people to come into the Senate. Make sure you take some brochures with you so if they have any questions about the organization, it has all the information on it, including the E-Board. If they have any questions, they can call us about the particulars of the organization.
· I’ll ask that at least once a week that you wear your SGA polo, either on Mondays or any other day of the week to get our name out there. Except on Fridays, make sure you wear red.
· Committee Chair applications should be turned into E-Board member at the committee meeting. Provide at least 4 copies so the committee members can see your qualifications. The committees will then make a recommendation to the Vice President Pro-Tempore and me.
· Today, we’ll elect the Vice President Pro-Tempore during Discussion Period.
· The Senator Workshop is scheduled for September 23rd from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. This is mandatory and will not be excused if you miss it. It’s a very important workshop.
COMMENT: President Tommy T. advised if anyone has a conflict with class, speak to him about it. We’re going to have a guest speaker, Mr. Phil Gugliuzza. He is in charge of the Louisiana Association of Student Councils. He’s an important person. It usually cost a lot of money but he’s going to do this for a small fee. Please attend. It’s going to be a lot of fun.
ACTIONS TAKEN ON OLD BILLS
F1617-001
I move that the Student Government Association discontinue the Free Legal Aid services. A Referendum would be placed on the 2017 Spring ballot for a student vote to cancel the $.25 self-assessed fee for Legal Aid and transfer any remaining balance from the SGA Legal Aid Fund Account #267350-5000-755400-50 to the SGA General Fund Account #267300-5000-5B1998-50. Tabled.
F1617-002
I move that the Senate allocate $380.00 for two (2) students from the College of Business to attend the Russ Berrie Institute’s National Sales Challenge. This Challenge’s participants come from the most elite sales programs located at Universities around the world, where the exceptional education training and faculty have collaborated to develop the next generation of sales leaders. This will give the Sales team participants to have the necessary tools to excel. The funding will come from unallocated funds. Passed and signed.
F1617-003
I move that the Senate allocate $300.00 for two (2) students from the College of Business Sales team to attend the International Collegiate Sales competition. This competition allows for Intercollegiate roll play where Nicholls students will compete with many other universities across the nation (and a few international ones). There is also a job fair there to help Nicholls students get jobs. Nicholls was placed 3rd in this competition last year. The funds will come from unallocated funds. Passed and signed.
STUDENT SUPREME COURT REPORT
No report.
ELECTION COMMISSION REPORT
No report.
WEB TECH REPORT
No report.
SGA SENATE COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Finance Committee – Katelyn Cortez, Treasurer
Present: Senators Josie Graham, Emily Sauce, Josie St. Pierre, Tregg Parker, Keilan Kiger, Rabina Tamang, Harihar Ojha, Sydney Moxley and Darian Graivshark.
Guest: Treasurer Katelyn Cortez.
Today we discussed the following:
The motion to approve the Proposed 2016/17 Budget. The major changes from last year to this year include: no copier rent and supplies, an increase in office equipment, miscellaneous/slack, executive travel, campus improvements and Senator projects. This will give SGA room for bigger and quality projects. The motion was found highly favorable.
We also discussed motion ideas, including an SGA app and bus transportation for International students.
Judiciary Committee – Austin Wendt, Vice President
Present: Senators Kaitlyn Mistretta, Tregg Parker, Sydney Moxley, Madison Kiger, Keilan Kiger, Josie St. Pierre, Harihar Ojha, Josie Graham, Emily Sauce and Rabina Tamang.
Guest: Vice President Austin W.
We discussed the following:
· We had one absentee today which was approved.
· We also approved the Thibodeaux Corollary to be brought before the Senate today.
Meet the SGA/Social Events: Homecoming/Christmas - Mr/Ms Nicholls/Banquet – Abigail Ledet, Director of Public Relations
Present: Senators Kaitlyn Mistretta, Josie St. Pierre, Josie Graham and Madison Kiger.
Guest: Director of Public Relations Abigail L.
Director of Public Relations’ combined this report was hers.
Campus Improvements Committee – Peyton Chiasson, Director of Rights & Grievances
Present: Senators Kaitlyn Mistretta, Madison Kiger, Josie Graham and Josie St. Pierre.
Guest: Director of Rights & Grievances Peyton Chiasson
Today we discussed the following:
· Possibility of getting speed bumps installed around heavy traffic areas of campus.
· Other issues including parking such as possibilities of new parking lots and a transportation system.
· Encouraged everyone to apply for Chair position and co-chair of the committee.
· Read the committee responsibilities.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
F1617-004
I move that the Senate accept the Corollary of the SGA President, Tommy Thibodeaux.
1. Emily Sauce
2. Madison Kiger
Discussion: Senator Emily S. defers to President Tommy T. I hope you read the Corollary. I sent it to the E-Board and we changed some things that we thought were needed. We’re doing the “What I’ve Done/Heard.” forms a little different this year. The shifts we work at events are no longer for 30 minute periods but you’ll be required to work at least one shift and other things like that. You will be required to serve on at least one University committee and meeting with the Dean of our respective college. They’re some things that we think will make the Senate run a little better.
Question: Move into vote:
Passed For-11 Against-0 Abstained-0
F1617-005
I move that the Senate approve the Proposed 2016-17 Budget.
1. Josie St. Pierre
2. Emily Sauce
Discussion: Senator Josie S. defers to Treasurer Katelyn C. who said there were a few changes. We increased the Senator Projects. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Vice President Austin W. said due to the nature of this motion, we have a week to review it so this motion will be tabled.
UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE REPORTS
None.
DISCUSSION PERIOD:
Homecoming Court Nominations:
Vice President Austin W. gave the floor to Secretary Dolly M. who distributed the roster of SGA officers eligible for Homecoming King and Queen. She instructed the Senate that they should vote for someone who represents SGA and the students well and someone who has been with SGA for a while. Paper vote was taken. Congratulations to SGA’s nominee for Homecoming King Austin Wendt and Homecoming Queen Katelyn Cortez.
Vice President Pro-Tempore:
At the last meeting, Senators Darian Graivshark and Josie Graham were nominated for Vice President Pro-Tempore. Vice President Austin W. opened the floor for additional nominations and none were received. He advised the Senate that the nominees will have a period of one minute to give their platform and why the Senate should select them as Vice President Pro-Tempore.