Emergency Constitution and Statutes Committee Meeting Agenda

February 8, 2016

John E. Sapp Conference Room6:00-6:45 pm

Chair: Senate President Pro-Tempore Burke

I.Call to Order

Meeting called to order at 6:04 PM

II.Roll Call – Vice-Chair Dato

Quorum has been established with 7 voting members; Dato, Smith, Butler, Platts, Lee, Johnson, Wong.

III.Student Remarks

IV.Approval of Minutes – February 1, 2016

Senator Wong: Motion to approve the minutes from February 8, 2016. Second. Approved

V.Approval of Agenda

Senator Lee: Motion to approve the agenda. Second. Approved.

VI.Guest Speakers

VII.Remarks of the Chair –

Burke: Since next week is Homecoming week, I’d rather have Committee meeting on Tuesday. It will be on Tuesday at 6 next week. They will be having Mr. and Mrs. UNF that night. We will be starting off with our tabled version from a week ago. This isn’t the same as the one I sent out in the email. We will make amendments to this tabled version first.

VIII.Unfinished Business

CR-16S-2926 – The Baker Bill
Senate President Baker: We met with the proper administration so that we do not violate any federal violations. The point of this is so that people put their studies first. Every other university has this standard as well so we’re not asking for much. The tabled version is what we started with and we’ll start with that.
AG Baker: I spoke with Dr. Gonzalez today and our recent edits are approved. I took what you had said last meeting, however I still feel comfortable with this legislation. If the students should be able to vote for their people, they should be able to vote for the kind of people that can represent the students. This has to be voted on by the students and by majority. A lot of people mentioned “elite”, and how we should be the “common man” and I agree that we should stay away from that kind of wording and look at what it means to be a leader instead. Keep in mind that we are simple and just the same as all of our peers, however, we are a leader and we are expected to do more and be more. We are 1 of the 4 associations located in the University. Having students coming in that aren’t required to have that GPA, we are setting ourselves up for failure. Not only are we student leaders, but we have to be students first. Having students that can’t handle both is detrimental to this University. We, as a university, are currently raising our standards and we should follow the trend.
Senator Lee: For all of these GPAs, are they out of the 4 or 5 point scale? It’s the institutional GPA. If we have a transfer student coming, they are not barred because they don’t have a GPA for UNF which is why we have a clause where their first semester can be waived.
Senator Butler: If we’re raising our standards based on our incoming freshmen, what is the “ceiling”? If we’re an individual university, why are we comparing ourselves to other institutions? I’m not sure; it’s up to future administration. I felt like 2.5 was a happy medium because it’s more of an average range. This GPA choice was not based on comparisons from other universities.
Senator Butler: Was there a certain formula or reason why it was 2.5? 3.0 seemed like more of a GPA for an honor society. 2.5 is a common number.
Senator Awan: Due to the fact that this organization is already lacking student’s interest, why should we make it harder? It’s not. We’re just shifting gears. 4 years from now, our student body will definitely have that interest, but I don’t think barring 2 out of 20 students from running in the election is detrimental.
Senate President Baker: The point of this now is so that it can get to senate so they can discuss this as well.
Senator Adamson: Can we change the GPA standard in senate? Yes.
Chairman Burke: How will we make the amendments? If someone can just say it and we’ll write it in.
Senator Awan: Right now, after we make the motions, we’ll be voting for moving it forward to senate or for the amendments? We have to vote on amendments and then moving to forward to senate.
Senator Adamson: Why are the chairs for the GO, B&A, and the treasurer here? They are all ex-officio members so they don’t vote but they can ask questions.
Senator Lee: Motion to forward CR-16S-2926. Motion dies.
Senator Platts: Motion to amend CR-16s-2926 so that in Article II Section 2 Part B is replaced with “Qualifications:EverySenatormustbeanA&SFeepayingstudent,enrolledinatleastone(1)classduringtheFall semesterandinatleastone(1)classduringSpringsemesterattheUniversityof NorthFlorida, maintain a 2.5- institutional grade point average orhigher, unless otherwise approved by the Vice President of Student and International Affairs, and not restricted from participation in Student Government by the University of North Florida’s Student Conduct Office. Students may seek membership to Student Government during their first semester and shall be exempt from the GPA requirement. Senators may continueto serveduringthesummersemesterwithoutbeingenrolledinaclassaslongastheyarestillconsideredstudentsbytheUniversityofNorthFlorida.”. Second. No opposition. Moved.
Butler: Motion to edit Article III Section 2 Part B so that it reads “Qualifications: The President, Vice President, and all members of the Executive Branch must be A&S Fee paying students, enrolled in at least one (1) class during the Fall semester and in at least one (1) class during the Spring semester at the University of North Florida, maintain a 2.5 institutional grade point average or higher, unless otherwise approved by the Vice President of Student and International Affairs, and not restricted from participation in Student Government by the University of North Florida’s Student Conduct Office. Students may seek membership to Student Government during their first semester and shall be exempt from the GPA requirement”. Second. No opposition. Moved.
Senator Platts: Motion to amend CR-16S-2926 so that Article IV Section 3 Part B reads “Qualifications: Justices must be A & S fee paying students, enrolled in at least one (1) class during the Fall semester and in at least one (1) class during the Spring semester at the University of North Florida, maintain a 2.5 institutional grade point average or higher unless otherwise approved by the Vice President of Student and International Affairs, and not restricted from participation in Student Government by the University of North Florida’s Student Conduct Office. Students may seek membership to Student Government during their first semester and shall be exempt from the GPA requirement.”Second. No opposition. Moved.
Senator Johnson: Motion to amend CR-16S-2926 so that Article V Section 3 Subsection 1 part C reads “Currently hold a 2.5 institutional grade point average or higher, and not be restricted from participation in Student Government by the University of North Florida’s Conduct Office. A student is exempt from the GPA requirement if this is their first semester with the University.” Second. No Opposition. Moved.
Senator Adamson: Since we’re already putting all these requirements, why do we have to do these? This is for elections.
Senator Lee: Motion to amend article 5 point C so that it reads “Currently hold a 2.5 institutional grade point average or higher, and not be restricted from participation in Student Government by the University of North Florida’s Conduct Office. A student is exempt from the GPA requirement if this is their first semester with the University.” Second. No opposition. Moved.
Senator Awan: What was the need for this emergency meeting? Because it has to be on the election.
Senator Johnson: Motion to forward CR-16S-2926.
Senator Platts: I think it’s important to forward this to senate. I want to hear more arguments in senate because even I myself haven’t made a decision.

Motion Passes 9-0-0

IX.New Business

X.Announcements

Thank you for coming out tonight

XI.Final Roll Call – Vice-Chair

Quorum has been reestablished with 9 voting members.

XII.Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 6:40PM.

Minutes taken by Justin Dato, C&S Vice Chair