EMU SGA

I. Call to Order Michael (9:05)

II. Roll Call/Prayer

Present: Benjamin Bergey, Michael Spory, Janelle Freed, Sarah Beck, William Morris, Heidi Bauman, James Souder, Nels Akerson, Darian Harnish, Peyton Erb, Matt Dean, Todd Hooley, Dan Sigmans, Amin Laboriel, Katie Landis, Mariah Elliott, Gabe Brunk, Hannah Wenger, Vi Dutcher, Amy Springer, Ken L. Nafziger

Absent: None

III. Approval of Minutes

Motion 220910-1 to approve the minutes: James

Second: Nels

Motion passed unanimously

IV. Announcements

a. Hospitality card- Michael shared that the hospitality committee will be circulating cards to sign for various people and departments on campus so be on the lookout for them!

V. Committee Reporting: Campus Ministries—Heidi shared that the committee talked a lot about the strategic plan and ways they are planning on meeting their goals.  They also discussed chapel and ways that they can boost attendance this year.  They are looking to students for ideas for what ideas would bring a lot of people in.  Possibilities mentioned so far are bigger name speakers or others from the community.

VI. Old Business

a. Committee switch—Katie shared that she signed up for the IRB committee, which meets at 12:30 on Wednesdays once a month and that conflicts with her schedule.  Hannah offered to switch committees from the Safety Committee to the IRB. Yay teamwork!

b. Retreat debriefing and reports–Ben asked for responses from senators as to how the retreat went from their point of view.  Many senators agreed that they liked the structure of the meeting and were impressed with the brainstorming and diversity of ideas brought forth by senators.  Overall, everyone felt it was a success.  Ben passed around a comprehensive report from all the various committees so we can all see what happened in each group. Continue to keep the rest of the senate informed with things going on with your committees!

VII. New Business

a. Idea drive- Michael shared that the Idea Drive committee is planning on having the drive from September 29-October 01.  There will be a chapel announcement and some shirts that they would like students to wear to advertise the drive.  They are also planning on placing boxes around campus (library, cafeteria, mailboxes, Commons, Science Center, and Common Grounds, chapel) for people to write down ideas and place them in the box. There will also be a board in the Campus Center for people to write ideas. They also want people to walk around wearing a white shirt on Thursday for people to write ideas on: Hannah, Todd, James, Katie, Mariah, Michael and Amin all volunteered to wear shirts for this.

b. Marketing procedure- Katie shared that the marketing committee is set up and is willing to work with anyone who will need to promote an SGA event.  Talk to someone on the marketing committee if you need help with promoting your event!

VIII. Open Floor

-Ben shared that Spirit Week is the week of October 5-9.  Monday is Water Balloon Frenzy (water balloon fight on the lawn), Tuesday is Jammin’ on the Plaza (BYO Instrument to Thomas Plaza), Wednesday is Random Acts of Kindness Day (promote goodwill!), Thursday is S’more night on the hill (smores in the fire pit at 7:30) and Friday is Royal Pride Day (wear EMU colors).  They will need the marketing committee to help promote this week since it’s going to be very different from previous years.  Heidi volunteered to be the Spirit Week committee representative to the marketing committee.

-Ben shared that the Harrisonburg Student Summit happened yesterday and had the same format of our SGA retreat.  Both Ben and Michael attended and shared that it was a great way to network a little with JMUers and community members.  Ben and Michael may be coming to SGA for support for a possible summit at EMU on justice with citizens of Harrisonburg. Michael shared that he met with a Harrisonburg City PR officer who was wondering how to interact with students best and he thinks it would be a great idea to stay in contact with her to have a link to what is going on in the greater community outside of EMU.  Ben also shared that he went to a session called Citizen Relations where they talked about a section of town where violence is present and looked at how we can be more aware of our community and effective ways to help those in need.

-Sarah shared that Trinda Burkhalter in the bookstore was very enthusiastic about helping out Sports Enthusiasm committee and was willing to donate a few items and offer us a 20% discount on additional items.  If you think of something students would really like to see given away at a game, let someone on the committee know!

-Mariah passed around a snack sign-up sheet for meetings.

-Darian shared that the Dream Act has been piggybacked to a defense-spending bill and the Republicans in Congress decided to table the process for right now.  As of right now, it is not going to be voted on and it is not looking like forward motion will be made this year.

-Ben shared that he and Michael met with Loren who would love to talk to SGA senators anytime they would like to talk to him about an idea. Don’t be afraid to approach him!

-Office hours will start this week; we’ll have a lock box with a combination for the key.  An e-mail with come around with that information.

IX. Adjournment

Motion 220910-2 to adjourn: Will

Second: Sarah

Motion passed unanimously

Meeting adjourned (9:44)

smb 09/22/10

November 13, 1:00pm–Harrisonburg Justice Summit (see http://www.emu.edu/events/detail.php3?id=15185)

November 16, 9:00pm–Student/faculty forum in Common Grounds.  Come ask professors whatever you like

1. I. Call to Order Michael (9:04)
2. II. Roll Call/Prayer- Ben prayed

Present: Benjamin Bergey, Michael Spory, Janelle Freed, Sarah Beck, Will Morris, Todd Hooley, Matt Dean, Amin Laboriel, Heidi Bauman, Mariah Elliott, Hannah Wenger, Gabe Brunk, Katie Landis, Darian Harnish, Peyton Erb, James Souder, Nels Akerson, Dan Sigmans, Vi Dutcher, Amy Springer, Ken L. Nafziger

Absent: None

1. III. Announcements

a. Folder Contents

1. Constitution- Ben highlighted the SGA constitution and pointed out key responsibilities for both executive

SGA members and senators.

2. Budget- Will went over the 2010-2011 budget and explained how we allocate money to various clubs and

organizations on campus.

b. Contact Information- Michael passed around a sheet which each senator wrote their contact information on.

c. SGA Hour sign ups- Each SGA senator and executive member must spend at least one hour a week in the SGA office

so we remain available to talk with students.  A sheet went around so senators can sign up for time slots.

d. Institutional Committee signups- Past senators shared experiences with committees they sat in on and senators signed

up for committees.

i. Michael and Ben reported on their first Strategic Planning Council (SPC) meeting.  At this meeting, they

talked about the enrollment for this year and explained a little more about what SPC does.

e. SGA Retreat – Sat. Sept. 18 at 9 a.m. in Discipleship Center- BRING YOUR IDEAS! This is an exciting time where

we brainstorm what we want to see happen on campus this year.

f. Leadership Conference – Sept. 25- Janelle shared that this is a time for anyone who wants to be in any sort of

leadership position to learn a little more about what their roles can be.

1. IV. New Business
   1. a. Funding Request – MRI: Jessica Sarriot came to explain MRI and the club’s funding request.  This club does a lot of educational events around campus about the situation in Israel.  They are requesting $170 to fund snacks and supplies for their various events.  One future possibility may include a type of meeting with the Goshen and Bluffton equivalents of MRI.  After Jessica presented, senators were in general agreement that this club has looked at events they have done in the past and are honestly requesting a modest amount of money for what they plan on doing.  This club has been active on campus in the past and we want to continue to support them.

Motion 150910-1 to approve the funding request for $170 to MRI: Janelle

Second: Heidi

Motion passed unanimously

b.. Funding Request – SWIP: Mariah shared that SWIP is based on planning various activities around campus on social

justice issues.  Mariah is the coordinator for Take Back the Night, a week-long event on campus that works to raise

awareness and provide a time of healing for those who have been victims of sexual abuse.  They are requesting $300 for supplies (t-shirts, posters, etc.) to put together Take Back the Night.

Motion 150910-2 to approve the funding request for $300 to SWIP for Take Back the Night: Darian

Second: Will

Motion passed

V.  Open Floor

-Michael shared that he was contacted about the Dream Act, a legislative bill currently in Congress that provides a pathway to

citizenship for undocumented students.  EMU is one of the few colleges that accepts undocumented students, so we have students here who will benefit greatly from the passage of this act.  President Swartzendruber has given his approval to endorse the Dream Act and has encouraged SGA to do the same.  Michael explained to senators that SGA gave support to the Dream Act last year and will continue to do so in the future.  Mariah shared that Peace and Fellowship is also thinking about doing a phone-a-thon to try to drum up support for this.

-There will be a key coming soon to the SGA office so senators can fulfill their office hours.

-Amin asked what outlets students have to get their ideas to SGA.  There is an online discussion board available for this, and some students can also come in and talk to a senator during their office hours.  SGA is also planning on hosting an Idea Drive this year to get student’s opinions; we will talk more about this at our retreat this weekend.

VI. Adjournment

Motion 150910-3 to adjourn: Sarah

Second: Gabe

Motion passed unanimously

Meeting adjourned (10:00)

Next Meeting: September 22 at 9 p.m. in UC 111/112

smb 09/15/10