EMU SGA

Eastern Mennonite University

Student Government Association Senate

Agenda

October 19, 2011

And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

- Micah 6:8

1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call/Prayer
3. Approval of Minutes James motioned to approve minutes and Joel Choi seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
4. Announcements Everyone received contact info.
5. Committee Reports
   1. Strategic Planning Committee
      1.  Nels, Brandon and Ken attended and increased enrollment was discussed (goal = bring enrollment up to 1,000; currently around 880). They want to bring in students from all around the country since many current students are local (from Virginia). They also aim to double the international student population.
   2. Writing Committee
      1. Joel and Vi reported. There was discussion about ungrad and grad May Writing Retreats (Kairos Place). It was reported that Kirsten Beachy and Judy Mullet lead the undergrad retreat, and grad department reps on the committee will survey the grad programs for interested students. The committee also discussed writing intensive course assessment on both the undergrad and grad levels.
6. Old Business
   1. Idea Drive- Brandon’s report Tabled
   2. Intramural concern
      1. Katie has a concern about entire teams from A league coming and also playing in B league and dominating, which she believes takes the fun out of B league. Becca Longenecker said that they are implementing a rule after fall break for upcoming intramural sports that only two A league players are allowed to be on B league teams.
7. New Business
   1. Funding Request- Third Culture Kids Club
   2. Tim Heishman and Melody Tobin presented. The club has not been in existence for about 2 years, but they are reviving it this year. They are requesting funds ($300 for the semester) so that they can have monthly meals and perhaps do some other minor events. They currently have 13 members. We suggested that they open the event up to the larger community (and do some advertising). Discussion ensued: people were concerned that the amount requested was too large and that while they are opening it to all students, many students may not go b/c it’s a meeting, rather than an event. Ken suggested that we ask them to give us more details like list all of their expenses so that we have an idea of where the money is specifically going. Louise Babikow said that she felt their intentions were pretty clear: one person will go to the grocery store and buy ingredients (and international ingredients do tend to be more expensive) and they will advertise. Hannah Patterson suggested that we ask them to advertise in a more intentional way (posters?) rather than just rely upon word of mouth. Justin Roth motioned to send a request to the Third Culture Kids Club to give us more information and details about this semester’s expenses and events. Becca Longenecker seconded. Approved: 6, against: 4, abstaining: 4. Motion #1 passed.
   3. Suicide Awareness Walk
      1. Events is scheduled for March 31^st, organized by CoachLink. There will be a meeting on Oct. 28^th from 8:30-12 and they asked for an SGA rep to attend (reps can attend part time). Katie suggested that we have one of their reps come and tell us about the event and tell us why they want SGA involvement (since the expectation for participation is pretty high). Ken explained a bit about what the event is and why it is important for the university. The goal for the walk is to have students from both EMU and JMU come together and walk in solidarity. It will be a pretty high profile event. Nels will contact CoachLink to have someone come and talk to SGA about the event next week.
   4. Weight Room Music Concern
      1. There is concern about the lyrics of some music played in the weight room (derogatory words, etc). Some senators voiced concern about the message that the music sends, which is contradictory to EMU’s values, etc. Brittney Wenger said that people can always request to change the music (and Justin Roth suggested asking the fitness center to put up a sign advertising this) and Katie Landis said that we should give specific suggestions and requests to the fitness center, rather than just sending a general complaint. Justin Roth suggested having certain types of music at specified times of day. Hannah Schrock motioned to give John the ideas that we discussed above. Katie Landis seconded the motion. Approve: 15, against: 0, abstaining: 1. Motion #2 passed.
8. Open Floor
   1. Louise Babikow and Alli Eanes have been planning an Interfaith Dialogue Panel to be held in Common Grounds in mid November and are in the process of contacting the final people to be on the panel. They currently have two student moderators and further plans are in the works.
   2. Sam Kauffman presented cards to those on the Spirit Week Committee and the Idea Drive Committee on behalf of the Encouragement Committee.
9.  Adjournment Motion to adjourn by Hannah Schrock, seconded by Brittney Wenger. Passed unanimously.

Next Meeting: 26 October 2011 at 9 pm in UC 211/212

1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call/Prayer
3. Approval of Minutes Brandon Habron motioned to approve the minutes, Joel Choi seconded. Passed unanimously.
4. Announcements
   1. Board Luncheon- Nov.  11 @ 12
      1. Nels informed the SGA that everyone is invited to the Board meeting.
   2. Encouragement Table
      1. Sam Kauffman added an encouragement table outside the Post Office and encouraged people to use it.
5. Committee Reporting
   1. Institutional Review Board- Hannah Schrock
      1.  Said that it went well (she cannot say anything else since it is confidential).
   2. Bookstore Committee- Hannah Patterson
      1. The bookstore is always open to ideas from students, but there is a fine balance between what they can and cannot supply (though they want to be as helpful to students as possible and offer as much as they can).
   3. Undergraduate Council- James
      1. Budget is a bit short. Discussed how to improve retention rates for all students (and specifically for athletes and making sure they attend all classes). Talked about using cross-cultural program to draw students in (and how the fact that the lack of languages offered may hinder students from coming to EMU).
6. Old Business
   1. Spirit Week feedback
   2. Positive feedback about photos on SGA page on Facebook—increasing awareness about the SGA page. People have enjoyed the events in addition to the themes. Katie Landis needs volunteers to clean up windows advertising Spirit Week and Jacob Mack-Boll, Dan Sigmans and Sam Kauffman volunteered.
   3. Idea Drive- Brandon’s report
      1.  Brandon is still working on organizing all of the ideas he received so he asked the discussion to be tabled until next week.
7. New Business
   1. Intramural concern
      1.  A-league teams have been playing B-league teams (or A league teams are also forming B league teams) and destroying them so Katie Landis suggests setting up parameters to separate the two better. The rest of this discussion will be tabled until next week.
8. Open Floor
   1. There is concern about the yearbook not accurately representing the year it is designed for. For example, James Souder said that there were pictures of his older sister in last year’s yearbook even though she graduated several years ago. Additionally, there were photos on the theater page of a play that happened two years ago (though the page said that it happened last spring). Others said they had photos taken, yet they did not show up in the yearbook. Kat suggested having a yearbook class and Justin suggested talking to those in leadership and making some suggestions. Hannah Patterson suggested having photos for the yearbook in the caf lobby instead of in the Campus Center to be more visible. Brandon motioned to have an SGA committee for the betterment of the Shen and to add oversight and Joel Choi seconded. He added that if they do not improve their quality SGA should not continue to fund them. Motion passed unanimously.
      1.  The committee will consist of Brandon Habron, James Souder and Brittney Wenger.
   2. There will be a United Way Campaign happening at EMU this fall (starting right before fall break and going for two weeks). This will be like Coin War—pennies/dimes/nickels add points and quarters take away points—and there will be a collecting jar of some sort outside each residence hall (the winning hall gets a pizza party). They are asking for support from SGA (ideas/feedback about how to structure the campaign and also advertising) and are concerned about people stealing money so they are asking for SGA ideas about how to avoid this. Hannah Schrock suggested just labeling the jars so that people know where the money going and hopefully will be discouraged from stealing and also using a container with a small opening.
   3. Ken gave an update about Mariah Elliot: he shared that he filled her in on last week’s meeting and gave her options about potential reinstatement should she choose to seek it (she could petition the SGA to be reinstated if she wanted to and there would be another vote). At this point she has chosen to not seek reinstatement so she can focus on other priorities.
   4. Nels shared that the Strategic Planning Committee is meeting next week on Wednesday, October 19, from 1:30-4 and he needs another person to sit in on the meeting with him (and in future meetings for the rest of the semester). Brandon Habron will join him.
   5. Hannah Patterson said that she has met with Eric Codding about finding a room for the thrift room on campus and it is possible that one of the storage rooms in the basement of Maplewood can be used.
9. Adjournment Sam Kauffman motioned to adjourn. Hannah Schrock seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Next Meeting: 19 October 2011 at 9 pm in UC 211/212

Eastern Mennonite University

Student Government Association Senate

Minutes

October 5, 2011

1.   Call to Order
2.   Roll Call/Prayer
   1.  There was discussion about whether or not to waive Mariah Elliot’s absences since she’s missed three meetings in a row, which according to the constitution means she could be automatically dismissed. Jacob Mack-Boll made a motion to excuse Mariah’s past three absences. Sam Kauffman seconded the motion. In favor: 12/Opposed: 2/Abstaining: 3. Motion did not achieve a 3/4^th vote of the Senate.
3. Approval of Minutes
   1. Brandon Habron motioned to approve the minutes. Hannah Patterson seconded. Passed unanimously.
4. Announcements
5. Old Business
   1. Spirit Week
      1.  Days- Monday: Roll out of Bed/Bad Hair Day, Tuesday: Twin Day, Wednesday: Whimsical Wednesday (side walk chalk available, other art supplies available- crayons, etc, Dr. Seuss readings in Common Grounds at 8PM with Loren Swartzendruber or Sam Kauffman?), Thursday: Thrifty Thursday (there will be spots on campus to donate clothes), Friday: Royal Pride Day (bonfire outside Maplewood sponsored by CAC?)
      2. Need people to model each day at chapel on Friday, volunteers are needed to put crayons and paper in caf on Tuesday night
   2. Idea Drive
      1.  There were hundreds of ideas. Brandon Habron typed them all up, will send them out to senators via email and will report again next week. The biggest request was for pool tables on campus.
6. New Business
   1. Funding Request- Take Back the Night
      1. Laura Bowman, Michelle Ramirez and Mila Litchfield presented the funding request for TBTN. They are requesting money in order to purchase shirts, fund a coffeehouse, fund the advertising and to pay guest speakers. All in all, they are requesting $450.00 from SGA. The amount is $50 more than last year. James motioned to give Take Back the Night the full $450 requested. Brittney Wenger seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
   2. SGA Strategic Plan
      1. Goal A3 (adding a VP for Marketing) was accomplished this year. The original hope was that the Strategic Plan will be continued with subsequent SGA’s and items will continue to be accomplished. Edits can be made each April. Another item that is currently being pursued is to connect with JMU’s SGA. Senators can feel free to bring up items on the Strategic Plan at any point.
   3. Intramural concern TABLED
   4. Senate Expectations
      1.  One person should talk at a time and everyone should be paying attention/no side conversations.
      2. A professional atmosphere should be upheld at SGA.
7. Open Floor
   1. Elias needs someone to swap committees with him (he is on the Institutional Research Board) since they meet Friday at 12:30 and he has class. Hannah Schrock will switch with him (she was on the QEP committee).
8. Adjournment Brandon Habron motioned to adjourn/ Joel Choi seconded. Motion approved unanimously.

Next Meeting: 12 October 2011 at 9 pm in UC 211/212