EMU SGA

Eastern Mennonite University

Student Government Association Senate

Agenda

16th of November 2011

Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.

-George Sheehan

1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call/Prayer
3. Approval of Minutes approved unanimously
4.  Announcements
5. Committee Reporting
   1. Commons Council- Louise

• (A committee in charge of the commons). Talked about potentially putting security cameras in art gallery, doing something about deteriorating bball courts, issue with bikes parked in hallways (fire hazard)

1. SPC- Nels & Brandon

• Talked about enrollment goals for EMU/how to retain more students, finance situation

1. Healthy Community Council

• Louise and Becca Longenecker- today was the final summit. Organized biggest health issues into priorities by voting, had rep for each issue (teen pregnancy, obesity, healthy relationships, etc.), created action committees.

1. New Business
   1. Ultimate Frisbee Club Constitution
      1. Suggestions were made for the improvement of their constitution as they are applying to be an official club.
   2. SGA Constitution Revisions
      1. The exec noticed that senate’s current constitutions do not include the following change:
         1. For Article III Section 1E1b. The old amendment says “…at least two”, the revised amendment says “…one”
      2. The exec suggests that an amendment is added requiring someone running for president to have been on SGA for at least one semester. Discussion ensued about this proposed amendment. Most senators felt that it was a fair requirement. People said that if someone is not willing to put in the time of being on the senate for a semester then they should not run for president. Also, people feared that without a requirement right now someone could run as a joke and win. There was discussion about whether or not co-presidents should both have to meet this requirement. The discussion is being tabled so that senators can ask peers what they think of this potential amendment. We will discuss it again in two weeks.
      3. Brandon suggested that voting in elections only happens online since people can technically vote twice if they can vote in the Campus Center and online. Nels said that it is already decided that [only] online voting is going to be the process from now on.
   3. Semester projects/goals
      1. Justin suggested that we get the Washington Post back in the caf (right now it’s just the DNR). James moved to ask Bruce to bring the Washington Post back to the caf. Katie Landis seconded. Motion approved.
      2. Elias asked about getting an updated constitution up on the SGA website as well as adding a forum on the SGA website where students could write ideas/proposals/requests, etc.
      3. Hannah Patterson suggested sending out an all student email telling the students that main dorm lounges are accessible 24/day with swipe cards.
      4. Nels suggested sending a note of condolence to JMU SGA in light of the recent accident and death of a JMU student (and also for the other couple JMU students who died this semester).
      5. Katie Landis- Ben Bailey asked her to suggest having a textbook fair at the beginning of next semester. He is asking for someone on SGA to work with him to figure out logistics and/or for SGA support. Dan Sigmans said that he’d help out. Katie is going to find out if SGA can officially support this type of endeavor.
      6. Kat is meeting with some Phys plant reps about lighting on campus. Specifically the lack of lighting by the side of the library (by the stairs that go down by the CJP entrance), the lower entrance of Common Grounds, between Maplewood and Parkwood Rd., by Hillside coming up from the parking lot to the front entrance and on the sidewalk walking from Northlawn to Hillside (by the Roselawn parking lot/behind the Art Center).
2. Open Floor
   1. Hannah Patterson emailed RedBox- they said you must be a business to get a RedBox, but told her she can send in an application. (It was suggested to put one by the bookstore since it’s a business).
   2. A student asked Hannah Patterson to talk to professors about updating grades on Moodle. We told her to have that student talk to her professor directly.
   3. Ken gave stats about tuition rates at other institutions compared to EMU’s.
3. Adjournment Dan Sigmans moved to adjourn. Alli Eanes seconded.

Next Meeting: 30 November 2011 at 9 pm in UC 211/212

Eastern Mennonite University

Student Government Association Senate

Agenda

9th of November 2011

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.

-Mahatma Gandhi

1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call/Prayer
3. Approval of Minutes approved
4. Announcements
   1. Executive Elections
5. Committee Reporting
   1. Campus Ministries Committee- Kari

                                                       i.     Brenda Matthews came to campus for Spiritual Life Week and they received good feedback from those chapels. Talkback spaces are not quiet enough so maybe they should be moved in the future. Keith Graber-Miller came and got conversation going on campus. They thought about the idea of a sexuality class. There was also the suggestion of a woman and man to talk about sexuality next year. And also, the persistent issue of trying to get more students to attend chapel.

1. Sam Undergrad Council

                                                       i.     Guest for the meeting was John Yoder from Lancaster campus of EMU. He talked about expanding and developing Lancaster’s undergrad programs. Most of Lancaster’s classes concentrate on Master’s and adult degree completion programs. There was also discussion about EMU and Lancaster community college and a dual enrollment program. Also there could be a dual enrollment program with Conestoga and Christopher Dock Mennonite High Schools. There is a new proposed major in writing. It is not approved yet but was recommended for approval. There is also a one credit course in wisdom with peer teachers that will happen in the spring. The group of students was very organized in their proposal for the class. Course will likely be offered in the Spring.

1. New Business
   1. Joel Nofziger- Yearbook Discussion
      1.  Joel talked about the main problem with Yearbook: lack of content. He proposed using content from WeatherVane to put content in the Yearbook. Supplementing it with that year’s pictures and cross-cultural reflections/pictures would be good.
      2. Ken said: It’s always a scramble to try to put the yearbook together in May. We need new ideas for how to incentivize people to get their pictures taken.
      3. Questions about crediting the authors/photographers were raised but Joel N. said it would be easy to take care of.
      4. Ken said a new group is forming that will take on the Yearbook for this year. The old advisor has resigned.
      5. The proposal was generally well accepted by senators. Budget for the Yearbook is lower than it was three years ago when it was under the umbrella of VACA. So there are budgetary constraints that lead to less quality and size.
      6. Katie said the main problem is not with content, it is with effort. It is really hard to care. She said that it is important to have the yearbook going throughout the year, not just at the end of the spring.
      7. Hannah P. said that her high school made a requirement that events had summaries. But Brandon said there would be logistical problems with getting people to actually do that.
      8. Jacob suggested the possibility of having VACA be enlisted to help, including academic credit in exchange for helping on Yearbook.
      9. Ken said connections to departments would be great. Those connections used to exist; now they do not. That may be a reason for its recent declining quality.
      10. Brandon made a motion that the SGA Yearbook committee will go to VACA and English departments to further investigate issues with the Shen. Hannah S. seconded.  Passed Unanimously.
   2. Competitive Cheerleaders’ Constitution

                                                       i. James handed out constitution to be reviewed by senators. Advisor is the cross-country coach’s wife. Time was taken to read over the constitution. Points of review were made at:

1. Change the word ballet to ballot under article 5
2. Consistent in punctuation of the word “co-captain.”
3. Clarification was discussed about captain and co-captain leadership roles and about the actual use of terms. Hannah S. thought that the captain should be voted on (refer to article 5 and article 4).
4. Becca said Article 2, 4^th line is unrealistic.
5. Clarification of “summer camp”.
6. Is the club open or is it skill-based? A max of 20 people?
7. They can be a club, but it is doubtful they will be able to receive SGA funding because it is based on being a club-team.
8.  It would be helpful to know what exactly they are planning on spending (with help from SGA or not).
9. Becca said: Amendments should be able to be proposed by all members.
10. James said he would pass along recommendations to the prospective club.
11. Funding Request- Peace Fellowship
    1. Peace Fellowship is organizing its annual trip to the School of Americas protest. They requested a total of $500 to cover transportation costs. Katie asked what the SOA was and Josh Kanagy gave an overview of what the organization is and what the protest is about. There are 12 students going and the group already has 2 vans to use. Hannah S. asked how PF will return the information to the campus from the protest. Kiersten said that the group will most likely write a WeatherVane article or hold a presentation in CG on the protest. Katie asked how much the individuals are going to pay. Kiersten said no more than $20 each. Ken mentioned that the group would have to spend $1800 if the group rented vans from EMU.
    2. Becca made a motion to give $500 with a suggestion to publicize the experience. Hannah S. seconded. 2 opposed. 10 approved. 1 abstained. Motion passed.
    3. Semester projects/goals- tabled
    4. Healthy Community Council Rep.
       1. Nov. 15^th @ 8- 10:30 in VMRC Detwiler Auditorium
       2.  James explained what exactly the group was, which basically came down to community development. Becca said she would be able to attend. Louise also said she would be willing to attend. James mentioned that Nels and him would also be willing to attend.
12. Open Floor
    1. Darian Harnish came in to make a motion from the student body to make an amendment to the constitution which consisted of the attached paper titled “MEMO.” The recommendation came with 89 signatures. Darian said the purpose of this would be toward student involvement and merit of candidates. Becca recommended that the posting of platforms on the voting website (whatever that might be) would be a good idea.
       1. James brought the amendment to a vote. It was passed unanimously.
       2. Ken said the motion is not yet in the constitution and mentioned the process it has to go in which can take WEEKS. Darian recommended the process be carried out in this election even though it is not technically in the constitution yet.
    2. Jacob apologized for not bringing snack.
    3. Louise reminded everyone of the Interfaith Dialogue.
13. Adjournment Brandon made a motion to adjourn. Joel Choi seconded.

Next Meeting: 16 November 2011 at 9 pm in UC 211/212