STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 17, 2004

MLK ROOM CAMPUS CENTER

4:30 pm

 

 

ATTENDANCE

                   Absent: A. Batastini, S. Leahy, J. Alfonzo, O. Jimenez, J. Pereira,

                         S. Boucher

                   Arrived Late: M. Skorker

                  Left Early: K. Leung, M. Cogliano, M. King

Guests: Ray Kamstra (MASSPIRG). Fatima Abdalla (Student

Nurses Association), Jonathan Ring (Student Trustee)

                       

                               I.      Minutes

 

                        Secretary Spano pointed out that the end of the amendment was

                        cut off from the minutes, but she had it copied and handed it

out.

 

President Dalton announced the minutes for February 10, 2004,

were accepted as changed.

 

                            II.      PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

· President Dalton did not really have a report she just reminded

Senator Farese to see her to pick the committees he would like to

join.

 

                         III.      VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

· No Report

 

                         IV.      TREASURER'S REPORT         
                 

  · Treasurer Garvey announced that everyone that will be

 attending the COSGA conference will be meeting after this

meeting in the office to fill out a waiver and receive some things.

 

                            V.      ASST. TREASURER’S REPORT

 

                         · Assistant Treasurer Mazza gave an update on the senate T-

shirts.  After all of the complaints at the meeting only one person

spoke up with any suggestions.  He announced that the gavel was

to be omitted and the years will be added to the shirt. 

 

 

                         VI.      SECRETARY’S REPORT

 

· No report

 

                      VII.      SENATE REPORTS

 

   · SENIOR SENATE

 

· No Report

 

   · JUNIOR SENATE

 

· Senator Milan reported that she has heard complaints about the shuttle routes and Dr. Brossoit suggested that we invite acting Chief Anglin in to discuss these issues.

 

· Junior Senate did their presentation on Robert’s Rules in the form of a fun game.

 

    · SOPHOMORE SENATE

 

   · Senator Leung suggested that members of SGA be seen other

    places on campus like the cafeteria for example.  President

    Dalton suggested that he get people together and use that as

    office hours.

 

    · FRESHMAN SENATE

 

   · Senator Meshesha expressed his concern with a memo that he

    received regarding transportation fee increases.  He was outraged

    because the fees were increasing for students only and the

    students are the ones that are not guaranteed parking.  The

     transportation fee is currently $50 for students and $5 for

faculty, and the increase that would apply to students only would

bring the student fees up to $110 and that still does not guarantee a

parking spot.  He wants to get people together and stand up against

this increase in fees.  Dr. Brossoit suggested that we invite the Vice

President of Finance in to talk to us about the reasons behind these

fee increases because there is a reason behind it and she would be

the best person to explain it.  He also reminded people that from

6pm-6am staff parking is open to students.  Jonathan Ring added

that the fees were increased to pay off a bond.  He also gave his

reasons for voting against the fee increase. He feels that there has

to be equality in the fee structure so that the burden is not all on

the students.  There was a lot of discussion about the parking

problems and Sharon informed us that as staff she is not

guaranteed parking and if she parks in a students spot she gets

ticketed and/or towed.

 

                   VIII.      STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

·        FINANCE COMMITTEE

 

· Treasurer Garvey announced that there is no meeting next Thursday, February 26.

 

· Treasurer Garvey informed the group that two groups came and presented to the finance committee last week.  The Student Nurses Association requested money to send at least nine students to a nursing conference in Tennessee.

 

                        MOTION:  Treasurer Garvey made a motion to fund the Student

                          Nurses Association $3728 for their conference in Tennessee.

                                                                                        Mazza/ Higgins (Unanimous)

 

                                  ·  The Student Government Association also proposed for

$4000 for our trip to COSGA.  This money covers the flight

and hotel costs and the SGA will be picking up the rest of

the costs.

 

                    MOTION:  Treasurer Garvey made a motion to fund the Student

                            Government Association $4000 to help pay for their COSGA

                            trip.

                                                                                    Cahill/ Runyan (Unanimous)

 

 

 

·        RULES COMMITTEE

 

· Chair King announced that her committee would be meeting next Tuesday at 4:30.

 

·Chair King brought up an amendment that added a Diversity Affairs committee in between Academic Affairs and Governmental Relations.  The purpose of this new committee is to provide students with a better understanding of who their neighbors are.  It will also promote awareness and encourage learning from fellow students.  All other state colleges have something like this.  There was a lot of question as to what this chairperson and committee actually does because the way it was written it was not clear enough.  There was also much discussion over whether or not this was necessary since there are already several groups and clubs on campus that are dedicated to promoting awareness and they do a great job.  Many people believed that students should just use the resources that we already have instead of making another one.  Treasurer Garvey brought up the point that each senator represents 200 students regardless of race and orientation so if the senators are doing their jobs then we don’t need a Chair of Diversity Affairs.  After all this discussion Chair King brought this back to Rules committee to clarify the role of the Diversity Affairs chair.

 

· Chair King asked everyone to put ideas for promoting elections in her mailbox.

 

                    · STUDENT LIFE COMMITTEE

 

· No Report

 

                    ·   ACADEMIC AFFAIRS 

 

· Chair Skorker announced that his committee would be meeting today at 7:30 after this meeting.

 

                             · GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

 

· Chair Lappas reminded everyone that they can still register to vote for the primaries and that his committee will be holding another registration drive for the presidential elections.

 

· Chair Lappas updated the group on his SAT prep program.  He contacted the College Board, which is the company that administers the SATs.  He explained that the goal of his project was to reach out to 100 disadvantaged students in the neighborhood.  It will cost less than $500 for those 100 students.  The plan is to apply moderated self-help using SAT prep.

 

·        JUDICIAL AFFAIRS

 

· Chair Seipp is working on forming a committee and she is still going over the responsibilities of her position.

 

·        PUBLIC RELATIONS

 

· No Report

 

                         IX.      OLD BUSINESS
 

 · None

 

                            X.      NEW BUSINESS

 

  · None

 

                         XI.      DISCUSSION

 

· The Vagina Monologues will be playing on March 4, 5, and 6 at

8pm at Mainstage auditorium.  It costs $4 for students and $8 for

Non-students. All proceeds go to the north Shore Rape Crisis

Center.

 

· Treasurer Garvey reminded all the COSGA people that we

would be meeting right after this meeting.

 

· President Dalton reminded everyone that there will be no

meeting next week.

 

                      XII.      · ADJOURNMENT 5:58 p.m.

 

  MOTION: President Dalton entertained a motion to adjourn.

                        Runyan/ Abreu (Unanimous)

 

 

SUBMITTED BY MICHELLE L. SPANO