STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF MARCH 23, 2004

MLK ROOM CAMPUS CENTER

4:31 pm

 

 

ATTENDANCE

                   Absent: C. Abreu, J. Alfonzo, M. Meshesha, J. Pereira,

                          M. Cogliano, M. Skorker, J. Laine, O. Jimenez

                   Arrived Late: J. Williamson, R. Theberge

                  Left Early: None

Guests: Lindsay Vrabel (RHA), Lauren Weiss, Shawn Newton

(Multicultural affairs), Megan DeSmedt (MASSPIRG), Jon Ring

(Student Trustee), Patrick Connolly (Alliance), Rebecca Walsh

(Alliance)

                       

                               I.      Minutes

 

President Dalton pointed out that under the President’s report

the meal plan for Bates residents is not optional.

 

President Dalton announced the minutes for March 9, 2004,

were accepted as corrected.

 

                            II.      PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

· President Dalton introduced Shawn Newton, the director of

Multicultural affairs, who explained what he does here on

campus.  His job is to educate and promote programs on issues of

diversity.  He serves the needs of underrepresented students.  He

is working on a project called the Multicultural recruitment

initiative.  The goal of this project is to increase the number of

Multicultural students at Salem State College.  They go to high

schools and literally recruit students, invite them to come for a

tour, then offer on the spot admissions.  Anyone who does not get

 

accepted can take advantage of the alternate admission program. 

Basically, Shawn is an outlet for students of color.  He serves as a

role model and anyone can go to him.  For a list of all of the

things he does see the attached paper.

 

· President Dalton announced that she needs volunteers to come

up with the criteria for the scholarship. 

 

· President Dalton informed the group that April 8th is the

leadership for the Board of higher education.  Governor Romney

will be speaking and President Dalton needs 3 volunteers to

attend.  It is at Framingham State College from 8:30-3:00.

 

                        · President Dalton announced that Dr. Cahill would be coming in

                        to speak about vending next week.  Also on April 13th the

                        President will be coming in to our meeting.

 

· President Dalton announced the speaker series was moved to

April 15th and Jesse Ventura is the speaker.  We will be giving out

tickets at the next meeting and again the senator of the moment

will receive preferred seating. 

 

· President Dalton needed a group to make the signs for above

the trash barrels in Meier Hall that remind people that there is a

recycling bin at the end of the hall.  The student life committee

agreed to take over.

 

· President Dalton brought up the letters from Jonathan Ring

about allowing part time students to serve as E-board members of

groups and clubs.  There was a lot of discussion as to whether or

not the part time students even want this.  It was brought up that

there is a reason why these students are part time and being on

an executive board is very time consuming.  Plus part time

students don’t pay the same fees as full time students.  In the

packet from Jonathan Ring there were letters written by members

of groups and clubs supporting Jon Ring’s petition on behalf of

their club.  There was a lot of concern about these letters.  The

letter from the FEA was written by the old secretary so it doesn’t

represent the group at all considering the person who wrote it is

no longer a member of the group.  No one had any idea that these

letters were written on behalf of their groups, it was just their

personal opinion.  People were also concerned because none of

the people who wrote the letters are part time students.  People

want to hear how part time students feel about this issue because

there is a lot of doubt that this is what they really want.  People

were also concerned about the process that Jon Ring was

following in trying to pass this petition.  He attempted to do this

last year but it failed so now he is skipping the student life

committee and the all college committee and bringing it directly

to the board of trustees.  There were a lot of people who thought

that he was trying to slip through the process.  His job is to

represent the students and get what they want, that is why he

should follow the correct process and get the input from the

student life committee and the all college committee.  Anyone

who wishes to write a letter for or against this issue has until

March 31 to submit them to Jonathan Ring.  Everyone is urged to

do this because there is not enough student input.  There were

people who were concerned about students who took 1 or 2

 classes a semester and served on e-board.  That student would be

here for years and that would leave no room for fresh faces and

ideas. Also it was brought up that if a student doesn’t have time

to be full time than how could they have the time to be on an

executive board. Jonathan Ring is making his packet on March 31

and bringing it to the board of trustees on April 7 so at our

meeting on April 6, we will try to get as many part time students

as we can to come and tell us what they think.

 

 

                         III.      VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

· Vice President Batastini announced that the groups and clubs

meeting will be on March 25 at 4:00 in MLK room.  They will be

going over the recognition process and ideas for the birthday

party.  After this meeting there will be a meeting at 5:00 for the

birthday party.

 

· Vice President Batastini announced that on March 26th at 4:00

there is food service committee meeting and all are welcome to

come.

 

· Vice President Batastini announced that Program council needs

people to help out at Localpalooza.

 

· The date for the Birthday party is still being worked out, we are

thinking about either April 16 or April 21.  April 21st is the same

day as the blood drive.

 

                         IV.      TREASURER'S REPORT         
                 

  · No report

 

                            V.      ASST. TREASURER’S REPORT

 

 · Assistant Treasurer Mazza announced that the T-Shirts were ordered.

           

                         VI.      SECRETARY’S REPORT

 

· No report

 

                      VII.      SENATE REPORTS

 

   · SENIOR SENATE

 

· No Report

 

   · JUNIOR SENATE

 

· The junior senators heard people complain about the rudeness of the financial aid office.

 

    · SOPHOMORE SENATE

 

   · Sophomore senate will do their presentation at the next

     meeting

 

    · FRESHMAN SENATE

 

     · No Report

 

                   VIII.      STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

·        FINANCE COMMITTEE

 

· Treasurer Garvey announced RHA and MSA came to finance last week.  Lindsay Vrabel, from RHA, explained that they needed $1500 for Spring Fling, which is a semi-formal dinner dance at the Sheraton Ferncroft in Danvers.

 

                        MOTION:  Treasurer Garvey entertained a motion to fund RHA

                          $1500 for the Spring Fling.

                             .

                                                                                    Milan / Alexis (Unanimous)

                                                                                   

                                 ·  MSA also came before finance and asked for $1846.15 for

                                their laser tag extravaganza.  Ashleyne Alexis, from MSA,

                                explained that they have an all night laser tag event from

                               12am-6am.  It will cost $10 per person for transportation,

                               pizza, drinks, and laser tag.

 

                        MOTION:  Vice President Batastini entertained a motion to fund

                              MSA $1846.15 for their laser tag extravaganza.                                                                                                                         Williamson (Unanimous)

 

                                  · Treasurer Garvey announced that the finance committee

                                 will not be meeting this week.

 

·        RULES COMMITTEE

 

· Chair King announced that she received two petitions for referendums from CFACT and from MASSPIRG; unfortunately neither of the groups received the appropriate number of valid signatures.

 

· Chair King announced that there would be an information session on March 29 at 11:00 in the presidential conference room.  This is also the day that the nomination papers are available.  These nomination signatures are due April 2 by 12:00pm.  April 12 WMWM will be working with us to promote elections during community time.  April 5 is meet the candidates and April 14 and 15 are elections.

 

 

                    · STUDENT LIFE COMMITTEE

 

· Chair Boucher announced that she would be having a

meting April 30 at 4 and they will be working on making

signs for Meier Hall and the school’s birthday party.  She

shared some of the ideas for the party.  They are thinking

about raffling off things like laptops, printers, scanners,

trips, MP3 players, cameras, test preparation classes, gift

certificates to the bookstore and many more.  Everyone that

goes will receive 10 tickets which they can put into any prize

they want and there are other ways to earn additional tickets

too.  If you vote in SGA elections, if you wear SSC clothing,

or if you go to participating businesses in the area you can

get more tickets.  We will have birthday cake, food, pizza,

veggies, a band and so much more.

 

                    ·   ACADEMIC AFFAIRS 

 

· No Report

 

                             · GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

 

· Chair Lappas announced that the democratic convention would be in Boston July 26-29.  There is an essay contest and the winner will be on prime time television.  You have to write about why politics is important to young adults and how we can get more young adults involved.  See Chair Lappas for details.

 

·        JUDICIAL AFFAIRS

 

· Chair Seipp announced she will be having a meeting Thursday, March 25 at 1:00 and they will be going over an addition to the conduct code concerning greater weight of the evidence.

 

·        PUBLIC RELATIONS

 

· No Report

 

                         IX.      OLD BUSINESS
 

 · None

 

                            X.      NEW BUSINESS

 

  · A person asked about the glossary for the constitution and Chair King replied that it is done it just has to be photocopied.

 

                         XI.      DISCUSSION

 

· Dr. Brossoit announced that May 2 is the walk for HAWC.  This

helps abused women and their children and you can walk in

teams of 5.

 

· Dr. Brossoit also announced state house day where students get

to interact with elected officials concerning public higher

education.  This is on April 28.

 

· Patrick Connolly announced that the alliance is recruiting

people for Raspberry Swirl, which is on April 30 in Vets Hall. 

The due date for anyone interested is April 5, contact x7541.

 

· Senator Alexis gave a list of MSA’s upcoming events.  On April

1 is the last party, April 6 is the Women’s dinner, April 21 is the

black tie affair, and April 23 is the laser tag extravaganza.

 

 

                      XII.      · ADJOURNMENT 5:52 p.m.

 

  MOTION:  President Dalton entertained a motion to adjourn.

                        Garvey/ Alexis (Unanimous)

 

 

SUBMITTED BY MICHELLE L. SPANO