STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF MARCH 2, 2004

MLK ROOM CAMPUS CENTER

4:38 pm

 

 

ATTENDANCE

                   Absent: S. Leahy, J. Pereira, M. Skorker, W. Lappas

                   Arrived Late: None

                  Left Early: M. King, S. Boucher, K. Seipp

Guests: Ray Kamstra (MASSPIRG). Megan DeSmedt

(MASSPIRG), Nicole Couture (Women’s Center), Sarah Godbois

(Women’s Center), Justin McKenna (STE), Nancy Gerard (STE)

                       

                               I.      Minutes

 

President Dalton announced the minutes for February 17, 2004,

were accepted.

 

                            II.      PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

· President Dalton talked a bit about COSGA and allowed

everyone that attended the conference to tell a little about it. 

Everyone brought back great ideas including ways to get

freshman involved, how to increase voting percentage, how to

communicate to the student body, readership programs, and

many more topics that will be looked into more. If anyone wants

to know more about the conference and what was learned feel

free to speak to any of the delegates.

 

· President Dalton suggested that next year the executive board

look into other conferences instead of COSGA or in addition to

COSGA.

 

· On behalf of Chair Skorker President Dalton urged everyone to

get a Salem State E-mail address so that he can get going on his e-

mail drive.

 

· President Dalton announced that the executive board has been

discussing ways to make a lasting impression on this school.  A

scholarship is being created from the Student Government.

We will create criteria and it is something that will last

long after all of us are gone.  This is our investment towards the

 future.

 

· President Dalton announced that Dean Stoll and Kathy Neville

will be coming to speak to us next Tuesday March 9 to speak

about the new residence halls.

 

 

                         III.      VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

· Vice President Batastini announced that Thursday, March 4

there is a mandatory groups and clubs meeting and they will be

going over election processes.

 

· Vice President Batastini let everyone know that next Monday,

March 8 she will be speaking to a freshman seminar class about

involvement.  She asked if anyone would like to join her. 

Anyone who is interested can see her for more information.

 

· Vice President Batastini announced that on Wednesday, April

21, we will be having our second blood drive from 9-3.  Please

volunteer to help out or give blood.

 

                         IV.      TREASURER'S REPORT         
                 

  · No Report

 

                            V.      ASST. TREASURER’S REPORT

 

 · Assistant Treasurer Mazza explained a little about the budgets and how it was not easy because there was less money and more requests.  He let everyone know that Student Government was cut first and that we were cut about $9, 000 so that we could work with about the same amount as we had last year.  He also explained that more than 80% of SGA’s budget goes directly back to the groups and clubs.  He just wanted to make sure that everyone knew that we were working with less too and that all the groups and clubs knew that they could always propose to finance committee. Dr. Brossoit explained that due to increasing enrollment we may get as much as $30,000 more next year.  We are just waiting for a decision.  If that happens the money will go into finance and all groups and clubs are encouraged to propose for the money, there is even talk about an additional budget meeting at the beginning of the year. By special request Treasurer Garvey went through the SGA budget and explained what all the money was for.

 

            MOTION: Assistant Treasurer Mazza entertained a motion to accept the

               budgets that were agreed upon within the budget committee.

                                              Batastini/ Alexis (After Discussion 15 people changed

                                                                                     their vote so the motion FAILS)

 

                    Discussion:  STE spoke about the amount of money that they need

                      to function as a group and $655 is not enough.  They do four shows

                     a year.  They spoke about the issues that resulted in probation last

                     year even though it had nothing to do with the current members

                     they felt that they worked through it very well and managed to have an unbelievable year without a budget from SGA.  They were lucky to have the general revenue that they had to work with and last year, but that is not guaranteed to them for the next fiscal year.  There was a lot of discussion about STE and then the Women’s Center spoke about their need for more than $1300.  They felt that they needed more money so that they can make their Women’s History Month dinner bigger.  They have been having this dinner for several years and they were hoping that it would finally be included in their budget.  Several people suggested that they propose to finance committee.  At this point it was discovered that the English Society could not be recognized because they did not have a full executive board so their $655 budget was taken away. 

 

            MOTION: Secretary Spano made a motion to add the $655 from the

                 English Society to STE and finalize the budget

                                            Batastini (Opposed:5; In Favor: 10; Abstained:3…After

                          discussion 5 people changed their votes so there were 14 in favor

                                                                      and 4 Abstained…Motion PASSES.)

 

              Discussion: There was a lot of discussion about who the extra $655 should go to.  Some people thought that to be fair we should give some to STE and some to the Women’s Center because they were both there.  Senator Cogliano said that if we wanted to keep it fair then we should split it up between all the groups that were not given what they wanted.  The Women’s Center admitted that STE needed the money more than them so we came to a vote and the motion passed thus adding $655 to STE and finalizing the budget for next year.

 

 

                         VI.      SECRETARY’S REPORT

 

· No report

 

                      VII.      SENATE REPORTS

 

   · SENIOR SENATE

 

· Senator Alexis let everyone know that she had lunch with President Harrington and talked about graduation, senior audits, and several more things.

 

   · JUNIOR SENATE

 

· Junior Senate had complaints that the buses were running slow.

 

    · SOPHOMORE SENATE

 

   · Sophomore Senate also had complaints about the buses.  The

    buses seem to disappear after 2:30.  They run well in the morning

    and they are quick, but then they just don’t show up.  There were

    many comments about students waiting anywhere from one

    hour to one and a half hours for a shuttle to show up. 

 

     · Sophomore senate also had issues with the amount of    

     freshman that have cars on campus. 

 

     · Sophomore senate will do their presentation at the next

     meeting

 

    · FRESHMAN SENATE

 

   · Freshmen Senators reported complaints about the fact that there

   are no emergency stations at the end of the Peabody Hall lot. 

    People have also suggested that a camera be installed in the back

    of the parking lot.

 

   · Senator Higgins keeps getting complaints about Chartwells so

   he wanted to know when the Food Service Committee would be

   meeting.  President Dalton explained that she would be meeting

   with President Harrington to discuss several issues including the

   committees.

 

                   VIII.      STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

·        FINANCE COMMITTEE

 

· Treasurer Garvey announced that there is will be a meeting on Thursday, March 4 in the Presidential Conference Room.

 

·        RULES COMMITTEE

 

· Chair King left the meeting early so Vice President Batastini gave her report.  She announced that elections are in April so nomination packets will available March 29th.

 

· Chair King is working on fun campaigns and if anyone is interested in helping out let her know.

 

                    · STUDENT LIFE COMMITTEE

 

· Chair Boucher also left early so once again Vice President

Batastini gave her report.  The student Life committee will

be meeting Tuesday, March 9 at 3:30 in the Campus Center

lobby.

 

                    ·   ACADEMIC AFFAIRS 

 

· No Report

 

                             · GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

 

· No Report

 

·        JUDICIAL AFFAIRS

 

· No Report

 

·        PUBLIC RELATIONS

 

· No Report

 

                         IX.      OLD BUSINESS
 

 · None

 

                            X.      NEW BUSINESS

 

  · None

 

                         XI.      DISCUSSION

 

· Senator Runyan announced that Program Council would be a

having a comedian Thursday, March 11 at 8:00 at Vet’s Hall.

 

· Senator Milan announced that Bedroom Farce is being

performed on Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6 at 8:00pm

and then again on Sunday, March 7 at 2:00pm.  This show is free

for students.

 

· Dr. Brossoit urged everyone to go out and vote tonight for the

primaries.

 

· Ray from MASSPIRG announced the hunger clean up on April

3rd. This is a community service project. For any information call

x6870.

 

· Senator Alfonzo announced HAS is having a dance in Vet’s

Hall at 8:00 on Thursday, March 4 and it costs $1 for SSC

students.

 

 

                      XII.      · ADJOURNMENT 6:25 p.m.

 

  MOTION: Vice President Batastini made a motion to adjourn.

                        Runyan (Unanimous)

 

 

SUBMITTED BY MICHELLE L. SPANO