STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF MARCH 9, 2004

MLK ROOM CAMPUS CENTER

4:31 pm

 

 

ATTENDANCE

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

                          M. Cogliano, M. Skorker, K. Seipp

                   Arrived Late: None

                  Left Early: R. Cahill, S. Leahy, O. Jimenez, S. Boucher

Guests: Daniel E. Rooney (Criminal Justice), Anthony Callahan

(SFL), Jonathan Ring (Student Trustee), Bruce Perry (Campus

Center), Kathy Neville (Residence Life), Shawn Newton

(Multicultural Affairs), Jim Stoll (Dean of Students)

                       

                               I.      Minutes

 

Dr. Brossoit pointed out that he urged people to consider running

for elections and to talk to people who are currently in the

position that you are running for and this was not in the minutes.

 

President Dalton announced the minutes for March 2, 2004,

were accepted as corrected.

 

                            II.      PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

· President Dalton introduced Dean Stoll and Kathy Neville who

came to speak about the new residence halls.  Dean Stoll passed

out a paper that showed the fee increases and went over it with

us.  The reason for all these fee increases is to pay off bonds that

were taken out to build all the new stuff we have on campus like

the elevators and the new Central Campus Residence Hall.  All

on-campus housing rents were increased; see attachment.  Dean

Stoll spoke about the communications fee increase and explained

that we are now using Comcast and the fee covers cable,

telephone, and hi speed Internet.  This will include more cable

channels and faster Internet. This comes out to $60 per month per

student which is a huge deal considering that to get this Comcast

package at home can be more than $90!  This is the first

communications fee increase since this fee was started.  The

transportation fee increased by $60 to refurbish the Central

Campus parking lot.  Questions were asked about whether or not

this fee guaranteed shuttle service.  Dean Stoll explained that we

will continue to have shuttles, but in a year when the contract

runs out, we will most likely have a new bus company.  Dean

Stoll explained the new $500 declining balance meal plan that is

required for commuters and Central Campus residents and

optional for Bates Residents.  This plan appreciates the fact that

 Central Campus and Bates residents have full kitchens.  The card

will be able to be used on all campuses and in a new Chartwell’s

convenience store that is in the process, the location is still

unknown.  This meal plan encourages socializing between

commuters and residents.  If commuters are required to have a

meal plan than they will be on campus more and hopefully be

able to be more involved with the SSC community.  There was a

lot of questions and concerns about the Chartwell’s service so

everyone was encouraged to attend the food service committee

meeting Friday, March 26.  Dean Stoll pointed out that SSC was

not the only school experiencing these fees increases.  All the

other state schools are working on projects as well and they are

all in the same boat as we are as far as fee increases go.  Dean

Stoll agreed that this should have been brought up before it was

finalized to get student input.  Any further questions about any

of this can be directed to Dean Stoll.

 

· President Dalton called Acting Chief Anglin about the issue

brought up last week with the Peabody Hall parking lot not

being lit enough and not being monitored.  The chief was not

aware of this problem and he will put more cops around the back

of the Peabody hall parking lot.  He is also looking into the

number of freshman with cars on campus.

 

· President Dalton brought up Jonathan Ring’s part time student

petition and Chair King expressed her concern with it.  She

pointed out that this was already brought up and by sending out

this petition he is skipping the whole process.  Vice President

Batastini asked what groups supported this petition and Jonathan

Ring told her that PSA, FEA, WC, and CCC all approached him

about this issue.  Since a lot of people didn’t have this petition on

them, President Dalton urged everyone to look it over so it can be

brought up at the next meeting.

 

· President Dalton announced that it is time to reserve

Merrowvista for next year.  For about 20 students and 2 adults the

cost is $4639.78.

 

               MOTION: President Dalton entertained a motion to fund SGA’s

                    retreat to Merrowvista $4639.78 to be adjusted accordingly.

                                                                        Batastini/ Alexis (Unanimous)

 

 

· President Dalton announced some of the ideas for SGA.  This

included the scholarship that was already discussed.  We are

thinking about putting aside $25,000 so that we can give out $1000

a year for a very long time.  She also met with Don Ross about

purchasing flags from all of the countries that are represented by

our students.  There are 63 of them and if we could get them and

hang them all around the cafeteria it would be a nice

contribution to the school.  President Dalton also would like to

create flyers to put above all the trash barrels in Meier Hall that

say: “can that be recycled?” This will hopefully promote the use

of the recycling bins.

 

· President Dalton informed the group that she had met with the

Chief Aid to the Mayor of Salem.  They discussed resident

stickers for out of state students and we will know by next week,

hopefully, what the decision will be.  They also talked about

changing the resident parking times which are currently 8am-

8pm.  President Dalton suggested that the times be changed to

6pm-8am so that it is at night when most of the people are home

instead of during the day.  This idea was not very popular.  She is

in the process of doing research about getting the no parking

zones removed. 

 

· President Dalton announced that she had a petition from the

Student Advisory Council to stop the increase on textbooks. 

There was a lot of literature there so she encouraged everyone to

come by the main office and take a look at it when they had a

chance. 

 

· President Dalton expressed her concern about the fact that the

fall catalog comes out before the summer one.  The reason for this

is that there are two separate departments working on them, but

she is going to try to fix that because it is really inconvenient.

 

· President Dalton gave us a calendar of events coming

up.  On March 23rd Shawn Newton from multicultural affairs will

be speaking at our meeting.  On April 13th President Harrington

will be coming in with all of her Vice Presidents to discuss

several issues.  April 8th is the Board of Higher Education

Leadership day, which is an all day affair.  April 28th is State

House day where student leaders get to talk to representatives

about public higher education.  Let her know if you are

interested. 

 

                         III.      VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

· Vice President Batastini announced that the groups and clubs

meeting went well.  They went over election processes and how

to run an election.  She encouraged everyone to go talk to the e-

board of whatever group or club they are thinking about running

for and see what they do on a daily basis that way they can be

prepared before they run.

 

· Vice President Batastini let everyone know that the e-board has

been planning a birthday party for the school on April 15 from 8-

12.  This date may change because the speaker series may be

moved to the same date.  SGA is putting $15,000 into this party

instead of the concert.  There is an island theme, there will be a

reggae band, and tons of giveaways.  We hope to give out

computer, ipods, etc. This party is in support of public higher

education.  There will be tables set up for alumni and other

people.  The details are still being worked out so she passed

around a sheet of paper to form a committee to help out.

 

· Vice President Batastini announced that the next groups and

clubs meeting will be on March 25 and they will be discussing

the recognition process. 

 

                         IV.      TREASURER'S REPORT         
                 

  · Treasurer Garvey announced that he looked over the budgets

and decided to take $30, 000 out of SGA’s reserve to supplement

the budget for next year.  The groups that were given more money

were STE, MSA, START, FEA, CS, PC, WC, BIO, HAS, SCA,

WMWM, MUSIC, Alliance, ASA, SGA, and CESA.  Treasurer

Garvey talked about our proposed fee increase that will make

the SGA fee $30 instead of $27, this will make a huge difference in

SGA’s budget if it passes.  He explained that we are taking out a

total of $70, 000 from the reserve; $25,000 for the scholarship,

 $15, 000 for the birthday party, and $30, 000 for budgets.  It was

asked how Treasurer Garvey came up with who would get more

money so he explained what he looked for.  First he looked at who

was cut and brought them back up, then he looked at how much

was cut form what they proposed.  He looked at the events,

participation in SGA events, attendance at events, and how the

group is running. 

 

           MOTION:  Treasurer Garvey made a motion to reconsider the budget for

                     FY 05 and accept the changes made.

                                                                                                        Runyan (Unanimous)

 

 

                            V.      ASST. TREASURER’S REPORT

 

 · No Report

           

 

 

                         VI.      SECRETARY’S REPORT

 

· No report

 

                      VII.      SENATE REPORTS

 

   · SENIOR SENATE

 

· No Report

 

   · JUNIOR SENATE

 

· No Report

 

    · SOPHOMORE SENATE

 

   · Sophomore Senate had more complaints about the buses.  On

    Friday, March 5 people were not picked up by the shuttles.

 

     · Sophomore senate will do their presentation at the next

     meeting

 

    · FRESHMAN SENATE

   · Senator Higgins asked about recycling on campus, mainly in

   Peabody Hall.  Senator Theberge told him that there was a bin in

   Peabody but with the construction it was moved and it is now

   missing.  She will find it.  President Dalton informed us that all

  President Harrington needs is a proposal to have recycling so

  Senator Williamson and Senator Theberge are working on that. 

 

                   VIII.      STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

·        FINANCE COMMITTEE

 

· Treasurer Garvey announced SFL and the Women’s Center came to finance last week.  Anthony Callahan from SFL club told us a bit about what he was proposing for.  The SFL club would like to go to a conference in New Orleans.  One of the students is receiving the major of the year award so they would like to be there to support her. 

 

                        MOTION:  Treasurer Garvey entertained a motion to fund the

                             SFL club $4000 for their conference in New Orleans.

                                                                                    Mazza/ Farese (Unanimous)

                                                                                   

                                 ·  The Women’s Center also came before finance and asked

                                 for more money for their Women’s History Month Dinner.

 

                        MOTION:  Treasurer Garvey entertained a motion to fund the

                            Women’s Center $200 for their Dinner.

                                                                                    Alexis/ Laine (Unanimous)

 

                                  · Treasurer Garvey announced that the finance committee

                                 will be meeting Thursday, March 11 at 6:00 in the Essex

                                 County room to hear proposals from RHA and MSA.

 

·        RULES COMMITTEE

 

· Chair King announced lots of information about the elections.  She announced a candidate information session on March 29th at community time.  The room is not known yet. She urged everyone to come so that we can talk about what we do in our positions.  Nomination papers will be available March 29th and due Friday, April 2.  On April 5th at 11:00 Chair King will be drawing names out of a hat to see the order that the names will be put on the ballot.  April 8th is Meet the Candidates.  On April 12th WMWM is doing a live radio show during community time-“No vote, no voice”.  Victor Santana is dressing as a Viking and carrying a sign encouraging people to vote.  Elections are on April 14th and 15th.

 

· Chair King is working on changing the radius candidates can be in around the voting polls.  She wants to change it from 15 feet to 30 feet.

 

· Chair King sent around a sheet so people can sign up to help out during the elections.

 

·  Chair King brought up the referendum.  She removed the word “full time”, removed all senate involvement, and changed the percentage of signatures needed from 10% to 15%.  (see attachment to see copy).  15% is about 700 signatures.  Some people thought that since it is now open to all undergraduate students the percentage should be raised. 

 

                        MOTION:  Chair King entertained a motion to accept the changes

                            to the referendum.

                                                               Batastini / Garvey (In Favor 13; Opposed 1…

                                                                                                            Motion PASSES)                                                                                                                                                                             

 

                    · STUDENT LIFE COMMITTEE

 

· Chair Boucher left early so her report was given by Chair

King.  Student Life committee met earlier and discussed

buses.  She would like everyone to write down any issues

they may have with the buses and put it in her mailbox.  She

also suggested inviting a representative from the bus

company in to answer questions.  She would also like to

advertise it very well so a lot of students show up.

 

 

                   6:30- At this point we took a short recess

                        7:00- Resume meeting

 

                    ·   ACADEMIC AFFAIRS 

 

· No Report

 

                             · GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

 

· Chair Lappas is working on setting up a plan for the future governmental relations chair.

 

·        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.

 

· The Women’s Center raised more than $9000 from the Vagina

Monologues and all that money goes to the North Shore Rape

Crisis Center.  Dr. Brossoit recognized Senator Leahy for her

outstanding job with the play.

 

· Senator Milan announced that on Monday March 22 Student

Commuters will have WBCN in the cafeteria.

 

· President Dalton announced a program on Monday, March 22

concerning land use development presented by an ex-official of

the Nixon administration.

 

 

                      XII.      · ADJOURNMENT 7:16 p.m.

 

  MOTION: Vice President Batastini made a motion to adjourn.

                        Alexis (Unanimous)

 

 

SUBMITTED BY MICHELLE L. SPANO