STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF APRIL 6, 2004

MLK ROOM CAMPUS CENTER

4:34 pm

 

 

ATTENDANCE

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

                          M. Skorker, O. Jimenez, C. Garvey, D. Mazza, R. Cahill, K.

                          Seipp

                   Arrived Late: None

                  Left Early: None

Guests: William Sherman, Jonathan Ring (Student Trustee),

Daniel Rooney.

                       

                               I.      Minutes

 

President Dalton announced the minutes for March 30, 2004,

were accepted.

 

                            II.      PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

· President Dalton gave everyone a few minutes to finish up their

Donna Tosches nominations.  She also explained that a lot of

people were not here because they were helping out at the

Women’s Dinner, which is at 7:00.

 

· President Dalton announced that Lee had sent out information

to the people selected to go to the Board of Higher Education

Institute Day.

 

· President Dalton had the scholarship committee present the

criteria for the student government scholarship.  (1) Student who

has a G.P.A of 2.7, (2) Student must be involved in any group or

club, (3) student must demonstrate financial need, and (4)

Student must be involved in community service.  They want this

scholarship to be for students who really need it; someone who is

working hard with an average G.P.A. and is involved in any way. 

They wanted it to be as less exclusive as possible.

 

                 MOTION:  Vice President Batastini made a motion to except this

                      basic criteria for the scholarship. 

                                                                                    Higgins (Unanimous)

                   Discussion:  There were several concerns about making these

                   criteria more defined.  Things that we consider obvious may not be

                   so obvious to future administrations.  Dr. Brossoit suggested putting

                   this motion through and changing it next week to include specific

                   categories.

 

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

                       proposal and we heard from a part time student that Jonathan

                       had brought in.  William, the Part time student, has been a

                       student here off and on for 10 years.  Several years ago he could

not join the science fiction club because of his part time status.  He feels that it would be beneficial for future students like him to be involved.  Chair King asked him if he knew that part time students could be members of groups or clubs, just not executive board members.  William welcomes that idea.  Another student asked if he would have the time to be an executive board member and William answered that for some groups yes, but for others no.  He would like to gain life experience, but on the other hand he said that he does not have the time.  Jonathan Ring is going before the student life committee tomorrow and asking them to postpone the discussion on this issue to offer more time for the members to look over the information.  Dr. Brossoit asked if any students would still be here at the next meeting and Jonathan said no because it is on May 26.

 

                         III.      VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

· Vice President Batastini announced that the next group and

club meeting is on Thursday, April 8 and it is Meet the

Candidates.  She will hold a short, regular meeting at 4:00 so meet

the candidates will probably begin at 4:15.

 

· Vice President Batastini also announced the blood drive on

April 21 from 9-3.  This is a required event so she sent around a

sheet for everyone to tell her when they would be there. 

Donating blood is also considered volunteering.  Help spread the

word.

 

· Vice President Batastini called on 4 volunteers to help post

flyers.  Since Secretary Spano asked last week if people could

come by and help and no one showed, she figured she would

make people do it today.

 

                         IV.      TREASURER'S REPORT         
                 

  · No report

 

                            V.      ASST. TREASURER’S REPORT

 

 · No Report

           

                         VI.      SECRETARY’S REPORT

 

· Secretary Spano announced that she had sent out an E-mail and

put a letter in everyone’s mailbox reminding them that President

Harrington and all of her Vice Presidents will be coming into our

meeting next week so it is important that everyone show up. 

 

· Secretary Spano also told everyone that she knows people have

not been doing their office hours and it hasn’t really been

enforced, but the end of the year is coming up so we really need

everyone to start doing them, especially since we are putting on

big events.  We need everyone’s help.

 

                      VII.      SENATE REPORTS

 

   · SENIOR SENATE

 

· No Report

 

   · JUNIOR SENATE

 

· Junior senate had a list of concerns that students approached them with.  One was the housing lottery.  Students with low numbers can go sign up for a whole apartment, which is not fair for students with high numbers who don’t already know 6 people that they want to live with.  Another concern was that honors students can just talk to Rod and he arranges housing, no matter what their lottery number is.  Vice President Batastini commented that there is a building set-aside for honor students so they are not even in the normal housing lottery.  A third concern was that they should have a separate lottery for students who wish to live in the 21+ buildings.  Dr. Brossoit replied that they looked at what people signed up for in their building preference form and there are enough rooms for 21+ students in those buildings because that is what they already said they preferred.  A fourth concern was that out of state students should be guaranteed housing because they pay more tuition. Dr. Brossoit explained that the dorm trust fund is separate so the tuition does not go into the dorms.  There is also pressure from the legislature because they are concerned that it is not appropriate to house out of state students because the money for the dorms comes from Massachusetts bonds.  Another concern was the increase in the Spring Fling tickets.  RHA had money and received money from finance.  Senator Alexis explained that at the finance meeting they explained that the prices for the room and food went up so the tickets cost more.  The last concern on the list was why there is no change machine in the Bates Laundry room.  Dr. Brossoit explained that the company will only put machines in where they are secured 24 hours a day.  So they reached a happy medium and put an alternative in.  There is a machine that you put in money and get a card that is used for laundry. 

 

    · SOPHOMORE SENATE

 

   ·No Report

 

    · FRESHMAN SENATE

 

     · Freshman senators were concerned with the lack of equipment

in the weight room.  There isn’t much equipment and what they do

have is old and in bad shape.  President Dalton will look into what

they can do about it.

 

                   VIII.      STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

·        FINANCE COMMITTEE

 

· No Report

                       

·        RULES COMMITTEE

 

                MOTION: Chair King entertained a motion to appoint President

                        Dalton to the Rules Committee.

                                                                               Milan / Batastini (Unanimous)

 

· Chair King sent around the Alliance’s constitution and commented on the small changes that were made to the election part and to who can be involved. 

 

· Chair King announced that everyone who turned in their nomination packets was notified and they can start campaigning.  For those who were not eligible, you can run as a write-in. 

 

· Chair king reminded everyone that Thursday, April 8 is Meet the Candidates, April 12 is no vote no voice, and April 14th and 15th are the elections.  If you are not running see Chair King to sign up to work the polls or help count the votes. 

 

 

                    · STUDENT LIFE COMMITTEE

 

· Chair Boucher announced that she was will be having a

meeting on Tuesday, April 13 at 4:00 and they will be

coming up with a survey to find out student’s favorite meals

so we can give some input to Chartwells. 

 

· Chair Boucher also urged everyone to help psych up the

birthday party.

 

· Chair Boucher had a student approach her pretty upset

because she was not aware of the fee increases.  We

discussed several ways to make the students aware of these

things.  Chair Boucher suggested making the Chair of

Student Life’s job include making the students aware. 

President Dalton explained that that is the Chair of Public

relation responsibility and unfortunately we do not have

one.  People suggested hanging flyers that say, “Have you

checked your minutes lately” or something like that with the

web site and the office number on them.  The minutes are

available on the S.G.A website and are located in a binder in

the office.  It was also suggested that she hang up the

information on the fee increases and put contact information

on it.  If enough people contact us then we can consider

holding an open forum.

 

                    ·   ACADEMIC AFFAIRS 

 

· Academic Affairs will be meeting Tuesday, April 13 at 7:00 in the presidential conference room.  If this room is not available they will meet in the downstairs lounge. 

 

                             · GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

 

· No Report

 

·        JUDICIAL AFFAIRS

 

· No Report

 

·        PUBLIC RELATIONS

 

· No Report

 

                         IX.      OLD BUSINESS
 

 · None

 

                            X.      NEW BUSINESS

 

  · Chair king brought up the Alliance constitution now that everyone had a chance to look it over.

 

           MOTION:  Chair king entertained a motion to accept the changes to

                   the Alliance constitution.

                                                                            Alexis/ Williamson (Unanimous)

 

                       · Chair Lappas reminded everyone to register to vote.

 

                         XI.      DISCUSSION

 

· Daniel Rooney commented on the fee increases stating that it’s

never to late to let the people know.  Students need to know; “If

they do not know, they can’t grow”(Daniel Rooney). 

 

· Jonathan Ring announced the Student Life committee meeting

April 7th at 1:15 in the Alumni House.  They will be talking about

the part time student proposal, arming of the campus police, and

the food service policy requiring meal plans.  There is also an

academic affairs committee meeting at 11:45 on the 7th at the

Alumni House also.

 

 

                      XII.      · ADJOURNMENT 5:43 p.m.

 

  MOTION:  Vice President Batastini made a motion to adjourn.

                        Alexis  (Unanimous)

 

 

SUBMITTED BY MICHELLE L. SPANO