Student Senate

Student Senate

February 10^th, 2013

River Valley Room

6:00 pm

Minutes

Members Visitors

Lyndy Broomfield Eric Watne

Molly Bucher Tyler Herbst

Rhonda DeVries Derek Rood

Casey Furey Cassie Gerhardt

Jacob Gapp Logan Fletcher

Brett Johnson Adam Christanson

Joseph Kalka Matt Finley

Sean McClain

Emma Meyer

Alan Oberg

Jacob Osterman**

Kyle Slaathaug

Jacob Stutelberg**

Adam Swigost**

Chantel Thompson

Brian Tschosik

Jennifer Vetter

* Arrived after call to order

** Excused

*** Unexcused `

**** Left before adjournment

CALL TO ORDER Vice President Watne called the 2/10/13 meeting of the UND Student Senate to order at 6:00 PM.

APPROVALS
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION Senator Kalka moved to approve the 2/4/13 minutes without objection.

VOTE MOTION CARRIES. (00:00:35)
SOFA LIAISON

1. 
   Colin Hanson
   

Colin talked about his prior experience working with his town’s fire department and searching for grants.
MOTION Senator Gapp moved to approve Colin as the SOFA Liaison without objection.
VOTE MOTION CARRIES (00:01:58)
GUEST SPEAKERS

No Guest Speakers were present.

REPORTS
Executive Reports
President President Fletcher stated consultant date had to be moved to March 5-6. His schedule will be coming soon, so be sure to sign up to talk to him. He and Eric are looking at writing some bills, such as collegiate link and CAT Prowler.
Vice President Vice President Watne reminded everyone that there will not be Senate next week. Working with Senator Oberg on some grammatical changes to the bylaws and constitution, let him know if you would like to help. He and Shane were in Bismarck last Wednesday to show our support for SB 2252, Thursday submitted resolutions for the Governor’s funding model and the School of Medicine. All bills and resolutions need to be to him no later than 11:59pm on Wednesday; the agenda will be going out on Thursday morning.
Chief of Staff Chief of Staff Herbst had no report.
Treasurer Treasurer Rood stated the account balances in the student fees unallocated and senate projects unallocated.
Governmental Affairs Commissioner

Governmental Affairs Commissioner Gerbert was not present. Vice P. Watne covered everything in his report.

Senator Kalka asked how the hearing went for SB2252.
President Fletcher stated that it was a long hearing, they presented the resolution and he gave a testimony. Only question they got was if he knew of any students that have been affected by this, and they said that they recommend that they take action before something bad happens.
Public Relations Coordinator

P.R.C Fitzsimmons was not present. President Fletcher stated she is working on a lot of stuff for the banquet. If anyone has a staff of faculty member that they would like to invite, let Kylene know. Banquet is April 18^th at the Gorecki Center.

Subcommittees
Judicial Vice President Watne yielded to Senator Osterman, Chair of the Judicial Committee.
Senator McClain stated they approve SB1213-33 with changes, and SB1213-34. Approved SOFA liaison.
Appropriations Vice President Watne yielded to Senator Gapp, Chair of the Appropriations Committee.
Senator Gapp stated they did not meet.
State & Local Vice President Watne yielded to Senator Kalka, Chair of the State and Local subcommittee.
Senator Kalka stated they heard SR1213-16. Voted and approved Senator Oberg as the new vice chair.


Standing Committees
SOFA Vice President Watne yielded to the senate liaison of SOFA, Senator Gapp.
Senator Gapp stated they had a meeting last week. Prepping right now for Pres. Finance Presentation this Thursday.
UPC Vice President Watne yielded to senate liaison of UPC, Senator Vetter.
Senator Vetter stated there will be a photo journalist from the New York Times here speaking on Wednesday.
Senator Slaathaug asked how Angela Davis went.
Matt Finley stated they had about 1000 people attend the various events that night with her.

Special Reports

Constituent Reports Senator Oberg stated he is working with some of the faculty in the education department to make the student teaching process easier.
Senator Vetter stated that if you are walking across the street to do so carefully as people can’t break easily.
Other Matters Arising Senator Gapp asked the different proposals for what to do with University Ave. What is going on with these proposals?
Vice P. Watne stated that the biggest proposal that they are looking at is shutting down University Ave. from 11-2.
President Fletcher stated that he has some more information on this in his office so if you would like to look at the proposals and see what they are working on come see him in his office.
Elections Committee Senator Gapp stated they will be sending out the current round of advertising. Starting to prepare for the next workshop on February 19 in the badlands room at 7PM. Starting discussion on when the quorums will be, and how to handle complaints.
DS Ad-Hoc Committee Senator Oberg stated they met on Friday. They developed a timeline for how things are going to go. Interview week March 18-22.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS

1. 
   SB1213-33
   

Vice President Watne stated this changes the transition date for the Execs and the senators. This would now match the academic year. This is coming up because of the legislative session so that they wouldn’t have to do a change in the middle of it.
President Fletcher stated they are also making this change because of the student fees committee. They don’t want the new President to chair the committee because they have already put the work into finalizing the allocations.
Vice P. Watne stated that this is a constitutional change so if it passes here it will go on the ballot for the student body election.
Senator Vetter asked if they see any problems arising with retaining people, since the end of the term is the end of the semester people may not want to come to the meetings.
Pres. Fletcher stated it would be when the Vice P. sets the last meeting of the semester. They think it will help with retention, since people will sit for the whole semester.
MOTION Senator Vetter moved to approve SB1213-33.
SECOND Senator Kalka seconded.
VOTE MOTION CARRIES. (00:26:39)

2. 
   SB1213-34
   

Vice President Watne stated the changes that were made in Judicial. There is nothing in the bylaws or constitution about when the fiscal year begins and ends. This will help UPC the most in that right now they have to use this year’s funds to plan welcome weekend. With this change they would get to start with a new budget for welcome weekend.

President Fletcher stated that right now it is an awkward transition for the office manager.
MOTION Senator Vetter move to approve SB1213-34.
SECOND Senator Johnson seconded.
VOTE MOTION CARRIES. (00:29:10)

NEW BUISNESS

PUBLIC COMMENT/ANNOUNCEMENTS
No public comments.


ADJOURNMENT The 2/10/13 meeting of the Student Senate was adjourned without objection at 6:30.

Respectfully Submitted,

__________________ _____________________

Eric Watne Megan Beneke

Chair Recording Secretary

2/10/2013