Senator Benson led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Moment of Silent Reflection:

MEMBERS PRESENT (First Roll Call): Senators Abreu, Atkins, Benson, Chapman, Dawson, DuBosar, Entine, Fasano, Firat, Hall, Harrison, Howard, Jackson, James, Kushner, Lightner, Malone, Omega, Ondriska, Primiani, Richards, Seifter, Shafter, Slade, Sokos, Thompson, Toole, Yeager.

MEMBERS ABSENT: (First Roll Call): Senators Barbas, Bastardo, Cardenas, Crabtree, Coakley, English, Frady, Freelove, Guiddy, Hamilton, Loe, Michel, Patterson, Whitter, Wilson.

MEMBERS TARDY/LATE (First Roll Call): Senators Angulo (9:44), Emilien (7:41), Fisher (7:54), Goins (7:54), Holman (7:44), Kaufman (7:48), LaCroix (8:10), Oliver (9:44), Pierre (8:10), Vouvalis (7:45).

Corrections: Adam Fox said he looks forward to the dialogue concerning increasing fees at the Leach Center.

Student Comments: Shannon Squires told the Senate that she could have chosen any school to attend and she choose FSU and she is disappointed that she is not being protected and she wants the people in this room to protect her from being discriminated against. Brogan Wikarek, a freshman, told the Senate that he is a homosexual and that fact alone inhibits him from being able to enjoy this university. He said it is unacceptable that he and his friends are not protected. Gerry Nielsen, a sophomore in the School of Music, told the Senate that he choose FSU for its music program, but he wants to experience everything that FSU has to offer. Forensic Team members Ryan Cone, Scott Brandon and Sara thanked Senate for the Sweepings allocation. Cone said that they hosted the Florida International State Tournament and they won competition for the second year in a row. Glenn Deitchman, a freshman, told the Senate that until we have a discrimination policy then we cannot call ourselves a university.  Scott Harvey, a freshman, told the Senate that he is gay and he has been threatened because of this. He said that who you love should not make a difference and you should not be discriminated against for any reason.  Senator Entine asked the Senators to be nice to each other during elections and this election is about helping FSU students. He urged the Senators to be nice and clean, saying that “sometimes you get nice things for being nice.”  Amanda Brown told the Senate that she choose FSU over the University of Florida and she is straight, but she loves her friends.  She said that the discrimination policy needs to be changed. 

Special Introductions and Announcements: None.

 Messages from the Executive Branch: Clifford Counts, Student Body Vice President told the Senate that he is on the CITF committee which will meet to discuss how the funds will be spent for the new health center. He also encouraged the Senators to be nice to each other because it is important to get along. Travis Johnson, Attorney General, told the Senate that if they need an advisory opinion on legislation just stop by his office or send him an e-mail.

Messages from Agency and Bureau Directors, and SGA Organization Officers and Employees: Keenan Mahoney, IRHC Assistant Director told the Senate that they changed their by-laws last week to better effect the conference structure. He said that he will bring students to Senate next week to speak. Mahoney mentioned to the Senate that homeless people were getting into the gates at DeGraff Hall.  Monique Velasquez, AASU Director, thanked Senators for coming to the banquet. She said they are having their second general assembly to discuss Asian Awareness Month. Zach Dryden, PSU Director, told the Senate that PSU sponsored the rally in front of the Westcott Building and it was a great success with such speakers as Dr. Coburn, Pro Tempore Brett Kushner, IFC President Brandon Anatosko, and about 150 students in attendance. He thanked the Senate for their support. David Grimes, ILS Director, told the Senate that he pays A&S Fees and he does not care if an organization discriminates or not, they have no right to discriminate and use his A&S Fees. He said they can discriminate all they want, just not with his fees.  Dr. Joyce Howard told the Senate that there will be mock voting for the United States President on Tuesday, February 19, from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on the Student Government Page. This exercise will test the online voting.

Messages from the Congress of Graduate Students: None.

Messages from the Senior Class Council: None.

Messages from the Judicial Branch: None.

Messages from the Union Board: Annie Cho, Union Board member told the Senate that funding applications for RSO are due Friday, February 15, at 4:30 p.m. in the Student Activities Center. She said the last day for space allocation appeal process is today. Cho said that students will be able to make Valentine’s cookies in the Union on Thursday. The Union Board meets on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m.

Messages from Campus Recreation: None.

Report of the Student Body Auditor: As of February 12, 2008, Senate  Projects is $17,315.19.

Committee Reports:

Student Affairs-The committee elected Senators Yeager and Chapman for the Central Reserves Committee. Chairman Toole asked the Senators to submit questions from information that you obtained when you talked to your Deans.

Budget-The committee elected Senators Sokos and Atkins for the Central Reserves Committee.

Finance-The committee elected Senators Benson and Fasano for the Central Reserves Committee.

Judiciary-There was a motion to go into Committee of the Whole to interview Megan Matthews for Student Supreme Court Associate Justice. She was interviewed and passed. The Senate interviewed and passed Joseph Percopo for Student Supreme Court Associate Justice. Senators Thompson and Fisher were elected for the Central Reserves Committee.

Internal Affairs-The committee elected Senators Slade and Ondriska for the Central Reserves Committee. The Senate interviewed and passed Jeremy Lightner for Pride Student Union Center Director, Daniel Scarantino for Pride Student Union Board of Directors, Natasha Leon for Black Student Union Social Events Chair and Valeria Obi for Deputy Secretary of Multicultural Affairs.

Rules and Calendar-The committee interviewed and passed Reginald Cuyler for Undergraduate Studies Seat 15 and Terence Harris for Undergraduate Studies Seat 24.

Senate Confirmations: Megan Matthews for Student Supreme Court Associate Justice, Joseph Percopo for Student Supreme Court Associate Justice, Jeremy Lightner for Pride Student Union Center Director, Daniel Scarantino for Pride Student Union Board of Directors, Natasha Leon for Black Student Union Social Events Chair, Valeria Obi for Deputy Secretary of Multicultural Affairs, Reginald Cuyler for Undergraduate Studies Seat 15 and Terence Harris for Undergraduate Studies Seat 24.

Consent Calendar: None.

Bills First Reading:

Bill 17-Sponsored by Senator Fasano. An allocation of $557 from    Senate Projects to Honors Council/Special Interest Allocation Committee. Purpose: to host the honors Coffeehouse and movie panel discussion.  WITHDRAWN BY SPONSOR.

Bills Second Reading:

Bill 15 - Sponsored by Senator DuBosar. A revision to the Student Body Statutes Chapter 803.11. Purpose: to clarify printed materials and logo requirements. PASSED AS AMENDED.

Bill 16 - Sponsored by Senators Howard, Slade and Seifter. A    revision to the Student Body Statutes Chapters 402.2 and 402.4. Purpose: to amend the presidential veto process.  PASSED AS AMENDED.

Bill 18 - Sponsored by Senators Toole and Crabtree. An allocation of $2,000 from Senate Projects to Senate Clothing/Awards. Purpose: to pay for SGA t-shirts to be worn and distributed during the Got Issues Campaign on March 5, 2008. (Amended in Finance from $3,000 to $2,000). PASSED. YES-25, NO-8.

Constitutional Amendments:

Constitutional Amendment 1 (one) - Sponsored by Senator Lightner.

Adding Article X, Sections 1, 2,3 and 4. Purpose: to provide unequivocal protections for all of the members of the student body within the Student Body Constitution in a way that will not infringe upon the Expressive or Associative Rights of students or student organizations. REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, FINANCE AND THE STUDENT SUPREME COURT.

Resolutions: None.

Unfinished Business: None.

New Business: Senator Lightner made a motion to freeze the funds of Every Nation and Graduate Christian Legal Society. He cited Student Body Statutes Chapter 805.1 A (2). Senator Harrison made a motion to split the two RSO’s because one of them falls under the Congress of Graduate Students. The motion passed. Both motions were properly made and debated and voted on by a majority vote of the Senate. Both organization’s funds were frozen.

Closing Announcements: Senator Nicole Vouvalis resigned from the Senate.

FINAL ROLL CALL: Present: Senators Angulo, Atkins, Benson, Chapman, Cuyler, Dawson, DuBosar, Emilien, Entine, Fasano, Firat, Goins, Hall, Harris, Harrison, Holman, Howard, Jackson, Kaufman, Kushner, LaCroix, Lightner, Malone, Oliver, Omega, Ondriska, Paul, Primiani, Richards, Seifter, Sokos, Thompson, Vouvalis. Absent: Senators Abreu, Barbas, Bastardo, Cardenas, Crabtree, Coakley, English, Fisher, Frady, Freelove, Guiddy, Hamilton, Loe, Michel, Patterson, Pierre, Shafter, Singh, Slade, Toole, Whitter, Wilson, Yeager.

The meeting adjourned at 12 a.m.

Nathasha Cole • Student Senate President