The meeting of the 60th Student Senate was called to order at 7:34 p.m. by Student Senate President Nathasha Cole.

Senator Benson led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Moment of Silent Reflection:

MEMBERS PRESENT (First Roll Call): Senators Abreu, Angulo, Barbas, Bastardo, Benson, Cardenas, Chapman, Coakley, Cuyler, Dawson, DuBosar, emilien, English, Entine, Fasano, Firat, Fisher, Freelove, Guiddy, Hall, Harris, Harrison, Howard, James, Kushner, Lightner, Loe, Malone, Oliver, Omega, Ondriska, Primiani, Richards, Seifter, Shafter, Singh, Sokos, Thompson, Toole, Whitter.

MEMBERS ABSENT: (First Roll Call): Senators Atkins, Frady, Goins, Hamilton, Kaufman, LaCroix, Michel, Patterson, Paul, Pierre, Wilson, Yeager.

MEMBERS TARDY/LATE (First Roll Call): Senators Crabtree (7:53), Holman (7:40), Jackson (7:41), Slade (8:40).

Corrections: None.

Student Comments: Ashley Findley, ICS Board Member, announced that on February 28 at 3:30 p.m. they will present “How the Marlboro Man became a Liberal”. Shannon, Brent and Scott of the Pride Student Union came before the Senate to thank them for their support. Brent announced that they have Bible study on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in the PSU Center. Liam Capstick, a student at FSU, told the Senate that it was his understanding that SGA and Student Senate are here to represent the best interests and rights of the student body and said that he was very disappointed with the Oglesby Union Administration’s recent decision to allow the anti-abortion protest group to use our campus to behave in the way they did earlier this week.  He said that he has spoken to other students and faculty members and they feel the same way and it was obvious that they were not students or even a university organization and certainly do not represent the members of this university.  Capstick went on to say that the behavior of this group was far beyond their reasonable exercise of free speech and they lined all sided of the grass area between the Union and the New Classroom Building with 6 feet tall posters with obscene and graphic images of mutilated corpses and mutilated aborted fetuses. He said that the images were completely unwelcome and inappropriate, especially for pregnant women and young children, both of which can be found at FSU. He said it was impossible to use the ATM machines and go into the Union without being accosted by the group.  Capstick quoted Union Board policy 104.3 - Freedom of Association and Assembly, which states: All individuals and recognized organizations shall be free to

organize, assemble and associate provided they do not infringe upon the reasonable exercise of the rights of others. The presentation of obscene material which is defined as material containing the degradation or discrimination of persons, shall not be allowed within the Oglesby Union Complex. He said that clearly this group’s behavior is in violation of Union Board policy.

Special Introductions and Announcements: Senate President Cole introduced former Senator Arlease Brady. The Senate sang Happy Birthday to Senator Shafter. Senator Guiddy baked a delicious cake for Senator Shafter. Faculty Senate liaison, Senator Stephen Jackson, told the Senate that the Faculty Senate is trying to get a bill to tax internet purchases and the budget for education is being cut by one percent.  He said that they said they are working to make FSU the best. He also reported that President Wetherell is disappointed that FSU cannot admit to the university students that are well qualified because of budget cuts.  Jackson told  the Senate that there will be a new course starting in fall called “Vampire Movie Course”. He said the new athletic director was introduced to the Faculty Senate.

Messages from the Executive Branch: Clifford Counts, Student Body Vice President told the Senate there was a CITF meeting today and of the $26 million discussed, $13 million was recommended for the new Student Health Center. He told the Senate that a new Student Union is needed and he wants the students to write President Wetherell about student needs. Robert Jakubik, Campus Security Secretary, told Senate that he had not heard about the safety concerns at DeGraff Hall but he has made a list of the problems they are facing and the FSU Police Department has the list and is working on solving the problems.  He said the university has improved the tunnel with high voltage lighting and they have undercover officers at DeGraff. He announced that on March 27, at 7 p.m. they will have the Campus Safety Walk. Jakubik said that Readers Digest gave FSU an “A”, and placed them as a safe campus at 36 out of 2,000 college campuses in the country.

Messages from Agency and Bureau Directors, and SGA Organization Officers and Employees: Keenan Mahoney, IRHC Assistant Director asked the Senate to support Resolution 17 so that DeGraff residents can have some sort of piece of mind. Hilson of the Women’s Center Board of Directors thanked the Senate for their support and invited them to the 10th Vagina monologues on February 28 and 29 at 7 p.m. in Moore Auditorium. Zach Dryden, PSU Director, told the Senate that he attended the Faculty Senate meeting and they passed a resolution supporting a non-discrimination policy. He told the Senate that there was a tragedy at a high school, not in Florida, where a middle school student was killed about gender identity; there will be a candlelight vigil next week for this student. Dryden also announced that there was a mock same sex wedding on Landis Green. Monique Velasquez, Asian American Student Union Director, announced they had general body meeting last night and their next meeting is March 4.  She said to attend the Sushi Workshop you have to reserve a seat. She urged the Senate to come and learn about their month.

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: Andrew of the Union Board, met today and their next meeting is Wednesday, March 4 at 4:30 p.m. in room 311 A.  He announced upcoming events, which include: Friday, February 22, V-89 presents: Family Affair Dance Party at the Student Life Center; Saturday, February 23, Joe Lally with Edie Sedgwick at Club Downunder at 9:30 p.m. and the movie Enchanted is showing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Student Life Building starting at 7:15 and 10 p.m.

Messages from Campus Recreation: None.

Report of the Student Body Auditor: As of February 19, 2008, Senate  Projects is $15,315.19.

Committee Reports:

Student Affairs-Chairman Toole asked everyone to sign up for an hour for the  “Got Issues” table on March 5.

Budget-Chairman Sokos said that only two funding board chairs showed up for the funding board workshop.

Finance-Did not meet.

Judiciary-The committee discussed the constitutional amendment, which is still in committee.

Internal Affairs-The Senate interviewed and passed Kandia Batchelor for Deputy Secretary of Athletic Affairs.

Rules and Calendar-Chairman Kushner said that the committee did absences and excuses.

Central Reserves-Chairman Sokos said the packet will be out by the end of the week.

Senate President Cole asked the Chairs of the Committees for the Deans to please submit their questions for their Deans. The chairs are: Arts and Sciences Senator Omega; Business - Senator Fasano; Engineering - Senator Malone; Graduate Studies/Law School - Senator Barbas; Social Sciences - Senator Singh; Undergraduate Studies - Senator Holman; Nursing - Senator Oliver.

Senate Confirmations: Kandia Batchelor for Deputy Secretary of Athletic Affairs.             

Consent Calendar: None.

Bills First Reading:

Bill 19-Sponsored by Senator Fisher. A revision to the Student Body Statutes Chapters 406, 803.3 and 805.1 A (6,7). Purpose: to amend statues to clarify that RSOs are not required to include a separate non-discrimination policy in their governing documents, as long as they follow the non-discrimination clauses in sections 206.1 and 803.3 and to extend investigative rights of the Senate to SGA funded organizations. REFERRED TO JUDICIARY AND FINANCE.

Bill 20-Sponsored by Senator Benson. A revision to the Student Body Statutes Chapter 409.2. Purpose: to add a requirement to post legislation online and clarify archiving requirement. REFERRED TO JUDICIARY.

Bills Second Reading: None.

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:

Resolution 17-Sponsored by Senators Seifter, Singh, Entine, Sokos and Dawson.

Subject: Asking that the FSU administration, campus police department and the Office of Campus Concerns increase efforts to provide the students of DeGraff Hall with adequate protection.

PASSED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Resolution 18-Sponsored by Senator Jackson.

Subject: Allowing the Black Student Union to spend more than $4,000 to bring Omar Tyree to FSU to speak.

PASSED.

Resolution 19-Sponsored by Senator Benson.

Subject: Encouraging the Board of Governors to recommend Bright Futures to remain intact.

PASSED. YES-26, NO-11.

Unfinished Business:

New Business:

Closing Announcements: Senator Loe told the Senate that he played the lottery and won $85 and he is one of the stupid people that play lotto.  He said that Senate forgot to put a deadline in for referendum and he will get the 200 signatures needed to put it on the ballot. Senator Sokos said her mom is a nut case and makes her go to Georgia and buy lottery tickets. Senator Entine said he will write a resolution about Fair Tax and he said that the Total Lunar Eclipse starts at 10:01 p.m. and last until 12:01 a.m., and the next one will be December 2010. Senator Emilien announced that there will be a basketball tournament on Friday hosted by Delta Sigma Pi and just bring two can goods to get in.  Senator Harrison told the Senate that the best way to impact student lives is to apply to be on the Student Judicial Board. He said this is good experience for pre law majors.  Senator Bastardo said that Dance Marathon is the best thing you never want to do. However, he said he did lip sync and he is the greatest dancer. Senator Cuyler announced that Sigma Lambda Gamma Breast Cancer Walk is on Sunday. Senator Benson said that when he got appointed people called him a fool, but he is happy that he is here in the Senate representing the students. Senator Guiddy thanked the Senate for the flowers and the cards. She said it meant a lot to her.  Dr. Howard announced that 116 students voted in the mock election and Senator Barack Obama won with 43 percent of the vote. Senator Kushner said the Christian Legal Society President talked to him and if anyone wants to know what he said, you should see him. Senate President Cole welcomed Senator Guiddy back to Senate. She told the Senate that Leadershape applications are due February 19; Senator Crabtree has been appointed to the Music School Allocations Committee; and Senate Pro Tempore Kushner was on the front page of the FSView on last Thursday.  Cole said that she was in the Tallahassee Democrat for Black History Month and she will speak at the Flowers Ball. She commended the Student Affairs Committee on doing a great job. Senator Seifter told the Senate that the University of Florida wants online voting because FSU has it and they are working on getting it.

FINAL ROLL CALL: There was a motion to make the first roll call the final roll call.

The meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m.