The meeting of the 60th Student Senate was called to order at 7:31 p.m. by Student Senate President Nathasha Cole.
Senator Primiani led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Moment of Silent Reflection:
MEMBERS PRESENT (First Roll Call): Senators Abreu, Atkins, Bastardo, Benson, Cardenas, Chapman, Crabtree, Cuyler, Dawson, Dubosar, Entine, Fasano, Firat, Fisher, Guiddy, Harris, Harrison, Howard, James, Kaufman, Kushner, LaCroix, Lightner, Malone, Ondriska, Primiani, Richards, Seifter, Shafter, Sokos, Toole, Wilson.
MEMBERS ABSENT: (First Roll Call): Senators Barbas, English, Frady, Freelove, Goins, Hall, Hamilton, Holman, Michel, Oliver, Patterson, Paul, Slade, Whitter.
MEMBERS TARDY/LATE (First Roll Call): Senators Angulo (7:52), Emilien (7:52), Jackson (7:56), Loe (7:58), Omega (8:30), Pierre (8:16), Singh (7:46).
Corrections: None.
Special Introductions and Announcements: Senate President Cole introduced former Senator Katie Hayden and high school students that were in the gallery.
Student Comments: Nicole Vouvalis said that she was concerned that Senate unfroze the funds of the two groups whose funds were frozen. She said that the Senate cannot come up with any excuse as to why they unfroze the funds and they are complete morons. She told the Senate that she is vice president of Garnet and Gold Key and they just had a membership drive and out of 32 applicants, 15 were taken, and two of them were not qualified: they have friends on the Board. She said that some of the students that interviewed had excellent interviews and they were not chosen. Vouvalis announced her resignation from Garnet and Gold Key. Cory Lewis, ESP Outreach Director, thanked the Senate for funding Hempfest. She announced that Earth Week is next week and she passed out flyers.
Messages from the Executive Branch: Robert Jakubik, Campus Security Secretary, announced that the safety walk will take place on tomorrow at 7 p.m. starting in the Union Courtyard. Clifford Counts, Student Body Vice President, thanked the Senate for 4 years of service to students at FSU and thanked them for allowing him to serve. He thanked the Senate for funding the Monster Credit Card and for passing the resolution for a new health center. Joe O’Shea, Student Body President, thanked everyone for allowing him to serve. He said that decisions made over the next few years will define FSU and right now we are headed in a wonderful direction. He said the bill for the lecture series has his blessings.
Messages from Agency and Bureau Directors, and SGA Organization Officers and Employees: Keenan Mahoney, IRHC Assistant Director, thanked the Sweepings Committee for helping to fund IRHC Week. He told the Senate that he is traveling to the national conference next week. He bided farewell to outgoing Senators. Monique Velasquez, AASU Director, announced that they are having a “tea” at the International Center. She also announced that the Sushi Workshop will take place on April 3, and you have to RSVP at ASU@hotmail.com. Velasquez said that their scholarship pageant will take place soon and their formal is on April 10. Ryan Powers, OLA Director announced his resignation as the director to take place on April 1. He said that he supports the resolution concerning textbooks and this bill has passed the House and Senate and it requires professors to submit textbooks preferences 30 days before classes. Jose Requena, HLSU Director announced that they are having a concert to kick off their week and it is free for FSU students and non-students pay $20. He said some of their events include a blood drive on Tuesday, and poetry night and a kids carnival on Friday with the Boys and Girls Club and on Saturday they are having their Gala. David Grimes, ILS Director, announced that Syd Dynasty is coming on April 8 and they are co-hosting this event with ICS. He also announced that on April 10, at 7 p.m. State Senator Dave Aronberg will speak in the COGS Chambers.
Messages from the Congress of Graduate Students: None.
Messages from the Senior Class Council: Nydia Simon, Senior Class President, said that their last event will be tailgate at graduation and a Garnet and Gold game will be held on April 12 and on Lot 10 there will be food and games. She said Bobby Bowden will be there and Seniors will take pictures.
Messages from the Judicial Branch: None.
Messages from the Union Board: None.
Messages from Campus Recreation: None.
Report of the Student Body Auditor: As of March 25, 2008, Senate Projects is $10,655.00.
Committee Reports:
Student Affairs-Chairman Toole said that they divided the surveys and they should be online by April 7. She said that she appreciated everyone who came out and tabled and for those who have not tabled she asked them to please come out and do so.
Budget-As reported in the Calendar.
Finance-The committee passed Bill 28 to Second Reading.
Judiciary-As reported in the Calendar. There was a motion to go into Committee of the Whole to hear Bill 23; the motion passed and the bill passed. There was a motion by Senator Kaufman to accept the decision of the committee as the decision of the Senate; the motion passed.
Internal Affairs-Did not meet. Chairman Richards thanked the committee for their dedication. She told the Senate that she enjoyed serving as chair.
Rules and Calendar-Chairman Kushner said that the committee added Resolution 29 to the Calendar.
Central Reserves-The bill is on Second Reading and will be debated on tonight.
Senate Confirmations: None.
Consent Calendar: None.
Bills First Reading:
Bill 21-Sponsored by Senator Kushner. A revision to the Student Body Statutes Chapter 807.2. Purpose: to put the Greek Funding Board in line with actual practice. THERE WAS A MOTION TO POSTPONE, AFTER MOTIONS TO AMEND AND DELETE. THE BILL IS POSTPONED FOR ONE WEEK.
Bill 25-Sponsored by Senators Richards, Paul and James. A revision to the Student Body Statutes Chapter 612. Purpose: to make the Golden Tribe Lecture Series an initiative of the Senior Class Council. REFERRED TO JUDICIARY AND BUDGET. MOTION TO LAY ON TABLE BY SENATOR ENTINE PASSED.
Bill 29-Sponsored by Senator Benson. A revision of $1,197.00 within SGA Elections from OPS Wages to OCO. Purpose: to purchase a new computer for the Elections Office. REFERRED TO FINANCE.
Bills Second 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 statutes 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. PASSED.
Bill 23-Sponsored by the Finance Committee. A revision to the Student Body Statutes Chapter 800. Purpose: to revise the Finance Code making it more accessible to students and more consistent with current policy and other statutes and more in line with the Senate’s goal of financial accountability. PASSED.
Bill 26-Sponsored by the Central Reserves Committee. A transfer of $286,211 from Central Reserves to A&S Fee Recipients. Purpose: to allocate funds to A&S Fee recipients. PASSED.
Bill 27-Sponsored by Senator Seifter. A revision to the Student Body Statutes Chapter 701.1. Purpose: to further clarify the definition of campaigning in the Election Code. PASSED.
Bill 28-Sponsored by Senator Seifter. An allocation of $4,675.40 from Senate Projects to FSU Men’s Rugby/Campus Recreation Funding Board. Purpose: to help fund the team’s travel to the 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference Rugby Tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina on April 4-6, 2008. PASSED.
Constitutional Amendments:
Constitutional Amendment 1 (one)-Sponsored by Senator Lightner. Adding Article X, Sections 1, 2,3 and 4. 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. CHIEF JUSTICE HILLERT EXPLAINED THE COURTS ADVISORY OPINION. THE AMENDMENT IS NOW REFERRED TO FINANCE AND JUDICIARY.
Constitutional Amendment 2 (two)-Sponsored by Senators Harrison, Toole and Entine. Adding Article V, Section 8. Clarifying what information shall appear on the official ballot of the student body elections. REFERRED TO STUDENT SUPREME COURT FOR AN ADVISORY OPINION.
Unfinished Business: None.
New Business:
Closing Announcements:
FINAL ROLL CALL: Present: Angulo, Atkins, Bastardo, Benson, Cuyler, Dawson, DuBosar, Emilien, Entine, Fasano, Firat, Fisher, Guiddy, Harris, Harrison, Howard, Jackson, James, Kaufman, Kushner, LaCroix, Malone, Omega, Ondriska, Pierre, Primiani, Richards, Seifter, Shafter, Singh, Sokos. Absent: Senators Abreu, Barbas, Cardenas, Chapman, Crabtree, English, Frady, Freelove, Gins, Hall, Hamilton, Holman, Lightner, Michel, Patterson, Paul, Slade, Toole, Whitter, Yeager.
The meeting adjourned at 12:30 a.m.
Nathasha Cole • Student Senate President
Mattie Durham • Student Senate Program Assistant