The meeting of the 60th Student Senate was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Student Senate President Nathasha Cole.

Senator Chapman led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Moment of Silent Reflection:

MEMBERS PRESENT (First Roll Call): Senators Abreu, Angulo, Atkins, Bastardo, Brandow, Cardenas, Chapman, Crabtree, Coakley, Dawson, DuBosar, Entine, Fasano, Freelove, Goins, Guiddy, Hall, Harrison, Holman, Howard, Jackson, Kaufman, Kushner, Michel, Oliver, Ondriska, Paul, Primiani, Pringle, Richards, Rosenkoetter, Segura, Seifter, Shafter, Singh, Slade, Sokos, N. Thompson, R. Thompson, Toole, Wilson.

MEMBERS ABSENT: (First Roll Call): Senators Anderson, Barbas, Cutler, Firat, Fisher, Frady, Hoke, James, LaCroix, Loe, Malone, Norrell, Patterson, Pierre, Przybylowicz, Schulte, Whitter, Yeager.

MEMBERS TARDY/LATE (First Roll Call): Senators Emilien (7:55), Hamilton (8:35), Omega (7:55), Vouvalis (7:41).

Corrections: None.

Student Comments: Joe O’Shea, Student Body President, told the Senate that Thagard Student Health Center and the Bobby Leach Recreation are both overcrowded and if you have a class in the Leach Center, you have to arrive 45 minutes earlier just to get into your class. He said a facility fee is needed to construct a brand new health center and this health center will have a wellness center which will take some of the pressure off of the Leach Center. Jonathan Myers told the Senate that he had some issues with Thagard when he went there without an appointment and was told to come back the next day or go to another health facility. He said he went to Patients First, which took the entire day, and he missed a week of classes.  He said that Thagard should be extended so this does not happen to another student. Dana DeGraff, Editor of the Kudzu Review, an undergraduate literature book, thanked the Senate for their support and interest in their group this year.  Myron Rolle, FSU football player told the Senate that the Student Advisory Council met this past Sunday and voted to support the facility fee to build a new health center.  David Grimes of the Coalition for an Equitable Community told the Senate that he has filed a suit against the Ogelsby Union Board  with the Student Supreme Court. He said the preliminary hearings are set for January 15, 2008. Stephen Jackson, Faculty Senate liaison, told the Senate that the university will no longer use students social security numbers; instead the students will be assigned “student numbers.” 

Special Introductions and Announcements: Carol O’Domski, Director of Parking Services, for 5 months, told the Senate that as of August 20 there have been new bus routes and they have added 4 new stops on campus and 5 new stops off campus, based on input from students.  She told the Senate that there are now 11 buses on the bus routes and an on site supervisor is now on campus and there is a total of 72 stops on and off campus. She said they plan to have signs at the main stops so that students will know when the next bus is coming. O’Domski told the students to call her at 644-5278 with their questions and concerns.  Lesley Sacher, Director of the Thagard Student Health Center and Mary Coburn, Vice President for Student Affairs spoke to the Senate about the health facility and wellness center. Coburn told the Senate that the facility fee will help to build the new health center. She said the current health facility was built for 15,000 students and FSU’s enrollment is now 40,000 and more space is needed to serve the students. Coburn said that this will be a state of art health center and the old health center will free up a lot of space for clubs and organizations. Lesley Sacher said they have over 300 appointments a day and they are  unable to see 11-15 percent of the students per day. Sacher introduced the Senate to Jason Campbell who she met at Relay for Life that was sponsored by the health center. Campbell told the Senate that Thagard really helped him when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, when he was a freshman. Coburn told the Senate that the legislature  will contribute 7.5 million, from CITF funds, to building the new center which will cost 45 million dollars and fees will be collected over a 30 year period.

Messages from the Executive Branch: Cliff Counts, Student Body Vice President, announced that the library will be open 24 hours a day except for Fridays and Saturdays. He passed out free coffee coupons for Starbucks coffee that can only be used in the Strozier Library.  He announced that the Stress Buster has been cancelled. Counts asked the Senate to support Resolution 7. Lanier Echols, Student Body Treasurer, told the Senate that the Puerto Rican Student Association funds will be frozen on December 7, 2007, for purchasing gift cards at Winn Dixie on December 4, 2007.  Student Body President Joe O’Shea thanked everyone who came to the Christmas party. He announced that the kick ball tournament will be on February 2, 2008.

Messages from Agency and Bureau Directors, and SGA Organization Officers and Employees: Monique Velasquez, American Asian Student Union Director, announced that there last meeting of the semester is tomorrow in room 215.  She also announced that she is the chair of the Asian Coalition of Tallahassee. Jose Requena, HLSU Director, thanked the Senators who came to the “Soul Food with Sazon” co-sponsored with the BSU.  He asked the Senate to support Resolution 7. Keenan Mahoney, IRHC Assistant Director, asked the Senate to support the Sweepings Bill and he thanked the Senate for their generous allocations to IRHC.

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: Sadie Molinet, Union Board Chair, told the Senate that some of the rooms on the third floor will be open during finals week for students to use for studying in a quiet environment.  She also announced that one of the ATM downstairs in the Union will be turned into a DVD machine, where students can rent and return DVD’s at this location.

Messages from Campus Recreation: Adam Fox, Chair, told the Senate that they passed a resolution in support of a health center and wellness center. He announced that there will be 5 new treadmills and 5 new bikes for the spring semester.

Report of the Student Body Auditor: As of December 4, 2007, Senate  Projects is $12,737.00 and Senate Unallocated is $5,372.00.

Committee Reports: The Rules and Calendar Committee moved Resolution 7 to the front of the Calendar. The Senate debated and voted on Resolution 7; the resolution passed.            

Student Affairs - The committee conducted a survey.

Budget - Chairman Sokos said that the committee will be presenting resolutions later for funding boards.

Finance - Bills 2 and 10 were postponed in committee.

Judiciary - As reported in the Calendar.

Internal Affairs - The Senate interviewed and passed Nicole Vouvalis for ILS Assistant Director, Jessica Redling for Homecoming Director, Rebecca Williams for Homecoming Assistant Director, Lauren Spivey for Deputy Secretary of Women’s Affairs, Daniel Best for Internal Affairs Chair, Lourdes Angulo for HLSU Secretary, Luahlati Johnson for AASU Secretary, Chantel Ma for PSU Board of Directors, Lawrence Murphy for ILS member-at-large, Lacey Maffetone for ILS Communication officer, Keniel Pierre for Deputy Secretary for Health Concerns and Meng Xi Li for ICS Secretary. There was a motion by Chairman Richards to go into Committee of the Whole to interview Emily Wright; the motion failed after lengthy debate.

Rules and Calendar - The committee moved Resolution 7 to the front of the Calendar.

Sweepings - The bill is on Second Reading and will be heard tonight.

Senate Confirmations: Nicole Vouvalis for ILS Assistant Director, Jessica Redling for Homecoming Director, Rebecca Williams for Homecoming Assistant Director, Lauren Spivey for Deputy Secretary of Women’s Affairs, Daniel Best for Internal Affairs Chair, Lourdes Angulo for HLSU Secretary, Luahlati Johnson for AASU Secretary, Chantel Ma for PSU Board of Directors, Lawrence Murphy for ILS member-at-large, Lacey Maffetone for ILS Communication officer, Keniel Pierre for Deputy Secretary for Health Concerns and Meng Xi Li for ICS Secretary.

Consent Calendar: None.        

Bills First Reading:    

Bill 2 - Sponsored by Senators Cutler and Przybylowicz. A revision of $500.00 within the Pride Student Union from Contractual Services to Food. Purpose: to restructure the PSU budget to account for the operating costs associated with the LGBTQ Student Resource Center. TABLED IN FINANCE.

Bill 10 - Sponsored by Senators R. Thompson and Ondriska. An addition to the Student Body Statutes adding Chapter 1012. Purpose: to create the International Student Union. POSTPONED IN FINANCE, STILL IN BUDGET AND JUDICIARY.

Bill 11 - Sponsored by Senators Omega and Singh. A transfer of $5,372 from Senate Unallocated to Senate Projects. Purpose: to move monies in the proper account so that funds can be allocated to various student organizations. REFERRED TO FINANCE.

Bills Second Reading:

Bill 8 - Sponsored by Senators Entine and Seifter. A revision to the  Student Body Statues Chapter 700. Purpose: to make necessary clarifications and changes to the Elections Code in its entirety.  POSTPONED ON 11-28-07 FOR ONE WEEK.

Bill 9 - Sponsored by the Sweepings Committee. A transfer of $243,121 from 2006-07 Sweepings to Sweepings Recipients. Purpose: to allocate funds in compliance with Student Body Statutes Chapter 412.

Constitutional Amendments: None.

Resolutions:

Resolution 2 -  Sponsored by Senator Freelove.

Subject: Requiring that the vice chair of a committee shall serve six (6) weeks in Senate prior to assuming the chair.

POSTPONED 3 WEEKS IN RULES AND CALENDAR.

Resolution 7 -  Sponsored by Senators Cole, DuBosar, Entine and Kushner.

Subject: Endorsing building a new health and wellness center and expanding the Ogelsby Union complex.

PASSED. YES-29, NO-9.

The Senate lost quorum and the meeting was adjourned.

Unfinished Business: None.

New Business: None.

Closing Announcements: Senator Jackson announced that the Bobby Leach Ball will be on Friday night at the Double Tree Hotel. Joyce Howard and Sandra Miles wished everyone happy holidays and be careful.

FINAL ROLL CALL: Present: Senators Angulo, Atkins, Bastardo, Brandow, Chapman, Crabtree, Coakley, Dawson, DuBosar, Emilien, Entine, Fasano, Freelove, Goins, Guiddy, Holman, Howard, Jackson, Kaufman, Oliver, Omega, Ondriska, Paul, Richards, Segura, Seifter, Slade, N. Thompson, R. Thompson, Wilson. Absent: Senators Abreu, Anderson, Barbas, Cardenas, Cutler, English, Firat, Fisher, Frady, Hall, Hamilton, Harrison, Hoke, James, LaCroix, Loe, Malone, Michel, Norrell, Patterson, Pierre, Primiani, Pringle, Przybylowicz, Rosenkoetter, Schulte, Shafter, Singh, Sokos, Toole, Vouvalis, Whitter, Yeager.

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.