MONROE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENT ASSOCIATION SENATE MEETING
MINUTES FOR Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Present:
Senators: Senator Affinito, Senator Bickel, Senator Dentico, Senator Dudley, Senator Lawson, Senator Maravilla,
Senator Pannoni, Senator Stevenson, Senator van der Horst, Senator Wagoner, Senator Yockel
President Kyle W. Madden, Speaker/At-Large Senator Joe Marini, Deputy Speaker/At-Large Senator Dan Elliott
Campus Center Advisor Elizabeth Stewart, Faculty Advisor Joseph McCauley
Absent Vice President Brian Pruden
Visitors: Dick Ryther, Student Services; Annette Agness, MCC Association, Inc.; Craig Proctor, Tom Priester, Campus Center; Tamara Hillabush-Walker, Johnny Deng, WMCC; Tiffany Walker, Lori Patric, Travel & Tourism; Ronald Quider, Student; Carl Ross, Crystal Jones, CAB; Donna Brennan, Secretary Campus Center.
CALL TO ORDER (2:17 p.m.)
I. Roll Call (See attendance above)
A. Approval of November 28, 2006 minutes
Speaker Marini called for a motion to approve the minutes for November 28, 2006.
Senator Stevenson so motioned, seconded by Senator Affinito.
A vote was taken.
Be it resolved, the Monroe Community College Brighton Campus Student Government Association unanimously approves the November 28, 2006 minutes as written.
II. SPEAK TO THE SENATE
Tiffany Walker and Lori Patric, Travel & Tourism Club, presented the Senate with a spreadsheet explaining the expenses for a cruise they are planning in the spring semester. There will be 36 people going on the cruise. Due to a misunderstanding with the travel company, which caused an increase in the price of the cruise, the club is requesting $500 from the Senate Contingency fund.
III. REPORTS
Speaker’s Report
Speaker Marini…
Washington DC trip with Global Union – they visited Georgetown University and American University: he met and gave contact information to the Student Government Associations; spoke with the Georgetown University President who informed him that they also have a problem with apathy; he brought back paperwork from various venues which he has distributed to various clubs and offices on campus; he found that American University has a 3 week turnaround time to process a publicity request and their form is extremely similar to the publicity form used at MCC.
Senator Reports:
Senator Bickel…
Library – she met with Peter Genovese, Director of the Leroy V. Good Library, regarding proper use of the library. Currently the Library does not have cameras installed so the library staff is policing the floors to monitor student’s behavior. Director Genovese has personally caught eight people, since the start of the semester, exhibiting inappropriate behavior ranging from physical altercations to inappropriate cell phone usage. He suggested a Student Advisory Committee as one way to improve the library environment. This had been suggested to prior Student Governments, but he received little if any feedback. He also stated that he is “Glad the student government is active and aggressive this year.”
Senator Lawson…
He and Fabrice Broyld are working on dinner with Santa.
Student Affairs Committee met and discussed some great ideas on how to get the Student Government out to the students.
He will be meeting with clubs this week to discuss their constitutions.
Senator Wagoner…
Club Senators - are working on meeting their December fifth goal of finishing constitutional review; this week they will be meeting to discuss how to improve interactions and communication between the clubs of MCC.
He will be meeting with Speaker Marini regarding the information brought back from the colleges visited while in Washington, DC to see if any of their policies can be applied here.
Senator Yockel…
CAB:
Comedy Clash, the first ever, was very successful; positive feedback was received from students on campus.
Freestyle Friday - Friday, December 8, during college hour in the Marketplace.
Holiday Bash - Monday, December 11, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the Atrium - celebrating holidays around the world; free food, music, games, and giveaways
Community Service Committee:
Red Cross Blood Drive – Thursday, December 14, in the Forum, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m; the goal is to have 100 people sign up. Anyone interested should contact the Student Government office to make an appointment; free t-shirts will be given to those who donate that day.
Jar Wars – starting Wednesday, December 6; there will be four Jars, one each for the Campus Center, Clubs and Organizations, Students, and Faculty and Staff. Positive points for every penny in the jar and negative points for every other currency in the jar. Money will be donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
Giving Tree – the tree stands outside the Campus Center office with stockings containing names and a wish list. Everybody is welcome to take a stocking and bring it back attached to an unwrapped gift. A general donation of scarves, mittens, or hats will also be accepted. Bring donations to either the Campus Center office or the Student Government office.
FYI: “Over the weekend I ran into a group of MCC students, some of which I know from high school. We started talking about MCC and I was asked if I liked it here. Naturally I said I loved it - that being my sincere opinion. However, that response was not expected. I asked them the question back and to my surprise they said that they did not like MCC. I started asking them questions and discussing their likes and dislikes. The overall gist was not feeling connected and the atmosphere being uncomfortable as opposed to friendly. I gave them advice on how to change that on their parts personally. However, this being a group of people who I know as being very active and excited about being a part of and taking pride in their school, I wanted to reiterate the idea of publicizing and showing how important it can be to your college career to be an active participant in the co-curricular programs.”
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business.
NEW BUSINESS
1. ACTION ITEMS (Items requiring a Senate vote)
a. Women’s Volleyball Team
Resolved, that the Brighton Campus Student Government Association congratulate the Monroe Community College Women’s Volleyball team for winning the National Junior College Athletic Association Region III, Division III Championship.
Speaker Marini called for a motion to approve the resolution to congratulate the Monroe Community College Women’s Volleyball team for winning the National Junior College Athletic Association Region III, Division II Championship.
Senator Maravilla so motioned, seconded by Senator Pannoni.
Senator Pannoni read the resolution (see attached).
Discussion:
Senator Pannoni informed the senate that she tried numerous ways to get in touch with the coach of the Volleyball team but was not successful; therefore no one from the team was present to accept the certificate of recognition.
Deputy Speaker Elliott made a motion to table the presentation of the certificate of recognition until the next senate meeting; Senator Maravilla seconded the motion.
Discussion:
President Madden suggested that either an Assistant Coach or a member of the team be contacted to attend a meeting to receive the certificate on behalf of the coach and the team.
A vote to table the approval of the resolution was taken; the motion failed.
A vote to approve the resolution to congratulate the Women’s Volleyball Team was taken.
Be it resolved, the Monroe Community College Brighton Campus Student Government Association unanimously approves the resolution to congratulate the MCC Women’s Volleyball Team for winning the NJCAA Region III, Division III Championship.
b. Men’s Basketball Team
Resolved, that the Brighton Campus Student Government Association congratulate the Monroe Community College Men’s Basketball team for being named, for the first time in the program’s history, the number one ranked team in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II.
Speaker Marini called for a motion to approve the resolution to congratulate the Monroe Community College Men’s Basketball team for being named the number one ranked team in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II.
Senator Maravilla so motioned, seconded by Senator Wagoner.
Senator Pannoni read the resolution (see attached).
Discussion:
President Madden congratulated Coach Burns and wished the team good luck for the remainder of the season.
A vote was taken.
Be it resolved, the Monroe Community College Brighton Campus Student Government Association unanimously approves the resolution to congratulate the MCC Men’s Basketball Team for being named the number one ranked team in the NJCAA Region II.
Speaker Marini presented the Certificate of Recognition to Coach Jerry Burns.
c. WMCC the Fuse request for funds
Resolved, that the Brighton Campus Student Government Association approve WMCC the Fuse request for funds in the amount of $1500.
Speaker Marini called for a motion to approve WMCC the Fuse request for funds in the amount of $1500.
Senator Dentico so motioned, seconded by Senator Stevenson.
Senator Stevenson read the resolution (see attached).
Discussion:
Tamara Hillabush-Walker, Advisor to WMCC, explained that the conference is an Inter-collegiate Broadcasting Conference in New York City which students from WMCC attend every year. The students attending were chosen based on their position in WMCC and their commitment to continue in a leadership position with WMCC. At the conference, students will learn about radio operations; technology, production, music, sports, news, promotions, etc. To help fund the trip, 2 vendors each month have been brought in.
A vote was taken.
Be it resolved, the Monroe Community College Brighton Campus Student Government Association unanimously approves WMCC the Fuse request for funds in the amount of $1500.
d. SUNY Board of Trustees
Resolved, that the Brighton Campus Student Government Association support the inclusion of the President of the Faculty Council of Community Colleges and the President of the University Faculty Senate on the SUNY Board of Trustees.
Speaker Marini called for a motion to approve the resolution (see attached).
Senator Elliott so motioned, seconded by Senator Maravilla.
Discussion:
President Madden explained that the SUNY Student Assembly along with the Faculty Senate strongly supports having a representative from the University Faculty Senate on the SUNY Board of Trustees. Currently the Community Colleges do not have a faculty vote on the Board. President Madden feels the SGA should support this inclusion so that the viewpoints of faculty who teach at Community Colleges have a voice on the Board.
A vote was taken.
Be it resolved, the Monroe Community College Brighton Campus Student Government Association unanimously approves the resolution to support the inclusion of the President of the Faculty Council of Community Colleges and the President of the University Faculty Senate on the SUNY Board of Trustees.
e. Brighton Campus Student Government Association By-Laws
Resolved, that the Brighton Campus Student Government Association approve the addition of 12.1 Sexual Harassment and 12.2 Hazing to the Brighton Campus Student Government Association By-Laws.
Speaker Marini called for a motion to approve the resolution to add 12.1 Sexual Harassment and 12.2 Hazing to the Brighton Campus Student Government Association By-laws (see attached).
Senator Stevenson so motioned, seconded by Senator Wagoner.
Discussion:
President Madden pointed out some grammatical errors and language which needs clarifying. He recommended the approval of the resolution be tabled until changes can be made.
Senator Affinito made a motion to table the approval of the resolution; Senator Dudley seconded the motion.
Discussion:
President Madden assured the Senators that he supports the additions to the By-laws but it is important to have the language correct so it cannot be misinterpreted. He also suggested that similar clauses be in all of the club and organization constitutions.
A vote was taken.
Be it resolved, the Monroe Community College Brighton Campus Student Government Association unanimously approves the motion to table the approval of the addition of 12.1 Sexual Harassment and 12.2 Hazing to the Brighton Campus Student Government Association By-laws.
QUESTIONS & COMMENTS
President Madden forwarded an email to everyone from Dr. Susan Baker regarding the Silent Witness program. He will contact Leah Dyer to see if the link to the Silent Witness can be put on the front page of the MCC web site.
President Madden mentioned that he attended an SA Government meeting at the U of R. The meeting was held from 8:15p.m. until 11:15p.m, he met the President and some of the student senators. He has plans to visit other area colleges Student Government meetings.
ADJOURNMENT
Speaker Marini called for a motion to adjourn.
At 3:06 p.m. Senator van der Horst made a motion to adjourn; Senator Dudley seconded the motion. The Senate meeting was adjourned.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Brennan
Student Association Secretary
Donna Brennan
Campus Center
12/19/2006 |