CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT SENATE
85th SESSION, 2005-2006
SENATE MINUTES
Wednesday, October 26th 2005
Forrest B. Hinton, Student Senate President, Presiding
Roll Call
Student Senate, Wednesday, October 26th 2005, 7:30 PM
There were thirty-eight (38) Senators (Adams, Barnes, Bellamy, Cariaga, Collins, Compton, Dimond, Fabricius, Gardner, Gluck, Griggs, Gula, Haggard, Hankins, Heath, Hester, Hughes, Hutcherson, Kersh, Kling, Lam, Mckethan, Melton, Mickey, Miller, Moye, Oluronbi, K. Phillips, Santiago, Saunders, Sawrey, Templeton, Wally, Walton, Whitehouse, Winfree, Wood, Yasin) present. There were also two (2) non-voting members (F. Hinton, Toms) present.
There were nineteen (19) Senators (Brannan, Carter, Chamblee, Culp, E. Evans, Maria Evans, Godfrey, Hardy, Hoy, M. Lloyd, Rice, Salmon, Sevits, Shaw, Shivers, R. Smith, Sohail, Waldrup, Weston) absent. There was also one (1) non-voting member (Dubeau) absent.
A quorum was present.
Receipt of Petitions and Correspondence
- Amanda Lilley, Homecoming 2005 Chair
Things are going spectacularly. Kickoff was Sunday and we had a great turnout and we gave out the shirts provided by student government. Wear red get fed and we’ve had record success as well. We have a canned food drive tomorrow; we have a parade and pack howl and UAB all night bash. I’m here to thank you for your support and for being at events. We are having a meeting November 8th.
Letter of Resignation: Resignation from seat in senate by Megan Shaw.
Accepted by consent.
- “Chained by Tuition” Campaign Kickoff
Sen. Compton & Sen. Phillips, Co-Managers
Compton: There is a 325-dollar tuition increase. Everything’s going up, and we are starting tonight a chained by tuition campaign. We are asking each senator to work three events, and also make each senator to make a minimum of 100. November 17th they will be voting on tuition increase and we will be bringing the chain with us. We want to continue working against tuition increase
Phillips: The purpose is to show everyone in the state, that we are against these increases, we have flyers, which you will be distributing, and we are also making a chain and we are tying to get 10,000 chain links and signatures. We are asking each senator to do a minimum of 100. If we have 10,00 chain links
Hinton: We are trying to bring the rest of campus together. The University has asked for a tuition increase every year since 1977.
Reports of the Officers
- Mr. Seneca Toms, Student Body Treasurer
Good Evening. I’d like to give praise to the Appropriation Committees they’ve worked very hard. AB 68 will be coming up tonight. I’ve selected a comptroller and as soon as she accepts position I will have her appointment. Emphasized importance of SB 05 and AB 67.
- Mr. Whil Piavis, Student Body President
Travis Birdsell in place of SBP. We are working on Mission Mardi Gras and Night walk, which is coming up soon, if everyone could participate, that would be great. The fees have been submitted, and the Tuition, Piavis, Quick and Hinton should be applauded in the effort they have put forth to remain united. The chains are an excellent idea. I would like to applaud Senator Compton. National Call in was very successful, well passed all other schools in NC system. Our first choice for the few review committee was not obliged.
- Sen. Hisham Salama, Student Senate President Pro Tempore
No report.
- SSP Forrest Hinton, Student Senate President
There is a response from provost on SR 22. He supported it. Tonight we will consider the judicial board and separation from student government, since they are not represented we need to remember their feelings as well. The tuition advisers committee had a 3-1 vote from the student body. Thanks to Kasey and Adam for what they are doing. Thank you to the appropriations committee, they’ve put in a lot of hard work. The fee review committee, thanks to Erin Lam and John Small. The fee committee closely follows the Senate’s recommendation, it’s almost like a compromising position, and they did take the recommendations to heart. Tuition and Fees will start looking into fee accountability.
Reports of Senate Standing Committees
- Academics Committee; Sen. James Hankins, Chairman
Hankins: Academics met this past week, and we had a representative form the physical education come in and we were able to ask him questions concerning PE selections, we did not find any reason to write any legislation coming out of that meeting, we will have a representative from the technology coming in at the next meeting.
- Campus Community Committee; Sen. Zach Adams, Chairman
Adams: We looked at the ticket policy distribution act and we will be sending this back to committee, to reconsider the structure. We will also be looking at calendar for basketball games and selecting which ones will have a high demand for tickets and which one we would have a camp out for.
Q: I saw that you had been considering block seating or non block seating
A: If you have all in the same allotment, it makes it so everyone has the exact same probability of getting a ticket. This is not a time sensitive thing.
Q: Hankins: If you don’t claim your ticket does it hurt you.
A; No it does not. You don’t get rewarded for going to the games, but you’re only penalized for not going to the game after you’ve claimed the ticket. We are trying to get them to hold the scanners for the whole game.
Q: Mickey: I noticed this past game when I went to go claim my ticket, something about the basketball game took up the whole screen.
A: I have heard that problem, but for the most part tickets have printed, I will give athletics a call tomorrow.
- Finance Committee; Mr. Erich Fabricius, Chairman
We had some questions regarding the Red Terror Transit. We are continuing to work on financial policies.
- Government Operations Committee; Sen. Ken Hoy, Chairman
Ken Hoy absent, Matt Walton: We questioned and voted to approve Fox. We also took into consideration R 61 the committee felt we should proceed and we denied Fabricius request to not move on, Senator Hardy’s impeachment has been placed on the agenda.
- Public Affairs Committee; Sen. Alex Carter, Chairman
Senator Compton will be speaking since Carter is absent. We are asking every senator that does not have a committee meeting to come, we have a representative from NC state assembly to coming, and we ask everyone to come
- Tuition & Fees Committee; Sen. Erin Lam, Chairman
No report
- University Affairs Committee; Sen. Andrew Barnes, Chairman
All of the buses routed differently due to fair are back on schedule. Dan Allen and Hillsborough will be closed for the parade on Friday until the roads are clear, the buses will not run then either. The transportation department will be coming to out next meeting, they are coming and giving a presentation, we talked to campus police and found out that the horses did not cost us any money, we will be talking more about bike safety, the Chancellor’s residence is still on hold was voted down. They will propose a new location. Also a new math building to replace Harrelson will be starting to build in the Spring.
SSP Hinton: Andrews committee is the one who got the tracking system on the front page of the school website, I wanted to thank them.
Reports of Senate Select Committees
- Appropriations Committee; Sen. Tracy Hutcherson, Chairman
We had an enormous amount of individuals who came out. We had many organizations requesting the start up, which is 300 dollars, if an org. did not show up they were given nothing, there was also an issue with budgets, make sure you review their budgets before deadline, sometime there budgets were not clear enough to determine where the money would have been going. The appeal dates for individuals regarding the amount they will be given is on Sunday and Tuesday. Approximately right now we have given out around 39,000 dollars and we have about 7,000 dollars left to appropriate. I would like to thank all the committee members.
Comments/Announcements
SSP Hinton: I would like to welcome the group of students at the back of the room who are here studying for a communications class, and also at the end of my report you can find the minority report.
Wood: Hopefully most of you will be going to the tuition meeting tomorrow night, and then there is an acapella concert whose profits will go to Katrina relief.
Hutcherson: SBP and SSP and myself serve on the Student centers board of governors and they were not giving much information until I brought up a statute and then they provided more information
Hankins: My committee and the Academics committee have written legislation and I would like and the committee would appreciate if would could have legislation written by other committees and given to us.
Barnes: I wanted to thank the appropriations committee; I wanted to commend them for all their hard work.
Phillips: I am a finalist in leader of the pack, and I would like to thank everyone for voting.
Compton: I would like to thank everyone who came in for the call in day.
Washington: I had a question regarding the chains
Approval of Appointments
A period of approval of appointments
Mr. Joseph Washington, Graduate Student Senator [SSP Hinton]
Washington: I am a grad student in math and physics, I would like to try to make this a better process.
Q: Hutcherson: What is one thing in the university you would like to work on
A; I would like to bring more awareness to minority events
Approved by consent
SR 60, AD for Feed Raleigh (Mills) Confirmation [SSP Hinton]
I think I can bring together service and the student community together.
Q: SSP Hinton : What is Feed Raleigh
A: We gather cans and food
Q: Hutcherson: how many people are you planning on recruiting
A: Hopefully 15 or more
SR 65, Sr. AD for Legislative Affairs (Single) Confirmation [SSP Hinton]
I have always been involved in student government and I would like to help recreate the legislative court and I would like to make sure that students are represented fairly at NC general assembly
Q: Hutcherson: What are you working on?
A: Trying to represent our school and be non-partisan and DeVan has explained his duties and mine
Consent to approve both nominees was made.
Election of Senate Officers
- Sergeant-at-Arms:
Senator Dimond (3) , Senator Wood(4), Senator Yasin (29), Senator Hughes (10) are nominated and accept , Yasin won by majority
- Legislative Secretary, will be taken by a standing vote
Senator Kling, Senator Dimond are nominated and accept, Senator Kling won
- Press Secretary
Gula (24) and Melton (15) are nominated and accepted , Gula wins by majority
Consent Agenda
SR 66, AD for Local Affairs (Foxx) Confirmation [SSP Hinton]
SSP Hinton: if 5 people object this will go on second reading, seeing no objection Foxx is confirmed
First Reading of Bills and Resolutions
AB 68, Fall 2005 Appropriations Act (Hutcherson and Toms)
Will go to committee on appropriations
SR 69, Hardy Impeachment (Kersh)
GOV operation committee
R 70, Tuition Increase Opposition Act (Compton) [fast-track requested]
consent to place for second reading
GB 72, Judicial Branch Referendum (Hoy)
Government on operations committee
SR 73, Judicial Referendum Election Order (Fabricius)
Government operations
GB 74, Judicial Statutes Act (Fabricius)
Government operations
AB 75, Judicial Funding Reallocation Act (Fabricius)
Finance Committee
SB 76, Greek Life Liaison Rule (Walton)
Committee of Government operations
Second Reading of Bills and Resolutions
R 53, Advisor Assessment Act (Hankins et. al.)
Hankins: This bill is an old bill, this allows for us to see how students feel about advising.
Passes by consent
SB 05, Senatorial Accountability Act (Fabricius and Toms)
Toms: This bill requires that senators file a report of what they have done in the past month, constituent service, committees they’ve attended, is for accountability of student senators
Fabricius: It is flexible and adjusts per senator, it is not a Ò one size fits all model, because senators are on different committees etc
Walton: Gov. Operations committee was split over this bill, they want to make the bill effective as of Dec 31st this year, committee voted 3-2 to bring this to senate
Q: Hutcherson: Why was this tabled
A: Walton: Originally we wanted to spend more time on the bill
Q: How long did you discuss the bill
A: At least two or three prior meetings, the committee felt as if we kept going in circles and we believe that putting this on the floor we will be able to get input from all senators
Q: Adams
Positive and Negative debate
P: Fabricius: It is an opportunity to improve positive communication among senators, and if it comes to the end of the month and you have not done a lot, you will realize that there is more to be done. It’s an automatic self-adjusting mechanism.
N: Lloyd: I try to do as much as I possibly can, I barely found enough time to finish all my activities, I don’t think we need this, I do not believe I need to write a monthly report, I can self police myself
P: Sawrey: I believe strongly in accountability, there are no repercussions to this, I think we as a senate need to be proactive amid all the negativity put forth against the senate, I strongly urge to support this
Q: Hutcherson: Are you aware that is no real punishment
A: I wasn’t referring to a punishment, as you’re not doing your job as a senator not failing to return your report in
Period of debate on amendment motion for bill to go back to committee was objected and is now being debated
Godfrey: P: not a lot of cooperation in the preparation of this bill, senators needs to come to this meeting
Subsidiary motion Fabricius: Send back for four weeks and bring back to Senate to four weeks
Q: Godfrey: Why four weeks?
A: Fabricius: It would be required to the last senate meeting of the semester.
Consent called and objected to
Q: Heath
Q: Toms: Up to this point how many weeks had the committee had to debate
A: Since April
Fabricius: We want further review and I want it to come back in front of the Senate
Voting on subsidiary motion: Subsidiary Amendment passes
Voting on motion to send back to committee and must be brought back in four weeks:
Approved by consent
GB 63, Ticket Policies Act (Adams) [pending report acceptance]
Sent back to Campus Community Committee: Approved by consent
R 61, Judicial Board Act (Fabricius)
Fabricius: The legislation states that there is no inherent need to have a judicial board
Q: Lloyd: the Chief Justice will still be elected by the students
A: Yes, that is university policy
SSP Hinton: Fabricius stated it very elegantly, there was no office of student conduct in the past it was handled by the judicial board, and now there is the student conduct board which consists of Paul Cousins etc, The administration has had to take more of a role in Judicial board and they have more of an active role in student conduct, students felt they were still paying and administration had power, we would like to see the Judicial board moved into the office of student conduct and out of student government, this bill would declare that this judicial board is not our judicial branch, should this bill pass, a series of things will occur, and the money not spent by judicial board will be re allocated, we will issue a referendum for students to vote.
Q: Hankins: Wasn’t the judicial board at one time believed to oversee over our legislation, is this a bad idea.
A: Right now we don’t have anyone to interpret the constitution
Consent called for and objected
Consent to question, vote
Roll Call:
There were forty-four (44) Senators (Barnes, Bellamy, Brannan, Cariaga, Collins, Compton, Culp, Erica Evans (em), Fabricius, Gardner, Godfrey, Griggs, Gula, Haggard, Hankins, Heath, Hester (em), Hughes, Hutcherson, Kersh, Kling, Lam (em), Michael Lloyd, Mckethan, Melton (em), Mickey, Miller, Moye, Musick, Oluronbi, Kasey Phillips, Salama (em), Santiago, Saunders, Sawrey, Shivers, Rondell Smith, Wally, Walton, Joseph Washington, Whitehouse, Winfree, Wood (em), Yasin) voting in the affirmative.
There were zero (0) Senators voting in the negative.
There were zero (0) Senators present but not voting.
There were seventeen (17) Senators (Adams, Carter, Chamblee (em), Dimond, Maria Evans, Gluck, Hardy (em), Hoy, Rice (em), Salmon (em), Sevits, Shaw (em), Sohail (em), Stephenson (em), Templeton, Waldrup, Weston (em)) absent.
A quorum was present.
The motion to adopt R 61, Judicial Board Act, requiring majority approval, was agreed to by a margin of 44-0.
AB 67, Comptroller Stipend Act (Toms)
Toms: The comptroller is one of the student body officers in our constitution, there is a lot of time commitment, and a lot of people overlook the position, there are certain rights we are in danger of, if we do not have good fiscal responsibility, the salary has not increased in 16 years
Q: Whitehouse: Why is the money not need there anymore
A: The gentleman in that position was never paid because he was never confirmed
Q: Hutcherson
A; It is not even as much as comptroller should be paid
Fabricius: report from finance committee: It is using money allocated from judicial system, there is no reason should not be done
Q: Hutcherson for Fabricius: You are going to be paying the comptroller more than the Pro Temp, and the Pro Temp does more work
A: If the comptroller is doing their job properly they will have to come into the office daily, there is need for a lot of diligent effort
Q: Hutcherson: Is it the expectation that this person will come in at least three times a week
Q: Lloyd: Question for Toms: Is it in writing that he could not get paid
A: He was never confirmed he could not be paid
SSP Hinton: This bill will be for this year only
Period of debate
N: Lloyd I want to make sure that this individual was not being paid
Toms: The individual refused to be confirmed and therefore he cannot be paid
Fabricius: Finance committee chair, the hopes are that by doing this we will have the freed up money to pay the comptroller
Consent called and not objected
R 70, Tuition Increase Opposition Act (Compton)
Compton: This is to go along with the start of our campaign
Q: Hutcherson Is it true that the SBP actually agreed.
A: Compton: He voted against it
Compton: If we add the amendment: It will state we do not agree with anything over 200 dollars. Stafford said the other night if you raise the fees you must raise tuition but we do not want the 325 Increase. The faculty salaries we’re proposing 20% and they want 22%.
Sen. Compton gave a presentation in the form of an excel file to show how the proposal will work.
Hankins: Why does Piavis and Quick support a $275 increase?
SSP Hinton: Because $275 to them seemed reasonable
Wally: Why does tuition have to be increased when fees are?
Compton: To keep the increases neutral, tuition has to be in the form of financial aid to help pay for Fees.
Q: Fabricius: Do you think there is a risk of writing a cap of 200
A: SSP Hinton: Ill make sure what the senate says is represented
Q: Godfrey: Is there any reason you didn’t go with 275
Q: Hester:
Q: Toms: What is the % there asking for financial aid
A: Compton: They suggested 40%
Q: Toms: Can we say tuition increase is okay up to a certain point
A: Yes
Q: Proxy for Hisham: Why can’t we wait to increase tuition until next year.
A: We need to raise tuition because financial aid is going up
Hutcherson: I say no, leave it at zero.
Hinton: I agree with the zero, but I believe a compromise is best
Q: What is the urgency?
A: It will help with our chain campaign and the chancellor needs it now.
Hinton: Whil and I will be meeting with the chancellor, on Friday and if you want us
to bring this information with us we need it to pass tonight
Acclamation called and objected
Period of positive and negative debate
P: Yasin: we might as well meet them halfway
N: Mickey : We will be submitting an amendment of a decrease to 175
Q: Toms, Is it true in years past that the board of governors did not approve a campus CITI increase
A: Hinton: One year yes and one year no
Amendment to change 200 to 175
Passed by Acclamation
Miscellaneous Business
Comments/Announcements
Toms: If you have a group that wishes to appeal they need to email me by 5 o’clock tomorrow
Godfrey: Come to committee meetings to discuss SB 05
Compton: We are going to send out over list serve info about the chains of tuition
Walton: Come support the bills that you are supporting in our Committee Meetings so we can make Senate Meetings more efficient.
Hankins: It is the right of every senator on the floor to vote and amend bills
Roll Call
There were forty-seven (47) Senators (Adams, Barnes, Bellamy, Brannan, Cariaga, Collins, Compton, Culp, Erica Evans (em), Fabricius, Gardner, Godfrey, Griggs, Gula, Haggard, Hankins, Heath, Hester (em), Hughes, Hutcherson, Kersh, Kling, Lam (em), Michael Lloyd, Mckethan, Melton (em), Mickey, Miller, Moye, Musick, Oluronbi, Kasey Phillips, Salama (em), Santiago, Saunders, Sawrey, Shivers, Rondell Smith, Sohail (em), Stephenson (em), Wally, Walton, Joseph Washington, Whitehouse, Winfree, Wood (em), Yasin) present.
There were fifteen (15) Senators (Carter, Chamblee (em), Dimond, Dubeau (em), Maria Evans, Gluck, Hardy (em), Hoy, Rice (em), Salmon (em), Sevits, Shaw (em), Templeton, Waldrup, Weston (em)) absent.
A quorum was present.
The following officials were also present: Forrest B. Hinton, Toms
Adjourn
The next meeting of the Student Senate will be November 9th, 2005 at 7:30 PM in Witherspoon 201, Senate Hall.