STUDENT SENATE JOURNAL
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
APPROVED DRAFT
Forrest
Hinton, Student Senate President, Presiding
Meeting Called
to Order, 7:35pm
Opening Roll
Call
There were forty-two (42) Senators
(Adams, Barnes, Bellamy, Brannan, Compton, Culp, Dimond, Douglas, Fabricius,
Gardner, Gluck, Godfrey, Griggs, Gula, Haggard, Hankins, Heath, Hughes,
Hutcherson, Kelly, Kling, Long, McArthur, Mickey, Miller, Moye, Musick,
Oluronbi, K. Phillips, Santiago, Saunders, Sawrey, Sevits, R. Smith,
Stephenson, Templeton, Waldrup, Wally, Walton, Wilburn, Winfree, Yasin)
present. There were also two (2) non-voting members (F. Hinton, Toms) present.
There were fifteen (15) Senators
(Cariaga, Carter, Collins, Maria Evans, Hager, Hoy, Kersh, M. Lloyd,
Lofvenholm, Mckethan, Norman, Shivers, J. Washington, Whitehouse, Wood) absent.
There was also one (1) non-voting member (Murden) absent.
The following official was also present:
Piavis.
A quorum was present.
[The Senate rose at the direction of Sen. Diana Douglas to
recognize the birthday of Mr. Phillip Busby, the Student Government
Webmaster. Singing and applause].
Mr. Tom Kendig: [Director of Transportation]. [Explained effect of legislation, causing 90% of all parking fines in the future to go to the K-12 system]. 90% was defined by the legislature as the “clear proceeds” and required them to be turned over, however what is left over doesn’t even cover our expenses in issuing the tickets. The Transportation Department is totally self-supporting as we receive no state funds. The funds produced by parking stickers are used for lot maintenance, lighting, and enforcement. The legislation has also caused us to reduce our expansion and repairs. [Noted that parking decks are more expensive to operate due to trash pick up and lighting among other expenses. Other expenses noted going up are staff pay as required by the state as well as the cost of steel for signage used on campus]. Although two million dollars were set aside to counteract the effects of the legislation once it was expected to pass, Transportation still owes four million. We’re looking to eliminate the Centennial park and ride lot, as Transportation feels it is unfair there is convenient parking within walking distance of the newly opened buildings since others on-campus have to pay.
Sen. Adam Compton: I know it only shows the 2006-2007 year, what are we looking at the years after that?
Mr. Tom Kendig: Our worst case scenario shows a 7-9% increase. We are working with the legislature.
Sen. John Mickey: How many years have gone by since we have been collecting the fines?
Mr. Tom Kendig: In 1998, the court case was inundated. In 2001 we began putting money in the bank when the courts originally ruled against us.
Sen. Matt Walton: Have you thought of addressing the quality of the parking spaces? As the prices increase, I feel the quality of the spaces should increase. I noticed that the parking behind Lee and Bragaw is not paved, and other students are concerned. Are you looking at these issues?
Mr. Tom Kendig: Yes, but these are the projects we have had to put off due to the budget.
Sen. Matt Walton: Has there been a plan approved to pave those?
Mr. Tom Kendig: [No]. In reference to other intuitions, everyone has had to deal with this.
SBP Whil Piavis: Has there been any fundraising in the outside community for this?
Mr. Tom Kendig: [No].
Mr. Greg Sparks: I manage communication technologies at ComTech. More than anything we’ve been meeting with the Inter-Residence Council often, but haven’t met with this body yet. I wanted to come out as well because wireless has been a hot topic recently, the Technician has interviewed me three times this month. ComTech is self-sufficient as well, and we receive no state appropriated funds. I’m sure everyone has seen WolfBytes, it is an information channel and is run by BJ Attrian, who is in the back. WolfTV is a movie channel, and we take requests.
We are looking to encourage more student content on WolfBytes and are establishing some guidelines for what can be aired. From a recent conference, I found that the student produced programming that was award-winning we could produce here or even better.
University IT committee student appointment is vacant usually, if you know a student who is interested please provide
In regards to wireless on-campus, we have installed more infrastructure to support it in the past twelve months than we have all together.
New places that will be wired include Nelson this summer and D.H. Hill Library where wireless will soon be fully accessible in the stacks areas. Talk has also been underway about installing wireless on Hillsborough St. for students who eat lunch there, but we will only do this if it is in demand from the students. If you would like to see wireless in an area, please vote at (http://wireless.ncsu.edu).
Sen. Robert Wilburn: [Encourages ComTech to continue to take actions to inform incoming students about the discounts available on cellular services].
We are looking for solutions to bandwidth and to cut down peer-to-peer traffic that is tying much of it up.
We encourage at every case Time Warner to add ESPN-U to our services.
Mr. BJ Attrian: Candidate platforms can be placed on WolfBytes, even a picture and an audio file.
[Matthew Wood Resignation read].
Consent to accept, so moved.
[Motion was made to emergency fast-track SR 142. Motion passed by consent].
SBT
Seneca Toms: [Provides checks to Student Government Officials who paid for
expenses regarding the tailgate advocacy event].
[Robert Wilburn prances to the rostrum in a victorious jog to receive the check].
[Matt Walton quickly takes his check].
SBT Seneca Toms: I ask you to approve (bill) to reconcile statutes with new financial policy. Please also free up the funds for our graduate advisor search.
Sen. Joe Sevits: Is our imprest account officially gone and do you feel that working with Talley will be cumbersome now that you have worked with the new system?
SBT Seneca Toms: We have no checkbooks in our office and
they are handling the accounts. The
experience today went smoothly, so hopefully in the future you will remain the
same.
Mr. Lock Whiteside: We just finished J-Board selections. Those appointed have superior academic records and involvement in other organizations on campus have been chosen. We had a large pool and it was difficult to narrow down. The Judicial Branch is working on an Athletics Ethics program.
Sen. Adam Compton: Were there any Senators selected? I know several applied.
[None included in final selection].
SBP Whil Piavis: [Makes a phallic-oriented joke in reference to a larger gavel present at the rostrum for the evening]. We just held a President’s Roundtable, and I was received well although I didn’t dress the best. Other Presidents are just as crazy as I. Mission Marti Gras will be in April, and we will be holding a field day event with Inter-Residence Council later in the year. What about this impeachment jazz? When I entered this position, I thought we would work together, but when my programs needed extra people, you weren’t there. Have we gathered the landlubbers opinions and act on them? Scrogs have throughout the year waited for things to lapse on me just to see me fail instead of helping. Does this do any help to the students? Nay. Have a great Spring Break.
[Secretary’s Note to be inserted regarding inconsistencies in above statement].
Sen. Matt Walton: I noticed that on line 702 on the updated budget, and Mission Marti Gras still needs funds, would you be willing to spend some of the money?
SBP Whil Piavis: Yes, if we need be.
Sen. Zach Adams: We’ve had meetings with groups throughout Student Affairs and the Judicial Branch during the budget consideration. If you have input, please come to the next budget meeting. [Details Oblinger’s report to the Faculty Senate and noted full details are available in his]. Our student athletes graduate rates are 53%, this is something our Academics committee needs to look into.
Sen. Kasey Phillips: Who approves the list of Universities?
Sen. Zach Adams: The Board of Governors.
SSP Forrest Hinton: We only have two more Senate meetings after tonight, and we need to stay productive and focused. In my history in the Senate, it hasn’t been productive and conduct devolves into politics. We will stay focused, and here are some issues. We need to consider the tuition guarantee, which promotes a flat rate for tuition for four, or five years. We are looking for ways we can partner with IRC and the Union to create a resource room for student organizations. [Details other issues in his report]. [Encourages Student Senators to have groups unhappy with funding to go to their appeals session that is upcoming for appropriations]. I want to thank the Budget Committee this year because instead of only acting in the interest of the Senate. We have invited everyone in and have incorporated their interests.
I also wanted to address the concerns with the Government Operations Committee. Normally I don’t change committees during the year, but because of many of the members of the committee being sponsors to the Piavis Impeachment, I have chosen five Senators, all with different backgrounds and views to be candidates to be added to the committee. [Listed in report].
[Everyone chose two of the five they felt could best represent the Senate in these proceedings to be added]. The votes will be totaled and counted by both me and Sen. Zach Adams. We will announce the results and appoint those chosen.
Reports of
Senate Standing Committees
Sen. Tracy Hutcherson: [Details actions taken by committee as noted in the report]. We also created a complete article for the Judicial Branch with consultation from the Student Chief Justice and Paul Cousins. I encourage you to fast-track this to be put on the ballot as a referendum. A lot of time and work was put into it.
Sen. Alex Carter: [No report].
Sen. Adam Compton: We talked with Dr. Stafford about the changes proposed in the bills tonight.
Sen. Andrew Barnes: We made a slight change to AR 95 and reported it. We met with the University Architect on Tuesday, and I want to thank all those that did not attend who said they would.
Sen. Tracy Hutcherson: For the Chancellor’s residence, will they be voting to destroy the trees?
Sen. Andrew Barnes: Yes, but it is not on the agenda. It is one of those things that happens to show up the day of.
Reports of
Senate Select Committees
Sen. Hailey Gula: I want to thank all those who put in time last week. It was nearly 30 hours. Just a reminder, appeals are due Friday by 5pm, no exceptions. If you have any questions, please email me or Seneca.
Sen. Erich Fabricius: We are entering our final phase.
Comments/Announcements
Sen. Sara Yasin: [Gives speech about student unity despite political rifts... feels that our session is in danger, and that we should not spend our last days in office fighting].
Barber: I need y’alls help. The department of Government Operations, we’re putting on a little shindig on March 14 and March 15. We will be holding a voter registration drive. I promise the banner going on the front of the table will be “Student Government” and we are looking to get the lunch crowd. March 14 will be the day to help if you are running for an office. Please don’t make this a campaign event, but come and hand out your literature. March 15,
Sen. John Mickey: There are plans to renovate Fountain, if you have ideas please send me an email. [Supports not considering Piavis Impeachment].
[Motion made to immediately consider Prater appointment, approved by consent].
Whitney Prater: I feel I can be impartial and will answer any questions you have.
[Motion to confirm, no objections, confirmed].
Referred
to the Budget Committee.
Referred
to the Finance Committee.
Referred
to the Select Committee on Government Simplification.
Referred
to the Select Committee on Government Simplification.
Referred
to the Select Committee on Government Simplification.
Motion made to
object to consideration of SR 123 by Sen. Mickey. Details will be added when this area is
updated from below text.
Referred
to the Government Operations Committee.
ü
AB
124, Judicial Stipend Act (Toms)
ü
SR
125, GB 96 Election Order (Fabricius)
Fast-Track requested, no objections added to second reading.
Ruled
dilatory by SSP.
ü
R
142, Tuition Guarantee Act (Compton)
ü
Designates that
a fast-track is intended
Move to put GB 96 on second reading after 142. Passed by consent.
Sen. Erich Fabricius: The resolution mentions the UNC
policy, but states our stance.
Sen. Matt Walton: By saying and having an administrative official set aside an act, we need to look at this seriously.
Sen. Larry Moye: I feel that it is not such a big deal, and the administration takes us seriously.
Sen. Erich Fabricius: First off, this doesn’t do much for a clarification of our relations, but we need to deal with this administrative doubt looming over our heads. There is a lot of room for discussion, but I feel it is important to make a declaration, that when we do something, it’s done.
Sen. Yasin: [Introduces bill, notes that blue lights have not been fixed although Campus Police have been repeatedly notified.
Sen. Lloyd: Walking to Wood it is not well lit and feels hazardous. I support this bill.
Sen. Yasin: In reality we know that Campus Police is doing what they can, but students want to feel safe.
Sen. Compton: I think this is a good idea, we’ve all
Sen. Collins: It is really not safe around Fraternity Court, I feel this is a really good idea because very rarely down there do you see police patrolling.
Sen. Fabricius: This is the first one of a series of simplification bills.
GB 107 passes by consent.
GB 113 before GB 111 switched, consent.
Sen. Erich Fabricius: The executive secretary would have a larger more authorative role, the language for the departments and divisions have been moved and consolidated into one place to avoid repetition.
Motion to postpone GB 113 until next meeting.
Sen. Erich Fabricius: There are serious problems with not approving this tonight. The budget committee needs to know what positions to fund for next year.
[Debate
for this bill is not included in the minutes due to the Secretary multi-tasking
:)].
Sen. Adam Compton: [Details benefits of tuition guarantee program and how it will circumvent some problems with tuition hikes and the increased burden on students.
Sen. Larry Moye: Does this encourage the administration to project what students will pay for future years to inform them?
Sen. Adam Compton: [Details formal recommendation the bill proposes]. I want to see something set in stone.
Sen. Ken Hoy: Dr. Stafford, if this would go through, could we end up with a system where we don’t have fluxuating tuition but high and growing fees?
Sen. Adam Compton:
Sen. Wilburn: I think tuition will be intentionally overshot so that we will not have to pay more later. We need to avoid padding of bank accounts.
Sen. Walton: I think this is a good idea for students, and Sen. Compton should be commended.
Unidentified Senator: I do agree that sandbagging dangers do exist.
Sen. Hankins: A friend of mine just got removed from school, his financial aid ran out and was not able to continue. He is worried about school next year with tuition going up. This can help.
Sen. Larry Moye: I really question putting a mold around something three to five years in advance. I think it is a great, a hell of an idea, but I don’t know how feasible it is.
Sen. Adam Compton:
Friendly, change on line 70.
There were thirty-eight (38) Senators
(Adams, Barnes, Bellamy, Brannan, Cariaga, Compton, Culp, Dimond, Douglas,
Fabricius, Gardner, Gluck, Griggs, Gula, Haggard, Hankins, Heath, Hoy,
Hutcherson, Kelly, Kling, M. Lloyd, Long, McArthur, Mickey, Miller, Oluronbi,
Santiago, Saunders, Sawrey, Shivers, R. Smith, Stephenson, Templeton, Wally,
Walton, Winfree, Yasin) voting in the affirmative.
There were four (4) Senators (Godfrey,
Moye, Sevits, Wilburn) voting in the negative.
There were two (2) Senators (Collins,
Hughes) present but not voting.
There were twelve (12) Senators (Carter,
Maria Evans, Hager, Kersh, Lofvenholm, Mckethan, Musick, Norman, K. Phillips,
Waldrup, J. Washington, Whitehouse) absent.
A quorum was present.
The motion to adopt R 142, Tuition Guarantee Act, requiring majority approval for adoption, was adopted by