The New School

2008 09 07 Minutes

New School University Student Senate Meeting
Sunday, September 7, 2008

Present: Ida Benedetto, Renee Blundon, Stephanie Cohen, Peter Ian Cummings, Sarah Cunningham, Ben Fox, Sarah (Slim) Lopez, Elizabeth Loran, Aleks Malejs, Atlee McFellin, Jason Mellow, Dan Schulman, Heather Sheridan, Yoni Sunshine, and Barbara Teed.

Absent: Kate Griffin

Chair Hendrick Cho called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. at the Media Studies and Film Dept.  Conference Room 1210. He stated this will be his last official meeting.

Chair Hendrick Cho announced that the USS will have office hours and that 20 hours of work-study is available for this. The rate will be $10 an hour.

Discussion on election of 2008-09 student senate officers. Each candidate running for office gave a five minute speech followed by a question and answer period from members of the senate.

Passed: Peter Cummings volunteered to run as chair. There was no opposition. 15 voted yes. Vote passes that Peter Cummings is the newly elected chair.

Passed: Dan Schuman volunteered to run as vice-chair. There was no opposition. 15 voted yes. Vote passes that Dan Schuman is the newly elected vice-chair.

Passed: Elizabeth Loran volunteered to run as treasurer. There was no opposition. 15 voted yes. Vote passes that Elizabeth Loran is the newly elected treasurer.

Passed: Barbara Teed volunteered to run as secretary. There was no opposition. 15 voted yes. Vote passes that Barbara Teed is the newly elected secretary.

Newly elected Chair Peter Cummings presented some highlights of what he would like to accomplish:
·         Create senate by-laws
·         Organize an independent student union as a place for students; NSU lacks student space
·         Put together a proposal for external senate goals
·         Student representation on important university issues and decisions
·         Currently, there is not much student spirit or alumni loyalty
·         No students are on the NSU Board of Trustees
·         Continue subculture/minority programs/events
·         Continue student events
·         Improve the NSU financial services department
·         Find out and communicate what students want to NSU administrators
·         What is happening to the Library building
·         Room reservations

Discussion on Chair Peter Cummings’s highlights. It was pointed out that commuter students use the study lounge a lot at the Fogelman library. The loss of that space will be a negative for many students.
Outgoing Chair Cho adjourned the meeting at 3:40 and members agreed. Photos of the 2008-09 USS members were taken.

Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Teed, newly elected Secretary