The New School

2008 11 05 Minutes

New School University Student Senate Meeting
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Minutes

Present: Ida Benedetto, Peter Ian Cummings, Sarah Cunningham, Ben Fox, Sarah (Slim) Lopez, Elizabeth Loran, Aleks Malejs, Atlee McFellin, Daniel Schulman, Heather Sheridan, Yoni Sunshine, and Barbara Teed

Absent: Stephanie Cohen, Catherine Griffin, Jason Mellow

Guests: Chair Emeritus Henderick Cho, NSU students Al Hanson, Kim, and Ryan Wood. NSU Free Press reporter Berlice Bassas. NSU CEA representative Julie Novacek Godsoe.

President Peter Cummings called the meeting to order at 8:14 p.m. in a 12th  floor classroom of the Media Studies, 2 West 13th street.

Introductions: Senate members and guests introduced themselves. CEA Julie Godsoe attended this meeting to do an article on the USS for the University’s annual report. The Senate meeting on Nov.19 will have an annual report photographer to take photo.

Facilitator: President Peter Cummings proposed Chair Emeritus Henderick Cho be the meeting facilitator if needed. There were no objections.

Approved: Minutes from Oct. 15 USS meeting.

Office Hours. President Peter Cummings explained that the USS has been approved to receive 20 hours per week in federal work study. Peter said none of the hours have been utilized yet. Peter proposed the senate president take 10 hours a week and the three other officers (VP, treasurer, secretary) divide the remaining 10 hours. Discussion on office hours. Peter will post senate office hours when the new senate website is up and running.

PASSED: Proposal to divide the 20 hours of federal work study among the USS officers until we have the website then re-visit. Peter Cummings to receive 10 hours per week, 10 hours per week divided among the other officers. 11 voted yes, 0 voted no. Motion passes.

PASSED: Office supplies and refreshments under $50. President Peter Cummings proposed that expenses under $50 (at the officer’s discretion) does not have to be voted on by the entire senate before said purchase is made. Receipts will be kept. 10 voted yes, 1 abstain vote.

LGBT and ALANA Centers Proposal. President Peter Cummings explained the ALANA/LGBTQ Proposal which is attached to the USS agenda. If you were absent from the senate meeting and would like a copy, please contact Peter. Peter would like to put this proposal before the Dec. Trustees meeting. Discussion on the proposal. This proposal was approved by the USS last year. Peter explained this is now a specific proposal and also includes the hiring of staff.

PASSED: To approve the attached agenda item on the ALANA/LBTQ proposal.

10 voted yes, 1 abstain. Motion passes.

Socially Responsible Investing proposal. Senate representative Atlee McFellin passed out information on NSU’s investing habits. If you were absent from the meeting and would like a copy of Atlee’s information, contact Peter. Atlee explained his information. Discussion on the SRI proposal. Can Atlee’s proposal be amended to include other items? Julie from CEA suggested to prioritize the proposal.

PASSED: Motion by Ida, second by Heather to approve the SRI statement in principal and full proposal be worked on for the NSU Trustees. 11 voted yes, 0 voted no. Motion passes.

USS Website. President Peter Cummings presented the Slurve proposal to develop a USS website that was attached to the agenda. If you were absent from the meeting and would like a copy of Slurve’s proposal, contact Peter. Discussion on the Slurve proposal. Peter withdrew point #5 from the proposal. Julie from CEA said a goal of her department is to bring all school websites together.

PASSED: Vice President Daniel moves to approve the Slurve proposal. 2nd by Ida.

10 voted yes, 1 abstain. Motion passes.

Luncheon/meeting with NSU administrators. Planned USS and NSU administrators meeting (bring your own lunch) on Friday, Nov. 14 from 12 to 2. Administrator Roger Ward will visit the Nov. 19 USS meeting.

End of Term Mixer. President Peter Cummings suggested the USS host an “end of term” mixer on Thurs. Dec. 18. with a budget of $1,000. There are some leftover items from previous mixers. Discussion on the mixer. Decision tabled until the next senate meeting.

Proposal for a University Council. This was attached to the agenda. If you were absent from the meeting and would like a copy of this proposal, contact Peter. President Peter Cummings explained the proposal for a University Council. Discussion. Will this create more bureaucracy and more committees? Decision on the proposal was tabled.

Talloires Declaration. NSU student Ryan Wood presented a report from an April 2007 Talloires Declaration that was signed by NSU President Bob Kerrey. Ryan said there were five specific points on the 2007 Declaration and this can be viewed on the American College and University President’s website. Discussion on the 2007 Declaration. NSU Ryan wanted to know what to do about the 2007 Declaration information. This will be discussed at a future senate meeting after gathering information.

Agenda housekeeping. Vice President Daniel proposed to prioritize agenda items at the beginning of USS meetings. 2nd by Heather. President Peter Cummings will add a line on future USS meeting agendas to prioritize agenda items. There were no objections.

Spring semester USS meetings. Sunday, Feb. 1st at 7 p.m. the USS will gather at the Media Studies building to discuss spring semester timelines.

Adjournment. President Peter Cummings adjourned the meeting at 9:45 p.m. There were no objections. Julie of CEA requested a list of USS names and divisions be sent to her.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Teed

Secretary