2008 12 03 Minutes
New School University Student Senate Meeting
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Minutes
Present: Peter Ian Cummings, Sarah Cunningham, Ben Fox, Catherine Griffin, Sarah (Slim) Lopez, Elizabeth Loran, Atlee McFellin, Jason Mellow, Daniel Schulman, Heather Sheridan, Yoni Sunshine, and Barbara Teed.
Absent: Ida Benedetto, Stephanie Cohen, Aleks Malejs.
Guests: NSU students Brandon Powell, Amy, Ryan Wood and others.
President Peter Cummings called the meeting to order at 8:10 p.m. in a 12th floor media room of 2 West 13th Street.
Approved: That Senator Yoni Sunshine is designated meeting facilitator. No objections.
Approved: Dec. 3 agenda with additional item added: NSU Health Clinic.
Approved: Minutes from the Nov.19 meeting as written by Secretary substitute Elizabeth Loran who did a fine and appreciated job.
Senator Yoni Sunshine and guest Brandon Powell brought up the NSU Health Clinic. Students are confused about posted hours. President Peter Cummings will request NSU VP of Student Services, Roger Ward, to notify students clarifying clinic walk-in hours. Peter will report back at the next USS meeting.
Approved: that Peter will talk with Roger Ward on notifying students about the Health Clinic hours, including walk-in times, and Peter will report back at the next senate meeting. 10 voted yes, 0 no votes, none abstained.
Action: President Peter Cummings requested that USS members send him their bios and photos for the USS website before the Holiday break.
NSU student Ryan Wood presented a Statement on Internet Based Student Communication. If you were absent from the meeting and would like a copy of the Statement, notify Peter. Wood explained that on Nov. 30 he received an email by NSU administrators Jim Nertha and Jennifer Smith expressing NSU policy on what is allowed and what is not allowed for student groups/organizations regarding internet communications. Wood said the email stated if a student group or organization receives OSD funds, there is a University internet policy on outside modes of communication they need to follow. Wood read the email at his presentation. Wood also did outreach to other student organizations regarding the Statement. Discussion on the Statement. Motion by Senator Yoni Sunshine that the USS adopts the Statement on Internet Based Student Communication. Senator Elizabeth Loran seconded.
Approved: That the USS adopt the Statement on Internet Based Student Communication. 12 voted yes, 0 voted no, none abstained. Motion passes. SEE BOTTOM OF PAGE FOR MOTION.
Wood will continue gathering NSU student organization support for the Statement. President Peter Cummings will speak with Nertha and Smith and report back to the USS. Peter will also give them the Statement.
Next two USS meetings are Wed. Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.
End of Semester Social Event Thursday, Dec. 18. President Peter Cummings said the Wolman Hall is reserved for an end of semester social Dec. 18. Approval is needed for the cost. Discussion on the event.
Approved: to cancel the Dec. 18 end of semester social event because not enough people want to pay for it. 5 voted yes, 4 voted no, 2 abstained. Motion passes to cancel the date.
New School University Board of Trustees meeting. President Peter Cummings gave highlights on the Trustees meeting Dec. 10. The four USS officers will give a 10 minute presentation before the Trustees and attend a reception afterward for more conversation. Discussion on suggestions of what to present to the Trustees.
Senator Heather Cunningham suggested a packet for the Trustees be prepared. President Peter Cummings will ask Doris Suarez if this packet presentation is possible. Discussion on what to prepare. It was suggested that Peter prepare a one-page executive summary to distribute to the Trustees listing the top priorities of the USS. Peter will send out an email to the Senators to get feedback on prioritizing items for the Executive Summary. Peter will send out a draft of the Summary to the Senators.
Michael Albert event funding. Senator Kate Griffin presented a request for USS funding for a former Michael Albert event held on campus at the beginning of fall semester. Griffin explained that the Lang Student Union is contributing $1,800 toward the cost of the event. 0 dollars have been given by the Office of Student Development. Therefore, Griffin is requesting $1,674 from USS to cover the expenses. Motion by Senator Barbara Teed, seconded by Senator Atlee McFellin to authorize $1,674 from USS funds to the event. Discussion. 6 voted yes, 0 voted no, 6 abstained votes. Motion fails.
Approved: to authorized $474 of USS funds to students that paid out money toward the event. 11 voted yes, 0 voted no, 1 abstained vote. Motion carries.
USS Resolution on a Committee on Socially Responsible Investment and University Self-Management. Senator Atlee McFellin presented a draft of a USS resolution on Responsible Investment. If you were absent from the meeting and would like a copy of the draft, contact Peter. Discussion on the resolution. McFellin explained the NSU will host a Conference of Committees on Responsible Investments Conference on Feb. 20. McFellin was seeking to organize a committee of students, faculty, staff, and alumni to tie in with this conference.
Approved: USS supports the resolution and organizing this committee. 11 voted yes, 0 voted no, 0 abstained votes. The draft will contain this change: Changed sentence, first sentence of 6th paragraph in SRI proposal, as passed by USS: “The specifics of this committee will be decided by students, alumni, faculty, staff, and trustees in a general New School Assembly to be held within one month of the Conference of Committees on Responsible Investment, to be held at the New School on February 20, 2008.”
President Peter Cummings adjourned the meeting at 9:44 p.m. There were no objections.
Next USS meeting Wed. Dec. 10 at 8 p.m.
Barb Teed
Secretary