2010 10 05 Minutes
The New School
University Student Senate Minutes
Tuesday, October 5 @ 9pm
2 W 13th St, Room 1204
Submitted by Kim Hurley, Secretary of the Senate
Present: Melissa Holmes, Kim Hurley
Absent: Nicole Park, Anna-Karin Louriero, Barbara DeLaleu, Rachel Housle, Chris Crews, Alex Cline, Cordelia Eddy, Hajir Sailors, Corey Mullee, Shannon Lumpkin, Fonzie Cuaycong
Special Guests: Sandy Fox, Jewish Student Union; Elizabeth Eddy, Sisters on the Runway; Jake Atchoo and Victoria Robles, Parsons Senate candidates
1. Jewish Student Union Proposal
Sandy Fox presented the Jewish Student Union’s proposal for funding. They are requesting funding for 8 Shabbat dinners and 2 Passover Seders, with their next Shabbat dinner on October 22. Their plan is to hold dinners once a month, and each dinner will cost approximately $350. They order food from a Kosher restaurant in Midtown (Ben’s Kosher Deli)- it is the most cost-effective Kosher restaurant that will deliver after sundown.
In the past JSU has only held two Shabbat dinners. They have received funding in the past from SAFC and last year received $1,000 from the Lang Dean’s office; however it doesn’t look like the office has money to fund them again.
Sandy mentioned that in the past her parents have helped to pay for the dinners and then get reimbursed, but can’t continue to do this. Melissa suggested that they get the school to set up a relationship with the restaurant in order to receive an invoice for the order. The school could cut a check in advance but this means the group would not be able to change the order last-minute.
Sandy said that they have options to apply to external Jewish organizations, but those have their own politics and that would be the last resort for funding. JSU will have its first board meeting on Monday. Due to the lack of quorum this will be put to an online vote.
2. Sisters on the Runway Proposal
Elizabeth Eddy presented a funding proposal for Sisters on the Runway, which is a fundraiser for domestic violence shelters. The group has about 200 people on the mailing list, and according to OSDA is the first student event that involves students from all divisions. Elizabeth mentioned that the school is very worried about its brand and that it has been very hard to get support from the school. Their first event is on October 22 in the Midtown building, featuring 11 Parsons designers plus alumni and professors.
The group has received $300 from OSDA; everything else has been out of pocket (she has spent $800 already). They have applied to both SAFC and Parsons Student Senate for funding; they have not heard back from either. Parsons Fashion has already offered to pay for sound and lighting.
Regarding a question about the t-shirts, they are being sold and the money received should cover the full costs plus some (selling for $15, printing for $10). They are requesting $300 to cover the up-front costs, although this amount will ultimately be recouped from the sales of the shirts. Regarding $100 for the cups, napkins, plates; they are buying those externally and will not be going through Chartwells.