February 28, 2011
Roll
Call
Senators
Present- Mahaffey,
Perry, Rodgers, Beovich, Byrd, Gessner, Husain, LePointe, Miller, Powell,
Woodward, Tanner, Purnell, Schneider, Sells, Pruett, Ramsey, Thomas, Horton,
Swindle, Wilson, Wolf, Davis, Speller, Pittman.
Senators
Absent- Wheat,
Berglund, Ringsdorf, Johnston, Pearson, Carlson, Hall, Norton, Youngblood,
Calhoun, Fishel.
Approval
of the Minutes
Sells-
I
move to approve the minutes from February 21, 2011 by acclimation.
MOTION
PASSES
Officer
Reports
President
Proctor- Just
a note for the new people, the minutes are located on the SGA website. If you
are not returning to SGA next year, I need 4 of you to help for Elections
Committee… Please see me after meeting! Mortar board applications are out and
are online. They are due March 11th. This Wednesday, March 2nd at 12:30pm in the Dining Hall, the Executive
Council has lunch with the Athletic Director. Few open spots, if any of you on
the Senate would like to join. Remember, Robyn will miss the next few meetings.
She is here Monday through Fridays. Also, is anyone interested in being on the
University of Sustainability Council to help the campus go green, just Facebook
me please and let me know.
Vice
President Al-Greene- The
Saturday after Spring Break is the Medical School Gumbo Chili Cook
Showdown, we would like to have at least one or two teams. In order to do so,
the team leader needs to have a food handler’s card. Also, under New Business,
the Army ROTC intramural group’s money will need to be resented; they haven’t
been around for 3 semesters.
Treasurer
Baldwin- The
Appropriation’s Budget balances $0. The Operating Budgets balances $54,941.17.
Attorney
General Macon- Just a reminder
that April 7 is Higher Ed Day. I need the sheets by the end of this week, so I
can get an estimate.
Chief
Justice Shephard- I
am currently working with the Vanguard on an article of parking problems that
we have been facing. Also, next week I will be presenting Associate Justices
candidates for the Senate to question.
Special
Orders
Dean
Mitchell- No
report.
Cecilia
Martin, Director of Assessment- An assessment is a part of our
reaffirmation process. The Southern Association of Colleges comes every 10
years to our campus. We have to send a report by next Fall, and they will visit
in 2013. In that report, SAC requires a quality enhancement program. In the
Vanguard on page 5 on the bottom, you will see a short press release. As a part
of this, we have to get input from students, staff, and faculty on what the
university needs to work on. Other institutions say critical thinking skills,
reading and writing skills, presentation skills, etc. I am here to ask what are
you concerned about for your undergraduate program. Lauren Gessner is on the
committee, and she will write down your ideas, so we can make sure everyone is
a part of this process. We need to look at the broad scope of what is common
for all students.
Gessner-
I
feel like there are not enough internships for area of interests.
Cecilia
Martin- The
Education program does a good job, and so does the Nursing Department and
Social Work. So, what you are saying that you want are more practical
experiences. Let me explain why accreditation is important: do you remember
when Bishop State was placed on probation?
They could have lost their hours,
and all the students who were there, their degree would mean nothing.
Proctor-
I
think leadership development would be a good one. SGA is one of the few
organizations that do that.
Ramsey-
Each
professor do things differently, but I think too many of them are too dependent on PowerPoint.
The teachers don’t give much else outside of class.
Gessner-
I
had one teacher who strictly lectured. He actually used the Socratic method,
where he would just pose questions. I remember more out of that class than any
other.
Sells-
In
the College of Education, I got more out of those classes because they knew how
to teach. Other professors didn’t know of the differing learning styles. I
think the professors should open their eyes to students, other than just
research.
Ramsey-
I
think we should get teachers when they are young and before they set their
ways.
Cecilia
Martin- Ok,
so teachers not depending on technology. Anything else?
Vanguard
Reporter- There
are professors who focus is on research and not education. Also, the
evaluations don’t play as much role as they should. Maybe, we should get a
professional to observe rather than doing the evaluations.
Cecilia
Martin- The
administration is in process to evaluate teacher evaluation forms.
Anything
else in terms of what the University needs to do? In 2018, we will have to
submit these ideas and plan.
Al-Greene-
let’s
just get one more.
Woodward-
I
was just going to say that working in groups is a great idea! Hardly any
teachers use that, but once you get into the real world, that is what it is…
groups.
Cecilia
Martin- It
seems like engineering is the only college where I really see this. Thank you!
I appreciate it. There is a link to a Zoomerang survey in the Vanguar, please
check it out.
Committee
Reports
Student
at Large Pittman- This
past Saturday, our baseball team beat the University of Alabama 10-9. This
Wednesday, our softball team is playing at 5pm. Thursday night in in this room,
Stevie Starr, the regurgitator will be here at 7:30pm.
Pro
Tempore Perry- I
have set a date for bike tour. It is going to be the Monday after spring break, the 21st.
Dean Mitchell, if you can set up golf carts, I would appreciate that. It’s at
2pm. I will let you know where to meet once Dean Mitchell figures it out. Also,
for office hours, you need to have 25. Let me know if you need help. I need to
know if any senators available 12-1 or 12:30 ish on April 12th? Any
Senate project ideas? We have some funds available. Kim has some ideas from
other Universities. Anything with your college or University, let me know. Have
a good Mardi Gras!
Pittman-
I
forgot to mention. Sit on It for Charity is tomorrow night at 5 to 7pm . It is
$5. If you win, you get to donate to charity of your choice.
Sells-
Under
special circumstances, the Society of
Human Resource is here. The Representative had an emergency, that’s why they
are here, and it will be brought up in New Business.
Old
Business
No
old business.
New
Business
Sells-
I
would like to open the floor for Army ROTC.
Senators-
Second.
Baldwin-
It
turns out that they have not been registered for 3 semesters.
Ramsey-
How
much were we going to appropriate to them?
Baldwin-
$150
Thomas-
I
move to close the floor.
Sells-
I
move to resend $150.
Senators-
Second.
Al-Greene-
All
in favor?
Senators-
I?
Al-Greene-
Opposed?
Abstentions?
MOTION
PASSES
Perry-
Will
they be notified of that?
Al-Greene-
Yes.
Byrd-
I
move to open the floor for CISO (The Council of International Student
Organization). CISO had a shift in leadership, so they weren’t’ able to come to
a budget meeting. Therefore, I wanted to make it a Senate Project. They do
Springfest every year. They are asking for $1,500 to rent the Mitchell Center.
It will be free for students. On April 15, SGA will be announced as paying for
it. Also, the representatives are here, if you want to talk to them.
Gessner-
Representative,
will you please give us an overview.
Representative-
The
week before, we will start downstairs in the Student Center then to Springfest in the Mitchell Center. The great
thing is that all countries are coming together in one night.
Gessner-
Sounds
great! It sounds like a good way to show funds!
Perry-
As a point of reference, it has been held
every year since I have been here, and it is well recognized by the students.
Sells-
Many
countries are represented, and it helps show their pride and reinforce unique
cultures.
Gessner-
I
want to close the floor and cosponsor 1500.
Proctor-
Just
fund it as a senate project.
Senators-
Second.
Al-Greene-
All
in favor?
Senators-
I?
Al-Greene-
Opposed?
Abstentions?
MOTION
PASSES
Byrd-
I
would like to open the floor for Take Your Professor for Coffee. The students
get a gift card for professor of $10. With a total $2,000 limit. ARAMARK will
give us 100 free cups of coffee, meaning that 50 extra students will be able to
attend. It can be any coffee place on campus. The professor must be in your
major. It is a first come, first serve. The main point is to facility a
relationship between students and professors. Professor must be there to claim
coffee. We would send a letter to professor to let them know. I talked to
ARAMARK to make sure that the teacher is there when redeemed.
Gessner-
I,
personally, wouldn’t be comfortable with me and just a professor, but I
definitely would with a few classmates.
Byrd-
We
have looked into that, and that’s why it’s on campus because other people would
be there. We will look into getting $15 on the gift card, but no more. With
$15, it would be $5 per person for 3 people.
Spellers-
Would
this be encouraging an unhealthy relationship?
Byrd- To me, going into an office is more weird.
For example, it is a way to get to know your professors so they can write you
letters of recommendation. A good rule would be: don’t take a teacher you don’t
feel comfortable with. I hope it wouldn’t be to do that.
Ramsey-
I
am not sure how the faculty view faculty-student relationships. It may make it
easier for people to say you got a better grade because you brought coffee.
Would it be buying them coffee or getting them a card?
Byrd-
Students
could be “too friendly” with professors by being Facebook friends, bringing
snacks, etc. Every student has this
opportunity, and I hope our teacher have more value and integrity. These would
be gift cards. Also, I know that once can’t get out of ARAMARK places without
$5. If the balance went over, the student would be responsible for extra
charges. The gift cards are in the SGA office, and they are business card like.
Rodgers-
I
don’t think it is facilitating unprofessional relationship. I worked “my tail
off” to make A’s in my classes. You are kidding yourself if you never think you
have brownnosed. In order to get good letters of recommendation, you have to
get to know your professor. I would like to see more than one student. Upping
it to 2, 3, or 4 would be more appropriate.
Proctor-
Mortar
Board hosts the Top Prof dinner and other things similar like The Bring Coffee
to Your Professors, and we fund that too.
LePointe-
Would
it fall back on our funds if we don’t spend?
Byrd-
I
am not sure. I assumed they would spend it all.
Perry-
How
will you sustain and advertise?
Byrd-
With
these applications, I was hoping to have it sustained by a driven purpose. Word
of mouth is always a good tool to use, and I would advertise with papering
(flyers, etc).
Vanguard
Reporter- The
Vanguard could advertise.
Davis-
Rather
than spending $2,000, will ARAMARK let us keep it?
Byrd-
Yes.
It rolls over. They wanted larger sum of money to give 10 cups of coffee for price of 8.
Pittman-
Could
we do a trial run to see how students like it?
Byrd-
This
is the trial run, and I would hate to run out of them if we advertise.
Ramsey-
I
want the receipts from each student.
Byrd-
When
coupon is rendered, they aren’t going to be able to buy everything. They will
be limited to one cup of coffee. If I was taking someone, I would not have a
problem paying an extra $0.75. Especially if I am getting the professor to
write me a letter of recommendation. If the professor is being asked, it’s rude
to make them pay the remaining balance.
Proctor-
I
see it as you are inviting them, so if there is a balance, pay it.
LePointe-
How
would we get professors on board?
Byrd-
Dr.
Conners is the Faculty Senate, and I am going to speak to him, so he can speak
to faculty to let them in on it too.
Davis-
Can
we wait to approve this until after we know if faculty is interested?
Byrd-
The
faculty meets the 3rd Wednesday every month.
Speller-
I
move to close the floor.
Senators- Second.
Al-Greene-
All
in favor?
Senators-
I?
Al-Greene-
Opposed?
Abstentions?
MOTION
PASSES
Sells-
I
move to open the floor for the Society of Human Resources. They were slated for
mass appropriations. We have $53,441.17 in operating budget. We would have to
move $1,677 out of operating into appropriations.
Proctor-
Point
of inquiry, so we don’t set the precedent?
Do we need to move money back? Or can we fund as a Senate Project.
Baldwin-
I
am comfortable with either.
Dean
Mitchell- Since
last week, I have had 3 calls for people who missed. Other folks may come
knocking at your door.
Perry-
Why
did they miss? How many people are in? Why was no one else present?
Representative-
We
have about 20 members. My sister went into labor, and I forgot about SGA. Thus,
I wasn’t able to alert anyone. I realized at midnight. Tuesday, I spoke to 2
senators. I called the president and treasure. I was told to come tonight to
see what to do.
Davis-
With
the other organizations that were scheduled to be here, and they knew they were
going to be mass appropriated. She was already told that her organization would
be mass appropriated, so if she did not have this emergency, she would have
been mass appropriated.
Gessner-
I
agree with Riley. Also, I think funding like we funded others would be easier.
Ramsey-
Last
semester, appropriations went on for 4-5 weeks. We need to put foot down. We do
have the option for senator project, for groups who can’t have appropriations.
I need to emphasize, we open up a whole world of having more meetings on, if we
do this.
Proctor-
Did
they miss both budget meetings?
Sells-
I
don’t have the time stamp on this packet, but I can get one with it on it.
Beovich-
If
not mistaken, we allowed more packets last semester.
LePointe-
How
many didn’t show up?
Baldwin-
3
LePointe-
It
doesn’t seem like that big of a deal.
Byrd-
I
was there when the representative came and, and the representative was
extremely concerned about what happened and none of the other people, who
missed are here.
Horton-
If
it was me, and my sister was in labor, SGA would be my the least of my
concerns.
Beovich-
I
move to close the floor.
Sells-
February
8 was time stamp.
Wolf-
I
move to fund their organization on $1677.90
Senators-
Second.
Al-Greene-
All
in favor?
Senators-
I?
Al-Greene-
Opposed?
Abstentions?
MOTION
PASSES
Senator
Tanner abstained
Student
Forum
Jackie-
Our
campus security is non-existent. There is no patrol. I am here to ask you to
talk to the new Chief of Police to say “can you reevaluate our night patrol?”.
2/3 sexual assaults happen at night. I would really like for you to talk to the
gentleman. It would mean nothing for me to. Many females are scared on this
campus.
Sheppard-
I
am going to have a meeting with police chief soon, we will definitely voice
your concerns.
Announcements
Proctor-
I
need a few of you to review resumes. Also, congratulations to all who were in
who’s who this week! Have a good week and Mardi Gras!
Adjourn
Davis-
8:57pm