Minutes for 27 September 2009 Plenary Session
Attendance
Marlo Barrera
Samantha Bass
Jules Brouillet (arrived 7:18)
Geneva Dampare
Patrick Doherty
Reshard El-Shair (facilitating)
Will Floyd
Matthew Harris
Matt Presto (arrived 7:38)
Cristina Rodriguez
Kalan Sherrard (arrived 7:55)
Sarp Yavuz
Isaac Yoder
Others Present
Tim Ballard
Dean Linda Gates
Ben Jones (Office of Communications)
Alex Posa
Luke Squire
Check In
7:10 Senators check in
Minutes and Agenda
7:12 Approved agenda and minutes tabled until next plenary
session
Outside Business
7:14 Ben Jones reports on the North Professor Street
Construction Project. The City of Oberlin requires every new building to have 1
parking space for every 2 beds. The new building will house 150 students and 80
parking spaces will be required. Isabelle Rosendaal made a proposal to prohibit
the first-years who live in the building from bringing cars to campus. The
college would need a variance in order to only build 20 spaces instead of 80.
Ben Jones requests that Senate establish a referendum with language for a green
pledge that incoming first-years would sign in order to live in the new
building.
Questions followed as to Molly Tyson's position on this
issue. Dean Gates assured Senators that Tyson was open to the idea, though she
was worried that a precedent might be set concerning the use of the building
for its entire existence.
Ben Jones emphasizes the need to make an emotional appeal to
the City as soon as possible and that, ultimately, the City would determine how
many spaces were to be built.
Samantha Bass inquires as to whether or not it would be
possible to build no new spaces. Ben Jones responds that 20 spaces is a
compromise that the City would probably accept.
Reshard El-Shair reiterates Ben Jones' proposal to have a
referendum question about this matter by Fall Break. Luke Squire offered to
meet with the newly elected Liaison after senate checks out. Jules Brouillet
said that Senate would do its best to get a referendum started as soon as
possible. Ben Jones acknowledges that getting a referendum started is not
usually a quick process and that a week or two to get it started would be
acceptable. Luke Squire points out that it took three weeks to reach quorum
with the Green Edge Fun, so that it's possible to have a referendum complete by
Fall Break.
7:35 Tim Ballard, of the Edge Fund, explains the Edge Fund's
history and purpose and the role of the Green Liaison. The Edge Fund meets once
a week, though the Green Liaison is not required to attend every meeting.
Contact info: www.oberlin.edu/stuorg/edgefun
and edgefund@oberlin.edu
7:39 Matt Presto and Jules Brouillet check in
7:40 Alex Posa brings to Senate's attention that the College
requires shirts and shoes to be worn in the dining halls. According to his
research and inquiries, state and county law do not require this. He believes
that the rulebook should change its language to reflect reality and Senate
should undertake that the issue of whether or not shoes and shirts should be
worn in dining halls on campus.
Several Senators raise questions about the potential of
hazards and liabilities, and Posa states that he has no problem with the shirt
issue, and that the College would not be liable in the case of injury or other
hazard. Alex Posa reiterates that he wants Rule Number 5 (which he presented to
the Senate) should be repealed.
Further discussion continues about the nature of laws
concerning this issue and whether or not it was the role of the Senate to
undertake this dilemma. Dean Gates informs Senate that in order to change the
rule, information would have to be researched by someone and then presented to
Kim Davidson.
Proposal (1) by Cristina Rodriguez to establish a working
group to look into dining hall codes.
Proposal (1) passes 10-1-1.
Membership: Cristina Rodriguez (chair), Alex Posa, Patrick
Doherty, and Jules Brouillet
7:55 Kalan Sherrard checks in.
Office Hours
7:57 Kalan Sherrard comments that office hours should be
distributed equally around campus in order to maximize exposure to the student
body.
Proposal (2) by Sarp Yavuz to make a Facebook group with
Office Hours listed.
Jules Brouillet
comments that this should be the job of the Outreach Coordinator(s). Marlo
Barrera adds that the board in Wilder should also be updated.
Proposal (3) by Marlo Barrera to have Cristina Rodriguez
make a Google Calendar and invite everyone else to it.
Further discussion continues surrounding the use of Facebook
and other methods of exposure to the Student Body. Jules Brouillet points out
that no one medium is effective and that multiple mediums should be employed.
Will Floyd adds that at least one Senator should have office hours during TGIF
in Wilder Bowl.
Proposal (2) passes 13-0-0
Proposal (3) passes 13-0-0
Announcements
8:20 Matt Presto states his position as interim treasure and
passes around a form for newly elected Senators to complete.
Office Hours
8:22 Cristina Rodriguez states that a student asked her why
it takes so long for student organizations to get chartered. Reshard El-Shair
replies that the chartering process involved multiple steps and that
organizations often get stuck on one of the steps.
Kalan Sherrard states that this is an added agenda point and
that it is not necessary for all Senators to report on office hours if they
have nothing to report.
Jules Brouillet states that he didn't hold office hours, but
that he advised several candidates as to how to run their campaigns.
Reshard El-Shair states that several students have asked
about trashcans and recycling bins missing from south campus, but that he has
yet to talk to Facilities.
Working Groups
8:27 Reshard El-Shair reports that none of the working
groups met, but that Kyla Moore will be meeting with more personnel for the
Tuition Transparency Working Group.
Jules Brouillet says that he chairs the Town-Gown working
group and asks if any other Senators would like to join.
Patrick Doherty and Cristina Rodriguez join the Town-Gown
working group.
Decisions
Bylaws Change:
8:35 Jules Brouillet distributes a bylaws change proposal to
the Student Senate that eliminates the position of Operations Manager, among
other things (exact language is at the end of the minutes).
Proposal (4) by Reshard El-Shair to appoint Senators for
three weeks using the older system and proceed at that time depending on how
Senators are performing their duties.
Proposal (5) by Jules Brouillet to adopt the aforementioned
proposal and to rename the Appointment Liaison position to Committee
Appointment Liaison.
Jules Brouillet points out that previously adopted changes
to the bylaws had not been inserted into the older bylaws, and that it is
important who the Senate elects as Secretary,
Proposal (5) passes 7-4-2
Proposal (4) withdrawn
City Council Forum:
8:48 Jules Brouillet announces that he would like Senate to
sponsor a City Council Forum on Thursday, 29 October in either West Lecture
Hall or Craig Auditorium. He points out that the forum that is already in place
(12 October) is the same night as the Death Penalty Forum and that he is going
to ensure that there are no more than 2 forums for the City Council candidates.
Dean Gates comments that the history of candidates' night
being at First Church was to have one forum in a central location.
Proposal (6) by Jules Brouillet to sponsor the
aforementioned forum.
Proposal (6) passes 13-0-0
Working Group Updates
9:00 Kalan Sherrard says that he never officially disbanded
the Office Hours working group.
Linda Gates suggests that the Tuition Transparency Working
Group should have a forum on tuition transparency.
9:04 Five Minute Break
9:09 Clarification of Officer Positions
Officer Position Appointments
9:28 Reshard El-Shair says that previous senators submitted
reports at the end of the previous term saying how senators fulfilled their
officer positions. Kalan Sherrard comments that he failed to complete his
report.
Self-Nominations for Officer Positions:
Reshard El-Shair: SFC co-chair
Matthew Harris: Liaison
Jules Brouillet: Events Coordinator, Chartering Liaison,
City Liaison
Sarp Yavuz: Liaison, Outreach Coordinator
Isaac Yoder: Chartering Liaison, Associate Liaison
Will Floyd: Outreach Coordinator and Committee Appointment
Liaison
Cristina Rodriguez: Committee Appointment Liaison, Green
Fund Liaison
Geneva Dampare: Chartering Liaison, Outreach Coordinator,
and Committee Liaison
Kalan Sherrard: Liaison, Committee Appointments Coordinator
Matt Presto: Treasurer
Patrick Doherty: Outreach Coordinator, Secretary
Marlo Barrera: Outreach Coordinator, Events Coordinator
Sam Bass: Green Liaison
Liaison:
Senate hears candidate speeches and asks questions.
Senate enters executive session.
Senate exits executive session.
Kalan Sherrard is appointed Liaison.
Associate Liaison:
Senate hears candidate speeches and asks questions.
Senate enters executive session.
Senate exits executive session.
Matthew Harris is appointed Associate Liaison.
Treasurer:
Matt Presto gives speech.
Matt Presto is appointed Treasurer.
Secretary:
Patrick Doherty gives speech.
Patrick Doherty is appointed Secretary.
Technology Manager:
Proposal (7) to table this position until the next plenary
session.
Proposal (7) passes 13-0-0
SFC Co-Chair:
Reshard El-Shair gives speech
Reshard El-Shair is appointed SFC Co-Chair
Chartering Liaison:
Senate hears candidate speeches and asks questions.
Process suggestion by Will Floyd to vote on whether or not
to elect more than one person to this position. Jules Brouillet advocates
having more than one person to edit charters. Reshard El-Shair comments that he
doesn't believe that more than one person is necessary for this position.
Reshard El-Shair process suggests to move onto voting.
Proposal (8) to appoint only one Senator to the Chartering
Liaison position.
Proposal (8) passes 8-1-3
10:47 Senate enters executive session.
10:51 Senate exits executive session to ask more questions
of the candidates. Kalan inquires as to the interests of the candidates in
other officer positions.
10:53 Senate enters executive session.
10:54 Senate exists executive session.
Isaac Yoder is appointed Chartering Liaison.
Events Coordinator:
Senate hears candidate speeches and asks questions.
Jules Brouillet requests that both Jules Brouillet and
Savitri Sedlacek be appointed to this position.
Proposal (9) by Reshard El-Shair to vote on both candidates
as a slate. Passes 13-0-0.
Jules Brouillet and Savitri Sedlacek are appointed Events
Coordinators.
11:00 Kalan Sherrard process suggests that Outreach Coordinator
be considered next. Rejected by general feelings.
11:01 Several Senators remove themselves from consideration
for other officer positions.
Committee Appointments Coordinator:
Nominees: Kalan Sherrard, Cristina Rodriguez, and Will Floyd
Senate hears candidate speeches and asks questions.
Proposal (10) by Sarp Yavuz to elect three people to this
position.
Proposal (11) by Will Floyd to elect two people to this
position.
General discussion on the advantages and disadvantages on
the number of people serving in one position and sharing duties.
Proposal (11) passes 13-0-0
Proposal (10) withdrawn
Senate enters executive session.
Senate exits executive session.
Cristina Rodriguez and Kalan Sherrard are appointed as
Committee Appointment Coordinators.
Committee Liaison:
Nominees: Geneva Dampare, Will Floyd, Savitri Sedlacek
11:28 Sarp Yavuz enquires as to whether or not Senators can
rescind their officer positions. Discussion on this issue and how it might be
approached.
Proposal (12) by Jules Brouillet to elect two Senators to
this position. Passes.
Senate hears candidate speeches and asks questions.
Senate enters executive session.
Senate exits executive session.
Will Floyd and Geneva Dampare are appointed as Committee
Liaisons.
Outreach Coordinator:
Nominees: Sarp Yavuz, Patrick Doherty, Marlo Barrera,
Savitri Sedlacek
Senate hears candidate speeches and asks questions.
Senate enters executive session.
Senate exits executive session.
Patrick Doherty, Marlo Barrera, Savitri Sedlacek, Sarp Yavuz
are appointed as Outreach Coordinators.
City Liaison:
Jules Brouillet is nominated and gives speech.
Proposal (13) to elect Jules Brouillet as City Liaison
Proposal (13) passes 12-0-0.
Green Liaison:
Nominees: Marlo Barrera, Samantha Bass, Savitri Sedlacek
Proposal (14) by Sarp Yavuz to elect all three nominees.
Proposal (15) by Matthew Harris to elect two nominees.
Proposal (14) withdrawn.
Senate hears candidate speeches and asks questions.
Senate enters executive session.
Senate exits executive session.
Marlo Barrera and Samantha Bass are appointed as Green
Liaisons.
11:53 Reshard El-Shair process suggests that a facilitator
be chosen for next week's plenary session. Rejected by general feelings.
11:54 Jules Brouillet proposes that a working group be
created to be called the Committee on Committees Working Group. Passes by
general feelings.
Membership: Cristina Rodriguez, Kalan Sherrard, Will Floyd,
Geneva Dampare
Facilitator for next week: Matt Presto
Dean Gates reminds Senators that Thursday night at 9pm there
is an open forum for students hosted by the class trustees. It is an
opportunity for students to talk to the trustees. She requests that suggestions
for potential conversation topics be emailed to her (linda.gates@oberlin.edu) by Tuesday
evening. Senators promise to oblige.
11:58 Senate Checks Out
SENATE BYLAWS AMENDMENT
V. Senate
Officer Positions
a. The
Senate shall elect officers at the first meeting of the full Senate and shall
elect interim officers at the last meeting of the full Senate. If an office is vacated a new officer
shall be elected immediately. The
Senate may amend its officer positions, both in number, content, and title to
best suit the individual Senate's needs at the first meeting of the full
Senate, by a majority vote.
i. Liaison
1. The
Liaison shall be the Senate's spokesperson with the staff, faculty,
administration, Trustees of Oberlin College, and the greater Oberlin
community.
2. The
Liaison shall coordinate the legislative work of the Senate and send the
Senate's legislation and proposals to the appropriate faculty committees or
administrative offices.
3. The
Liaison shall keep track of the Senate's outstanding business producing a
regular report to this effect, and deliver a "State of the Senate address" once
a semester, to be printed in student media. The spring semester address shall also be presented at a
meeting of the General Faculty.
4. The
Liaison shall serve on the General Faculty Planning Committee.
5. The
Liaison shall send a thank you card to each trustee that attends the Class
Trustee Forum on behalf of Senate.
6. Only
one senator may serve as Liaison.
ii. Associate
Liaison
1. The
Associate Liaison shall work with the Liaison to coordinate the Senate's
legislative work.
2. The
Associate Liaison shall coordinate the network of student advocates, meetings
with the administrators of Oberlin College, and serves on the Student Life
Committee.
3. The
Associate Liaison ensures that Senators, student committee members, and the
college community are informed about campus governance. The Associate Liaison shall act as a
resource for senators and students on the college governance system.
4. The
Associate Liaison shall coordinate a project each year during orientation to
teach new students about the campus governance system and activism.
5. Only
one senator may serve as Associate Liaison.
iii. Secretary
1. The
Secretary shall keep the agenda and take minutes for Senate meetings. The Secretary shall make all minutes
approved by the Senate public.
2. The
Secretary shall distribute copies of all passed legislation to the General
Faculty through the General Faculty Council, to the Dean of Students, to the
Board of Trustees, and to the Secretary of the College.
3. The Secretary shall publish the Senate bylaws and coordinate bylaw revisions, keep the Senate handbook up to date, and look into Senate reforms. The Secretary shall act as a resource on Senate's operating procedures.
4. The
Secretary shall update the officer list in the Student Union office, and send
the electoral code of conduct to all Senate candidates after the nominations
period for a Senate election is completed.
5. The
Interim Secretary at the beginning of each semester shall send copies of
the minutes to the Oberlin College Archives.
6. An
Interim Secretary shall be appointed for the duration of the absence of the
Secretary.
iv. Treasurer
1. The
Treasurer shall be responsible for the Senate's payroll, overseeing the
internal business of the Senate, collecting Senators' work logs, individual
senator accountability, and monitoring the attendance of Senators.
2. The
Treasurer manages the Senate mailbox, the Senate office Senators' office
hours, and distributes new time-cards to Senators.
3. The Treasurer shall write and submit a budget for the Senate to the Student Finance Committee during the annual budgeting process.
Operations
Manager
4. The
Operations Manager shall be responsible for overseeing the internal business of
the Senate, individual senator accountability, and monitor the attendance of
Senators.
5. The
Operations Manager maintains lists of working groups and their memberships.
6. The
Operations Manager organizes and runs retreats for the Senate.
7. The
Operations Manager manages the Senate mailbox, the Senate office, and Senators'
office hours.
8. The
Operations Manager shall update the officer list in the Student Union office,
and send the electoral code of conduct to all Senate candidates after the
nominations period for a Senate election is completed.
v. Technology
Manager
1. The
Technology Manager shall provide technology support and manage Senate's
website, e-mail account, list-server, and elections. If the Technology Manager is running for reelection, he,
she, or ze shall designate and train a senator who is not running for reelection
to be responsible for running the election.
vi. Student
Finance Chair
1. The
Student Finance Chair shall serve as chair of the Student Finance Committee
(SFC).
vii. Chartering
Liaison
1. The
Chartering Liaison is the Senate's principal liaison to all student
organizations and ensures that organizations are informed of and have the
opportunity to be involved in the work of student government bodies.
2. The
Chartering Liaison coordinates prompt consideration of organization
charters. The Chartering Liaison
is responsible for inspecting or coordinating the inspection of charters in
accordance with the proper format and recommending it to the Senate for
approval.
viii.
Events Coordinator
1. The
Events Coordinator shall coordinate Senate referenda and shall be responsible
for organizing and conducting forums and other Senate-sponsored events or
community-building activities.
2. The Events Coordinator shall be responsible for determining the agenda and substance of forums in coordination with the Senate.
3. The
Events Coordinator organizes and runs retreats for the Senate.
ix. Committee
Coordinator
1. The
Committee Coordinator shall coordinate interviews for student committee
appointments and give recommendations to the Senate regarding student committee
appointments and/or removals. The
Committee Coordinator serves as the liaison to student appointments.
2. The
Committee Coordinator shall monitor the attendance of students on faculty,
administrative, and ad hoc committees.
ix. Committee
Appointments Coordinator
1. The
Appointment Liaison will recommend appointments and removals to the Senate, and
will maintain a working database of student committee representatives that will
be made public to the student body.
2. The
Appointment Coordinator solicits and coordinates appointment interviews and
ensures that at least two senators will be present at each interview. Whenever
possible, the Appointment Coordinator will arrange to fill vacancies on
committees before they occur.
3.
The
Appointment Coordinator shall arrange and coordinate interviews of candidates
for committee seats. Students may
be interviewed and appointed as early as one semester in advance of the
beginning of their term. For example, a student may be appointed in the Spring
to fill a vacancy that will not appear until the following Fall. Senate may
choose to appoint a student for a term longer than one year.
x. Committee
Liaison
1. The
Committee Liaison will recommend appointments and removals to the Senate, and
will maintain a working database of student committee representatives that will
be made public to the student body.
2. The
Committee Liaison will monitor the attendance and activity of student members
of working groups and of student members of faculty, administrative, and ad hoc
committees.
3. The
Committee Liaison will present a report of student committee member activity
once monthly at Senate plenary session, and make the reports public to the
student body.
4. The
Committee Liaison maintains lists of working groups and their memberships.
xi. Outreach
Coordinator
1. The
Outreach Coordinator shall be in charge of publicizing Senate activities,
including but not limited to the bulletin board, newsletter, events, elections,
and publicizing election results as well as additional outreach, publicity, and
electronic correspondence regarding Senate information.
2. The
Outreach Coordinator is in charge of communication with existing campus
publications and media. The
Outreach Coordinator will publicize all passed legislation to the student body.
3. The
Outreach Coordinator shall update the Senate Roster and Office Hour Assignments
when a new member is appointed to Student Senate and post them on the bulletin
board and the Senate website.
xii. College/City Liaison
1. The College/City liaison is
responsible for representing the Student Senate in affairs with the college to
benefit the common welfare. The College/City
liaison will attend City Council and
City of Oberlin meetings, as
necessary, and will serve on all working groups.
2. The College/City liaison will hold at least one forum a semester to discuss an
issue pertaining to College/City
relations.
xiii. Green Liaison
1. The
Green Liaison shall serve as a full voting member of the EDGE board, with the
power to bring proposals to Senate as outlined in the charter of the EDGE
fund. The Green Liaison shall play
a roll in publicizing the EDGE fund and recruiting proposals and student
participation.
2. The
Green Liaison shall attend fortnightly Green Tea meetings organized by the
Office of Environmental Sustainability. The Green Liaison shall report the
discussion and actions by Senate regarding environment-related issues, at the
Green Tea meetings. The Green Liaison shall also report issues raised at the
Green Tea meetings to the Senate plenary.
3. The Green Liaison shall attend
the Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA)'s Environmental Concerns
Committee (ECC) weekly meetings. The Green Liaison shall report the discussions
and actions by Senate regarding environmental-related issues, at the ECC
meetings. The Green Liaison shall communicate the concerns and projects of the
ECC to Senate.
4. The Green Liaison shall keep
Senate informed about other on campus environmental events, news, and relevant
information.