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Minutes from October 18th, 2005

Download Word File: Minutes 10/18/05

General Assembly Meeting

October 18, 2005

Johnson 200

Notes by Grace Canby

Kara Abelson, General Assembly Co-Chair, welcomed everyone to the official student forum. The General Assembly is a place for students to bring up issues and policy change. The General Assembly recognizes that the student body is one of many forums that form the community. This is a forum for students to work with other students and administrators.

Presentation of Senate Bylaws

David Marsh, ASOC President, presented a senate bylaw for GA approval. The Senate would like to have Executive Sessions, which are senate meetings that take place outside of the normal time and which are open to the public. No votes can be made or committees formed at these meetings, and they are limited to topics previously addressed at official senate meetings. The purpose of these sessions is to give the senate more time to work on various issues with each other in an open environment.

Jake Stevens asked what the notification time for these meetings would be, so that students can be aware of them and possibly attend. He suggested the Brown Act standard of a 72-hour notification period.

Ken Smutny said that the problem with senate meetings is that they do not have student input. While he understands the need for efficiency, students are never allowed to speak until the visitor forum at the end of each session, and sometimes that is cut due to time constraints.

David Marsh asked if the General Assembly is not the open forum for student debate and input. Ken Smutny said he felt that both bodies should allow free student input.

John Marshall asked if the Senate wanted as much student input as possible.

Ken Smutny said that the problem with the current set-up is that students are not allowed to interject before decisions are made. By the time they are given an opportunity to speak, the vote has taken place.

Devon Puglia asked about the purpose of Executive Sessions. David said that the Senate wanted more time to meet and work on important issues, but they want guidelines set up to monitor and direct these extra meetings. Devon said that it did not seem to be a problem about student input. The point of the constitution is to give student input.

David said that students are given the opportunity to address an issue after the Senate votes, but can bring it up in the General Assembly before the same issue is voted on.

Ken asked David if the Senate was against students speaking their minds at special meetings.

Michael Kaiser-Nyman said that the senate has to deal with certain problems, and students want to give their input on these issues. He suggested a compromise, which would create two forums for visitor comments, one in the middle of senate meetings and one at the end.

Caroline Kim, Campus-Wide Senator, said the senate could not give a “yes-or-no” answer to that question. The situation is more complex, as opening up senate meetings undermines the purpose of the General Assembly. The purpose of the General Assembly is to check the Senate. If that check happens in the Senate, then the General Assembly is lost. Students should voice their concerns in the General Assembly, not the Senate.

Ken asked Caroline to clarify her point that students participation in the Senate undermines the General Assembly. Caroline confirmed this. She pointed out that Ken was neglecting the point that no permanent decisions can be made during Executive Sessions.

Ali Raymond, Campus-Wide Senator, pointed out that Occidental is a small school, and said that people with problems should talk to her or another representative. The meetings are intended to extend conversations which have been cut short during senate meetings. She reminded the General Assembly that the senators are their elected representatives, and that they should be approached if there is a problem.

David agreed that guidelines should be added to the Executive Session bylaw. However, he feels that 72 hours is too long before a meeting can be held. Jake Stevens asked him for another solution, because students need time to arrange their schedules. Katie Orme, Junior Class Senator, suggested a 48-hour notification margin.

Jake Stevens asked what the purpose of these meetings will be. David Marsh said they are to discuss issues which were not fully addressed at Senate meetings.

The ten senators present voted unanimously to change the guidelines.

Anders Engdhal, Senior Class Senator, move to vote to add a visitor forum to the Executive Sessions. Amy Laslett, Sophomore Class Senator, asked for time constraints for this forum.

David Marsh asked Anders Engdhal to explain his change of mind regarding open Executive Sessions. Anders said he spoke to some people and he feels it is necessary.

Nick _____berg said he felt a visitor forum at senate meetings would drag down attendance at General Assembly forums.

David Marsh suggested that the guidelines say there will be visitor forums, and that specifics be decided upon at a later point.

The senators voted 10-0-0 to add this stipulation

The Senate Bylaw for Executive Sessions was passed by the General Assembly, 21-0-0.

Open Forum for Resolutions

Ken Smutny proposed a resolution to make all meetings of student government open to students. Student government no longer deals with human resources, and so it is the right and necessity of students to participate and be informed of student government actions and decisions. All Senate, General Assembly and committee meetings should be publicized and open to the student body for their duration.

Ali Raymond asked if this includes committees that do have human resource purposes, such as discussing applications. Ken said he would prefer those meetings to be open. Only when the law prevents it should students be barred from engagement in ASOC activities.

Anders Engdhal, Ken Smutny, Devon Puglia, John Marshall, and Michael Kaiser-Nyman supported the resolution.

Devon Puglia asked why senators had the right to vote in the General Assembly. He pointed out that there were more senators present at the meeting than students. Matt Kuzio said that the constitution stipulates that all students have a vote, regardless of their other duties or commitments. Devon felt this constituted an abuse of power.

Alcohol Policy Committee Resolution

Matt reiterated that the vote was on the resolution itself, which will form a committee to review the alchol policy. The vote is not to implement changes in the policy directly. The resolution was proposed by Amy Laslett.

Devon Puglia said that he was not comfortable with having a ResLife representative on the committee. Joe Martinez said at the last General Assembly meeting that the policy cannot be changed. Devon feels it will be counterproductive and counterintuitive to have a ResLife administrator on the committee. Change needs to come from the bottom up, and the administration does not want to see change. Ultimately, a ResLife representative would be a ridiculous addition to the committee. He said this position should be filled by a faculty advisor, or a consultant hired independently by the college. The consultant could work objectively with the committee, interview various groups, and review the policy.

Katie Orme asked how this consultant would be paid for. Devon said that the alcohol policy is a huge concern, and is in the interest of everyone on campus. Therefore it would be permissible to use ASOC discretionary funds to hire such a person. Katie asked Devon to confirm that he condones this consultant being funded by club allocations. Devon said yes.

Ken Smutny pointed out that there are other possible sources for financing such a position. David Marsh agreed, saying that Dean Barbara Avery will have access to these resources.

Matt Kuzion explained that the ResLife coordinator was included because the success of the review is dependent on working with the administration. The committee needs to get viewpoints on what can or cannot be done. This is more about logistics than support.

Ken asked that the phrase “at least one senator” be changed to “one senator, and that the nominations of students for the committee take place in the General Assembly rather than the Senate, in order to put the control in the hands of students.

Jake Stevens asked if there was a check on the upper limit of senator participation, and asked if the participations would be regulated in any way. Matt said the senators would take nominations, as with any other committee they create. Potentially two or three senators could participate. Jake asked if potentially all of Senate could participate on the committee.

Patrice clarified that even though Amy Laslett read the resolution, Kara Abelson and Matt Kuzio wrote it. She guaranteed that the Senate does not have a hidden agenda. Jake said he was not suggesting the Senate had an agenda, but that he wanted a structural check.

Kara Abelson expressed concern with the General Assembly involvement in the student selection process, as it compromises their impartiality.

David Marsh asked if there could be a vote in the General Assembly. Matt said that the candidates could come in and a vote could take place. He explained that he and Kara chose the Senate because they were elected by all of the student body. They have the right and the responsibility to make such decisions.

David Marsh said that because ResLife staff are responsible for enforcing the policy, they need to participate. He suggested that a consultant be added in replacement of ResLife staff. Devon Puglia argued that David is a Hall Coordinator, and therefore has a different perspective. His concern is that the staff would be biased and counterproductive. The alcohol policy does not work, and it needs to be changed.

David Marsh suggested using a ResLife student instead of an administrator. Devon Puglia agreed to this proposal. David explained that students know both sides of the conflict, and they can empathize with both students and administrators, as well as provide background knowledge.

Devon asked if the ResLife staff member would be chosen or appointed, and asked if ResLife would be interested in participating.

Ken interjected that he would like the wording be changed from “one” senator to “two” participating on the committee.

David asked if one person could represent two positions on the committee. It was agreed that this would not be allowed.

Mike Gawley asked for clarification of the difference between revise and reform. Kara Abelson said that revision of the policy would alter punishments and repercussions, but the policy itself would not change. Reform of the policy implies working with the administration to form a new stance on alcohol consumption.

Matt Kuzio added that the student government only has so much power. The difference between changing the policy and changing the punishment is tremendous. It is important as well to understands the constraints put on student government by state and federal law and by the Occidental Handbook.

Mike Gawley clarified that revision of the policy would be at the student level, and reform at the administrative level.

Jake Stevens asked about a point of procedure – the General Assembly will first vote on the points, then on the resolution as a whole. Matt Kuzio said this was correct.

The points added to the resolution are as follows:

“The committee will focus on the judicial processes of ResLife and Campus Safety in regards to disciplinary actions for alcohol related incidents.”

Passed by General Assembly, 24-0-0

“The committee will investigate the campus culture of drinking at Occidental College.”

Devon Puglia asked why this was not colleges in general. Matt Kuzio explained Occidental would be compared to colleges of comparative size and location.

Passed by General Assembly, 22-1-0

Change “at least one Senator” to “two Senators”

Passed by General Assembly, 18-2-5

“General Assembly nominates the committee members.”

Passed by General Assembly, 22-0-2

“Committee will seek funding and then hire a consultant.”

Patrice Hall asked for clarification regarding whether the committee is charged with finding the necessary money to hire a consultant. It was agreed that the committee will seek out the necessary resources within the school, or raise money through other channels.

Passed by General Assembly, 13-10-4

Replace “ResLife Administrator” with “Resident Advisor”

Passed by General Assembly, 22-0-4

The full resolution was voted on and passed 25-0-1.