General Assembly
Minutes from February 22, 2007
Download Word File: Minutes-2-22-07
Associated Students of Occidental College
General Assembly Minutes
February 22, 2007
12:00-1:30, J200
Minutes by Chelsey Brack
Senators Present: Andrew DeBlock, Konstantin Chaykovskiy, Matt Kuzio, Amy Laslett, Max Thoman-Tedford, John Wilson, Patrick McCredie, Rozell Hodges
Guests Present: Chris Wagner, Daniel Landesman, Richie DeMaria, Sarah Dunlap, Katie DeMocker, Mike Kuhn, Cristina Campos, Maddie Knaup, Sarah Arvey, Justin Gunn, Chelsey Brack (11).
Spencer Jemelka and Katie Orme opened the meeting at 12:11 PM. Katie and Spencer 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. Katie and Spencer welcomed the Neighborhood Partnership Program. Spencer removed himself and GA co-chair for the meeting so that there was no conflict of interest because he is a volunteer of the NPP.
1. Jesus Maldonado, Director of the Neighborhood Partnership Program
He introduced Chris Wagner, a volunteer coordinator (in charge of PAUS), Sarah Arvey, a volunteer at Nightingale and Washington Irving middle schools), and Spencer, a volunteer at Eagle Rock elementary.
Jesus said that the NPP started in 1997 between Hathaway Family Resource Center and Oxy. In 1999, the Project of Higher Learning was awarded its first GEAR UP grant at Washington Irving Middle School, in 2000 Project Higher Learning was awarded second GEAR UP grant at Washington Irving. In 2005, the PHL was awarded its third and largest GEAR UP grant at Marshall High School. Jesus said that he is very happy to be a partner in it. Under the NPP, there is GEAR UP (Project of Higher Learning), Eagle Rock (EMTs), and LA Bridges. Eagle Rock EMTs is a trial program.
The goal of GEAR UP is to prepare students to succeed academically in middle and high schools in order to gain admittance to and successfully complete a program of higher learning in college, at a university, or at some other institution of postsecondary education.
Middle schools involved in the NPP: Florence Nightingale, Luther Burbank, Thomas Starr King, Washington Irving, and Eagle Rock. Next year NPP is moving to John Marshall, Eagle Rock, Abraham Lincoln, and Benjamin Franklin high schools. Volunteers will be there to help students with homework, but also to work as mentors and to be there for them. A lot of these students are low-income and under-represented, and talking to Oxy students can impact the way they think about their opportunities and the possibility of going to college. He said that it is about pointing them to the idea that higher education is important. The exposure of being around a college student influences the students.
“A Look at College” camp brings a whole class of a certain school, students from Eagle Rock last year, for example. Tours of the Oxy campus are provided, as well as a student panel. This program is different, in which the students take a part in what Oxy has to offer. There are special programs designed for them. For example, last year the English department showed how to write sonnets, the rugby, basketball, and football teams talked about being a student-athlete, a theater teacher showed students costumes and Keck Theater. The overall goal is to make kids excited about education and the college experience. The program shows the students that attending college is a possible goal. Many faculty and departments get involved and volunteer time and are not paid. This event is coming up in late March, and Jesus encouraged members of the GA to take part.
He emphasized that “A Look at College” brings students on campus, teaches them what their college requirements are going to be, etc. Students are taught about A-G requirements, summer programs, finding the right college, applying for college, financial aid facts, students’ perspectives, “college knowledge”, are given essay writing tips, and a going to college presentation. He said that generally the parents of students who attend this camp tend freak out when they look at the high tuition to attend Oxy, but the volunteers explain to students that there are financial options to make it possible to go to any college.
Chris Wagner talked about Shadowing Days and talked about PAUS. It is an opportunity for interaction between Oxy students and students at local high schools. Oxy students have the high school student follow them around to their classes, lunch, etc. being able to experience just what college life is like.
Sarah Arvey talked about FAFSA workshops and financial aid options, and explaining them to the students who visit Oxy. Students who are fluent in Spanish come in and explain to high school students so they can inform their parents and are shown how to fill out the FAFSA. It is due next weekend, so they are looking to help the families as soon as possible. These programs are in place to help these families, so Oxy is helping put on these programs and explain them to the families, so that they can help the families.
Jesus explained the Eagle Rock Educational Mentoring and Tutoring Program, saying that students are there if they want to be, if they’re failing their classes, etc. NPP works with them to help them increase their reading level. If there are students who are struggling in any subject, we work to help them so the students don’t fall behind.
Jesus explained LA Bridges, saying that it is an afterschool program with a goal to create a positive and safe environment which will encourage academic success and create a wide array of extracurricular activities to foster positive interaction between students, their peers and adults. Activities are organized around interests of the mentors and mentees. Currently, these include arts and crafts, sports, drama, cooking, etc. Jesus used to be a mentor in the program. The program has tutors who work all four years in the program.
Chris explained PAUS, which stands for Promoting Achievement in Under-represented Students. The program brings in volunteers and keeps people involved, and shadowing days are coming up. They are looking for other clubs and organizations like Greek life, Senate or RHA possibly to help them carry these shadowing days out.
The program structure includes Jesus as the NPP director, GEAR UP includes Spencer and Sarah, ER EMT coordinator is Charm Baker, LA Bridges is headed by Abe Cohen, and the volunteer coordinator is Chris Wagner.
Matt Kuzio asked if the program is covered by only one grant, and Jesus answered that it is covered by three grants. LA Bridges has about a $5,000 one and Eagle Rock Elementary has about a $20,000 one, and GEAR UP has about a $30,000 one. There is about a 1:1 match every year, and all of the tutors are paid through work study or through the college. LA Bridges and GEAR UP is $84,000. All volunteers, in order to mentor, have to pass an 8th grade proficiency test to be hired. The NPP is able to hire non-work study students as well.
Katie thanked Jesus and they wrapped up the presentation.
Spencer joined Katie again as a co-chair.
2. General Assembly Bylaw Changes
Katie and Spencer went through changes they are making in the General Assembly Bylaws. They have made grammar and punctuation corrections, changed many instances of “General Assembly” to “GA”, changed “co-chairperson” to just “co-chair”. Bulk of change concerns resolutions. Types of resolutions include Action, Discussion, and Declaration resolutions. Their primary reason for altering bylaws was that there was only an action resolution, but there were other resolutions, so there needed to be a change to accommodate all types of resolutions. The bylaw amendments Katie and Spencer hope will bring in a new, different, and larger variety of resolutions in. Most recent declarations have been political, and they added that the GA cannot endorse or side politically, but students are allowed to come and state their opinion with their resolution. There has also been a change made in the article concerning committees. See changes below.
[
Bylaws
The General Assembly of the
Associated Students of Occidental College
Article I - Name
The name of this organization shall be The General Assembly of the Associated Students of Occidental College, hereinafter referred to as the GA.(changed most “General Assembly’s” to “GA”)
Article II – Purpose
Section 1. Purpose.
The object and purpose of the GA shall be to address the interests and concerns of Occidental College students by direct student representation in the creation of legislation and committees to further those interests.
Section 2. Fiduciary responsibilities.
The GA shall have no legislative responsibilities for the ASOC budget, but shall be permitted debate on the subject of the proposed budget.
Article III – Members
Section 1. Qualifications for membership.
Students enrolled at Occidental College and paying the Associated Student fee shall be members of the GA.
Section 2. Voting.
A member shall be entitled to one vote at GA meetings, There shall be no voting by proxy.
Article IV. – Officers
Section 1. Officers.
A. Elected officers. The elected officers of the GA shall be two chairpersons, collectively referred to as the “Co-Chairs.”
B. Appointed officers. Additional officers may be appointed by the Co-Chairs to assist the elected officers in their duties.
C. Qualifications for office. Candidates for officer positions and the officers themselves must be enrolled as full-time students during the respective term of office or appointment.
Section 2. Duties of Co-Chairpersons.
D. Co-Chairpersons.
The Co-Chairpersons shall:
1. be the chief executive officers of the GA;
2. preside at meetings of the Assembly and its executive committee;
3. have the power to appoint special committees subject to the approval of the Assembly;
4. appoint the chairperson of all committees, except as stated in these bylaws;
5. have the authority to interpret these Bylaws;
6. serve as ‘ex officio’ members of all assembly committees;
7. encourage participation at meetings;
8. encourage students to attend by advertising the dates, times and locations as well as clearly informing the student body on the resolutions being voted on at that meeting;
9. encourage consensus, fair debate, equal speaking time, brevity, and fairness of representation;
10. encourage dialogue regarding issues of diversity and social justice when considering resolutions;
11.
perform
other duties as assigned by the GA.
Section 3. Duties of appointed officers.
A. Recording Secretary.
The Recording Secretary shall:
1. be responsible for keeping accurate minutes of the GA;
2. make available a copy of the minutes of the GA to the Student Body President in a timely manner;
3. perform other duties as assigned by the GA in addition to agreed upon duties from the Co-Chairs.
B. Hall Information Officers:
The Hall Information Officers shall:
1. relay accurate information to their assigned Resident Hall on campus about the events of the previous GA meeting and what will take place in the next GA meeting.
Section 4. Election and appointment of officers.
A. Elected officers. The officers shall be elected annually by ballot during the ASOC General Elections to serve for one year. Their term of office shall begin on the last day of the spring academic semester. A plurality vote shall elect.
B. Appointed officers. Appointed officers may be appointed at any time by the Co-Chairs and shall take office immediately upon notification of appointment. The term of office for appointed officers shall be determined by the executive committee, but in no case shall the term exceed that of the elected officers.
Section 5. Term of office.
A. Multiple offices. Elected Members of the ASOC may not simultaneously serve in more than one elected position, or serve in an elected position and also serve as a Student Services Department Manager. (made more formal, what they are really called)
B. Multiple terms. No member may serve more than two consecutive terms in the same elected office.
Section 6. Vacancy in office.
- Resignation: A General Assembly Co-Chair may resign in good standing by sending a letter of resignation to the student body president.
- Filling Vacancies:
1. If there are more than ten weeks remaining in the semester, a special election will be held to elect a new Co-Chair.
2. If there are less than ten weeks remaining in the semester, the position of Co-Chair shall be filled, by a majority vote, at a regular or special meeting, for which notice of the vacancy has been given.
3. Vacancies is appointed offices shall by appointed by the executive committee.
Section 7: Co-Chair Protocol.
A. Stepping Down in a Meeting:
1. If a Co-Chair feels that they have a biased opinion or information to present which prevents him or her from performing their basic duties as Co-Chair, that Co-Chair may step down for that GA meeting and act as a non-elected member of the GA for that section of the meeting. The decision to step down is at the discretion of the Co-Chair. The Co-Chair may return for other topics addressed in the meeting.
2. If a
Co-Chair does step down for an GA meeting, the other
Co-Chair is responsible for running the meeting.
Article V. – Meetings
Section 1. Regular meetings.
Regular meetings shall be held at least bi-weekly, September through April, unless otherwise ordered by the GA or, in an emergency, by the Co-Chair.
Section 2. Special meetings.
Special meetings may be called by the Co-Chair or upon the written request of five members of the GA. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the notice.
Section 3. Notice.
Except in cases of emergency, at least five days’ notice shall be given to members by telephone, in writing, or electronic means.
Section 4. Quorum.
The quorum for regular meetings and any special meetings shall be seventeen, provided that at least seven senators, seven non-senators and one Co-Chair are present.
Article VI. – Resolutions
Section 1. Definition.
Resolutions are official statements of the Associated
Students of Occidental College once passed by the ASOC General Assembly and
ASOC Senate. Before a resolution can be voted on, it must have been
publicized to the student body for at least one week.
Section 2. Types and Formats.
A. Types of Resolutions: Resolutions can be proposed in three formats: Action, Discussion and Declaration.
1. Action Resolutions: Have a statement of the problem and proposed action (committee, letter, etc.). Action Resolutions are voted on in the GA and passed on to the Senate for ratification.
2. Discussion Resolutions: Have a statement of the problem and propose a discussion during the GA about the problem. No other action is proposed. No vote is taken and the resolution is not passed to the Senate but Senate is made aware that the discussion took place.
3. Declaration Resolutions: A student group makes a written declaration notifying the GA of their position on an issue and discussion at the GA meeting is up to the writers of the resolution. No vote is taken and it is not passed on to Senate for a vote, but Senate is made aware of the resolution. The presentation of the resolution is made by the authors of the resolution, but the discussion is facilitated by the GA co-chairs.
B. Format of Resolutions: Resolutions can be proposed in two formats: Closed and Open.
1. Closed Resolutions: A Closed Resolution cannot be changed by the general body of the General Assembly. It must be vote on in its original form.
2. Open Resolutions: An Open Resolution can be changed by the general body of the General Assembly. If the resolution is changed during a meeting, it may not be voted on until the next meeting.
Section 3.
Meeting with Co-Chairs.
Students are required to meet with at least one of the Co-Chairs prior to
the meeting in which they will present their resolution. Should the student
fail to meet with a Co-Chairs, the Co-Chairs have the right to postpone the
resolution until that individual meeting has occurred.
Section 4. Support.
(increases
credibility)
Resolutions should come to the GA with at least 5 students’
support. Those 5 students’ names should appear on the resolution. The 5
students should be familiar with the resolution. All supporting students
are encouraged to attend the meetings in which their resolutions is
presented.
Article VII. – Executive Committee
Section 1. Composition.
The members of the executive committee shall be the two Co-Chairs, and the advisor to the GA.
Section 2. Responsibilities.
The executive committee shall manage the affairs of the GA between regular meetings of the members.
Section 3. Meetings.
A. Regular meetings. Regular meetings of the executive committee shall be held as determined by the members.
B. Quorum. A majority of the executive committee members shall constitute a quorum.
Article VIII. – Committees
The GA may appoint standing committees as deemed necessary to carry on the work of the GA. The Co-Chairs shall determine how many students will serve on each committee. They will work closely with the author of each resolution requesting a committee to determine this number.
Article IX. – Amendments
Section 1. Proposal.
A. A member of the General Assembly or the Senate may propose an amendment to these bylaws at any regular meeting of the GA, provided that notice of the proposed amendment has been given to the membership at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. The notice must include the complete text of the proposed amendment. A properly presented amendment requires a two-thirds vote for passage.
B. Approved amendments shall be referred to the Senate for final approval. Senate membership must receive notice of the meeting at which the amendment will be reviewed at least five (5) days prior to the meeting. A properly presented amendment requires a two-thirds vote for passage.
Section 2. Effective date of amendments.
Amendments to these bylaws shall take effect at the adjournment of the Senate meeting at which they are adopted unless otherwise provided. ]
The vote on the bylaw changes will be held next week in The Cooler, just to have a different atmosphere and with the hope to have more interest taken in the changes made. President Prager will be there as well. Spencer asked if anyone had any questions, and there were none.
John Wilson asked how a declaration is different from an announcement or an action resolution. Spencer explained that they are different because it’s a different use of the GA; it’s a way for students to put their voice out in front of the GA.
Matt Kuzio asked if, for example, members of Greek Life could get up for a declaration resolution and say “We as Greek Life, etc…” and Spencer acknowledged that that is what they meant. Matt asked if they could go back to the section on amendments to look at it again and they did.
Katie asked if there were any more questions for them, and there were none, so she suggested that if any questions, comments, or concerns come up to email Spencer and her at asocga@oxy.edu.
Meeting adjourned at 12:46 PM.