I.Meeting called to order at 6:19 P.M.

 

The Senate discussed Michael Clarke Duncan. 

 

II. Passage of the previous meetings’ minutes

 

The minutes were passed by general consent, pending changes from “trustees” to “trustee representatives”, Patrick’s vote on Rob’s motion to raise Steez’s funding, and a spelling change from “through’ to “thorough”. 

 

III. Old Business

 

A.     Environmental Fund 2: Electric Boogaloo

Ken displayed the changes to the Charter.  He had revised it so that appointments lasted for one year and that faculty and graduating seniors appointed the new members.  He specified that approved members would be voted on and passed through GA, since the process was too cumbersome for GA to handle alone.  He amended points 12 and 13 to specify that the President referred to was the President of the Committee.  Dominique asked Ken to specify that the funding would be used for environmental and sustainability projects, and he consented.

 

Ken moved to approve the Charter pending the correction of various typos, and it passed by general consent. 

 

IV. New Business

 

A.     GA Update

Paolo reported that they would do a presentation on resolutions and committees, and that they had booked Kecia Baker and other assorted ResLife operatives.  Noel said that these representatives would explain the new sophomore housing policies as well as confirm that the purported barring of first-years from Pauley next semester was a rumor. 

 

Ken stated that he would be unable to attend the GA, but advised the Co-Chairs to examine the issue of the frosh housing surveys that detailed student interest and preferences, and were summarily ignored in favor of alphabetical assignments.  Rob and Mike raised the issue of Rangeview problems, with Mike noting the poor printer-to-plasma television ratio while Rob cited malfunctioning access cards.  Ken related the incident of a woman getting into an accident while turning a corner in the parking garage, noting that this could have been averted with mirrors that, at most, cost $150.  Kenna reminded the Senate to not automatically assume the worst of the administration whilst these issues were under consideration. 

 

Noel reminded the Senate that the GA would be from noon to 1:15 in Johnson 200. 

 

B.     Finance and Public Relations Committee

 

a.     Funding Requests

 

Club/Org	Event/Program	Funding Amount	Vote
Compadres	Informational Meeting	$120.65	Mike moved, Tilak seconded, motion passed by general consent
Oxy Engaged	Senior Social Night	$620.38	Mike moved, Patrick seconded, and the motion passed 10-0-1 with Ken abstaining
Kenna asked who was co-sponsoring the event; Mike revealed that Phi Psi and SAE were both co-sponsoring.  Ken also noted that Institutional Advancement had given $300.
Global Perspectives	2007/08 edition	$1017.07	Mike moved, Santiago seconded, and the motion passed by general consent.

 

Mike told the Senate that he would like to move money from Club Allocations to the Senate Discretionary Fund. 

 

Mike moved to transfer $5000.00 from Club Allocations to Senate Discretionary.  Santiago seconded, and the motion was passed by general consent. 

 

b.     Public Relations

 

Dominique reported that she attempted to quad-sit, but had failed to promptly secure a table for Senate use.  She vowed to punctually acquire a table next time. 

 

Santiago referred to the e-mail to the students regarding Senate accomplishments that he and I co-wrote.  He bemoaned Ryan’s deletion of the word “craftsmanship”.  Ryan said that 5 different individuals had e-mailed him congratulating the Senate on these accomplishments. 

 

Ryan then inquired as to the status of the newspaper project.  Santiago reported that he was experiencing difficulty, as he was having difficulty negotiating with and contacting the New York and L.A. Times.  Ken stated that the project would be launched by the Monday after Spring Break. 

 

C.    Scholastic Committee

 

Pointing to the inadequacy of some course descriptions, Santiago told the Senate that he and Ken had discussed contacting professors to upload their syllabi to their course description websites.  Ryan recommended that he meet with the Faculty Council.  Ken reported that he had met with the interim librarian, since he believed the idea of having an interim librarian for two years was absurd.  He also remarked that the Senior Class Mixer would occur on March 6. 

 

In related news, Patrick said that happy with the turnout of the Club Mixer, and that he had ended up under budget. 

 

D.    Committee Updates

 

a.     Multicultural History

Dominique said that the committee had convened and shared the results of their various researches.  Ryan said that they would be contacting alumni and composing a mission statement.

 

b.     Facilities/Staff Issues

Rozell told of his meeting with Kenna, saying that they would put a statement on the ASOC website and that he would at some point speak to Carol Cortez.  Noel told the Senate that, because she spoke Spanish, she had spoken to the housekeeping staff of Rangeview herself and had learned that they only complete sections of the hall at a time. 

 

c.      Administrative Relations

Kenna said that she and Jonathan O’Brien had debated the specific role of the committee in relation to GA.  This role would be fleshed out in greater detail as the semester went on. 

 

d.     Leadership Relations Committee

Andrew reported that the Leadership Committee had been disbanded, as it accomplished virtually nothing.  He would, however, continue intelligence sharing and tactical coordination with RHA as a personal project. 

 

Ryan spoke to the Mission Advisory Group Report, saying that he would send out the e-mail.  He informed the Senate that page 6 of the Report concerned the analysis of admission of students from underrepresented communities.  The admission, as well as the recruitment and retention of said students, Ryan went on to say, was the province of associations such as Harambee, Compadres, and SisterTalk.  One of his areas of conflict with Dean Avery had been with the funding of these groups.  Ryan entertained a motion for follow-up in this area of helping to garner more institutional support for these groups.  Ken and Noel displayed signs of interest. 

 

Ken asked Kenna to project budgets so that he would know what they should be funding.  Kenna replied that she had data from OSL that would help Ken immeasurably.  Noel asked which types of groups they should be investigating.  Rozell asked to be added to the Underrepresented Student Group Support committee, and Patrick recommended Ryan as liaison. 

 

Andrew said that he had spoken with Holly Nieto about the expansion of Campus Ride, and that she was skeptical but willing to examine the potential market through a survey.  He had also obtained the name of the member of the ECLS department responsible for the First Year Reading Committee; he would soon be in contact with her. 

 

Kenna spoke to Founder’s Day; the administration wished to celebrate it via a free lunch on the quad and recognition of a faculty member, and asked the Senate on how to brainstorm ideas to recognize a staff member. 

 

E.     President’s Update

Santiago showed the Senate the improvements that he and Ryan had made to the website; thunderous applause ensued.  Ryan voiced the concern that due to an Oxy Weekly article concerning the Senate’s funding procedures; the student body might view them as misers.  He also noted that if anyone viewed his behavior as “bullying”, they could feel free to raise the issue outside of a meeting. 

 

Ken suggested writing a targeted response; Mike and Patrick volunteered for the task.

 

V. Forum

 

          A. General Comments

 

Noel wondered why for a month there had been no silverware, and also pointed to one night where the Cooler lacked hot water and one night during which a shower did not function in a residence hall as proof of a systemic infrastructure problem.  Rob also asked why there was no water in the Grand Fountain.  Ryan appointed Rob as the sole member of the Fountain Committee.  

 

Andrew posited that, at times, machines malfunction.  Noel replied that she had spoken with Marketplace Staff, learning that the dishwasher had not been replaced in years.  Ken voiced his opinion that the Senate’s time may be better spent on other issues.  Noel replied that the effects of the continued use of disposable plates and knives could result in calamitous climate consequences for the College. Patrick recommended contacting Bruce Steele. 

 

 

B.     Guest Forum

 

Alejandro Sebransky spoke to the Senate concerning the fund that he works for which aims to preserve wildlife and stop global warming.  His fund was searching for campus directors who could run local campaigns, leading him to the Senate.  His speech was warmly received. 

 

Santiago moved to close the meeting at 7:33, and the meeting was closed by general consent.