Senate
 

• MINUTES

Agenda

I. Call to order 6:30 PM

II. Passage of previous meeting’s minutes

III. Old Business

A. Congrats to Rozell and Monikah!

B. Amendment Follow up (2 minutes)

IV. New Business

A. Honor Board Presentation (15 minutes)

B. GA Update (15 minutes)
a. Street Team Follow up
b. Feedback about the GA

C. Finance and Public Relations Committee Update (13 minutes)
a. PR update (5 minutes)
b. Algorithm Proposal (Andrew) (5 minutes)
c. Web update (3 minutes)

D. Campus Culture Committee (5 minutes)

E. Scholastic Committee Update (5 minutes)

F. President’s Update (10 minutes)
a. Reminder: Hold January 26, 2008, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM for Mid-Year Training
b. End of the semester lunch
c. Meeting with President Prager Follow Up

V. Open Forum

A. General Comments (5 minutes)

VII. Close Meeting

Download pdf minutes: 11-27-07

Minutes from November 27, 2007

I. Meeting called to order at 6:33 P.M.

 

II. Passage of the previous meetings’ minutes

 

The minutes were passed by general consent. 

 

III. Old Business

A.     Congrats to Rozell and Monikah!

 

The Senate congratulated Rozell and Monikah for their victories in the recent election with a round of vigorous applause, and also congratulated Daniel Lawler and Kenna for making the election happen. 

 

B.     Amendment Follow-up

 

Ryan told Nonda that he, Kenna, and Maureen McGrady in the ASOC Office concerning the logistics of the student fees change in light of the passage of the Environmental Fund amendment. 

 

IV. New Business

 

A.     Honor Board Presentation

 

Ryan welcomed Honor Board’s representatives to the meeting.  Abe Cohen began the presentation, saying that the Honor Board’s primary goal this semester had been constructing and promoting a document known as the “Community of Difference”.  Abe stated that he had worked over the summer on this document, which promotes a community of difference, and that definitions were currently being formulated for some of the key topics present in the document.  He also said that they had finalized the mediation process, with many mediators now accessible for conflicting parties. 

 

Debbie continued, saying that the Honor Board was made up of three groups.  One of these is the Academic Honesty Committee, which is currently meeting with three professors to get their opinion on the Academic Honesty Policy.  They were also looking for 10 random students to become Honor Board Jurors, and also asked professors and students to submit changes to the “Community of Difference” document through the Development and Publicity Group.  Debbie also highlighted their new Facebook group. 

 

Abe told the Senate that they were outlining a set of formal hearing procedures and were planning for Honor Week. 

 

Ryan asked how these student mediators were sought out or selected, to which Abe replied that they had visited several classes geared toward younger students and advertised the positions, after which the students went through conflict resolution training with Diana Akiyama. 

 

Ken expressed his interest in the formal hearing procedures and how they might conflict with student rights.  Abe stated that all cases are confidential, and the Honor Board does not release any details of the case that students do not want revealed to keep it a secure, comfortable space, and have also worked hard with Jonathan O’Brien to guarantee due process. 

 

Patrick asked what the natures of the cases usually were; Abe replied that they were not disciplinary violations but more often ethical cases.  Andrew asked what Honor Board’s long-term goals were, to which Abe replied that they wish to publicize both the “Community of Difference” document and Honor Board itself.  Ryan asked how their two organizations should be incorporated.  Abe said that this would be difficult, since Honor Board may lose its credibility as a safe space if they began to take an activist stance.  Ken concurred, saying that Honor Board should be isolated as much as possible. 

 

Abe concluded by telling the Senate that he endorsed the “Community of Difference” document, saying that it could be thought of both prescriptively and descriptively for the student body. 

 

B.     GA Update

 

a.     Street Team Follow-Up

 

Laura asked everyone to share what he or she had learned or discussed during the Street Team GA.  She said that she had only been able to speak with some students.  Most of them were concerned with cultural graduation funding, and worried about the amount that had to come out of student pockets as well as the decrease in freedom that might come from cultural graduations becoming institutionalized.  Ken asked why they were not institutionalized, to which Denise replied that Dean Avery had promised them funds.  Ken stated that there was a difference between being sent money and becoming institutionalized. 

 

Denise told the Senate that she thought the Street Teams went really well, since the people who she talked to appreciated the Senate being out and about.  Santiago said that most of the complaints he had heard pertained to the lack of newspapers and the poor wireless connection, and that the fact that most of the complaints he heard concerned items the Senate was already working on told him that the Senate was doing a good job.  Patrick said that bike racks were a major issue, and that it would be an easy thing to take care of. 

 

Andrew submitted that it was the best PR the Senate had ever done, and that other student concerns were airfare costs for students studying abroad and wider campus ride availability, a valid concern in light of the recent robberies.  Ryan noted that students could obtain subsidized airfare. 

 

Alison asked if anyone had submitted a request for the handicap accessibility railing between Johnson and Fowler, to which Denise replied that she had met with Kenna and Dean Avery, and that she had e-mailed a work order to Facilities.  Ryan asked if she was the lone Senator working on this; Denise stated that since she was leaving Tilak would be assuming command of Project Railing.  She added that some students had suggested a monthly GA in the Marketplace, which would greatly increase attendance.  Rob informed the Senate of a mysterious threat against Patrick’s life.

 

Ken said that his primary concern was that he already knew most of the people he had spoken to; a location such as Braun would be more conducive to better performance as an ASOC/GA Street Team Member. 

 

b.     GA Feedback

 

Patrick advised moving the GA meetings to Johnson 200 due to its frequent accommodation of larger groups.  Alison suggested proposing an amendment requiring the GA to meet only 4-5 times a semester as opposed to 10 times a semester.  Devon Puglia concurred, saying that the lower requirement would cause only the most topical and controversial issues to be discussed, which would result in higher average attendance.  He added that the GA was ineffective because the Constitution writer had not intended the GA to be a dynamic body. 

 

Denise recommended using the Street Team format to determine the direction of GAs, as students could voice their own concerns as opposed to being forced to discuss the topic of the week.  Ken suggested having the Open Forum section of the Senate meetings near the beginning, so that student guests would not have to wait until the end to say their peace. 

 

C.    Finance and Public Relations Committee Update

 

a.     PR Update

 

Dominique said that the Committee was considering holding an ASOC-sponsored study break.  Ryan affirmed this idea, saying that he had been considering a purchase of office supplies for the revamped ASOC office, and suggested The Office as an ideal locale for a study break.   Ken said that the meeting could also be held in a locked room in the library called the Braun room. 

 

Denise told the Senate that she had considered using ASOC Leadership Funds to sponsor a student breakfast.  Ken asked if College policy still stated that clubs couldn’t hold programs or activities once finals began; Kenna replied in the affirmative, but added that religious or spiritual activities could be held, and also that ASOC could possibly sponsor events through OSL, but not in two weeks. 

 

Dominique told the Senate that she had also considered Senate t-shirts, and welcomed design ideas. 

 

b.     Algorithm Proposal

 

Andrew told the Senate that he wanted to discern whether or not the algorithm needed to be examined by the semester’s end.   Alison stated that she did not agree with the idea of requiring clubs to submit all the receipts for a given event to prevent fraud.  Andrew reiterated that he simply wanted to find out whether or not people were satisfied with the algorithm.   Mike asked what funding system the Senate would revert to if the algorithm was abolished, and added that attendance figures would be a problem regardless of the funding system.  Rob asked about the parameters Jimmy had told them about, pointing out that Jimmy would not be around forever to enlighten future senators.  Santiago expressed his opinion that it was ridiculous that any number the algorithm spits out should be treated as fair.  Ryan remarked that perhaps they could determine the problems with the algorithm if they were to view the exact numbers that influenced it. 

 

Patrick informed the senate that the previous funding method had been far more partial to the whims of individual senators.  He also said that he and Mike had not seen many cases of distorted or inflated numbers, and that clubs were being generally honest when it came to funding requests.  Devon postulated that clubs were asking for twice the amount they needed in order to receive 100% funding; Patrick expressed disbelief at this theory. 

 

Rob moved to start working on re-evaluating the Senate’s funding priorities.  Ken seconded. 

 

Ken moved to amend the motion to say that this would be done with full knowledge of the algorithm’s workings.  Rob seconded the amendment. 

 

Mike argued that if these numbers were known, they might leak out to campus and the algorithm would become simple to manipulate.  Xochiltl added that Jimmy had told them that he did not do programming, and that a programming senator with knowledge of these numbers could be an issue.  Santiago stated that the values should reflect the values of the Senate and what they wish to accomplish on campus; Rozell countered by saying that they were elected representatives of the people and that they should be able to dictate the values for the algorithm. 

 

Ken told the Senate that although the argument against knowing the algorithm’s values was easier manipulation by club leaders, he stated that as a former club leader he knew that the algorithm was simple to manipulate already.  Mike replied that the algorithm would be manipulated even more easily were the public to know the values.  Kenna informed the Senate that they had the power to re-evaluate the algorithm any time they liked. 

 

The amendment failed 4-8-0 with Tilak, Andrew, Nonda, Denise, Dominique, Alison, Mike, and Patrick opposing. 

 

Andrew said that the Senate should take the time to obtain whatever info is necessary for evaluation.  Ken replied that this would be a waste of time and that the priorities could not be properly ascertained without the numbers of the algorithm.   Ryan said that there should be a process in place in which the priorities could be ascertained through graphs and charts, which was something the Funding Committee was already planning on doing. 

 

Andrew moved to amend the motion to make it mandatory that the algorithm be re-evaluated each year.  Ryan stated that this could be reflected in the bylaws.  The motion was passed by general consent. 

 

D.    Campus Culture Committee Update

 

Tilak said that the committee had met with Jim Jacobs, and were planning on looking at the histories of Black Alumni, Female Alumni, and South Asian Alumni to aid with the History Project.   Ryan added that the Latino Historic Alumni Foundation was already working on a history project, which could be coincided with Oxy History Week.  Ken recommended a woman named Lisa working in ITS who was working on Oxypedia and was interested in Oxy history as a potential resource. 

 

Ryan asked the senators to speak on the status of their other projects.  Tilak stated that he had e-mailed Facilities to inquire as to the cost of a rail between Fowler and Johnson as well as who would pay for it.  Alison recommended rephrasing the question and asking Facilities when they were planning on installing the rail. 

 

Nonda told the Senate about her meetings with Bruce Steele, saying that he cited fire codes as a reason for not putting more recycling bins in academic buildings.  She said that she and Bruce had caught onto the idea of an Environmental Awareness week through the Environmental Club, although Bruce offered the caveat that global warming would inexorably cause the extinction of humanity regardless of public awareness.  Ken recommended a per-capita energy use contest. 

 

Xochiltl related her meeting with the director of athletics, who she said had been very receptive, but had told Xochiltl that it would be optimistic to see any major athletic facilities changes before she graduated.  Xochiltl had asked the director why there were not changes in the past, to which she responded that past administrations were not student-oriented. 

 

Rob told the Senate about his Themed Learning Community Project, which he was working on with the help of Dean Avery, Kecia Baker, and Gwen Hill.  He hoped to have a proposal ready by next Wednesday. 

 

E.     Web Update

 

Ryan said that he had posted the individual projects of the Campus Culture Committee on the web site, and also requested short personal bios and a photo from each senator.  He then showcased the eerily omniscient stat-tracking software being used on the site. 

 

F.     Scholastic Committee

             

a.     Bartender Proposal

 

Alison asked if further explanation was necessary concerning the bartender proposal.  Mike said that he was in favor of it, but wondered how much of the proposal would become Senate policy and how much would become administrative policy; Kenna replied that the proposal concerned both.  Rozell asked if the proposal meant the Senate would pay every time a bartender was requested, to which Alison replied that it would just cause bartenders to be treated like any other line item.  Ken added that it would bring the cost of throwing a party on campus in line with the cost of throwing a party off campus.  Devon expressed his opinion that Senate should adopt this measure, since alcohol is conducive to creating campus community.

 

Kenna noted that the proposal, which said that clubs and orgs were barred from hiring other bartending services, was false on that count: Black Tie was used because it had the necessary insurance, but if students could find a different bartending service without a 5-hour minimum (which Kenna vowed to negotiate back down to 3), they could feel free to use it. 

 

Alison moved to adopt the bartending proposal sans the “school does not allow the hiring of outside sources” line.  Rob seconded, and the motion was passed by general consent. 

 

G.    President’s Update

     

a.     Reminder: Hold January 26, 2008, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM for Mid-Year Training

 

Ryan reminded the Senate to hold this date, as very pertinent issues with the algorithm would be brought up during training. 

 

b.     End-of-semester lunch

 

Ryan told the Senate that he was planning an end-of-semester lunch in The Office on Friday, and that all should come.

 

c.      Meeting with President Prager Follow-Up

 

Ryan related his meeting with President Prager, which had not been astoundingly productive, as she refused to answer his questions concerning details of her recent resignation.   He also told the Senate that he would be serving as liaison to the Interim Search Committee, and would appreciate both Senate and GA feedback on this topic.  In addition, Ryan had met with Dean Frank, who had been recently been appointed for 2.5 years as opposed to the usual 10-month term, and thus was able to plan things further down the line. 

 

V. Open Forum

 

Devon asked if it was Open Forum.  It was.  He stated his decision to attend every Senate meeting and give a 5-minute speech during Open Forum as a representative of the students.  He told Ryan that his e-mail sent soon after President Prager’s resignation e-mail was inappropriate, and also said that Senate had been producing very little in the way of tangible results on topical issues, and encouraged them to do so.  Ryan recommended that Devon attend the GA in order to air his opinions or introduce issues, to which Devon replied that the lackluster topics made GA not worth his time. 

 

Santiago agreed that Ryan’s e-mail was inappropriate, and also inquired as to the amount of time Ryan spent on his webmaster job.  Ryan replied that the hour fluctuated daily, as he might work 45 minutes one day and 2.5 hours the next. 

 

Patrick moved to close the meeting at 8:24 PM, and the motion was passed by general consent.