Official
USC Undergraduate Student Government
Meeting Minutes
TCC 227
Tuesday November 10, 2015
Executive Officers
Rini Sampath, President
Jordan Fowler, Vice President
Rachel Thundat, Senior Director of Communications
Diana Amparo Jimenez, Program Board Executive Director
Edwin Saucedo, Program Board Finance Director
Executive Cabinet
Eric Miller, Academic Affairs Director
Brianna Thorpe, Community Affairs Director
Riyana Chakraborty, Community Affairs AD
Moira Turner, Diversity Affairs Director
Christian Carrion, Diversity Affairs AD
Logan Dallas, Elections and Recruitment Co-Director
Katherine Wilcox, External Relations Director
Paul Samaha, Marketing AD
Morgan Monahan, Social Media AD
Allegra Miller, Social Media AD
Austin Dunn, University Affairs Director
Maarriyah Patel, University Affairs Director
Program Board
Hannah Nguyen, ACA Director
Luis Vidalon-Suzuki, ACA AD
Lorna Xu, APASA Director
Mykaila Williams, BSA Director
Zoe Willis, Concerts AD
Caitlin Harriford, Concerts AD
Kaitlin Kinsella, ESA AD
Elliot Wezerek, ESA AD
Nikoli Patiyeli, Graphics AD
Leo Zhao, Graphics AD
Gisella Tan, ISA Director
Krystal Chavez, LSA Director
Kiara Sanchez, LSA AD
Elizabeth Guzman, LSA AD
Chelsea Zhang, Marketing Co-Director
Hahney Yo, Marketing Business Relations AD
Luke Southwell-Chan, Marketing Social Media AD
Elizabeth Bricker, Special Events Director
Jade Shi, Special Events AD
Joseph Chen, Photography Director
Daniel Zhu, Photography AD
Jenny Di, PSA Director
Shawn Ren, PSA AD
Shyann Murphy, WSA Director
Kyle Hermnan, Videography Director
Senators
Cassandra Aguayo, Commuter
Jacob Ellenhorn, Commuter
Bulk Lao Commuter
Chris Fong, Greek
Darian Nourian, Greek
Sanjay Mahboobani, Greek
Aaron Rifkind, Residential
Sabrina Enriquez, Residential
Alec White, Residential
Dan Li, Residential
Eric Dubbury, Residential
Giuseppe Robalino, Residential
Advisors
Karina Medrano
Luis Canton
Guests
David Delgado
Tessa Meurer
Erika Molinedo Pinon
Marina Salazar
Miranda Melhado
Sophia Li
Katie Oh
Alex Kanegawa
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
Call to Order
a. Meeting called to order at 7:14 PM.
Reading and Approval of the Minutes
a. Senator Enriquez motions to approve the Minutes as read.
i.
Senator White seconds.
ii.
The Minutes are approved as read.
Approval of the Agenda
a. Senator Fong motions to postpone the Greek Senator presentation to next
week’s Senate.
i. Senator Nourian seconds.
ii. The Greek presentation is postponed until next week.
b. Senator Fong motions to approve the amended Agenda.
i. Senator Nourian seconds.
ii. The amended Agenda is approved.
Open Forum
a. Logan Dallas: Presented on the election cycle and general information about
the upcoming elections in the spring semester.
b. Webb Tower RA: Spoke about the need for more resources for her residents.
She also addressed the need for more funding and staffing at resource centers.
i. Senator Enriquez agrees to follow up.
c. John: Addressed the Daily Trojan article regarding the state of the LGBT
resource center at USC. The LGBT Center is the smallest in the country and
can only occupy 8 people, and there are currently 7 staff members. Talked
about the need for more funding for safe spaces for students from
underrepresented communities to escape. He also expressed his frustration
with the innovation lab that replaced the LGBT resource center.
i. Senator Enriquez agrees to follow up.
d. Ameet Eini USC Hillel President: Responded to the student who spoke about
Anti-Semitism on campus. Student has felt supported by the administration
and feels comfortable on campus and believes that USC is far from being antisematic.
i. Senator Enriquez agrees to follow up.
Reports of Officers and Directors
a. None.
Presentations
a. University Affairs: Co-Directors Maariyah Patel & Austin Dunn, Assistant
Directors Colin Parker & Megan Lee
i. Committee updates: Mid semester
ii. 40 delegates: Most out of every advocacy group
iii. Focusing on hospitality, dining, and transportation
1. Hospitality
a. Water bottle refilling stations
b. Comprehensive nutritional guide
c. Special Seeds menu
d. Dining hall update
e. Food Affordability
2. Dining
a. Seeds gourmet station
b. Café 84 completely renovated
c. Verde contract to end in one year, talk about bringing
Chipotle
3. Transportation
a. Bikes
i. Resolution
ii. Pumps
iii. Survey
b. Shuttle to LAX
c. Remodeling Jefferson and Hoover
d. Plan of action going forward
4. Housing
a. Working with David Chung to provide hallway lights in
dorms
b. Bring more printing options for the residency halls
c. Partnering with laundry service to provide free laundry
for students
d. Comprehensive guide for facilities, resource centers,
etc…
e. Diversity in housing
b. ACA: Director Hannah Nguyen and AD Luis Vidalon Suzuki
i. Mission
1. Encourage the pursuit of learning through interdisciplinary
exploration and programming
2. Foster an inclusive environment that promotes curiosity and
conversations beyond the classroom
3. Provide a community of support, guidance, and funding for our
member organizations
4. Remind students that learning is FUN!
ii. USC Mental Health Awareness Month
1. Started Mid October
2. Events lined up:
a. Meet and Greet with Counselors
b. Next Monday – Slamming Down the Stigma in the TCC
Ballroom
c. Breaking the Stigma Resource Fair next Tuesday,
November 17
d. An Act of Resistance on Thursday, November 19 about
self-care and coping strategies
e. International Survivors of Suicide Display on November
19 – 23 at Gavin Herbert Plaza (Finger Fountain)
i. Candlelight vigil on Thursday, November 19 at
5pm
iii. Survey is out to look at the state of mental health on campus and the
VII.
state of on-campus resources
1. Looking at creating a model like UC Davis and Stanford where
Counselors are available for students at cultural resource
centers.
Unfinished Business and General Orders
a. Campus Climate Resolution
i. Motion to amend the amended resolution
1. Add authors
a. Author additions are approved.
2. Senator Nourian moves to vote to add supporters
a. Senator seconds.
b. Voting
i. Supporter additions are approved.
3. Senator Mahboobani moves to vote to add Berkely
a. Senator seconds.
b. Voting
i. Addition is approved.
4. Senator Dubbury moves to vote to add ability to the clause
a. Senator Rifkind seconds.
b. Voting
i. Addition is approved.
5. Senator Mahboobani moves to vote to add yield in replacement
of enrollment
a. Senator Nourian seconds.
b. Voting
i. Replacement of enrollment to yield is approved.
6. Senator moves to vote to add Mizzou Diversity footnote
a. Senator White seconds.
b. Voting
i. Footnote addition is approved.
7. Senator Enriquez moves to add diversity incorporation into
course materials
a. Senator White seconds.
b. Voting
i. Addition of diversity into course materials is
approved.
8. Senator Nourian moves to vote to add Title XI investigative
bias
a. Senator Enriquez seconds.
b. Voting
i. Addition of Title XI investigative bias is
approved.
9. Senator moves to vote to develop strategic plan for diversity
a. Discussion:
i. Senator Fong: Expresses concern with the
language because enrolling based off of race
could promote racial quotas. There are other
ways to incorporate the idea.
ii. Senator Enriquez: Points out that nowhere does
it says race.
iii. President Sampath: Asks if Senator Fong thinks
yield is better than enrolling.
iv. Senator Mahboobani: States that changing it to
yield shows that we should reach out to
underrepresented students.
v. Moira Turner:
E
xplains enroll was the wording used for specific
reasons. Clarifies that it does not mean we are
hiring people based on their skin. Explains this
clause’s purpose is to go against inherent biases
in order to get more diversity on campus.
vi. Senator Robalino: Asks for further explanation.
vii. Moira Turner: Explains the hiring process is
complicated and bias is not outright, but still
there. Points out diversity can be improved by
having people present who are qualified.
viii. Senator Enriquez: Explains these are just
suggestions to administration
ix. Senator Enriquez yields the floor to Brianna
Thorpe
1. Brianna Thorpe: Asks if after racial quota
is “met” then who gets the job most of
the time. Just because they’re the same
skin color, doesn’t mean everyone has
the same view. Latino/African Americans
are a small percent in these institutions.
White people get the jobs that
Latinos/African Americans are qualified
for.
x. Senator Mahboobani: States agreement to the
statement about the hiring process.
b. Senator Mahboobani moves to vote to strike
“recruitment, yield, and retention”
i. Senator Enriquez seconds.
c. Voting
i. Change to the wording is approved.
10. Senator moves to vote on the amended amendment
a. Senator seconds.
b. Voting
i. The amended amendment is passed.
11. Senator moves to vote to add administration to hold public
office hours
a. Senator White seconds.
b. Voting
i. The addition of administration to hold public
office hours is approved.
12. Senator moves to add creating international student center
beyond paperwork
a. Comment/discussion:
i. Senator Fong: Addresses a concern brought by
another student: It is true that we have
understaffed cultural resource centers and need
to increase staffing, but how is this integrating
them into the campus community?
ii. Enriquez yields the floor to President Sampath
1. President Sampath: Explains the concern
from the constituent is different from the
clause and is addressed in another clause.
This is helping those who already have
these spaces but to get everyone on board
is through another clause. This is not
encouraging segregation but to empower
them to have a space where they can be
themselves. Points out that identities are
intersectional. This clause addresses the
need for these resources.
iii. Senator Enriquez yields the floor to Krystal
Chavez
1. Krystal Chavez: States that it’s about
sustaining the people on campuses, and
these resources are ready to support.
Centro Chicano only holds .12% of the
Latino students on campus. This is about
them getting the help they deserve
iv. Senator Enriquez yields the floor to Gisella Tan
1. Gisella Tan: States that when talking
about integration, which is important to
international students, we must remember
OIS is currently in a trailer. Funding for
events have been cut. We need to help
with assimilation.
v. Senator Fong: Apologizes for misconstruing. It
is not that he is not in support of the resources
but is trying to make sure we are promoting
cultural education as well as assimilation.
vi. Senator Dubbury: States that by increasing
resources, people within those communities can
work together. Stresses the importance of
teamwork building, which will bring people
closer to their communities and encourage them
to assimilate.
b. Senator Lao moves to vote on the amendment.
i. Senator Enriquez seconds.
c. Voting
i. Addition of cultural resource centers is approved.
13. Senator Enriquez moves to add in person workshop by cultural
centers
a. Senator White seconds.
i. Addition of in person workshop by cultural
centers is approved.
14. Senator Li moves to vote on the addition of cultural centers
a. Senator seconds
b. Senator Nourian: Asks if this will this include adjunct
faculty.
c. Adjunct faculty should understand the different
viewpoints and should be able to understand diversity
d. Senator Fong: Asks if we force adjunct for a couple of
weeks, do you think they would actually do it?
e. Voting
i. The amendment is approved.
15. Senator Enriquez moves to vote to add re-implementation of the
diversity requirement
a. Senator White seconds.
b. Senator Li: Request for transfer students to ensure that
they are not unnecessarily burdened.
c. Senator Li yields the floor to Luis Vidalon Suzuki
i. Luis Vidalon Suzuki: Points out that USC got rid
of the diversity requirement. We already had a
diversity requirement and there was a way for
transfer students to fulfill that requirement.
d. Senator Li yields the floor to President Sampath
i. President Sampath: States that for other transfer
students, that is another task we want to take and
will make sure to address these issues with
Provost Quick.
e. Voting
i. The amendment is passed.
16. Senator moves to vote to establish endowment fund
a. Senator Robalino: Proposes to strikeout and replace with
be it further resolved that USC increase funding and add
to existing scholarship by alumni association and
pioneering other opportunities that are financially
responsible.
i. Senator Ellenhorn seconds
b. Senator Fong: States that we need a number to hold
administration accountable.
c. Senator Nourian: States that there was no concern when
talked about with the authors and a number is needed so
we can bring something out of it.
d. Senator Robalino: States that tangible number is
important, but explains he had the opportunity to meet
with the donor of his scholarship and discuss how they
work. They discussed this provision and stated the 100
million would be from the $6 billion and not diverted.
He said the number was high. This clause does not
adequately fulfill that goal because that number is too
high. Senator strongly suggests that the Senate take the
donor’s comment into consideration.
e. Senator White yields the floor to President Sampath
i. President Sampath: Points out that George Lucas
would have a different opinion and discusses
f. Senator Nourian: States that the way the clause is
structured, it’s just a way to benchmark
g. Enriquez moves to vote on the amended amendment
i. Senator Lao seconds.
h. Voting
i. The amendment to the amendment does not pass.
i. Senator Enriquez moves to vote on the amendment
i. Senator Li seconds
j. Voting
i. The amendment is approved.
17. Senator Lao moves to vote on changes made on contingent
funds
a. Senator seconds
b. Voting
i. Changes to contingent funds are passed.
18. Senator Enriquez moves to vote to add footnote
a. Senator seconds.
b. Voting
i. Footnote addition is approved.
19. The resolution is amended
a. Senator Robalino: Expresses concern with having a VP
of diversity in each department
b. Senator Enriquez yields the floor to Krystal Chavez
i. Krystal Chavez: Points out that the admin can
dismiss it if the wording but this is just a
consideration, not a demand.
c. Senator Enriquez yields the floor to Nikita
i. Nikita: States the clause is there because not one
VP of diversity and inclusion can be everywhere
since it’s such a large student body. This will
create more support and an infrastructure for
support
d. Senator moves to vote to amend the language to have
staff regarding inclusion
i. Senator Li seconds
e. Discussion
i. Senator Enriquez: Explains that staff is
ambiguous.
ii. Moira Turner: States that wording would
downgrade the purpose.
iii. Christian Carrion: States that language waters it
down and may only be temporary. This is meant
to ensure the longevity
f. Bulk moves to vote on the amended amendment
i. Senator Enriquez seconds
g. Voting
i. The amendment to the amendment does not pass
h. Darian moves to vote on the amended resolution
i. Senator Enriquez seconds.
i. Voting
i. The Campus Climate resolution is passed
b. New Elections and Recruitment Assistant Directors
i. Senator moves to vote to approve the new Elections and Recruitment
Assistant Directors
1. Senator seconds
ii. Voting
1. The new ADs are approved
c. New Graphics Assistant Directors
i. Senator Li moves to vote to approve the new Graphics ADs
1. Senator Nourian seconds.
ii. Voting
1. The new ADs are approved.
d. Bike Resolution
i. Senator Dubbury moves to vote on the Bike Resolution
1. Senator Enriquez seconds.
ii. Voting
1. The Bike Resolution is passed.
e. College Affordability Resolution
i. Senator White yields the floor to Luis Vidalon Suzuki
1. Luis Vidalon Suzuki: Discusses fiscal conservatism and how
this is calling for increased transparency.
ii. Senator Robalino moves to vote on the resolution
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
1. Senator Enriquez seconds
iii. Voting
1. The College Affordability resolution is passed.
f. Service Student Assembly Resolution
i. Senator Aguayo moves to vote on the resolution
1. Senator White seconds.
ii. Voting
1. The Service Student Assembly resolution is passed.
g. Elections Code Revisions
i. Senator Lao moves to vote to postpone the vote to next week
1. Senator Ellenhorn seconds.
ii. Discussion
iii. Senator Rifkind moves to vote on the elections code revisions
1. Senator Lao seconds
iv. Voting
1. The elections code revisions are passed.
New Business
a. Elections Code Revisions: Logan Dallas
i. Penalty section
Announcements:
a. Senator Li: Hosting Comedy Show – International Student Show
b. Ground zero next Tuesday at 8 pm
c. APASA – Winter Formal this Friday from 10pm – 1 am in TCC Ballroom
Discussion
a. Senators are awesome.
Adjournment
a. Senator Fong motions to adjourn the meeting.
i. Senator Dubbury seconds.
ii.
No objections.
b. Meeting adjourned at 9:39 PM.