American University
Residence Hall Association
c/o Housing & Dining Programs | 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW | Washington, DC 20016-8142
Phone: (202) 885-1878 | FAX: (202) 885-1154 | E-mail: info@aurha.org | www.aurha.org
General Assembly Agenda
Reiter Boldt
President
(202) 885-1878
reiter@aurha.org
Devon Wallick
Vice President of
Administration and Finance
(202) 885-3606
devon@aurha.org
November 7, 2013
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Rajita Sanji
Vice President of Advocacy &
Community Coordination
(202) 885-1742
rajita@aurha.org
Hayat Abu-Ghazaleh
Vice President of
Programming
(202) 885-2772
hayat@aurha.org
Patricio Barnuevo
National Communications
Coordinator
(202) 885-3676
patricio@aurha.org
Marieka Cober
Chief of Staff
(202) 885-2179
marieka@aurha.org
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Daniel DeHollander
Advisor
(202) 885-3138
deholla@american.edu
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Call to Order
o President Reiter Boldt called the meeting to order at 9:10 pm.
Attendance
o Anderson 5/6
o Cassell 4/6
o Centennial 6/6
o Hughes 5/6
o Leonard 5/5
o Letts Clark and Roper 6/6
o McDowell 5/5
o Nebraska 2/5
Minutes Approval
o Motion to approve last week’s minutes, unanimous consent
 seconded
Agenda Approval
o Motion to amend this week’s agenda to flip fund request and resolution,
unanimous consent
 seconded
o Motion to approve this week’s agenda, unanimous consent
 seconded
Hall Reports
o Anderson
 Shopping and decorating lobby
o Cassell
 Getting supplies for tailgate
o Centennial
 Nacho Night
 Getting ready for tailgate
o Hughes
 Trivia Night next Saturday
 Tailgate plans
o Leonard
 Met new RD this week
 Finding new council member
o Letts Clark and Roper
 Pride Week after tailgate, getting ready for that
o McDowell
 Working on tailgate
 Cookie decorating and study night next Wednesday
 Looking for last council member
o Nebraska
 Apple cider and decorating lobby
Executive Board Reports
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President
 CAACURH this weekend
 Breakfast Club meeting with Dr. Hanson
• Discussed committee for sustainable investment
• Fossil Free AU organizations
• Working with students and administration
• Board of Trustees this Friday
Vice President of Administration and Finance
 Conference call with My Favorite Student
• Care package provider
• Presentation next week maybe
Vice President of Advocacy and Community Coordination
 Food drive starts tonight, posters going up
• Teams of up to 20 people
• HOTY points for council teams
• Collection dates in the RHA office
• Are we getting boxes?
o Collecting as teams and dropping them off in the RHA
office on a scheduled day
• Can we put boxes in the lobby?
o Ask your RD or ARD
 Change wars with Students Helping Honduras
 Utensil campaign
• Return TDR utensils with no penalty
 Blood drive for second semester
 Holiday video coming up
 First complete round of resolutions!
Vice President of Programming
 Tailgate event
• Next week, be there at 5:30 to set up your activity
• Wear RHA or Blue Crew shirts
• Bring your friends!
• Go to the basketball game afterwards if you are not in class or
a meeting and then GA
• Flyers to hang up in halls
 Thanksgiving
• Still planning and looking at caterers
• Did you send a questionnaire to students to see if they are on
campus?
o Will put link on Facebook page
o Direct your friends there
 Multicultural night
• Moved to second semester
 P-cards
• Request from your advisor well in advance if needed, a week
or so in advance
• Short on active p-cards
 To It in the Dark
• Starts Monday
• Encourage residents to turn off lights and save power
 Trivia questions
• Three Blue Crew shirts to give out
• Who is the men’s basketball head coach?
o Mike Brennan
Who is AU playing this Thursday?
o UMBC
• When was the last time the basketball team won the Patriot
League?
o Back-to-back in 2008/2009
o National Communications Coordinator
 Conference starts tomorrow
• Both bids approved to be presented
• Everyone in delegation is presenting a program
o Presenting most at CAACURH
o Submitted most at CAACURH
• Rocking spirit points and winning
 Preparing a report for the region
• Highlighted Hall Wars
 Shoutout to Rajita and Megan for the banner
o Chief of Staff
 CAACURH this weekend
• Presenting “The Forgotten ‘ism’: Combatting Ableism on
College Campuses”
• Pennsylvania pride at Penn State
o Advisor
 Fall to Spring Room Change Process
• November 12th-13th
• http://www.american.edu/ocl/housing/2014-Fall-to-SpringRoom-Changes.cfm
• Communication sent to students with planned spring 2014
vacancies about their options for changing rooms, pulling in
students into their vacancies, or potentially "buying out" their
room to remain a "single" for the remainder of the semester.
o The buyout program applies to students in Centennial,
Anderson, Letts, Hughes, Clark, Roper, and McDowell
Halls.
o Higher rate to guarantee no one will move into the
space
• Ask your RD if you have any questions
 11/6/2013 Attended a CLARCC (athletics) Meeting
• Promoted Tailgate Event on 11/14/2013
• Promoted Centennial Nacho Night on 11/10/2013
• Thinking of ways to prevent programming overlap on campus
• Energized about remaining Phil Bender World Tour Events!
 11/7/2013 Met with Sophia to discuss different advocacy concerns on
campus in order to best direct Rajita and the hall council advocates
• Food Collection Drives must be approved by RHA Advisor
o http://www.american.edu/ocl/housing/upload/Residenc
e-Hall-Collections-Policies.pdf
o Questions? Contact deholla@american.edu
 CAACURH
• Presenting: "Roles and Functions of Advisors - Addressing
'Glaring Omissions'"
o Accessibility in student organizations using disability
Administrative Board Reports
o Parliamentarian
 Sorry I was late…
 Vacancies on hall councils
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NCC-IT
 Made $100 at Cava event
o Deputy Programmers
 Working with Green Eagles on Do it in the Dark
• Competition between halls for saving energy
• HOTY points for the winning hall
• Encourage your residents to save water and electricity
• Will be able to look up energy consumption online
• Kick-off event is in a couple of weeks
o S’mores on South and North Campus
o Campfire event
 Doodle poll for bonding
• Dinner for this semester if it doesn’t work out
• Something cool next semester
 Final Perk meeting
• Main idea is Candy Land
 CLAARC meeting
• Tuesday, 7 pm, women’s basketball
o Free smoothies, Coke, and pizza
• Tailgate
o Booeymonger’s sandwiches
o Activities
o Raffle for Eaglebucks
o Free bus ticket to New York for everyone who signs up
for rewards card at the game
o Wrestling vs. Wisconsin on 21st, 7 pm
 Free food
o Social Media Deputy
 Scheduled regular meetings with Marieka
 First one was this week!
 Finished tailgate advertisements
 Email news on programs to Jamie@aurha.org
New Business
o HOTY Update
 Presented by Rajita
 1. Lecloper
 2. McDowell
 3. Anderson
 Updated today!
 Don’t let the numbers discourage you
• First semester is not over
• HOTY will follow if you work hard and do well
o Executive Board Monthly Awards
 Presented by executive board members
 President: Kathy from Nebraska
 Finance: Annika from Cassell
 Advocacy: Alex from Lecloper
 Programming: Anisa from Anderson
 General Assembly Members: Jenna from Centennial and Devin from
Lecloper
o Tailgate fund request
 Presented by Katie, RD of Cassell and Nebraska
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Let Paul know at paul@aurha.org or ask questions
Aware of procedures in filling council positions
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• Work on Athletics Engagement Committee
 First huge activity to get residents involved in athletics
 McDowell Formal has been reserved as a back up location
 RAs and PAs told to bring 3-5 residents
 Looked at multiple quotes for food
• If you want to see more numbers, Katie can show you
 Recreation sports also having a table
 Four Greek organizations asked to have tables
 Funds going to food for guests
 Asking for $400
 Extra expenses coming from RD budgets
 Question period
• Do you have to pay for electricity if it is moved inside?
o Can cancel lighting
o Shouldn’t have to pay for electricity then
 Question: where would money come from?
• From grant line item
• Currently has $575
 Question: that is not hall discretionary? What is that intended for?
• Hall discretionary is for hall councils
• RA fund is for RAs
• Grant fund is for outside organizations
 Question: will there be more money there next semester?
• Yes
 Question: how many more will we get? How much will they be for?
• Last grant request was 3-4 weeks ago
• Usually range from $100-500
 Question: what happens if they don’t spend all of the money?
• If it is not spent, comes back to RHA
• Can spend as much as we approve but can spend less
 Motion to call the previous question
• Seconded
• Vote: 35-0-1, passed
Resolution 13-14-006
 Presented by Nate and Alex
 Question: is that the name of fees charged?
• Already in Constitution
 Amendment: Fix commas in therefore it be resolved sections
 Question: why is they changed to he/she?
• Not grammatically correct
 Question: gender inclusive terms if not identified with he/she?
• They is grammatically incorrect but gender inclusive
• Would be another resolution
 Question: are we changing it to change it back?
• Changing the grammar
 Amendment: Include they instead of he/she
• Accepted
• Will have to go back through and fix this
 Question: what else could we use instead of they?
• Would leave grammar incorrect
• People, persons, one
 Amendment: Change they/their to one/one’s
 Question: what has the language been in the past?
• Think we are the ones to change it first this semester
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Question: are they/their bad?
• Formal document with correct grammar
Main goal to change Residence Hall Association to RHA
Grammar can change the meaning of a sentence
Question: voting on the corrected version?
• Changing to one/one’s
Question: one not always clear, can we replace it with better words?
Motion to table until next week, unanimous consent
• Objection
Question: would we have to reread the resolution?
• No, it will be a repetitive reading
Pro/con debate
• Con
o We are close to a decision and can do it now
• Pro
o Want to make sure changes are concrete before vote
• Con
o Easy fix to strike the clause and fix later
o Write another resolution to correct
• Pro
o One/one’s not used for whole document
o Look over the resolution again to avoid friendly
amendments
o Quicker debate next week
• Question: can we edit it between now and then?
o Can take it to roundtable and edit
• Question: can we suspend rules to make sure they do not
read the resolution next week?
o Yes
• Pro
o Megan in support
• Con
o More resolutions to come next week
o Next week will be busy and this will take more time
• Pro
o Convenience not over correctness
• Con
o Could strike and make a new resolution
o Use specific role name for gender neutral
o Agree on one amendment
• Question: can we change it before voting?
o Would change it tonight
• Question: what exactly would we be changing?
o Replacing with role name
o Grammar and gender correct
• Motion to leave period of pro/con debate, unanimous consent
o Seconded
Amendment: restate position name in place of pronouns
• Accepted
Motion to table until next week, unanimous consent
• Objection
• Con for tabling
o Put forward a correction and can be corrected now
• Motion to leave pro/con debate, unanimous consent
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o Seconded
Motion to call the previous question: voting on whether or not to table
• Vote: 10-21-3, fails
Question: has the amendment to change the pronouns been made?
• Yes, now talking about the resolution
Motion to call the previous question: voting on amended resolution
• Vote: 22-9-3, failed
• Requires 23 votes in favor
• Clarification: need a 2/3 majority to pass
• Question: can we make abstaining members vote?
o We can but Paul advises not doing it
• Question: are abstaining members counted toward yes?
o Would need to divide the house
• Question: were 2/3 majority used on other resolutions?
o Voted on almost unanimously
• Question: can we allow abstaining members to vote?
o We could
• Question: what happens if it fails?
o Can be brought back, failed for now
o Would be introduced as new resolution
• Question: can we revote?
o Could call a different method of voting
• Question: can we move roll call vote?
o You could if wanted
Motion to call a roll call vote, unanimous consent
• Objection
o Con
 still have more items on our agenda
 time consuming to revote
o Pro
 Multiple halls have proposed new vote
o Con
 Just because one method failed, not always call
another vote
 Failed already
o Pro
 Not a large difference in voting, close vote
o Question: could people abstain in a roll call vote?
 Can abstain
o Con
 Pressure on people who chose to abstain
o Pro
 People didn’t know how close the vote would
be
 Now they know we need 2/3 majority
o Con
 Abstaining members not enough, people voted
the way their felt
o Pro
 Can abstain again if they want
o Con
 Same results would be replicated
o Question: how much time is left?
 1:30, can move to make more time
Question: would we pass if one person switched to
yay?
 Yes
o Pro
 We don’t have to re-proposed this resolution
 Constitution will be wrong if not proposed
o Motion to extend time by 3 minutes, unanimous
consent
 Objection
• Pro/con debate on extending
o Con
 Taking too long right now
o Pro
 Taking time talking about
this
o Motion to end debate
 Seconded
• Motion to call the previous question:
extend the discussion by 3 minutes
o Vote: 2-26-6, failed
Motion to call the previous question: whether or not voting by
roll call on the resolution
o Vote: 20-12-2, passes
Vote by roll call on resolution
o Question: vote by hall or individuals?
 By individual
o Question: what will this pass?
 Will pass or fail the resolution
o Question: can we revote when something fails?
 If it is a motion
o Question: why was their no general discussion?
 Motion was never made
o Roll call vote
 Ryan yes
 Anisa yes
 Kyle yes
 Johanna yes
 Megan yes
 Keke yes
 Roza yes
 Charlie yes
 Joyce yes
 Alya yes
 Amanda yes
 Gabby yes
 Maxime yes
 Jenna yes
 Ryan yes
 Matt yes
 Brianna yes
 Kaitlyn yes
 Joe yes
 Daniel no
 Johanne yes
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Mock
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 Sarah abstain
 Cooper abstain
 Devin yes
 Rebecca abstain
 Jasmine yes
 Cal yes
 Matt no
 Julia yes
 Nicole abstain
 Sol no
 Bianca no
 Kathy no
 Alisa no
 Vote: 25-6-3, passes
• Question: can anyone propose a resolution to change
o Yes
• Question: what does the rest of the constitution say?
o Could look over and make another resolution
• Question: is there another form of voting?
o No, it was passed
o Could write another resolution to change what was
done
o Can vote by voice, roll call, division, divide the house
 Divide the house: voice vote with no abstaining
members
• Question: why could we revote?
o No, because it failed
o Cannot revote on passing resolution
• Question: can we make motions?
o Yes, floor is open
Bid Presentation
Presented by Patricio, Zoe, and Sam
Commitment to Service bid not being presented in front of anyone
Program of the Year presented to people on Saturday
What do you think we should emphasize?
• Facilitates competition and community
• Motivates community building on campus, RHA, and in halls
• T-shirts were great and campus-wide
• Got to know new people on floors within the halls
• Teamwork is needed, ex: event in a bag
• Still see people wearing their shirts and triggers curiosity,
large effect still on campus
• Something to look forward to as a new student
• Tell why people should participate in the event
• Shows school spirit
• Interact with residents of other halls
• Pride for your own hall/home
• Good show for Tenley’s last year
• Identify with your home hall
• Remember last year and the memories
• Traditions build school spirit
• Makes residents work and participate
• Reinforces the idea of residence halls over the d-word
How can we show hall council involvement and dedication?
Smaller events on the hall council level
Lecloper glow-out
o Hayat can send pictures and details
• Raised money for DC Central Kitchen
• Colors of shirts were done by hall
Talk to Patricio and Sam afterwards with any other comments
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Open Forum
o Shoutouts
 To all of GA for sticking through all of this
 Marieka for taking 10 pages of minutes
 Sam for sitting here the whole time
 Lots of fun with parli pro
 Nate for calming Alex down
 Advocates for all of their resolutions
 Joyce for helping with CAACURH spirit
 Alex for working with Nate
 CAACURH delegation
 Hard work for CAACURH delegation
 Keesha for coming to CAACURH and here
 GA Ryan for internship with DC mayor
 Advocates for writing resolutions
 Shout out to all of the OTMs last month
 Advocate roundtable this week for being fun
 Reiter for being commanding
 McDowell for staying strong
 Patricio for organizing CAACURH and lots of work
 Cassell’s Megan for working hard and looking perfect
 Paul for keeping everything in order
 Anisa for helping Kyle
 Jenna as the partner and crime and monthly award
 Rajita in the office working on the poster
 Devon for helping to pack and calming Marieka down
 Everyone for studying parli pro and good meeting
 CAACURH delegation for preparing
 Reiter’s new haircut
Adjournment
o Meeting adjourned at 11: 20 pm.