S.G.A. SENATE MEETING
March 2, 2015
The meeting was called to order in the Leaders Suite of the Donald G.
Bollinger Student Union at 4:00 p.m.
Presiding officer was Vice President
Mary Sauce. The Recording Secretary was Dolly McGeever.
The pledge was led by Senator Katelyn Cortez and the prayer was given by
Senator Charles Johns.
The Nicholls Student Government Association Mission Statement was read by
Senator Austin Wendt and Senator Meah Johnson read the first value of the
Nicholls Creed.
The following Executive Board members were present:
President Adam Lefort,
Vice President Mary Sauce, Treasurer Bobby Dufrene, Director of Student
Rights and Grievances Carolanne Moore, Director of Public Relations Lillie
Bourgeois and Secretary Dolly McGeever.
The following Senators were present: Lawrence Arceneaux, III, Yaye Ba, Meah
Johnson, Les Theriot, Grant Ordoyne, Markos Picou, Trey Clark, Peyton
Chiasson, Emily Sauce, Austin Wendt, Jessica Fradella, Tiffany Durocher,
Katelyn
Cortez,
Abigail
Ledet,
Charles
Johns,
Micah
Hebert,
Darian
Graivshark, Taylor Bruce and Kaitlyn Mistretta.
The following Senator was absent:
Tommy Thibodeaux.
Web Tech was represented by Trey Clark.
Student Supreme Court was represented by Justice Celia Ordoyne.
Election Commission
(appointed).
was
represented
by
Commissioner
Kristine
Normand
The following guests were present:
Dr. Eugene A. Dial, Jr., Vice President
of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services and SGA Advisor, State
Representative Jerome “Dee” Richard of District 55, Melissa Cloutet, Fan
Development/Marketing Associate and Tyler Knowles Athletic Department Ticket
Manager, Vincent Sbisa, staff writer for The Nicholls Worth and Sydney
Landry.
Minutes of January 26, 2015 were approved as printed.
GUEST SPEAKER:
Melissa Cloutet, Fan Development/Marketing Associate
Tyler Knowles, Athletics Department Ticket Manager
Ms. Cloutet said we are with Athletics and want to give you a monthly update
on what’s happening:
 Tomorrow night the Baseball team is playing Tulane at 6:00 p.m. so we’d
love to see you there.
 Women’s Softball is doing amazingly right now.
They’re second in
Conference so we hope to see you at the game.
 Football starts Spring Practice tomorrow. This year the Spring game is
going to be a fun event.
We’re going to try to get Snapper and the
Fishsticks out there so it’ll be a big event for you.
It will begin
sometime in the morning and last until the afternoon.
 SPA is having a “Meet and Greet” on Monday, March 9th, for the Baseball
and Softball teams so please come out to get autographs and meet
players.
If you ever need anything from Athletics, we’re open for ideas, suggestions
or comments.
Jerome “Dee” Richard, State Representative, District 55
The problem we have right now is in Higher Education.
We have to be
concerned about how Nicholls State works. You have to get in touch with your
Legislator, wherever you’re from, and stay in touch with them. Let them know
that what they propose for the budget is unacceptable.
We have a spending
problem in Louisiana.
We’re still funding the Saints which is a nongovernment organization. We’re funding the Pelicans. They’re funding these
before they fund higher education.
GUEST SPEAKER CONTINUED:
I’m proud to say that Dr. Murphy took the side of what I’ve been saying.
Quit raising tuition.
That’s not the answer.
I’ll vote against anything
proposed that would raise tuition. I encourage you to get involved.
I’m
proud of the fact that our university is taking a stand in not raising
tuition.
OFFICER REPORTS
PRESIDENT’S REPORT – ADAM LEFORT
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SGA will not have a meeting next week and I’ll be in Washington, D.C.
with COSBP.
Composite pictures – at the SGA banquet, we hand out a composite with
photos of all Senate Officers so you can take pictures this Friday from
1:00 to 3:00 p.m. or next Tuesday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at 125 Elkins
Hall.
Misty will also be taking photos of Spring Election candidates
and Mr. & Ms. Nicholls Finalists.
SGA & SPA nominations are due this Thursday so if you want to be on the
Senate again, make sure you turn it in on time. The same goes for the
E-Board positions.
If you’re with another student organization,
remember that nominations for Mr. & Ms. Nicholls are due next Monday.
March 11th, Wednesday, at 3:00 p.m. we have the Student Advisory Board
meeting which is for Student Affairs.
If you are on this committee,
you should have received an email by now. I will be in Washington, so
if anyone is interested in attending in my place, it’s going to be
March 11th in the President’s Conference Room. Vice President Mary S.
and Director Lillie B. will also need a volunteer because they won’t be
able to attend the meeting.
It’s a meeting to discuss anything that
you may be concerned about.
SGA banquet is April 29th.
Last week I met with Dr. Murphy after the budget was released.
It
seems that we are looking at $212 million cut to higher education. The
different ways they’re looking at it is the Tobacco Tax and Gambling
Tax. It’s all talk, just speculation. We are still trying to figure
out what exactly we’re going to do. One thing that Dr. Murphy doesn’t
want is a tuition increase. We’ve already raised it every year. Like
State Representative Richard said, call your State Representative and
talk to them, sent emails, letters, any other ways to reach them.
We’ll probably plan something to do with COSBP as a statewide effort
when I get back from Washington.
Last Week I had a Hall of Fame Committee meeting. We selected thirteen
people to be in the Hall of Fame.
I also had a Vice President of Academic Affairs/Provost Search
Committee meeting.
We had a Budget sub-committee meeting last week.
I’m on the subcommittee for Enrollment.
Last Monday and Tuesday I attended a Board of Supervisors/Trusteeship
Conference and a UL System meeting. The Trusteeship Conference was all
four systems of the State. They spoke about tuition, how to increase
funding and enrollment. Those were the main topics. We’re seeing more
students going to technical community colleges instead of four year
colleges.
Dr. Murphy provided his presentation for one of our
committees which goes over his strategic plan and they thought highly
of it.
COMMENT:
Senator Lawrence A. asked if the $212 million budget cut
was for the entire State.
President Adam L. said yes.
They can’t cut more because it would interfere with the
issuance of bonds.
COMMENT:
Senator Micah H. asked if these cuts deemed short term or
will they be compounding again next year for another $200+
million.
President Adam L. said everything he’s heard so
far is that this is just a one-year cut.
COMMENT:
Senator Lawrence A. asked if there is going to be a Tobacco
Tax increase. President Adam L. said there’s going to be a
tax proposed but there’s talk about a tax credit where you
pay tuition up front but you may get some of it back.
OFFICER REPORTS CONTINUED
PRESIDENT’S REPORT CONTINUED
 Please refer to the “Proposal for Catalog Change” that I handed out
earlier. This is a proposal that was brought up at the last University
Council meeting. It’s for course load on how many hours you can take.
You know that you can take 18 hours and if you want to go more, you
have to get approval.
This is for us to have it capped at 22 hours.
We have a student who tried to schedule 32 hours last semester.
He
only dropped one but he technically paid for only 12 hours.
This is
just to put into writing what is understood most by students.
COMMENT:
Senator Yaye B. asked mentioned the fact that a student may
not meet the GPA requirements of a 2.5 or whatever.
President Adam L. said that’s up to the department.
You
can have up to 18 hours but to get to 22 hours, you have to
go to the Dean and request it.
If you’re requesting more
hours, you have to have a 2.0 GPA.
They don’t want
students taking classes and having to drop them. Talk to
your friends about it and get back with us on it.
DIRECTOR OF STUDENT RIGHTS & GRIEVANCES’ REPORT – CAROLANNE MOORE
Thank you for turning in your WID/WIH forms last week and for adding the
emails along with the name. For those who did not fill one out, you can only
miss two or you’ll have an automatic removal from the Senate. You only have
to do one every two weeks.
The format is on Moodle.
Make sure you have
their emails. The reason you have the emails on there is to let the students
know we are getting the things they want done.
TREASURER’S REPORT – BOBBY DUFRENE
Can Wars is Monday from noon to 4:00 p.m. Student organizations will build
structures with donated can goods. The can goods go to Ms. Jean Donegan of
the Art Department who donates them. SGA is asked to put on Can Wars every
year and it’s my job to do that.
We’re asking that you promote it and are
hoping to get a few more teams together.
SGA is competing so we’re asking
that you start collecting can goods. We’re giving out two $250 prizes. From
4:00 to 4:30 p.m., we’ll be packing up all the cans in boxes so since we
don’t have an SGA meeting, please come by to help back up the boxes.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS’ REPORT – LILLIE BOURGEOIS
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As I announced last week, it’s supposed to be the softball game that
we’re handing out vouchers but they cancelled the game for tomorrow so
we’ll hand them out at the baseball game.
Nicholls plays Tulane
tomorrow at 6:00 p.m.
We’ll start handing out the vouchers at 5:30
p.m.
I will pass the sign-up sheet around again so if you have to
change it, I understand.
If you can help, please sign up tomorrow.
I’ll need someone to bring the vouchers there.
Senator Austin W.
volunteered.
I’m posting info about Spring Elections, as well as, Mr. and Ms.
Nicholls and Swamp Stomp. Please share this information.
When students see the advertising for Swamp Stomp, they may think the
$25 entry fee is for them but just stress that students get in free.
We really want to promote this and see it flourish.
VICE PRESIDENT'S REPORT – MARY SAUCE
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Thank you to those who have been turning in WID/WIH forms regularly and
attending the mandatory events. Keep up the good work.
Because we’re not having a meeting next week, I’ll meet with Senator
Lawrence A. to start tabulating everyone’s attendance.
We’ll try to
give you an update on attendance so if you’re falling short on the
WID/WIH forms or mandatory events, we can find a way to make it up.
You can start volunteering.
Last week, President Adam L., Director Lillie B. and I attended a Tech
Fee Committee meeting.
OFFICER REPORTS CONTINUED:
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT CONTINUED:
 For Student Advisory Board volunteers and those who are turning in
applications, I’ll try to remind you on the Moodle page as well as
Facebook. Let me know if you’re not on the Facebook group so I can add
you.
 The attorney’s scheduled days are March 5th and two more Thursdays
following that. Try to spread the word that he is available.
 After the Spring Election Candidate’s Forum and Mr. & Ms. Nicholls
Presentation on March 18th, we’ll try to have a Town Hall meeting. Try
to make plans to be there so we can talk to different students about
concerns.
ACTIONS TAKEN ON OLD BILLS
S1415-052
I move that the Senate allocate up to $2,000 to help fund the “Love the
Nicholls Fountain” campaign on Fundly website.
This will come from the
Campus Improvements line item of the budget. Passed and signed.
S1415-053
I move that the Senate accept the SGA President Adam Lefort’s appointment of
Darian Graivshark for the position of Senator-at-Large. Passed and signed.
S1415-054
I move that the Senate accept the SGA President Adam Lefort’s appointment of
Taylor Bruce for the position of Senator of the College of Education. Passed
and signed.
S1415-055
I move that the Senate accept the SGA President Adam Lefort’s appointment of
Kaitlyn Mistretta for the position of Senator of the College of Arts and
Sciences. Passed and signed.
STUDENT SUPREME COURT REPORT – Celia Ordoyne
The Etiquette Dinner is March 17th.
Reporting for SPA:
The deadline for SPA President and Vice President is March 12th.
SPA Events:
March 9th is Baseball Night.
March 12th is Comedy Night.
March 12th is the Festival of Colors.
April 24th is Crawfish Day.
ELECTION COMMISSION REPORT – Commissioner Kristine Normand
Spring Elections are coming up, March 22nd to March 25th.
A petition to run
for SGA President, Vice President and Senators have a deadline of Thursday,
March 5th. Even if you’re on the Senate now, you have to reapply.
The nomination packets for Mr. & Ms. Nicholls have a deadline of Monday,
March 9th by 4:30 p.m.
Petitions and nomination packets are available in the SGA office.
WEB TECH REPORT – Trey Clark
I have the web page up and running.
SGA SENATE COMMITTEE REPORTS
Finance Committee – Tiffany Durocher, Chair
Present:
Senators Tiffany Durocher, Lawrence Arceneaux, III, Peyton
Chiasson, Trey Clark, Katelyn Cortez, Charles Johns, Meah
Johnson, Markos Picou, Emily Sauce, Les Theriot and Tommy
Thibodeaux.
Absent:
Senator Yaye Ba.
Guest:
Treasurer Bobby D.
SGA SENATE COMMITTEE REPORTS CONTINUED:
Finance Committee Continued:
Today we discussed the following:
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Motion to purchase 3 Iphone 5 cables for the Union. It was found to be
highly favorable.
Some ideas for new motions are: sponsoring tickets for the upcoming
Etiquette Dinner, replacing marble on the Free Speech Podium and
granite at the Eternal Flame, installing hand sanitizer stations at
Jazzman’s and changing the amounts for the SGA sponsored Graduate
Student Scholarships.
The committee met again before the General Meeting to discuss purchasing 20
tickets for the upcoming Etiquette Dinner on March 17.
It was found to be
highly favorable.
Judiciary Committee – Lawrence Arceneaux, III, Chair; Austin Wendt, Co-Chair
Present:
Senators Lawrence Arceneaux, III, Austin Wendt, Peyton Chiasson,
Trey Clark, Meah Johnson, Markos Picou, Chante’ Singleton, Tommy
Thibodeaux and Emily Sauce.
Absent:
Senator Yaye Ba.
We discussed the following:
 We went over three absentee forms and interviewed Kristine Normand for
the position of Election Commissioner. We excused all three absentee
forms. We interviewed Kristine and found her highly favorable.
Meet the SGA/Social Events: Mr/Ms Nicholls/Banquet - Homecoming/Christmas) –
Grant Ordoyne, Chair
Present:
Senators Grant Ordoyne, Peyton Chiasson, Abigail Ledet, Chante’
Singleton, Les Theriot, Tommy Thibodeaux and Austin Wendt.
Absent:
Senator Emily Sauce.
We discussed the following:
 The third Student Appreciation Night will take place tomorrow. The game
starts at 6:00 p.m.
Senators are encouraged to show up between 5:30
and 5:45 to hand out vouchers to students.
 Talked about the Nicholls Can Drive. Senators are encouraged to assist
with Can Wars on March 9th.
 Talked about starting College Nights with baseball within the next
couple of weeks.
Campus Improvements Committee – Peyton Chiasson, Chair; Tommy Thibodeaux, CoChair;
Present:
Senators Peyton Chiasson, Tommy Thibodeaux, Katelyn Cortez,
Tiffany Durocher, Jessica Fradella, Charles Johns, Abigail Ledet,
Grant Ordoyne and Austin Wendt.
Guest:
Senator Les Theriot.
We discussed the following:
 The possibility of shaving the curbs on the parking lots behind the
Union and Talbot to accommodate small cars.
 Having a larger variety of healthy food options in all eating
locations.
 Improving the food quality on weekends.
 Improving the drainage by Zeringue Hall going towards the courtyards.
 The possibility of lifting or changing certain housing rules such as
visitation hours and having guests overnight.
On March 5th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Union, the Campus
Improvements Committee will have a “What’s the Frustration” table to allow
students to voice their concerns.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
S1415-056
I move that the Senate accept Kristine Normand for the position of Election
Commissioner. Kristine Normand is the appointment of the SGA President, Adam
Lefort, and the SPA President, Taylor Degruise.
1. Lawrence Arceneaux, III
2. Austin Wendt
Question: Move into vote
Passed For-19
Against-0
Abstained-0
S1415-057a
I move to suspend the Rules of Procedure to allow the motion to be heard.
The reason for the suspension is it is in violation of Article VIII, Section
A. Number 1 of the Rules of Procedures (The motion was not previously copied
and distributed to the Senators).
1. Meah Johnson
2. Lawrence Arceneaux, III
Move into vote
Passed For-19
Against-0
Abstained-0
S1415-057
I move that the SGA purchase 20 tickets at $25/ticket for students to attend
the SHRM event Annual “Etiquette Dinner” on March 17 th. This will total $500
and be taken from Senator Projects line item of the budget.
1.
2.
Meah Johnson
Markos Picou
Discussion: Senator Meah J. said this is an annual event. SGA sponsors the
same number of tickets every year. It allows 20 students to attend free if
they sign up in the SGA office. There is usually a good turn out and it’s a
very good experience, especially for those in the College of Business.
If
approved, however, the tickets are available to the student body so the
Senators are encouraged to wait until closer to the event.
If there is a
vacancy, you can attend.
Question: Move into vote
Passed For-19
Against-0
Abstained-0
S1415-058
I move that the Senate purchase 3 Iphone 5 cables for the Student Union. The
cost will be $30.00 for 3 cables and will be taken from the Senator Project
line item of the budget.
1. Austin Wendt
2. Jessica Fradella
Discussion: Senator Austin W. said the Student Union has charging stations.
Currently we don’t have Iphone 5 cables.
Question: Move into vote
Passed For-19
Against-0
Abstained-0
UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE REPORTS
Honorary Degree Committee – Tiffany Durocher
The committee met on February 26.
We discussed applications of those
nominated for an Honorary Degree. The committee received no new nominations
this year. The committee did not choose any of the candidates to receive an
Honorary Degree because we didn’t feel any of the nominees reached the
qualities of an Honorary Degree recipient.
Dr. Plaisance, the Committee
Chair, will meet with the Academic Affairs Department to discuss ways to
receive new nominations.
Library Committee – Grant Ordoyne
Several Library policies have been updated and are available on the
website.
The Library has purchased Lib Guides (content management
which will be used to revamp the subject guides as well as other
features.
The Library is also continuing its reclassification
converting from Dewey to Library of Congress.
Library
system)
website
project
UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE REPORTS CONTINUED:
Tech Fee Committee – Mary Sauce
We attended the meeting last
received or is on the way.
week
and
everything
they
ordered
has
been
We also approved the eBallot Software and made a motion to have it in the
budget for this coming year.
DISCUSSION PERIOD:
Vice President Mary S. said Ms. Dolly will distribute the roster of eligible
officers for the nomination of Mr. & Ms. Nicholls.
The vote is anonymous.
(Votes were tabulated). Congratulations to our Mr. & Ms. Nicholls nominees,
Bobby Dufrene and Tiffany Durocher.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Trey C.
SAE is having a Donut Dash. It’s a 5K and half way through
the race there is a donut challenge. There’s also a run or
walk. I will share the info online on Facebook.
Lawrence A.
College Republicans will be sponsoring and holding a
Student Forum/Debate on the education issues that will be
facing the State. It will be April 1st at 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
We don’t know who’ll be added yet. I’ll have more info in
the coming weeks.
It doesn’t mean that just the
Republicans can attend, it’s for everyone.
Dr. Dial
Reminding everyone about Swamp Stomp. SGA is co-sponsoring
it.
It celebrates South Louisiana Bayou country.
There
are Kid Zones which will have events similar to Family Day.
Carolanne M.
Delta Zeta is having their annual Turtle Tug.
It’s
scheduled for March 22nd, Monday. If you’d like to make an
SGA team, it is 5 people on a team. This will be the last
year we have the Turtle Tug event.
We’re also selling
raffle tickets.
Mary S.
This Thursday, the Honors Program is hosting a Trivia event
at 7:00 p.m. in the Colonel’s Retreat.
You pay $5 for a
team of 4 people ($1.25 per person).
You get chicken
fingers, mozzarella sticks and lemonade.
We have half
price beer if you’re 21 or older and you get to enter a
team to answer trivia questions.
It’s a lot of fun.
The
winning team gets a $100 gift card for the Nicholls
bookstore.
Grant O.
If some of you are going to the game tomorrow, would any of
you like to throw out the first pitch? Senator Lawrence A.
volunteered.
Dolly M.
I only received about five petitions to serve on the Senate
next semester so if you’re interested, the deadline is
Thursday. If you don’t submit your petition and you choose
to serve in the Fall, you’ll have to interview all over
again with the Judiciary Committee.
The following officers were sworn in by Vice President Mary Sauce:
Kristine Normand – Election Commissioner
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.