Minutes of the
STUDENT ASSOCIATION SENATE
OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
21 October 2012
CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The meeting was called to order by Speaker Austin M. D. Quick at 6:00 p.m. in the Clara Sperling
Skyroom of the Holmes Student Center. Senate Clerk Chad Harris conducted a roll call of Senators. All
members were present except; Senator(s) Allen, Adetunji, Scritchlow, Steele, Koegel. Also present were
Executive Directors and Senators At Large to be and John Acardo, with a quorum present, the meeting
proceeded. President Pro Tempore Brian Troutman asked Senator Dunn to lead in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
MEETING AND AGENDA APPROVAL
Speaker Quick motions to amend the agenda and move items D, E, F, and a walk-on H, and consider it
read as old business. Motion Adopted.
SPEAKER’S REPORT
Good evening everyone, I’m going to keep my remarks short. We’ve had the last couple weeks and I’ve
spoken at length about a couple different issues. We talked about the bystander intervention last week,
for those of you that have not gotten in touch with Senator Zanayed please do before the end of the
evening. One of the things that I had told you I was going to do from time to time and I’m very glad that
we get to hear from a person who has served in this body at one time, is I’m to bring in various speakers
to speak on various different things. But tonight we have the rarity that we have someone who served
as a senator in the Student Association and then served in multiple roles within the SA and is now an
elected official here in the county as the County Clerk and Recorder. Which is an elected county wide
position, he has done very well for himself since his time in the SA, so without further ado I’d like to
introduce the DeKalb County Clerk John Acardo. There is something I wanted to talk about briefly after
we gave the County Clerk a few moments tonight and we thank him for coming out. This past week, it’s
been all over the news, the issue that happened here at the university with the arrest of 8 employees
and 1 former employee. I’ve talked at length with you the last few weeks about the University having to
do better. And I think it is very telling when something like this happens when you have multiple
employees at very high levels arrested for wrong doings within our University, What I would say to you
as student leaders of the Student body is to stay focused and keep challenging members of the this
administration and University. Just because they hold the title does not give them the power to do
whatever they like. And as we keep fighting for grievance policy that is suitable to our students and as
we keep fighting to ensure that we get the best level of care and treatment from the people within the
administration and within the University. I asked you to stay vigilant and remember the oath you took
here, and if you have anything you see that is going on don’t be afraid to speak out, challenge students
to speak out, and with the president leaving at the end of the semester there is a lot of changes coming
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in the future with the administration as a whole. This is a very optimistic time for this university and its
troubling when you have to deal with something of this magnitude but I think it’s something that’s going
to be refreshing for our University to be finally changing course and finally teach people and show
people that wrong doing is not allowed. Ironically the day that this all happened, we had to start doing
our ethics training on the same day they were all arrested. It is a sad occurrence but it is something that
I think was necessary and I think through the vigilance of the states attorney’s office and the other
people involved we will get to the bottom of this and again I ask you to stay vigilant and to keep
questioning things, don’t settle, don’t take people at their word. It’s always the mindset I’d ask you to
have is to trust but verify, as we continue down this road I ask you all to stay vigilant and keep fighting
for students as we do here every day.
COMMITTEE REPORT(S)
James Zanayed: Campus Life and Greek Affairs
 Set goals for committee to accomplish
o Amnesty Policy for students
o Constituent request for extra Route 3 bus
Michael Theodore: University Services
 Focused directly on plus-minus system.
o System was delayed due to formulating student position
o Upcoming legislation on student opposition of system
 May use Plus system opposed to Plus-Minus
Victoria Frank: Public Affairs
 Appointed Vice Chair and secretary,
 Meeting in Douglas room after every Senate meeting
EXECUTIVE BRANCH REPORT(S)
Treasurer Joshua Venaas:
 Agenda Item H will be discussed
 60 groups have turned in budget requests
o Hearing presentations from groups on their budgets onward through February
OLD BUSINESS
SAB 44004: A Bill to Recognize Virtuously Chic
 Senator Shockey Motions to postpone Indefinitely.
o Motion passes 6:18pm
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SAB 44005: A Bill to Recognize SAE Mini Baja
 President speaks on groups behalf
o Motion passes 6:20pm
SAB 44006: A Bill to Recognize NIU ACA
 President speaks on groups behalf
o Motion passes at 6:23pm
SAB 44007: A Bill to Recognize Order of Omega
 Gina Gregolunas speaks on the groups behalf
o Motion passes at 6:25pm
SAR 44020: A Resolution to confirm committee appointments
 Speaker Quick amends two names to the list, Chad Harris and Michael Theodore to University
Council
o Motion passes at 6:27pm
SAR 44021: A Resolution to Appoint Blake Goldman
 Blake Goldman Speaks on his behalf
o Motion passes at 6:28pm
o Signs Oath of Office at 6:29pm
SAR 440022: A Resolution to Appoint Alpkan Cakici
 Alpkan Cakici Speaks on his behalf
o Motion passes at 6:31pm
o Signs Oath of Office at 6:32pm
SAR 44023: A Resolution to Appoint Andres Beltran
 Andres Beltran speaks on his behalf
o Motion passes at 6:34pm
o Signs of Oath of Office at 6:35pm
SAB 44012: A Bill to Amend the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget
 Treasurer Joshua Venaas Speaks on the bill’s behalf
 Senator Theodore Inquires: “Can you express why the reserve needs to be at such a comfortable
level at the end of the year?”
o “They are reserves, we need them in case activity fees drop, and we need more money
to cover what we’re missing, then we have a reserve to fill that void.”
o Motion passes at 6:45
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Speaker Quick Motions to go into Executive Session
o Senator Shockey Seconds
o Motion Passes at 6:46
o Executive Session ends at 6:58
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
ADJOURNMENT
President Troutman requested a motion to adjourn. Motion is made by Senator Zanayed. Seconded by
Senator Theodore. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 6:59 p.m.
MINUTES SUBMITTED BY
Chad A. Harris, Clerk of the Senate & Special Assistant to the Speaker.
EXECUTIVE ALLOCATION INFORMATION
None
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