GSA Assembly Meeting
Friday April 1, 2016
East Campus – George Education Building 110A
Kevin Williams started at 6:00 pm.
Kevin Williams to speak about the progress of the Blue Ribbon Panel or anything else. Panel met last
year and had 8 recommendations. Recommendation was to increase funding. He put in a proposal for
over $1 million but did not get did get $500,000, $250,000 was new. He put money toward extending
funding, extended year funding. This year there was only money for 15 slots he increased it for next
year, the remaining money went toward raising stipends more. Stipends went up but went up
modestly. His answer towards working for all the recommendations is that he is not micro-managing
the departments but if the departments show that they are working towards helping students to find
funding such as grants and such then he will help them. He does not/will not give anything to TESOL
because he does not have any resources to give them any lines.
Meeting called to order at 6:40 pm
1. Approve Agenda – approved at 6:41 pm
2. Advocacy Postcards – doing letters about fracking and pipelines– everyone got one. Sign and
return.
3. Approval of March 4th minutes – minutes approved
4. Officer Reports (Executive Board)
a. President – Kat Slye – discrepancy between what is in the account and the accounting
office says in the account. Looking at the downtown office there was a theft of some
paper, stapler and we are looking at security, such as a different location or a key pad.
b. Vice President – Hirah Mir – if you are a new RGSO, make sure you have registered on
myinvolvement. Send email so you can be allotted the $500 that your RGSO is entitled
to. An U.S. Senator is looking for stories about Graduate Student debt, will send out
email about it.
c. Treasurer Hina Thalho – nothing to add
i. Approval of the Treasurer’s Report – motion made, seconded. Approved
d. Equity and Inclusion Chair – Amani Edwards – no addition
e. Programming Chair – Lisa Cassidy – Saturday, May 7th 5:30 pm– recognition event,
awards.
f. Grants Chair – John Stovall – nothing to add
5. GSA Representative Reports
a. University Council Representative – Caitlin Janiszewski – nothing to add except to
change the name of Indian Quad, began discussion with local Mohawk Indian leader
b. Lead Senator – Nakissa Jahanbani – nothing to add
c. UAS Board Representative – Dylan Card – April is hunger awareness month. There will
be a kosher and halal dinning option in the new expansion of the campus center
d. Wages and Benefits – Caitlin Janiszewski – continuing to work on childcare issue
e. Judicial Board Report – nothing to add
6. New Business
a. Printer Contracts – Kat Slye – printer uptown dies a lot, lease is up in July, purchase two
new printers, will end up costing less than what we pay now, we will end up paying only
for what we print. Will have two printers in the office. Second contract will come in July
when the lease is up. Will come in under $20,000 for the printer budget. Will have a
service contract that is a 5 year service maintenance/service agreement– no objections,
no discussion.
b. Diversity Conference – Amani Edwards – take from recorder - $1,000 to sponsor the
speaker for the conference. Motion was made, Seconded. Vote passed.
c. Ban the Box resolution final clause – Some universities and committees have decided to
completely erase this wording – “Resolved that the University at the Albany GSA
Assembly recommend that criminal history screening should only be implemented after
a student has been admitted, and that they should never be used to revoke admission;
and, be it further” – Amani wants to see if the Assembly wants it removed or for it to
stay. Motion made to strike portion of the clause by Eli, second made. Vote did not
pass. Going back to original language. Vote on the entire clause, vote to remove the
clause.
d. Budget adjustment - $500 to water line – Kat Slye take from recorder – we need more
money for the water. Motion made, seconded. No debate. Vote passed.
e. Parliamentarian’s analysis – Kat Slye – sent governing documents to parliamentarian
and asked if there were any recommendation’s that he had and he came back with a
huge document that is posted online for review that is noted contradictions, and
suggestions, etc. – motion to establish rules committee starting now and work through
the summer to look at recommendations and provide to the Assembly in Sept 2016 bylaws and constitutional amendments based on suggestion , seconded. Eli thinks they
should be compensated. Kat says it is a committee responsibility. Vote Passed.
f. Divestment resolution – Erin Sanderson referred to Kat Slye – for the state LAD we
spoke about divestment fossil fuels and we can say we have graduate students from the
University of Albany; Hirah Mir and three others spoke to some of the legislators and
they are going to be passing it along to the state comptrollers and the NAGPS; Motion
made, seconded. No Debate. Vote passed.
g. Assembly person of the year – Lisa Cassidy – asking for people to write down two people
who they think are the Assembly MVP and give it to Lisa
h. Abby Stamm – sexual prevention awareness month – Dane Talks – Debunking Rape
Myths on April 21.
i. Special Assembly Meeting for the President Forum – April 22nd at 5:30 pm
j. May Assembly is required or you lose your recognition because we have to pass the
budget.
7. Adjournment motion made and seconded. Meeting Adjourned at 7:36 pm