ASNAU SENATE MEETING #19
TWENTY-EIGTH SESSION
OFFICIAL MINUTES
Date: March 29, 2016
Date of Senate Meeting: March 24, 2016
Number on council: 13
Number present: 13
Prepared by Kyra Johnson
Amanda Dietlin, Vice President of Academic Affairs, called the Senate meeting of the
2015-2016 Associated Students of Northern Arizona University Senate to order at
4:02pm in the Havasupai Room A & B of the University Union.
Roll Call
All present.
Approval of Minutes
Motion: Senator Moore-Sharp moves to approve last weeks’ minutes.
Second: Senator Sowerwine
Vote: Unanimous, last weeks’ minutes have been approved.
Call to the Audience:
Unfinished Business
Chair Dietlin: Good evening everyone, so first we will go through all the agenda
items and let everyone speak. If you are here asking for club recognition just tell us
a bit about the group, how many people are interested and what you plan to give
back to the NAU community. If you are here for funding, tell us what the money will
be going to, what you will gain from it, and how it will benefit the student body.
Item A- SB 28-96: Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)- Phi Beta
Lambda
Discussion: Presenter not present
Item B- Club Recognition: Heshima Bioethics Society of Northern Arizona
University
Motion: Senator Mathew moves to untable Item B- Club Recognition:
Heshima Bioethics Society of Northern Arizona University
Second: Senator Sowerwine
Vote: Unanimous, Item B- Club Recognition: Heshima Bioethics Society of
Northern Arizona University has been untabled
Discussion: I am trying to start a club, The Heshima Bioethics Society. We
would be the first university to have this club. We focus on undergraduate
debates and having keynote speakers come to present to us.
Motion: Senator Graham moves to vote on Item B- Club Recognition:
Heshima Bioethics Society of Northern Arizona University
Second: Senator Beghtol
Vote: Unanimous, Item B- Club Recognition: Heshima Bioethics Society of
Northern Arizona University has been approved
New Action Business
Item A- Club Recognition: Campus Cursive
Motion: Senator Sowerwine moves to vote on Item A- Club Recognition:
Campus Cursive
Second: Senator Moore-Sharp
Discussion: The goals of Campus Cursive is to uplift campus individuals. It its
part of an organization, the world needs more love letters. We would have
two campuses wide events per semester also we would have 1 club meeting
a month. On those events we would be writing letters and we would be
setting them up around campus for everyone to find.
Vote: Unanimous, Item A- Club Recognition: Campus Cursive has been
approved
Item B- Club Recognition: Club Water Polo (Men’s)
Motion: Senator Roos moves to vote Item B- Club Recognition: Club Water
Polo (Men’s)
Second: Senator Graham
Discussion: Since we got our new aquatics center we thought it would be a
good time to add a new club. We are recognized by club sports, but now are
trying to get approved through student life. We have a decent amount of guys
interested, so far.
Vote: Unanimous, Item B- Club Recognition: Club Water Polo (Men’s) has
been approved
Item C- Club Recognition: Sigma Pi Fraternity
Motion: Senator Mathew moves to vote on Item C- Club Recognition: Sigma Pi
Fraternity
Second: Senator Graham
Discussion: Thank you for having us and we are looking to be the newest
Fraternity here on campus. We have a quest for excellence and we want to
make the students on campus better. We currently have 37 members and we
have any others still interested in joining. We were the first fraternity on
campus and you can see our founder father’s names and faces all across
campus. As important we were in the past, we are trying to bring that back.
We are having meetings every Monday for members. We are currently on
week 4 of our 6-week recruitment and after that we will be recognized
nationally.
Senator Moore-Sharp: Will you be seeking housing on campus?
Presenter: We are undecided for now due to the open housing problems on
campus. Our nationals though have a goal to have every fraternity to have a
house near or on campus.
Senator Carr: Why was the chapter dissolved? If you can tell me.
Presenter: Due to an issue in 1999 during homecoming, the man driving the
float was having too many drinks during that day.
Vote: Unanimous, Item C- Club Recognition: Sigma Pi Fraternity has been
approved
Item D- Bylaw Changes
Motion: Senator Graham moves to vote on Item D- Bylaw Changes
Second: Senator Sowerwine
Discussion: So in legislative we talked about what should be considered a
group and individual. So article 10 and 11 is guideline for that. Three or more
individuals will be considered a group and receive the same funding as a club
unless the budget and senate allows it they can be treated as individuals. We
think that if it is great for our school and it should be allowed, it gives us the
ability to do so.
Kristine: The one suggestion I have is you mean group members not clubs
and this should go under individual funding, not club funding.
Senator Moore-Sharp: Are we changing it, because a group is not exactly a
club?
Chair Dietlin: It makes more sense to put it under individual.
Motion: Senator Moore-Sharp moves to amend the 1st line and move to
article 11, also to strike the word club and replace with group in section A.
Second: Senator Sowerwine
Discussion:
Senator Mathew: Are we amending it for just A or all of it?
Chair Dietlin: We are moving the chunk under individual funding.
Vote: Unanimous, Item D- Bylaw Changes has been amended
Vote: Unanimous, Item D- Bylaw Changes has been approved
Item E- Administrative Assistant
Motion: Senator Roos moves to vote on Item E- Administrative Assistant
Second: Senator Sivage
Discussion: So this is the 4th draft of this document, but it is creating a full
time paid position. We looked at four types of assistants and went through
them to see what we needed and Cindy drafted these. There were some
minor changes between the two. I know we had question on who was the
supervisor, but making sure she or he is accountable for the students, but
also is advised by Cindy’s position. We changed a few key changes. For the
job description it was a may for the 1st but also for the 2nd so we don’t have to
include them in some stuff if we don’t want to. We changed to make sure that
the assistant would be the first step before executive team for approval of
hours.
Cindy: I don’t really remember, but the job is re-align the position with the
changes within ASNAU to recognize it. The bigger stuff is that a lot of
processes on campus have changed so we needed for this to reflect that. We
did a competitive review over different categories so we met with HR to
make sure the position had all the necessary things. So I think the level of
authority is what you are going to want so it will be a repeat of the position.
So we are going to have to figure out all that.
Vanessa: We worded the position to be held responsible by the students of
ASNAU, but would report to the dean of students. So for policy implantation
that the assistant couldn’t implement their own rules in the office.
Senator Carr: is there a way this could be a GA position?
Kristine: That’s 20 hours a week that they work and even Paula doesn’t have
enough time for you right now.
Cindy: Prior to Mary, she had a second career and loved students that the
students here enough to do this job. So you might find someone like that, but
looking at your local budget you would bear full cost for the GA which is the
same amount as the full time person.
Senator Moore-Sharp: Do we foresee enough money for it?
President Buchta: This executive and new executive team will look at the
budget and come bring it to you. So unless we saw a great difference for the
amount of enrollment we could, but we need to plan a year in advanced.
Senator Moore-Sharp: Your saying yes, unless there is a problem?
Cindy: If you remember when you got the budget you didn’t account for the
rollover, which went to the senate line. Paula helped you do two transfers,
because it looked like you had too many rollovers so we moved that money. I
think we have a responsible to get back to you with that information if that
happened what would we do.
Kristine: Given the budget, you are committing it for the next year.
Senator Carr: Would they be there till they chose to quit or are let go?
Cindy: They would have the same opportunities as other employees at NAU.
Senator Carr: Is it allowed in bylaws to pay someone who is not a student?
Chair Dietlin: We pay Paula and Matt right now so yeah it would be okay. It’s
not in the bylaws, but used to be so we are working that back into it.
Vanessa: The past few years that we haven’t had a full position is unique. To
fill that place that Mary left we got Paula, but she isn’t able to fulfill all the
work we need since we share her with student life.
President Buchta: Over the past few years of Mary not being here, there have
been a lot of problems of people not coming to office hours or acting
professional. This is a mini corporation and have someone to keep us
accountable.
Senator Moore-Sharp: I understand this is very needed.
Chair Dietlin: Right now we have lapses when the front desk girls aren’t there
so this would solve that. There would be someone to see if you were there for
works since we are all taking your word for it and it would eliminate the
questioning. Also the person would make sure things are running smoothly.
Senator Carr: Will this change the duties of front desk or chief of staff?
Chair Dietlin: Not really, it might a little bit, but there will be an assistant to
that person.
Vanessa: I want to point out to you what one of my concerns was how the
office dynamic could change, but we would have staff sit in on the interview
for their input so we would know how the person’s personality would work
with everyone’s. We would do our very best to find a person with an upbeat
attitude. They would also follow the guidelines, but wouldn’t discipline
anyone, but instead report to executive member if there is a problem.
Senator L’Ecuyer: Can we move to vote?
Chair Dietlin: We don’t have to vote on it since it is a discussion.
Cindy: I think you do for the funding portion, right?
Chair Dietlin: I don’t think so, because it is just like the rest of our positions
and they can deal with that next year.
Vote: Unanimous, Item E- Administrative Assistant has been approved
Executive Reports
a. President- Alexandria Buchta
- Monday we are setting up senate interviews and we have two people the
eligible. I hope you have a good spring break. Next week Cindy and I will
be at Allen hall for a residence meeting. April 18th to the 22nd for parking,
so would you both send me your availability (Senator Carr and Davis)?
There is the Tri-university poll next week. Also Next week on the 29th 57pm there are tuition hearings it looks good for us to go and to know
what is happening at other schools. Can Abby, John, Jo, and Marc see me
after meeting?
Senator Sivage: Where is it?
President Buchta: True Blue room in extended campuses building.
b. Vice President of Student Affairs- Allison Kelley
- The sustainability girls want me to remind you to donate clothes and
what ever goes through that no one takes will go to Dallas’s event. Every
year we do the undie run and the sustainability said it would be a good
idea to do it before earth week wash them and separate them to add to
the clothing swap. So its not official but we are shooting for April 8th and
if not we will do it later in the semester.
C. Vice President of Academic Affairs- Amanda Dietlin
- I had a meeting with Rebecca Campbell who is chair for academic
standards committee she was asking about how you all felt about the
school having the possibility of changing to +- grading system. Don’t panic
it doesn’t have much support besides the person who brought it up. It
would change the grading to be that a 4.0 would be a + and a 3.7 would be
a –.
Kristine: An A wouldn’t be a 4.3?
Chair Dietlin: No, an A is an A, but they shot down the 4.3. I don’t know
why, but I just think it could be bad for the students who are working full
time and going to school.
Senator Moore-Sharp: They were proposing a 3 point drop between + and
-?
Chair Dietlin: Yes, there are many school that do this, but it was just a
proposal, but it will be shot down.
Senator Mathew: On the chance it passes will it go for this semester?
Chair Dietlin: No, next year
D. Vice President of Government Affairs – Vanessa Pomeroy
- We have a whole bunch of events coming up. On April 18th we have club.
It is Jake’s event and we wanted to put together something to interact
with clubs more each semester. He felt like he didn’t know much about us
before he started and wants to change that. It will be from 6-8pm. We are
going to event 1-2 people from all the show up and introduce ourselves
and we will get to know more about the clubs we are serving. April 19th is
our next voter registration and we will have the voting is sexy shirts for
that too. Secretary of state will be able to come and we are trying to get
the Phoenix Suns to come as well. Also on April 4th we are hosting another
showing of the Hunting Ground with Health Promotions.
Senator Sivage: What time is that?
Vanessa: I will send out an email with all the information. I am doing chief
of staff interviews this week and staff next week.
Senator Moore-Sharp: Is SSA involved in the polling they did here for the
election?
Vanessa: We are not. We have been contacted by them about it, but we
need to meet to figure it out.
e. Chief of Staff- Lauren Stebbins
- Working on planning Louie awards and the banquet. She sent out an
email for everyone to RSVP and in the email she said to send her what
food that you want, I think the options are chicken, steak, salmon and
veggie option.
Staff Reports
a. Student State Affairs- John Bower, Jake Gavin
-I am working on a Know your Rights event about off campus housing and
all the contracts dealing with it. It’s only going to be 30 minutes long, so
super short. Also I helped Jake planned his first event; it was pretty cute.
b. Public Relations- Reed Emerson, Connor Wandersee, Korrin Snow
- NR
c. Special Events- Amy Edgerton, Taylor Wesner
-I have been working on the decorations for Louie awards and are going
to order food for it soon. Also still looking into giveaways for the concert
ticket line. Then I attended a meeting for homecoming meeting for next
year.
d. Information Technologist- Chantz Spears
-NR
e. NSG- Hali Wetzel, Kali Morris
- Jo: We had our ice cream social for Wilson since they were the winner.
We gave out 30th gallons of ice cream and K-Jacks was there along with
cheerleaders, Louie, and athletics. We are still planning our spring
concert kickoff.
Committee Reports
A. Appropriations: Senator L’Ecuyer
- NR
B. Legislative:
- We talked about the bylaws we brought to you and we are going to
continue to work on the complaint process.
C. Diversity: Dallas Diaz
-Working with the diversity council to get the clothing swap going and we
are just waiting to get that approved. I am talking to Troy to partner with
Greek life to get a donations competition going and have it count as a
community service event. I am hoping to table about the prison industrial
complex.
D. Solutions Committee: So does everyone know who is on the
committee? Right now it is Laruen, Stella, Abby, Korrin, Sara, Makenna.
We are trying to make it a by weekly or monthly meeting and we want to
double check if you guys want to change people. Okay so Alyssa and Kyle
wants to be on it as well.
Senator Rosic: Why is this nominating process?
Chair Dietlin: We want whoever wants to be on it to be able to. So if you
want to be on it you can.
President Buchta: Yeah, but we just don’t want too many people like too
many cooks in the kitchen.
Senator Carr: Also we talked about if there is an issue that you want to be
brought to everyone’s attention, you can come to the meeting if there is a
problem.
Senator Reports
College of Arts and Letters
a. Abbey Mathew- Tonight is the 1st event for the Shakespeare
anniversary event.
Senator Sivage: What time?
Senator Mathew: At 7pm.
b. Stefan Rosic- NR
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
a. Brooke Graham- NR
b. Drake Ridge-NR
College of Health and Human Services
a. Alex Roos- I sat in on interviews today for chief of staff and so
far its been going really good. If you guys have any input on
what to look for let me know.
Senator Moore-Sharp: Can we sit on on those?
Vanessa: No, Alex is because you nominated her and in the
bylaws we can have one senate person sit in on it.
b. Ashley Beghtol- NR
College of Education
a. Alyssa Anderson- NR
b. Kyle Davis- We just had to reschedule our dean meeting.
College of Business
a. Lauren L’Ecuyer- Warner is doing a great job working on
Donuts with the Dean.
b. Warner Sivage- So we are planning on Donuts with the Dean
April 5th from 3:30-4:30pm. We were having a problem hosting
the event, so the lady in the Dean’s office is working on getting
that settled for us.
College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences
a. Madi Sowerwine- NR
b. Stella Carr- I know we are allowed to fund clubs, but are we
allowed to for charity?
Kristine: I mean technically, but the problem is you don’t have a
bank account to collect money.
President Buchta: I mean we are trained in that so are allowed,
but we never have.
Senator Carr: Can we partner with a club for something like a
spelling bee?
President Buchta: We can look into it.
University College
a. Marc Moore-Sharp- I have a meeting with my dean tomorrow
and she really wants to see if ASNAU can get involved for
giving information to the freshman during welcome week. I
guess I can’t really help with that for next year, so I will tell her
so and will get the information to next year’s team.
Advisor Reports (Cindy Anderson and Kristine Heflin)
Cindy Anderson— Thank you for the random things during senate. I
encourage each of you to go to the tuition talk this next week. Ali is trying to
work on a group of speakers to present. On April 6th at 6:30 is the spring
semester nighttime safety walk. The one last semester was cancelled because
of the shooting, but this one will be meeting in SBS Castro Room 110. This is
a time to look at problems on campus with lighting and call phones.
Kristine Heflin— I am working on Louie awards. Those are the 5th at 7pm in
Dub ballroom and you all will be invited. There will be dessert, if you can
attend I suggest you do to see you peers recognized.
Senator Carr: It said in the email ASNAU picked the winner, so how does that
work?
Kristine: Special events haven’t decided yet, but they will let you know.
Senator L’Ecuyer: Would you want us to change the donuts with dean, since it
is the same day?
Kristine: I don’t think it will intervene with us, but Dallas has safe zone
training so might want to change it based on that. Cindy and I are working to
start planning for homecoming and having all students input on the
dedicatee.
Senator Carr: What is that?
Kristine: Students chose someone on faculty who has been there for over ten
years and make homecoming dedicated to them. I think it’s really unique and
it’s a really long list of faculty who has been here for that long.
Discussion Items
Announcements
President Buchta: Don’t forget Marc, Abby, John and Jo.
Important Dates
Adjournment
Motion: Senator Graham moves to adjourn meeting at 5:08pm
Second: Senator Ridge
Vote: Unanimous, meeting has been adjourned.