Emergency Constitution and Statutes Committee Meeting Agenda
February 8, 2016
John E. Sapp Conference Room 6:00-6:45 pm
Chair: Senate President Pro-Tempore Burke
Call to Order
I.
a. Meeting called to order at 6:04 PM
Roll Call – Vice-Chair Dato
II.
a. Quorum has been established with 7 voting members; Dato, Smith, Butler, Platts, Lee,
Johnson, Wong.
III.
Student Remarks
IV.
Approval of Minutes – February 1, 2016
a. Senator Wong: Motion to approve the minutes from February 8, 2016. Second. Approved
V.
Approval of Agenda
a. Senator Lee: Motion to approve the agenda. Second. Approved.
VI.
Guest Speakers
VII.
Remarks of the Chair – sgaspt@unf.edu
a. Burke: Since next week is Homecoming week, I’d rather have Committee meeting on
Tuesday. It will be on Tuesday at 6 next week. They will be having Mr. and Mrs. UNF
that night. We will be starting off with our tabled version from a week ago. This isn’t the
same as the one I sent out in the email. We will make amendments to this tabled version
first.
VIII.
Unfinished Business
1. CR-16S-2926 – The Baker Bill
a. Senate President Baker: We met with the proper administration so that we do not violate
any federal violations. The point of this is so that people put their studies first. Every
other university has this standard as well so we’re not asking for much. The tabled
version is what we started with and we’ll start with that.
b. AG Baker: I spoke with Dr. Gonzalez today and our recent edits are approved. I took
what you had said last meeting, however I still feel comfortable with this legislation. If
the students should be able to vote for their people, they should be able to vote for the
kind of people that can represent the students. This has to be voted on by the students and
by majority. A lot of people mentioned “elite”, and how we should be the “common
man” and I agree that we should stay away from that kind of wording and look at what it
means to be a leader instead. Keep in mind that we are simple and just the same as all of
our peers, however, we are a leader and we are expected to do more and be more. We are
1 of the 4 associations located in the University. Having students coming in that aren’t
required to have that GPA, we are setting ourselves up for failure. Not only are we
student leaders, but we have to be students first. Having students that can’t handle both is
detrimental to this University. We, as a university, are currently raising our standards and
we should follow the trend.
c. Senator Lee: For all of these GPAs, are they out of the 4 or 5 point scale? It’s the
institutional GPA. If we have a transfer student coming, they are not barred because they
don’t have a GPA for UNF which is why we have a clause where their first semester can
be waived.
d. Senator Butler: If we’re raising our standards based on our incoming freshmen, what is
the “ceiling”? If we’re an individual university, why are we comparing ourselves to other
institutions? I’m not sure; it’s up to future administration. I felt like 2.5 was a happy
medium because it’s more of an average range. This GPA choice was not based on
comparisons from other universities.
e. Senator Butler: Was there a certain formula or reason why it was 2.5? 3.0 seemed like
more of a GPA for an honor society. 2.5 is a common number.
f. Senator Awan: Due to the fact that this organization is already lacking student’s interest,
why should we make it harder? It’s not. We’re just shifting gears. 4 years from now, our
student body will definitely have that interest, but I don’t think barring 2 out of 20
students from running in the election is detrimental.
g. Senate President Baker: The point of this now is so that it can get to senate so they can
discuss this as well.
h. Senator Adamson: Can we change the GPA standard in senate? Yes.
i. Chairman Burke: How will we make the amendments? If someone can just say it and
we’ll write it in.
j. Senator Awan: Right now, after we make the motions, we’ll be voting for moving it
forward to senate or for the amendments? We have to vote on amendments and then
moving to forward to senate.
k. Senator Adamson: Why are the chairs for the GO, B&A, and the treasurer here? They are
all ex-officio members so they don’t vote but they can ask questions.
l. Senator Lee: Motion to forward CR-16S-2926. Motion dies.
m. Senator Platts: Motion to amend CR-16s-2926 so that in Article II Section 2 Part B is
replaced with “Qualifications: Every Senator must be an A&S Fee paying student,
enrolled in at least one (1) class during the Fall semester and in at least one (1)
class during Spring semester at the University of North Florida, maintain a 2 . 5 i n s t i t u t i o n a l g r a d e p o i n t a v e r a g e or higher, unless otherwise approved by
n.
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p.
q.
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the Vice President of Student and International Affairs, and not restricted from
participation in Student Government by the University of North Florida’s Student
Conduct Office. S t u d e n t s m a y s e e k m e m b e r s h i p t o S t u d e n t
Government during their first semester and shall be exempt from
t h e G P A r e q u i r e m e n t . Senators may continue to serve during the summer
semester without being enrolled in a class as long as they are still considered students
by the University of North Florida.”. Second. No opposition. Moved.
Butler: Motion to edit Article III Section 2 Part B so that it reads “Qualifications: The
President, Vice President, and all members of the Executive Branch must be A&S Fee
paying students, enrolled in at least one (1) class during the Fall semester and in at least
one (1) class during the Spring semester at the University of North Florida, maintain a
2.5 institutional grade point average or higher, unless otherwise approved by the Vice
President of Student and International Affairs, and not restricted from participation in
Student Government by the University of North Florida’s Student Conduct Office.
Students may seek membership to Student Government during their first semester and
shall be exempt from the GPA requirement”. Second. No opposition. Moved.
Senator Platts: Motion to amend CR-16S-2926 so that Article IV Section 3 Part B reads
“Qualifications: Justices must be A & S fee paying students, enrolled in at least one (1)
class during the Fall semester and in at least one (1) class during the Spring semester at
the University of North Florida, maintain a 2.5 institutional grade point average or higher
unless otherwise approved by the Vice President of Student and International Affairs, and
not restricted from participation in Student Government by the University of North
Florida’s Student Conduct Office. Students may seek membership to Student
Government during their first semester and shall be exempt from the GPA requirement.”
Second. No opposition. Moved.
Senator Johnson: Motion to amend CR-16S-2926 so that Article V Section 3 Subsection
1 part C reads “Currently hold a 2.5 institutional grade point average or higher, and not
be restricted from participation in Student Government by the University of North
Florida’s Conduct Office. A student is exempt from the GPA requirement if this is their
first semester with the University.” Second. No Opposition. Moved.
Senator Adamson: Since we’re already putting all these requirements, why do we have to
do these? This is for elections.
Senator Lee: Motion to amend article 5 point C so that it reads “Currently hold a 2.5
institutional grade point average or higher, and not be restricted from participation in
Student Government by the University of North Florida’s Conduct Office. A student is
exempt from the GPA requirement if this is their first semester with the University.”
Second. No opposition. Moved.
Senator Awan: What was the need for this emergency meeting? Because it has to be on
the election.
Senator Johnson: Motion to forward CR-16S-2926.
Senator Platts: I think it’s important to forward this to senate. I want to hear more
arguments in senate because even I myself haven’t made a decision.
Motion Passes 9-0-0
IX.
New Business
X.
Announcements
Thank you for coming out tonight
XI.
Final Roll Call – Vice-Chair
a. Quorum has been reestablished with 9 voting members.
XII.
Adjournment
a. Meeting adjourned at 6:40PM.
Minutes taken by Justin Dato, C&S Vice Chair