STUDENT SENATE – MEETING 13 SESSION XXXVII

STUDENT SENATE

SESSION XXXVII

– MEETING 13

December 11 th , 2015 – 2:10PM – Paul College Room 165

AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER:

II. ROLL CALL

III. COMMUNICATIONS

A. Senators and Guests

B. Graduate Student Senate

C. Liaison to Administration

D. Senate Executive Board

E. Student Trustee

F. Student Body Vice President

G. Student Body President

H. Student Senate Speaker

IV. NEW BUSINESS

A. XXXVII- 3.12- Removal of Senators

B. XXXVII- 2.13- Approval of Senators

C. XXXVII- 37- Approval of Election Committee Standard Operating

Procedures

D. XXXVII- R18- Bringing Back Fall Academic Break

E. XXXVII- R24- Extending North Drive

V. OTHER BUSINESS

A. XXXVII- Resolution- Concerning the Progress of the Title IX

Initiative

B. XXXVII- Resolution- Winter Parking Ban

C. XXXVII- Financial Affairs Committee Fee Recommendations

VI. ADJOURNMENT

“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”

-Lao Tzu

Student Senate Bill XXXVII

– 3.12 Removal of Senators

Introduced by: Executive Officer , Amanda Barba

Date : December 11 th , 2015

Be it enacted by the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire to remove the following individuals as Student Senators for the remainder of session XXXVII:

Lauren McGrath – Co-Hetzel 1

Adam Thorburn – Gables 1

Senate Action: Passes Unanimously

Speaker Verification:

Student Senate Bill XXXVII – 2.13 Approval of Senators

Introduced by: Executive Officer , Amanda Barba


Be it enacted by the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire to approve the following individuals as Student Senators for the remainder of session XXXVII:

Senate Action:


Student Senate Bill XXXVII

– 37 Approval of Election Committee Standard

Operating Procedures

Introduced by: Student Senate Speaker , Gabe Hoffman


Be it enacted by the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire to approve the attached Standard Operating Procedures for Student Body General

Elections:

Senate Action:


Student Senate Resolution XXXVII

– 18 Bringing Back Fall Academic Break

Introduced by: Health and Wellness Chairperson, Emily Counts, Student Body

Vice-President, Ryan Grogan


Whereas there is currently no break from the beginning of the academic term until Veterans Day on November 11 and,


-Lao Tzu

Whereas 77.6% of college students have moderate stress and 10.4% of college students have severe stress levels and, 1

Whereas a student’s inability to take care of their mental can later cause serious mental health problems such as depression, anxiety disorder, and insomnia and,

2

Whereas 30% who sought counseling have seriously considered counseling at some point and 3 ,

Whereas taking time off recharges your productivity and ability to perceive new direction and,

Whereas students who experience time off will return will a renewed sense of excitement pertaining to their academic schedule and,

Whereas taking a day off will increase your physical health, closer family relations, new perspectives, increased mental power, lower your chances of burnout, and improved mental health and,

Whereas Plymouth State University and Keene State University have a fall break and,

Be it resolved by the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire to ask the registrar’s office to bring back fall break.

Senate Action:


Student Senate Resolution XXXVII

– 24 Extending North Drive

Introduced by: Haaland Senator, Zachary Dumont


Whereas, the University of New Hampshire, as reflected in the campus map

2

, has an active railway operated by Pan Am Railways that bisects the Durham campus, and

Whereas, because the railway is private property, it is illegal to cross the railway on foot, thereby inhibiting access between two portions of the campus, and

1 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0144341940140306

2 https://prezi.com/yfpkr9lswpfm/academicfinancial-stress/

3 http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-usc-fall-break-20151021-story.html


-Lao Tzu

Whereas, as the campus map reflects, there is no convenient way for an individual interested in accessing the Gables Apartments, Woodsides

Apartments, or Parking Lot A due to the railway, and

Whereas, in order to travel from one side of the campus to the other, an individual must proceed down Gables Way, to Main Street, then behind the

Whittemore Center Arena to Strafford Ave or in reverse, and

Whereas, the student body has asked in the Student Master Plan

1

to see the construction of a bridge between the Gables and Woodsides Apartments, and

Whereas, current Pan Am Railways regulations prohibit construction of new infrastructure above their railways, and

Whereas, the 2012 Campus Master Plan published by the University of New

Hampshire has planned for an extension of North Drive, through Parking Lot A, to an underpass going under the railway and connecting to Strafford Ave thereafter, therefore

Be it resolved by the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire to recommend to the University of New Hampshire Facilities Department to extend

North Drive through Parking Lot A, construct an underpass with sidewalks, and connect to Strafford Ave., and

Be it further resolved that construction of the project begin by the 2017 - 2018

Academic Year.

Senate Action:


OTHER BUSINESS:

Student Senate Resolution XXXVII – Concerning the Progress of the Title IX

Initiative

Introduced by: Student Body President , Cameron Cook, Student Body Vice-

President, Ryan Grogan, Community Development Council Chairperson,

Matthew Reuter, Judicial Affairs Council Chairperson , Samuel Paris


Whereas, in March 2015, a report compiled by Attorney Wolowitz was released to the University System New Hampshire (USNH) community

1

regarding practices and policies surrounding the federal law referred to as Title IX, and

Whereas, in May 2015, President Mark Huddleston tasked Jaime Nolan,

Associate Vice President of Community, Equity and Diversity, to take the


-Lao Tzu

recommended actions in the report, with an assembled council of Campus stakeholders, to implement them for the University of New Hampshire, and

Whereas, this council, known as the Title IX Advisory Council, has been meeting with the inherent goal of implementing the changes and working towards a campus that better responds to Title IX situations, and

Whereas, the Council has not made significant progress towards reaching the goals students have expressed to them, and

Whereas, improving the University’s Title IX practices is of the utmost importance to the students, therefore

Be it resolved by the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire to propose the following changes and actions be taken to further UNH’s standing within the parameters of Title IX, and

Be it further resolved that the Student Senate is not currently satisfied with the progress of the Title IX Advisory Council and expects to see significant advancement on these fronts by the first scheduled meeting in February of

Student Senate, and

-Advocates provided to every student who is sent through the Title IX system

-A basic information sheet (separate ones for Students, faculty and staff) regarding the Title IX process

-A message delivered to all UNH employees (minus the Counseling Center,

SHARPP and Health Services)

-The initiation of a search for at least one deputy Title IX coordinator

-A link to offices involved in the Tit le IX Office linked on all of the stakeholder’s websites in prominent locations

Be it further resolved that all changes proposed here be implemented by the end of the Academic year 2015-16.

Cameron

– First things first, this is coming out of no where as a business thing and it is time sensitive because we are running out of time. Before going any further, ther have been conversations had with the administration regarding what we are looking for. This resolution is welcomed by Ted Kirkpatrick and he trusts us.

Ryan

– Cameron and I have been on this advisory council since it began. It came out in March, it literally says UNH do this UNH do this. Our members of the cabinet have gone through this report. We went through what we wanted. We’re getting pretty close to releasing this information sheet. We have decided that enough is enough and this is what we want.


-Lao Tzu

Q: Brennan

– Who sits on this advisory committee?

A: Ryan – For a little bit, it was just 5 people. 3 lawyers, Jamie Nolan who is the

Associate Vice President, and Donnamarie who is the Title XI coordinator. Then it got out that it was meeting without students and stakeholders an now the police sit on it, cam and I sit on. SHARPP is on out, Health Services is on it, UNH

Manch. UNH Law, basically everything that deals with student life. Ted is not the only person at that table that has been frustrated with this.

Q: Lincoln – To the author, how long was this reported?

A: Ryan – March 21 st , 2015 I believe. I know it is in March.

Q: Lincoln – How long did it take them to form the initial task force?

A: Ryan – It’s hard to tell, because it was very secretive. I believe, probably around Julyish. I can’t give you exact dates.

Q: Lincoln – So. It took 3 months to get 5 people in the room?

A: Ryan – That is correct.

Q: Lincoln – Then how long did it take for them to open up?

A: Ryan – Not until September 22 nd .

Q: Lincoln –So, it took 8 months? What has been done at this point?

A: Ryan – Well according to Jamie Nolan and Donnamarie, we are close to the final product.

Q: Lincoln – Is mandated reporter not outlined by the federal government?

A: Ryan – I believe it is by anyone who gets paid for by the Univeristy are a mandated reporter unless they are SHARPP, Health Services, etc.

Q: Lincoln – Do you have an inside line why it has taken 8 months?

A: Ryan

– I think part of it is a lack of education. So, Jamie Nolan (Associate VP of Community Equity and Diversity) Donna Marie Sorrento (Title IX Coordinator), have gone into faculity senate multiple times and they are under the idea that they don’t have to report. If you want to know more about that you can ask JP. If you work for the university, you are required to report and then we discuss for about an hour about what a mandated reporter is.

Q: Lincoln

A: Cam – I’m going to speak from knowing what is going on other universities.

You can be audited 1% of your operating budget and you can have federal scholarships taken away.



Student Senate Resolution XXXVII – Winter Parking Ban


-Lao Tzu

Introduced by: Student Body President , Cameron Cook, Student Body Vice-

President, Ryan Grogan


Whereas, the University of New Hampshire currently has a Winter Parking Ban policy

2

that is meant primarily to help the Grounds and Roads division at UNH manage remove snow swiftly and efficiently, and

Whereas, currently the ban makes it so no vehicles can be parked in B Lot, C

Lot, H Lot, and T lot after 12:00 am until 6 am the next morning, and

Whereas, in the past students have expressed interest in examining the Winter parking ban, including last session through a resolution that lifts the ban during final exams

3

, and

Whereas, UNH Transportation has opted to lift the Parking Ban this year until

January 4, 2016

1

, and

Whereas, UNH Transportation Services and the UNH Police Department have campus alert systems that can email or directly message all permit holders and the campus community in advance of an impending inclement weather event, and

Whereas, these systems would still allow for permit holders to move their vehicles and then allow for Grounds and Roads to clear the roads and lots, therefore

Be it resolved by the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire to ask that Transportation Services and the other divisions involved lift the Winter

Parking ban from March 11 till the end of the normally scheduled ban on April 1 and

Be it further resolved that if the lifting of the ban does not cause significant issues that the Winter Parking ban be lifted permanently and eliminated as University

Policy.

Cameron – As you guys have heard in the past couple of weeks, we do not have a parking ban until January 14 th . I was at the Transoportation Policy Committee

Meeting and they were talking about this kind of thing.We need to vote on this now, if we want students to have a say in this. I think students are fairly opposed to the winter parking ban. We want to lift it because we know students want it.

Stephen Prescott started this last year. Elimnating the ban for exams, but we want to eliminate it completely, if it works. That’s on us. If they say move your car, you move your car. I can get exact numbers for it, but the orginal reason for the ban is because they didn’t have a way to communicate, but nowadays we do


-Lao Tzu

because of technology. So the reason the ban was made, does not apply anymore.

Q: Lincoln

– Friendly amend, in the second whereas from the bottom, change inclement to have a capital C.

Seconded by Ryan Grogan

Withdrawn by Lincoln.

Q: Brennan

– Remove UNH manage

Gabe – NO objections that will stand. Seeing none we will move to vote.



A. XXXVII- Financial Affairs Committee Fee Recommendations

Whereas, the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire has a strong interest in the financial affairs, both current and future, of the University, and

Whereas, the Student Senate Financial Affairs Committee (FAC) is tasked with evaluating the fiscal health of several divisions and mandatory fee units annually, and

Whereas, these departments include the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost, and the Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration, and

Whereas, these aforementioned fee units include the Health Services, Campus

Recreation, Memorial Union, Transportation, Athletics, Student Activity, Technology,

Housing, Dining, Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention Program, and The Counseling

Center, and

Whereas, FAC carefully investigated each of the major division and fees listed above, and

Whereas, an increase in revenue is often necessary to meet the needs of an ever more discerning clientele, and

Whereas, the Financial Affairs Committee has evaluated the budgetary state of the

University, and

Whereas, this evaluation entailed numerous conversations with financial personnel from the University, and

Whereas, throughout the course of this evaluation historical data was gathered for evaluation of long term spending patterns, and


-Lao Tzu

Whereas, this is an invaluable tool in ensuring student oversight, as the actual FY17 projections will not be finalized within a workable time frame for Senate to provide its recommendation, and

Whereas, this evaluation has assured the committee of the University’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, therefore

Be it resolved, that the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire accept the recommendation from the Financial Affairs Committee to approve the University’s budgetary trajectory for the Office of the President for FY17 , and

Be it further resolved, that the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire accept the recommendation from the Financial Affairs Committee to approve approve the

University’s budgetary trajectory for the Office of the Provost and its subsidiary colleges, schools, and divisions, and

Be it further resolved, that the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire accept the recommendation from the Financial Affairs Committee to approve the University’s budgetary trajectory for the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment Management for

FY17, and

Be it further resolved, that the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire accept the recommendation from the Financial Affairs Committee to approve the University’s budgetary trajectory for the Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration for FY17, and

Be it further resolved, that the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire accept the recommendation from the Financial Affairs Committee to approve the proposed one zero increase of the Health Services fee for FY17, and

Be it further resolved, that the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire accept the recommendation from the Financial Affairs Committee to approve the proposed forty-five and one half percent increase of the Campus Recreation fee for FY17, and

Be it further resolved, that the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire accept the recommendation from the Financial Affairs Committee to approve the proposed three percent increase of the Memorial Union Fee, and

Be it further resolved, that the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire accept the recommendation from the Financial Affairs Committee to approve the proposed three percent increase of the Transportation fee, and

Be it further resolved, that the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire accept the recommendation from the Financial Affairs Committee to approve the proposed three percent increase of the Athletics, and


-Lao Tzu

Be it further resolved, that the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire accept the recommendation from the Financial Affairs Committee to approve the proposed three percent Housing fee, and

Be it further resolved, that the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire accept the recommendation from the Financial Affairs Committee to approve the proposed seven percent increase of the Student Activity Fee, and

Be it further resolved, that the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire accept the recommendation from the Financial Affairs Committee to approve the proposed zero percent increase of the Technology fee, and

Be it further resolved, that the Student Senate of the University of New Hampshire accept the recommendation from the Financial Affairs Committee to approve the proposed two and seven-tenths percent increase in Dining fee

Lincoln

– Sorry it has a couple of typos in it, we typed it up real quick. It is a fluid process. Normally I would have it presented, and stuff or you. However we are not in an ideal world.

Lincoln – This is Finance 101. State Appropriate of 14%, this is not a full view of the UNH budget as a whole; it is funds based off of the tuition. Facilities and assessment recovery is just fixing things and such. Other non-operating revenue, that’s like patents and things. This is where the other circle steams from, majority of this is salary and education is an extraordinary personal choic e and that’s where a lot of our money goes to. Public service is things like going to the town and what not. Academic Support, is like support stuff. Debt service is a small number because majority of the buildings are not owned by the department they are owned by like OBA. The debt service on the rec center, the whit and all that stuff. Thanks to all those UNSH students who get discounted. Employee

Compensation is an enormous chunk of the pie. Another one is Plant and

Operation and Supplies and Services. W e’re going to try and hold the supplies and services steady at the FY15 rate for the next 5 years to take some heat off of that expense.

Q: Shannon – Why is utilities up there if it is at 0%?

A: Gabe

– it’s probably .3% and they rounded up.

Lincoln –If you broke down your tuition to the single dollar. It would be 23 cents spent on student services and financial aid. Institutional Support is 8 cents.

Instruction and Academic Research is 46 cents and Operations, Maintenance,

Auxiliary Services, Capital Projects, Equipment, Debt Service is 23 cents. We cannot use mandatory fees to lower tuition, pay professors, or offset state appropriate reductions. So the state cuts and says it’s not paying us, we cannot say we’re going to take the MUB fee and pay these things. Your fees are safe


-Lao Tzu

and sound until the next year when we redo. What we have here folks is right here divide by Kerry Scala’s office, this is what Gabe and I asked her for in our meeting with her. Some of these are rolled into one. At the end we have a total line. It is a large chunk of the budget, because facilities and all that is included here. The eco-line is our method gas line. We gas up our own vehicles. All of the busses have clean active gas. It’s not typical so that’s why they are expensive.

We can provide up to 60% electricity because of this. As you can see the FY15 actuals is 595.7 million to 613.3 million for FY16. We plan on spending 585.6 million this year. Do we have questions?

Gabe

– does everyone get that the end is what we think is going to happen

Lincoln – Mark Rubienstein’s stance was always you can move the University

10% but it’s really 5% both times around.

Q: Ryan – Lincoln, you said we are, proving the trajectory for next year. If for some reason we find out that UNH is going to increase our budget, is there a way we could say we don’t like that?

A: Lincoln – So what would happen, we would say we would like to get that money and the board would say Sure! You’re not crazy, go ahead. But if they wanted to allocate another 100mil to build another stadium, they’d be fired. It’d have to be allocated within the university. We ‘d be within our rights to say no.

We reserve the right to reexamine and reassess the unh budget at anytime. I don’t think it’s necessary because I think it’s implicit but we can do it.

Lincoln – this is just some stuff or you guys to look at if you are bored.

Gabe

– They bylaws for the FAC basically ask that after the first semester that we provide a resolution that looks at the 4 now 3 budgets for the next year. The fees are on time; this is the time we are supposed to recommend. We are recommended a mid term trajectory. We are doing the best with what we have.

Any other comments or questions on the resolution?

Lincoln

– I really want someone to ask me a question. I feel like no one is asking questions because they are afraid they are going to sound dumb. Anything you want to see more money spent on?

Gabe

– The fees, the people who came in and spoke to you, are all in this.

Q: Danny – Does our decision matter really?

A: Lincoln

– The thing is the way the university budgets, they are kind of set in their ways. I don’t think we are really going to change. Fees are more moveable.

We talk about the process and why we think it is important to be that way. They take that ext raordinarily seriously. I’ve had people absolutely bend over backwards to accommodate students. If they can save money, and improve their portfolio, and not have students complain – they’re going to do it. If no one


-Lao Tzu

complained about HRC, they wouldn’t have done anything about it. They don’t

100% focuses on what our arguments are on the budgets, but they do care about what we think.

Q: Gabe – Do you guys have any similar sentiments to the graduate students about the campus rec fee?

A: Cam

– Students have been clamoring for the bigger gym for a very long time.

This is something I know students have been clamoring about. Simply put

– I think students are okay with it at the cost of seeing a new rec center that serves their needs. Simply put.

Passes Unanimously

I, Colleen officially resign as the First Year Senator as I will no longer be an undergraduate student. I just need Gabe to sign it.

Ryan – Per the bylaws Cam and I are required to appoint a new first year senator and we here by appoint Lauren.


-Lao Tzu

STUDENT SENATE – MEETING 13 SESSION XXXVII

Related documents

Products

Support

STUDENT SENATE – MEETING 13 SESSION XXXVII

Related documents

Add this document to collection(s)

Add this document to saved

Suggest us how to improve StudyLib