Senate Agenda
Friday, October 2nd, 2015
I.
Call to Order: 12:00pm
II.
Roll Call
Vikasini Mahalingam, Tyler LeFant, Franklin Joseph, Pedro Ramos, Avneet Chauhan, Johnnie
Nguyen, Tiffany Cung, Alex Pong, Ernesto Rodriguez, Shubheksha Shrestha, Lia Peppers,
Araceli Cortez, Leo Harmon, Nabaa Hashim, Ryan Duong, Will Card, Nathalie Dieme, Malu
Lins, Scott Cao, Amanda Ta, Akshay Kumar, Grecia Portillo, Ryan Brody, Ariana Nikmanesh,
Allie Kriese, Joe Halter, Rachel Cohen, David Heisler, Omer Sarwana
Guest: Morgan from The Advocate
III.
Adoption of Agenda: Approved
IV.
Approval/Correction of Minutes: 9.25.2015 Minutes Approved
V.
Guest Speaker(s): The Advocate
Maddie and Savannah presented on what they are doing. They just got survey results back,
which are online for another week. They are looking to change their name, look, and logo to
show they are moving towards a more traditional path of representing the student body to the
best as they can. Currently, people are not reading their newspaper because there is a
downwards trend in newspaper reading as well as a lack of accessibility. With changing their
name, they are looking for feedback. They have about 20 staff members who are getting
experience that they cannot get elsewhere. The three options for a new name they are down to
are the CU Weekly, CU Weekly Lynx, or CU Sentry. Let it be known that Pedro hates Milo.
Joe stressed that SGA students need to submit a story this semester!
VI.
Financial report: Ernesto Rodriguez
Current Budget: $29,257.51
VII. Unfinished Business
a. Freshman Council Confirmation: Brigitte was unable to come in today, so we will try
again next week.
VIII. New Business:
a. Debate Decorum Presentation: Franklin and Vikasini
i. One of the most frustrating things is when you disagree, but don’t know how to
articulate this.
ii. Listening: This is probably the most important aspect of debate and leadership.
b. Associate Justice Confirmation
i. Tyler LeFant-Third year business student
1. Someone asked what he hopes to get out of the Associate Justice Position
a. Tyler responded that he is excited to get more leadership
development. He also loves the university, and is passionate about
being a part of it.
2. Someone asked how his involvement in SGA and Club Sports will help
him grow?
a. Tyler answered that he is happy to have these opportunities and
will hopefully have a larger impact.
ii. Discussion on appointing Tyler
1. Tyler was picked because of his professionalism, and his ability to help
SGA.
Vote to confirm Tyler LeFant as a new Associate Justice: Approved
iii. He was then sworn in.
IX.
Presidential Update
Our new college council chair is Will Mundo. He spoke to some people from CU Denver
Live, and for their events with limited attendance, they want to scale back the amounts of
student staff in order to engage the student body more. This means that SGA members
shouldn’t get tickets until 3 days beforehand. It is almost unfair because we work next door
and with CU Denver Live, so we know about these events almost immediately. When we are
buying 7 of the 25 tickets, we are taking away the opportunity from other students. It’s a new
CU Denver Live policy, so we need to respect this. Please talk to David if you have any
questions or concerns.
Joe clarified that we see the same people signing up for different events. Allow the chance
for other students to get to go to these events.
David also said that they recently sent out the mini survey data to be analyzed and
summarized. They will give it to the heads of advising and move forward with more surveys
and questions for students.
X.
Vice-Presidential Update
Omer said that they are hoping to have the Freshmen Council members in different
committees next week. They have interviewed candidates for the chair position, and will
hopefully have them picked next week. We will not be meeting in this room next week, so it
might be in Student Commons or the Chancellor’s Conference Room.
XI. SACAB Update:
Last week they passed two proposals for a garden shed and for marketing materials. The
biggest point in this is that the sustainable fee is going to referendum for $5 for five years to
not exceed this amount, but the hope is to have it decrease to $3. The tobacco policy will be
implemented in January of this year.
Someone asked about the smoking zones and they said that they will smoke wherever they
want. What kind of enforcement will there be?
Allie answered that they cannot have APD give tickets since it is not a law. They are
developing little business cards and handouts to give these people if you are upset. We are
calling it the good neighbor system. The ashtrays will be relocated to the smoking zones. If
people do not use these, AHEC has committed to move ashtrays to zones if they are moved
as well as helping to pick up any cigarettes left on the ground. All of the maps on campus
will also be updated to show smoking zones, as well as signs around campus.
XII. From the Floor:
A.
Standing Committee updates
a. Legislation and Outreach: After looking through all of their Town Hall
B.
C.
D.
concerns, they are delegating who will be taking over each of these concerns.
They are also beginning their conversations with all of the offices.
b. Events and Planning: They are working on the next Spirit Thursday, which
is October 29th. They are working with Student Life, so they are excited.
They are going to reserve the full atrium and will have events for people to do
instead of just picking up the snacks.
c. Finance and Funding: No Update
Judicial update
They are involved with L&O and their complaint system. They are hoping to present to
senate what students have explicitly expressed they are concerned with. They are going
to use the judicial whiteboard as a community space. If you have an idea, etc. write it on
their board with your name and the time you want to meet. Make sure to make Tyler feel
welcome, too. They are trying to work with Title IX stuff as well.
Outside committee updates
a. College Council-Currently, Leo and the CAM dean are meeting every three
to four weeks to discuss student concerns. They are also starting their
craigslist October 19th.
b. Wellness Center-They are currently deciding what the building will look
like. They are hoping to create a “slot canyon” which would allow for people
to walk in and immediately see everything.
Allie presented two alternative building structures to SGA.
The consensus was that the first model was preferred, but they will move to
email to get feedback.
c. Spirit Thursday- They intend to bring the in, out. They will have a budget
next week for a game day on the 15th. They also want to get the career center
or lynx center there. They are also hoping to get little man there.
Ex-officio
He will raise the bar. The first person to get an article published, he will take to lunch. He also
is having the group get together at his house on the 23rd.
E. General business from the floor
Allie-They are working on intramurals to kick off in the spring for soccer, volleyball, and flag
football.
Pedro- He is putting together an SGA social on October 15th.
Johnnie- This Saturday is a candlelight vigil at the capitol.
XIII. Thought for the day: Ariana Nikmanesh
“While everyone has the right to an opinion, not everyone’s opinion is right” –Ariana
Nikmanesh
XIV. Adjournment: 1:58 PM