82nd MSSA Senate
August 27, 2014
I.
II.
Call to Order by 82nd Speaker Ben Shakespear
Roll Call
PJ Piotrowski 3-0-0; David Schieler 2-0-1; Liz Anderson 1-1-1; Dillon Petrowitz 3-0-0; Arnold
Bagamba 3-0-0; Fred de Ruiter 3-0-0; Noel Luel 1-1-1; Nolan Brinkman 3-0-0; Sarah David 2-0-1;
Margaret Neeck 3-0-0; Kyler Schoner 3-0-0; Tyler Conlon 3-0-0; Connor Martin 3-0-0; Ashley James 30-1; Meisso Wako 3-0-1; Marshall Tromborg 3-0-0; Shah Arnob 3-0-0; Patrick Riesterer 3-0-1; Becky
Wegscheid 3-0-0; Elizabeth Jacobson 3-0-0
III.
IV.
V.
Presentations
A. Intro -Karen Anderson, Community Engagement Assist. Director
B. Bryan Schneider – IT Services - There will be an upgrade to network this weekend
between 6-10 pm Saturday. We anticipate low impact.
C. John Bulcock – Overview of role.
D. Nick Kragness – Student Affairs Coordinator – Excited to be part of the 82nd. I’m also
running for the At-Large Residence Hall Senator position.
E. Blake Asbury – Academic Affairs Coordinator. I will also be running for A & HN senate
seat.
F. Greg Wilkins – Welcome! Many things planned for the year. RSO re-recognition window
now open. New leadership opportunities are listed on Student Activities website. Invite all
to attend Impact meetings on Tuesday.
G. RSO process expedited. Window is now open thru Sept. Offering new leadership series
with students facilitating the sessions. Campus and Community fairs coming on Sept 4 &
Sept. 18th.
H. Michael J. Hanson – Environmental. Committee Meeting – Sept 24th Campus Workshop.
Will include outside of the university.
VI.
Open Forum
a. Approval of Consent Agenda
Appointments: Connor Martin (Parking Appeals), Arnob Shahriar (MSUSA Diversity Specialist & MSSA
Diversity Committee), PJ Piotrowski (MSUSA Legislative Affair Specialist & MSSA Legislative Affairs
Committee), Elizabeth Jacobson (MSUSA PR Specialist), Tien Vui, Tech. Adv. Committee
Commission on Ethics & Standards: Katie Bobich
Student Allocations Committee:
Recognized Student Organizations: Asian Pacific Student Organization, College Republicans, MSU American
Fisheries, Korean Student Association, Handball Club, Alpha Lambda Delta, Math Club, Physics and Astronomy
Club, Liberian Student Association, Phi Kappa Psi, Panhellenic Council, International Business Organization, Phi
Upsilon Omicron, Mavericks for SHRM, Graduate Students Coalition, Pre-physical/Occupational Therapy Club,
Sigma Tau Delta Honors Society, Leadership U, Meditation Club, MNSU Brony Club, Math Club, Parkour and
Free Running Club, Child Development and Family Studies, Alpha Chi Omega, Teachers of Tomorrow, African
Student Association, Student Ambassadors, Construction Management Student Association, African Students’
Organization for Development and Progress, MNSU Law Enforcement Club, Muslim Students Association, Alpha
Sigma Alpha, Student Nurses Association, Elementary Education Club, The MNSU – Mankato German Club,
IMPACT,
Approval of Minutes: 4.30.2014.
VII.
Vacancies
a. Residence Hall At-Large (3) – Nick Kragness
b. Allied Health and Nursing (2) – Blake Asbury
c. College of Business (1)
d. College of Education (1)
e. Graduate Studies (1) – Michael Hanson
Overview of past senate experience.
f. Student Body At-Large (1) – Bassam Al Mohamadi (Sam)
Intros:
NK: Hold position of CA in Crawford. Feel this would also help in role of senator and be their
voice.
BA: I’m the current Academic Affairs coordinator. I’m a RPLS major and was a CA for over 3
years so have a good idea of what’s involved in the student experience. I’m excited for the
opportunity.
Sam: Currently running for At-large senate seat. I work in the Scheduling office and want to
extend to my connections outside of the office with the students. I would love to be part of this
group.
Haffield: How do you plan to contribute to your senator roles and outside of your coordinator
postions?
NK: I’ve my ear to the ground in the Resident communities and want to make this a great
experience for all of us and the students out there.
BA: Being a part of the RPLS major will help me with having a voice for them.
Sam: I want to connect with the students and want to contribute to them.
Wolf: Please share your strengths & weaknesses.
NK: Strength: My leadership abilities and rallying the troops. Weaknesses: Sometimes too
prideful and a perfectionist.
BA: Strength: I know a lot of people around campus so have a lot of connections. Public
speaking is my biggest weakness but this opportunity will offer me the opportunity to work on
that in smaller groups.
Sam: Strength: My smile. And, I don’t give up and don’t like no for an answer; which I guess
can also be a weakness.
Neeck: How will you connect with your constituents?
NK: By having normal, everyday conversations with them.
BA: By coming here every day and talking to people in their colleges and/or departments.
Sam: I connect with many students in the CSU. I’ll also roam around and talk to people.
Petrowitz: MSSA is privildege & time commitment, will you be able to manage that?
NK: To me, this is not a negative thing. Strive with more on my plate. Great at time
management and put one more thing on my resume. Embrace it. I will give everything my
best.
BA: I will always give my 100% and will make things work.
Sam: I will do my best to achieve my goals. I feel better prepared this year to do so.
Conlon: As a Resident Hall senator and the requirement of attending RHA meetings, can you
attend these as well?
Candidate Comments:
Hanson: With by-law changes allowing dual roles, think that both who are running for senators will only
enhance their roles.
Blake Asbury, Michael Hanson, Bassam Al Mohamadi (Sam), Nick Kragness: Sworn in.
VIII.
Officer Reports
President Haffield
- Welcome.
- Expectations: Do your job. We should take pride in this role. Still will have fun. Is a
rewarding position. If you say you’re doing something, do it.
- Committee appointments – openings for student conduct openings
- President Commission; Commission on Status of Women; Univ. Policy Committee;
Meet & Confer coming up next Thurs., we still have two openings.
Vice President Wolf
-
Zipcar promo yesterday; Next Thurs., Campus & Community Fair; 10-1:00.
Looking for volunteers to sign up. Town Hall meeting update – (5) hot topics
will be featured (every other week; Lincoln Lounge 12-1:00 pm. ; every
senator needs to be on two committees or more.
- You can now follow us on FB and Twitter. (MSSA/mnsu)
Hanson: Can you email out the town hall topics/schedule once decided?
Wolf: Yes.
Luel: How long is a Zipcar rental? Twenty-four hours?
Wolf: Yes.
Speaker Shakespear
Office hour tracking & senator report tracking (doc cam demo)
-
IX.
X.
XI.
Office hour requirement is three hours per week. This will go from Weds – Tues. Office
hours can be outside of office
- Senator reports – The requirement is three/semester.
- Attendance at meetings is mandatory.
- Dress code for senate meetings. Please dress appropriately. No sweat pants. Should be
semi-professional.
- Did anyone identify the (6) speech references I mentioned in my email? There was a
prize promised if you could do so.
- I will be missing two meetings as I’ll be out of the country in a few weeks. Joe will be
facilitating those meetings.
Senator Reports - None
Old Business
- The Riverland College issue that came up at our last meeting. This has already been
implemented.
New Business
82 MM01 8.27.14 – MSUSA / MSSA By-Law Changes - Haffield/Wolf
Whereas: MSUSA had changed their by-laws;
Whereas: These by-law changes remove the ability for the student governments to
approve/disapprove the Board of Directors’ actions;
Whereas: These changes have lead to discussions about MSUSA’s by-laws governance over
MSSA’s by-laws;
Be it resolved: An ad hoc committee be created to explore changes to MSSA’s by-laws
referencing MSUSA.
Be it resolved: This ad hoc committee would be chaired by the Speaker.
-
Ad hoc committee to explore changes to the MSSA bylaws referencing MSUSA.
o MSSA/MSUSA by-laws contrary to each other.
o Currently, BOD actions have to be approve MSSA President’s actions.
o MSUSA say that no approval is needed. All feel it is wrong.
o MSUSA says MSSA actions need to follow any official actions of MSUSA.
o Intent would be
Haffield: this brought into light the authority that MSUSA has over us. We don’t agree that
they should be able to approve or disapprove what MSSA does.
Schieler: looking to change MSSA’s by-laws because we are not a fan of MSUSA’s? Generally,
it would seem that it would not be a fan of by-law procedures. Don’t want to create a
congruent committee that we don’t like. I think we should be tasked to challenge the MSUSA
BOD. Think we need to back our President in this.
Haffield: Originally, there was some statute about this. We feel that there should be some
general consensus to agree to this.
Schieler: It doesn’t make sense that we have to relegate our authority to this body given the
diversity of our student governments.
Shakespear: Section 8, Art. IV; Sub-Section A: “MSUSA Constitution shall be followed
regardless of any other official action.” This committee would be looking at these two contrary
statements.
Hanson: I don’t feel we need an adhoc committee. It should be given to the Constitution
Commission as these are the types of matters that this committee is meant to handle.
Wegscheid: I feel this committee is a good idea and would look at this matter in detail rather
than just referring to the Constitution Committee.
Schieler: If a majority vote is taken and we have a delegate on that action, we have a vote. If we
have this committee, it suggests that we don’t have to follow the rules. This rule isn’t contrary
but empowers Mariah. If on the winning side, it works for us. It is a give & take situation. I
don’t feel we need this committee. I feel that Mariah needs to tell this group that we’re not
happy about this issue.
Haffield: There was also another change. Proxies are not allowed to vote. I’m afraid this
power could be abused by future presidents, no matter if it is good or bad for the school. I feel
this committee is necessary and should look at it right away as no one has yet been appointed to
the Constitution Committee, it technically doesn’t exist right now.
Wegscheid: I don’t feel there is any harm in getting this committee started and then report on it
to us. There would be no action taken on it yet.
Conlon: I prefer the idea of the Consitution Committee looking at it and making those
revisions.
Shakespear: The role of that group is to look into whatever Joe & Mariah want them to look
into.
Hanson: The CC does exist right now as David Cowan and John Bulcock currently sit on it. It’s
the ad hoc committee that doesn’t exist. Their work would still have to be referred to the CC.
Tromborg: It feels like too much confusion on what the MSSA & MSUSA by-laws really say. I
think it would be beneficial to have this group look into it and see what other schools’ by-laws
say.
Vote - Motion fails.
Haffield: The Consitution Commission appointees will be: Becky Wegscheid, Blake Asbury,
Elizabeth Jacobson, PJ Piotrowski, Connor Miller, and Sarah David.
82 MM 02 8.27.14 - Approval of President Haffield’s Actions at MSUSA Board of Directors
Meeting - Senators Wegscheid/Jacobson
Whereas: President Haffield is on the Board of Directors for MSU, Mankato, and has been in
attendance for all of the meetings;
Be it resolved: The MSSA approves her actions for the August 10 & 11th Board of Diectors
meeting.
MJH: What were the actions this summer?
Haffield: It included mileage rate reimbursement, the Penny applications and Alumni Board.
Motion passes.
82 MM 03 8.27.14 – Disallow Robert Rules By-law portion Senators Schieler/David
Whereas: Dialogue contributes to meaning making;
Whereas: We should empower the voice of everyone at the table;
Be it resolved: To disallow, “call to question” and “move the previous question” in the MSSA’s
interpretation of Roberts Rules as adopted by this body.
Shakespear: Speaker refuses to recognize this motion.
Motion – Not recognized.
XII.
Announcements
Neeck: Undeclared status – beware of meaning. Being fixed right now. Recommendations
include going to advisor.
Schiler: Homecoming is 30 days away. Events overview/update, which will include parade
route change and purple bonfire.
Jacobson: Planner availability and distribution.
John B. – Greek event update.
XIII.
Roll Call
Senators Present:
Elizabeth Jacobson, Taylor Conlon, Rebecca Wegscheid, PJ Piotrowski, Margaret Neeck; David
Schieler, Dillion Petrowitz, Arnold Bagamba, Fred de Ruiter, Nolan Brinkman, Sarah David, Ashley
James, Marshall Tromborg, Shah Arnob, Connor Martin, Meisso Wako, Kyler Schoner, Liz
Anderson, Noel Leul, Blake Asbury, Nick Kragness, Bassam Al-Mohamadi
Senators Absent:
Ashley James; Patrick Reisterer
Executive Leadership Present:
Mariah Haffield, President; Joe Wolf, Vice President; Ben Shakespear, Speaker
Executive Leadership Absent:
XIV.
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.