82nd MSSA Senate
September 3, 2014
I.
II.
Call to Order by 82nd Speaker Ben Shakespear
Roll Call
PJ Piotrowski 4-0-0; David Schieler 3-0-1; Liz Anderson 2-1-1; Dillon Petrowitz 4-0-0; Arnold
Bagamba 4-0-0; Fred de Ruiter 4-0-0; Noel Leul 2-1-1; Nolan Brinkman 4-0-0; Sarah David 2-1-1;
Kyler Schoner 4-0-0; Tyler Conlon 3-0-0; Connor Martin 4-0-0; Ashley James 4-0-1; Meisso Wako 4-01; Marshall Tromborg 4-0-0; Shah Arnob 4-0-0; Patrick Riesterer 4-0-1; Becky Wegscheid 4-0-0;
Elizabeth Jacobson 4-0-0
III.
Presentations
a. Mychael Ihnat (Graduate Students Coalition)
i. Goal is to get this up and running this year. I’m here to invite senators to
meetings. Tues., Sept. 9th; also check out our MavSync portal.
IV.
Open Forum
V.
i. Lauren Bach/Julia Haman – Academic Eng. & Opp. Taskforce; goal to get feedback on
student engagement on campus; asked for MSSA help on where best to collect feedback on
campus. (Suggestions: walking around CSU, mini-survey; emails, talk to professors and include extra
credit; hand out candy; working together with different senators; general meetings with RSOs).
VI.
Alex Grabowska – MSUSA- Campus Organizer;
a. Grad of MSU, worked as CA
b. Overview of MSUSA
IMPACT: Events overview; Welcome Week results; very positive. We have begun texting
people about upcoming events. So far, this has been very successful.
CSU Director, Mark Constantine – Welcome back. Let us know if there is anything we can do
to help you out.
VII.
Approval of Consent Agenda
Appointments: Fred DeRuiter (Technology Advisory Committee), Nick Luecken (Ethics and Standards), Rebecca
Holmberg (Ethics and Standards), Kyler Schoner (Athletics Advisory Committee), Lauren Bach (Academic
Engagement, Programs and Opportunities Task Force), Julia Hamann (Academic Engagement, Programs and
Opportunities Task Force), Tyler Conlon (Academic Advising Task Force), Dillon Petrowitz (Research, Scholarly,
and Creativity Task Force), Joe Wolf (Teaching Excellence and Innovation Task Force). Noel – ISA Liaison to
MSSA; Mychael Ihnat, Pres. Comm. On Status of Diversity
Commission on Ethics & Standards:
Ashley James (Attendance).
Patrick Riesterer, Sarah David (Failure to join MSSA Orgsync portal).
Shahriar Arnob, Connor Martin, Patrick Riesterer, Marshall Tromborg, Miesso Wako, PJ Piotrowski, David
Schieler, Elizabeth Anderson, Arnold Bagamba, Noel Leul, Nolan Brinkman, Sarah David (failure to complete
office hours).
Student Allocations Committee:
Recognized Student Organizations: MavLankans, Eurasian Student Association, Sigma Sigma Sigma, National
Student Speech Language Hearing Association, Okinawan Karate and Kobudo Club, American Society of Civil
Engineers, Society for the Appreciation of Japanese Animation and Culture, NeStCom, Mavs for Life, National
Residence Hall Honorary, Middle Eastern Student Association, Vietnamese-American Student Association,
Bangladesh Student Organization, Latino Students’ Wellness Programs, Oromia Student Union, Latter-Day Saint
Student Association, Maverick Atheist/Agnostic Secular Students (Secular Student Alliance), Minority
Association of Pre-Health Students, Alpha Phi Sigma, Police Women of MNSU, Ultimate Frisbee Club, MSU
Cycling Club, Students Today – Leaders Forever, Spanish Club, History Club, The Navigators, Accounting Club,
Young Black Entrepreneurs, IEEE, Dually Noted.
Approval of Minutes: 8.27.2014.
Consent Agenda Approved.
VIII.
Vacancies
a. Residence Hall At-Large (2)
b. Allied Health and Nursing (1)
c. College of Business (1)
d. College of Education (1)
e. Student Body At-Large (1)
f. Arts & Humanities (1)
IX.
President Haffield
 Committees members needed: CSU Board; Environmental Committee, Technology Round Table,
MSSA/MSUSA Diversity Committee, just to name a few.
 Davenport meeting yesterday: Spoke about Integrated Marketing and RSO issues; Greek Row
Housing; and the Sports Bubble concept. We will have upcoming presentations. He also invited
senate for an event at his house (ex: hockey, basketball, theatre performance) Hockey selected.
Ties & scarves selection – gift from Davenport.
 Meet & Confer tomorrow at 11:30 in CSU 204.
Vice President Wolf
 Reiteration of committee appointment requirement.
 SAC doodle being sent soon.
 Campus & Community Fair sign-up. Help needed from 10-1:00 pm tomorrow.
 Town Hall meeting. The first one will be Sept. 16th w/topic being transportation. David Cowan
will be the guest. On Oct. 14th there will be a Q & A with President Davenport.
Speaker Shakespear
 Deadline is tonight to sign up for the MavSync portal.
 Office hour reporting and senator reports – instructions on how to do so on MavSync. Hours
should be recorded upon completion and when done.
X.
Senator Reports
a. Senator Jacobson (Off-Campus)
 Night to Unite
 MSSA on FB & Twitter
 Senator of the Week will be posted on FB. Please email me a current picture.
 Tabling next week in CSU on Tues. & Weds. 10-1:00 pm. Would count towards office hours.
b. Michael Hanson (Graduate Studies)
 Operating Policies & Procedures – This is the 3rd binding document of MSSA. It has not been
updated since 1997. I will circulate among senate members and ask your suggestions. This
policy helps set office procedures and decorum.
 Sept. 24th 9-12; Environmental Campus Action Plan Workshop. Both university and city officials
will be attendance.
 Alumni Gala – MSSA members sit at table and welcoming people.
XI.
Old Business
XII.
New Business
a. Discussion/introduction to Charting the Future for a Prosperous Minnesota.
Haffield: I’ve stressed that you be reviewing this document. Implementation teams have been
meeting with different segments (MSUSA, MSCSA, IFO, etc) and other bargaining units. Other
than Senator Wegscheid, who is an alternate there has been no MSU student representation. We
feel that there have been a lot of problems with the process and not necessarily the plan.
Rosenstone went and set up the McKensie Contract with no consultation and with a cost totaling
$2m. Different bargaining units have approached the Chancellor and have asked for a restart of
the process. His response has been that he’ll get back to us. MSUSA has proposed us pulling out
of the process. MSUSA BOD will be voting on this next week. Senate will also be voting on it so
I highly encourage you to read it. It is extremely important that you all be involved in the
discussion.
Bagumba: How would that affect us?
Haffield: I can’t honestly answer that. Disband of MSUSA? Don’t know. Best scenario is if
everyone backed out and the process would be restarted.
Conlon: When attending delegates last February, we were told that if we don’t participate in the
process we won’t get a say in it.
Becky: I’m very concerned about this. I think the students are being affected the most as
students account for the biggest part of it. I think it needs to be restarted.
Hanson: I’m familiar with the first CTF document and the most disheartening thing is that, even
though we are the largest institution, there was no MSU representation on it. I’m irked that as a
student who pays $10,000 towards those services it is being squeezed out of the process. We are
going to be at the short end of the stick. Services will be split to help out other smaller
institutions. The fact that we don’t have anyone on that board is appalling.
Martin: What are other options?
Haffield: The only other option is to stay in but how much more student representation does that
really give us? It sounds like concerns have been brought up but nothing changes. CTF is
coming from the MnSCU Chancellor and staff, not our Presidents.
Schoner: Is this just us making a statement?
Haffield: Essentially, yes.
Conlon: Feel like unless everyone pulls out at the same time it won’t be effective.
Haffield: Everyone, excluding MSCSA, would pull out at the same time.
Schoner: What are the odds that this works in our favor?
Haffield: That is very difficult to answer. I would like to think that if we withdraw altogether,
the Chancellor wouldn’t have a choice as how can he go forth with any bargaining units
involved.
Anderson: Would it mean all bargaining units from our university, and not just our some of
them?
Haffield: It would be the overarching organization of each bargaining units making the decision.
Shakespear: My understanding is that it would be an act of good faith on behalf of the different
groups and not include any signed documents.
Bulcock: Has MSUSA been expressing any concerns to the MnSCU Board of Trustees?
Haffield: Yes, that has been done as well as the MSUSA Chair spoke directly to the Chancellor
Rosenstone. I want to reemphasize that you review and think this over and don’t make an
uninformed decision about this. Please don’t take this lightly. Help us make an informed
decision next week.
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: This is a motion brought up by David last week and we didn’t have time to talk
about it. Robert’s Rule’s allows for dialogue to be stopped or is designed to limit dialogue if not
productive. Our by-laws say that we have to follow Robert’s Rule’s and also says that we can
suspend the rules as long as we’re not in conflict with our organization’s Constitution.
Generally, I would hate that more than anyone else when people are too bored to have a
discussion on something. So, I would suggest that if people are using this tool to only limit the
discussion, then I will not allow it. That is how I’ll compromise on this.
Schieler: Robert’s Rules has rules of order as well as rules adopted by the body. I would like this
adopted as a special rule of order and not a by-law change. Special rules of order are allowed to
conflict with Robert’s Rules.
Shakespear: I think there are sometimes situations where we get lost in a discussion that is not
productive. I give my promise that if people use this to limit dialogue I will not allow it.
82 MM0109032014 - MSSA expresses their discontent with student policies created without
student input. Schieler/Martin
Be it resolved: MSSA expresses their discontent at any student policy created without student
input. Particularly the policy of the last six months ago related to Integrated Marketing and
RSOs.
Motion passes.
Aye-21 Nay-0 Abstain-2
Schieler: Basically, if you’re an RSO and not wearing purple you’re essentially, not following the law any
more. This is not a new policy but has recently seen an organizational shift within the institution
allowing this policy to be enforced. This policy is not up for revision until 2018. However, we’re not just
talking about one particular policy here. This is just one of many that I’m upset with. There is also
another policy that says you have to have a written document, which has to be turned in two weeks
ahead of time, to be allowed to grill. If you are on a certain place on campus then you have to have that
food provided by a certain people on campus. If you want t-shirts, then you have to talk to certain
people on campus to get those people to talk to other people to approve that t-shirt. It just is no longer
easy being a student leader. It is the corporatization of higher education. This is exactly what the MSSA
is all about. Student policies created without student input?? Who thinks that this is a good idea? You’ll
hear this all over campus on issues. We need to be told this at the implementation level, just like the CTF
issue. I would like this to be a resolution and not a motion. We are simply telling President Davenport
how the MSSA feels about this. This would also give President Haffield’s discussion with him more
volume so it is not just a side note but is actually MSSA saying it.
Martin: I think you are absolutely right as it has gotten so frustrating so students don’t want to do them
anymore. If it becomes more of a streamlined process, more students will do more of the things that they
want to do.
Leul: Can you clarify the RSO process further?
Schieler: Any one here on the men’s rugby team? Do you know why you do you not wear purple and
gold? Because there was an instance years ago and the University didn’t want to be affiliated with the
team any longer. For that, the Rugby team changed its’ colors. So now, being recognized as an RSO
comes with it a long list of rights and responsibilities. The last one on the list says that unless you are you
must abide by all IM standards. So not only are you wearing purple & gold, you will not be recognized
as an RSO. If funding comes anywhere near student fees, and you want the benefits that go with being
recognized, we’re also going to make sure that the only place on campus you can do your printing using
student fees is here on campus through Campus Printing.
Mark: David, that is not true. Your facts are good but that last statement is not true.
Schieler: As been explained to me, I’ve tried to get t-shirts printed at certain organizations and have
continually been told that I can’t go to certain places other than Campus Printing unless I had a Right of
Refusal from Campus Printing saying that they can’t compete with the other bid. Doug is a good man
and does his best to get us the best pricing, however, it is just another step that an RSO has to go through
to get a t-shirt.
Sam: I agree with the t-shirt issue but disagree about the grilling policy and feel the grilling policy
actually helps the students.
Shakespear: A reminder that this resolution is about the university making student policies without first
consulting students about that policy.
Sam: I agree with the resolution in that context.
Conlon: I agree with the motion. In my dual role with RHA, I’d also like to see that policy reversed for
my constituents.
Anderson: I know that Integrated Marketing is trying to create standards for the university and how it is
perceived as an organization. However, how are we going to ask them to consult with students when
making these decisions.
Shakespear: All that it is saying is that we should be consulted in some way. This is only a resolution
expressing our discontent about this.
b. Discussion: Senate swag. T-shirts – Polo option, jacket option;
Hanson: I think it is a good idea for MSSA but I am concerned about spending senate funds for us to
wear them. I feel it a good idea for us to pitch in the funds. Or, possibly recycle down to new students.
We should not be giving student fees to one group of students.
Conlon: Would we have the MSSA logo on it?
Haffield: Yes, somewhere.
James: I went to Night to Unite and felt we looked unprofessional so I think it is a good idea.
Wolf: Other RSOs have recycled down to next year’s students to save funds.
Schieler: Having served on Impact and at previous budget hearings things like this are looked at like
this. I see all of the benefit, but at the same time, remember what we are saying to others and then
ourselves.
Jacobson: What is our budget?
Hanson: As far as budget hearings, I do understand as I’ve been to these and realize how this may look.
Possibly, we could consider some type of fundraising opportunity to offset the price. I think $42.50 a
shirt is a lot of money to take out of the budget.
Martin: I agree that we need some type of professional clothing and be recognized as MSSA, but I think it
should be all personal funds or a very small amount out of senate budget. I think less expensive stuff is
needed. I don’t need a super nice polo but just cheaper t-shirts with MSSA on it.
Noel: I think that it is important to have MSSA shirts but not as expensive of a shirt.
Haffield: We did cheaper last year and they didn’t look nice. We need something more professional.
Other student governments do this. I don’t feel cheaper options are better.
Sam: I agree with Mariah and feel it important to look professional.
Brinkman: I think we could we come up with similar attire that would look professional but not cost as
much.
Haffield: Other promo ideas being considered are: water bottle, rally towel/hanky, magnets. (Vote:
rally towel/hanky).
XIII.
Announcements
Schieler: Free food on the PA lawn is going on right now.
XIV.
Roll Call
Senators Present:
Elizabeth Jacobson, Taylor Conlon, Rebecca Wegscheid, PJ Piotrowski, David Schieler, Dillion
Petrowitz, Arnold Bagamba, Fred De Ruiter, Nolan Brinkman, Ashley James, Marshall Tromborg,
Shah Arnob, Connor Martin, Miesso Wako, Kyler Schoner, Liz Anderson, Noel Leul, Blake Asbury,
Nick Kragness, Bassam (Sam) Al-Mohamadi, Ashley James; Patrick Reisterer
Senators Absent:
Sarah David, Connor Martin
Executive Leadership Present:
Mariah Haffield, President; Joe Wolf, Vice President; Ben Shakespear, Speaker
Executive Leadership Absent:
XV.
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 5:53 pm.