82nd MSSA Senate
September 17, 2014

Call to Order by 82nd Speaker Ben Shakespear

Roll Call
PJ Piotrowski 6-0-0; David Schieler 4-1-1; Elizabeth Anderson 4-1-1; Dillon Petrowitz 6-0-0; Arnold
Bagamba 6-0-0; Fred de Ruiter 6-0-0; Noel Leul 4-1-1; Nolan Brinkman 6-0-0; Sarah David 4-1-1;
Kyler Schoner 6-0-0; Tyler Conlon 6-0-0; Connor Martin 6-0-0; Ashley James 5-0-1; Miesso Wako 5-01; Marshall Tromborg 6-0-0; Shah Arnob 6-0-0; Patrick Riesterer 5-0-1; Becky Wegscheid 6-0-0;
Elizabeth Jacobson 6-0-0; Nick Kragness 5-1-0; Blake Asbury 5-1-0; Michael Hanson 6-0-0
A. Presentations
 Kevin Buisman Sports Bubble Concept (PPT)
o Overview of Outdoor Athletic Master Plan
o Aligns with Health & Wellness University’s Strategic Initiative.
o Phase II extension of athletic facilities.
o Feasibility study on sports bubble. Worked with two different consultants over
the last two years.
o Location concept: corner of Gage and Ellis.
o Recommendations/considerations:
o Seasonal / Permanent –Permanent recommended (life cycle, etc)
o Site considerations: cost, appearance, convenience, accessibility, parking.
o Size: 1.5 full sized soccer fields.
o Revenue generation consideration.
o Usage/funding plan.
o Sited as recommendation as part of overall master plan.
o Multipurpose field-use for Academic classes, campus recreation, athletics,
community usage.
o Frees up Myers Field House. (@ 5:00 pm)
o Cost: Permanent - $6,187,500 (50% more than seasonal)
o Funding model: Majority of cost would be private funding. Private gifts,
naming rights.
o $870,000 annually needed for cost flow (i.e. annual sponsorships, outside lease
opportunities)
Hanson: Has there been any consideration been given to leasing of naming rights?
Buisman: We have discussed a multitude of options. There is a density of sports bubbles which lie
primarily north and nothing south from Faribault on.
Hanson: Has consideration been given to environmental impacts such as snow removal, bird error, etc?
Buisman: There has been consideration given to lighting pollution. They are environmentally minded,
therefore, would be giving consideration to many of those things.
Shakespear: I’d like to remind all of you that the individuals who have been consulted on this are
professionals so have considered all of these types of things.
Brinkman: Has there been any thought about green energy? For example, geo thermal energy?
Buisman: Ron Fields has extensive background on this and would be fully informed on this.
Nakumbe: Could it eventually be converted into a permanent structure?
Buisman: I’m not aware of ever hearing about that being done, however, could inquire of the consultant.
Conlon: Have bonding options been considered?
Buisman: VP Straka would have better info on any bonding options that may be available to us.
Bulcock: Can you tell us where we are at with the project?
Buisman: With the consultation process complete and the President’s cabinet’s endorsement, we’ve now
been having good discussions on it. We are in somewhat of a holding pattern with it now. We’re trying
to get some direction from VP Kent Clark from the Foundation as far as fundraising the dollars needed.
Shakespear: If this project were to happen, can you tell us who’s in charge? Yourself, or Todd?
Buisman: There’ll be overlapping and constant dialogue going on. It will be an ongoing collaboration
between us.
Pfingsten: It would be the same model we work with now. There is no power struggle and we always
work those things out.
Tromborg: How permanent?
Buisman: The warranty is probably different than the actual lifecycle. They felt good about 20 years on
permanent; 15 on seasonal.
Schoner: What is the likelihood of this happening?
Buisman: There’s $6.2m reasons it might not happen . When we began this process, we had a letters of
commitment totaling about $350,000. This still would leave a sizable gap, therefore, we will have to come
up with ways to close the gap.
Shakespear: I think it is fantastic that we are still able to entertain this idea, especially as other schools
like us are struggling.
Buisman: If you want more detail, we’d be happy to come back. We would love to work with our
student leadership.
 MSUSA – Neil Osby, MSUSA Director of Campus Organizing
o Overview of MSUSA
o Mission to make sure that all students’ voices are heard.
o MSSA Campus Committee Coordinator, Becky Wegscheid
o Rally Day, Feb. 18th
o Alex Grabowska is MSU’s organizer and resource.
Open Forum
a. David Jones – Monday, Oct 8th, is our university’s birthday. Will include a rededication of the fountain at noon.
Schieler: Any plans for the fountain to be higher this year?
Jones: It will not exceed the previous height as it would require dual pumps to do so.
C. Approval of Consent Agenda
Appointments: Noel Luel (Student Health Advisory), Zach Gunby (SAC).
Commission on Ethics & Standards:
Student Allocations Committee:
1.
Recommend allocating up to $600 ($50/student x 12 students) for non-food related travel expenses to the
Waterski & Wakeboard Team to travel to water ski competition at Cambridge, IA on September 13, 2014.
2.
Recommend allocating up to $200 ($50/student x 4 students) for non-food related travel expenses to the
Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS) to travel to “Empowering Multicultural Students for
Careers in Medicine” seminar at the U of M campus in Minneapolis, MN on September 23, 2014.
3.
Recommend allocating up to $400 to the College Republicans to purchase flags for “9/11 memorial project”
held on-campus on September 11, 2014.
4.
Recommend allocating up to $500 for non-food related expenses to Maranatha Christian Fellowship to host a
“pro-life photo mural exhibit” on-campus on September 18, 2014.
5.
Recommend allocating up to $500 for non-food/beverage related expenses to Delta Sigma Pi to support “DSP
Business Conference” to be held on-campus on September 25, 2014 contingent upon Delta Sigma Pi recognition by
MSSA prior to date of the event.
Recognized Student Organizations: Maranatha Christian Fellowship, Marketing Club, St. Thomas More Catholic
Newman Center, Women in Aviation, Recreation Majors Club, Club Baseball, USITT MSU Student Chapter, Pan
African Student Organization, National Black Graduate Student Association Affiliate Chapter, Ducks Unlimited,
Residence Hall Association, Interfraternity Council, Phi Sigma Pi, Maverick Running Club, Sociology Club,
Lambda Chi Alpha, Delta Chi, Women’s Lacrosse, MSU Drag Race Team, Alpha Eta Rho, Mu Kappa Tau Chapter,
SIGMA NU, Life to Live Mankato Chapter, Bridges, MSU Wrestling Club, Colleges Against Cancer, MNSU
Finance Club, Delta Sigma Pi, Peer Educators Acting for Change and Equality, Assorted Misfits Gaming, Beta
Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society, Hmong Men’s Circle, CRU.
Approval of Minutes: 9.10.2014.
Approved.
D. Vacancies
a. Residence Hall At-Large (2) – Alexander Johnson
i. Always been a resident of a dorm and always been on a comm. Council.
Been member of RHA. This year I am president of my floor and familiar
with leadership structure.
Wolf: Can you tell us your about strengths & weakness
Johnson: Weakness: I sometimes lack tactfulness; Strength: I finish things that I have to do before going
on to other things.
Hanson: Considering that you are living in the residence halls, will you have bias?
Johnson: I would have open office hours and saying that I’m open to all students.
Tromborg: Which res hall do you live in?
Johnson: Crawford A hall.
Shahriar: Are you able to handle the time commitment?
Johnson: Yes, with all other commitments I can also fit MSSA into my schedule.
Conlon: What skills would you bring?
Johnson: I could use PR skills and use English in a better way.
Nakumbe: What are some of your concerns on campus?
Johnson: Dorm structure, including the use of triple rooms. Also, the new cafeteria, IT structure and
dealing with increased number of mobile devices on campus.
Hanson: He showed up and was prepared. I like the fact that he’d make himself available.
Haffield: He talked to me last week and was very passionate about it
Conlon: He is also very involved in RHA.
Alexander Johnson: Elected (unanimously) & sworn in.
b. Arts and Humanities (1)
c. Allied Health and Nursing (1)
d. College of Business (1)
e. College of Education (1)
E.
President Haffield
a. Budget Meet & Confer – Discussion on projected deficit of $1m. This will mean
looking at institutional adjustments for next year; The Affordable Care Act and
it’s affect; Minimum wage increase to $8.50 and following year $9.50/hr.
b. Need (2) representatives on ADA committee. They meet from 2-3 on Tuesday.
c. MSUSA Conference recap: Two Alumni Board members from Mankato were
approved (Matt Lexcen & Matt Lindquist); Ongoing discussion on CTF, and
discussion on biennial budget request.
d. Met with the Reporter’s faculty advisor & editor-in-chief yesterday. They
deemed our resolutions unconstitutional. They would especially like the second
and third ones removed. This lady was very rude and condescending.
Shakespear: It is in our constitution to do so. I recommend that you please ignore them and the whining
will stop.
Schieler: As President of MSSA, did you get paid when you wrote an opinion article?
Haffield: No.
Schieler: We recognized RHA today, is the Reporter also recognized?
Shakespear: This person is just not a nice lady. They have no constitutional grounds to stand on. She is a
professor who is quite vocal with her opinions.
Vice President Wolf

Past week we met with Scott Fee, VP of Extended Learning. We will be traveling up to
the Edina campus next Thursday.
Jacobson: Haunted House takeover – I need to know if MSSA wants to participate this year. Please sign
up only if serious about it.
 Town Hall meeting went well this week. Transportation was the topic. Next week is
Academic Planning with Provost Wells.
Speaker Shakespear
 Senator office hours going well.
 Will be gone for the next two meetings so VP Wolf will be running meetings.
 If you have anything big discussed, you may want to wait until I’m back.
F. Senator Reports
a. Tyler Conlon –
i. Issues with J Hall doors and card access; meeting with floor staff and
hearing concerns from constituents.
ii. Academic Taskforce – (4) focuses – 1.) Advising model; 2). Tech tools
(AgileGrad), 3). Campus assessment process; 4). Dining service design
phase.
1. University policy committee – Several different policies are up
for review & recommendations. I’m asking you for those
policies you want to see reviewed: 1). Medical amnesty policy,
2). RSO graphic standards.
b. Becky Wegscheid
i. Ethic & Standards Committee will begin happening;
ii. MSUSA update: Get Out the Vote Campaign (cards distributed); two
members from Mankato were elected to the Alumni Board. If you are
interested in going to delegates let me know.
G. Old Business
a. Senate Operating Policy. –Postponed.
H. New Business
82 MM01 09172014 – President Haffield’s Actions at MSUSA Conference Sept. 12, 13 th. -Wegschied/Jacobson
Whereas: President Haffield was present and contributed to discussion during the MSUSA
Conference in St. Cloud on September 12th and 13th;
Be it resolved: MSSA approves her actions as MSU Director on the Board of Directors.
Motion passes.
** In the future, this item will be included in the Consent Agenda.
Schieler - Open discussion on Route #2 bus and schedule: Routes expanded but route 2 bus. It is the
crappy little bus that is not that efficient and could be doing a better job of serving students.
Haffield: What do you propose with it?
Shakespear: This could possibly be a Student Affairs Committee issue to work on.
I. Announcements
 Wegschied: Get Out the Vote pledge cards
J. Roll Call
Senators Present:
Elizabeth Jacobson, Taylor Conlon, Rebecca Wegscheid, PJ Piotrowski, David Schieler, Dillon
Petrowitz, Fred De Ruiter, Ashley James, Miesso Wako, Kyler Schoner, Liz Anderson, Ashley
James; Alexander Johnson
Senators Absent:
Sarah David, Connor Martin, Kyler Schoner, Marshall Tromborg, Arnob Shahriar, Patrick Riesterer,
Blake Asbury, Nick Kragness, Bassam (Sam) Mohamadi; Michael Hanson; Arnold Bagamba, Noel
Leul
Executive Leadership Present:
Mariah Haffield, President; Ben Shakespear, Speaker
Executive Leadership Absent:
Joe Wolf, Vice President
K. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned @ 5:58 pm.