83rd MSSA Senate
February 10th, 2016
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Call to Order by 83rd Speaker Farah
Roll Call
Presentations
a. Bus Route update – David Cowan, Director of Facilities; Mark Anderson, City
of Mankato
i. New route in Quarters-full buses
ii. Route handout and cost/each route
iii. New proposals equal new sticker costs
iv. MA: new ridership #s – all exceptionally high compared to others in the
state; if stay the same, may mean add’l vehicles needed. Vehicles are 20
months out when ordering.
v. Rt 1B S. to the Quarters and request to extend to Friday. Would propose
changing alignment of campus express to accommodate Tanangier Dr.
This hasn’t been tested but probably could be done.
vi. DC: Would mean over $20,000. Other alternatives possible that wouldn’t
cost.
Sam: What would be the timeline for other alternatives?
MA: I think within a week we’d have an idea if it works. However, it would also mean
changing all web and printed materials. Talking about a segment of Pohl Rd that very few use.
Could have Ops guy try it tomorrow and then run it on Friday. There have been some
neighborhood concerns already so would want some sort of neighborhood meeting.
DC: That route is essential to Friday so it may be problematic.
MA: There are a number of issues like access and funding.
Perez: How do you formalize cost?
MA: There is state and federal money allotted for each route, monthly passes sold, etc. The
balance is what students are responsible for.
Sam: With gas prices going down why are expenses still going higher??
MA: The busses run on diesel which hasn’t went down that much in price. There is also
depreciation on vehicles, and larger capacity buses. Newest one is $460,000.
Sam: possibility of ext. routes to Sunday. How can we do this?
MA: no Sunday transit service. You not only have expense of a driver, there are disability
accommodations and a dispatcher needed for that service. It would mean a comprehensive
service for Sunday. I would recommend putting it into a grant application as the chance of
getting it funded thru state or federal dollars is almost zero.
b. Newspaper Board Update- Rae Frame
I’m not the chair of the board as she was unable to attend. The Newspaper Board is an advisory
board made up of students/faculty. We’re in the middle of editor-in-chief search. The
Newspaper Board is in charge of hiring that person. The focuses for this year: on-campus focus,
student profiles, student issues, and want to cover student elections and hope we can make a
difference in voter turnout. My teams are meeting more than ever and already planning for
next year. Exploring different options in printing (frequency, etc). I have also developed
handbooks for everyone who works there. They will be approved by Newspaper Board. Online
activity/website has been down for 9 mos. ITS is now our server host. Hopefully, this will all
be resolved by the end of the year. We’ve been more active on social media. Lastly, please
remember to vote for Best of Mankato.
Sam: Thanks for coming. I think the Reporter has been doing great this year.
Maria: Why is it sometimes info isn’t accurate?
Rae: When that is the case, please pass onto me to help us resolve those inaccuracies.
Martin: Why so long for website to be down?
Rae: ITS has a huge workload so will take a long time. The Advertising team feels like only 2%
of our revenue comes from there.
Sam: Why have the Reporter?
Rae: My team is crazy good. They get real life experience here. It is an academic training tool
and is important to have here.
Cynthia: How many read it?
Rae: I think we print 5000/day. One half of them get picked up. It is likely we’ll reduce waste
within the next year.
Farah: The number printed is contractual.
Constantine: They actually print 5000 on Tuesday and 4000 on Thursday.
 Open Forum
 Approval of Consent Agenda
Appointments:
Commission on Ethics & Standards: Patrick Riesterer; Ian Irungu; Noah Schumacher; Aliya Hussein;
Desirae Kramer; Connor Martin; Paul Ngumah; Wayland Hunter; Yahya Jabri; Faical Rayani; Zeinab Dahir
Recognized Student Organizations:
Student Allocations Committee:
1. Recommend allocating up to $200 for non-food related programming expenses to Love Justice to
promote and advertise a fundraising event sponsored by multiple student organizations to raise funds to aid
the Syrian Refugee Crisis on February 25, 2016 in the Student Union Lincoln Lounge. It was the consensus of
the committee that the allocated funding should be limited to only printing and advertising costs. As a
committee they did not support the use of student fee dollars to purchase books that could be offered as a
resource to students who are interested in exploring the cause as an enhancement to the student’s
experience. This event is open to all MNSU Mankato students.
a. Amount Requested: $300
b. Per SAC Guidelines, Section IV, Item 15, Program funding is available for eligible
organizations of up to $500 per fiscal year.
Meeting minutes 02.03.16
Consent Agenda approved.
 Vacancies
o Arts & Humanities (1)
 Officer Reports
o President Haffield
a. Meet & Confer:
o HLC coming in March and will include student participation;
o Hubbard Bldg., donor gave us a 3- year free lease and trying to find businesses to
finance. City wants MSU presence downtown. Concept is similar to Taylor Innovative
Center. Would move entire Strategic Div. downtown;
o Diversity Assessment Plan will include 4 focus groups, first session is Feb 17th and then
Feb 24th. Two sessions also during Pan African conf. in March;
o Madelia fire and community help. Been in contact with GMG to see how we can help.
Fundraiser has been going on so we can still donate to that. Pedal Past Poverty
participation/registration. If people outside of senate want to participate, I need to
know. B & N has provided a $1,000 donation along with an anonymous donation of
$500.
o Vice President Al-Mohamadi
a. Starting weekly conversations next week. Will begin with politics topic and will
include students/professors from Political Dept. Location is Hearth Lounge on
Wednesday, 1-2 pm, diff. topics each week. Topics are selected at PR meetings.
Also receive input from others. Next PR meeting is Thursday, 6 pm, Senate
Conference Room.
o Speaker Farah
a. RSO ad-hoc meeting today. Once process is decided, will ask for senate and RSO
feedback.
b. Elections Committee met today. We currently aren’t in campaigning phase yet
so not allowed to publicly say that you are running. Could be counted as a
violation. If questions, contact EC.
Sam: Where is this written?
Farah: I’ve an electronic copy and can email to those of you who want one.
Sam: Is this last year’s?
Farah: Yes, and deadline for changes passed on Jan. 25th.
Sam: The Constitution states that changes are to be presented to senate. Were they?
Farah: Obviously no, but nothing changed from last year. Also, a reminder that there will be no
campaigning in senate office, on commissions, or boards, etc. There will be rules readings so info will be
disseminated in a timely matter. Lastly, there is a sign-up sheet for bowling in the senate office, Feb.
24th, 4-6 pm.
Those on E & S, need to put in your hours and get your reports done.
o Senator Reports
o Senators Smith and Schmidt
 Kate & I, as chair and vice chair, are bidding to host this conference. There are
eight states in the US bidding. We’re bidding to host this conference as the last
time we did was 2009. We’ve been working hard last several months, have had
to basically plan it all out. “Turning the Page” theme focuses on growing as
leaders. We’re up against Truman Univ., Missouri. Includes 20-min If we get it,
we would also be the first group to use new dining hall.
Farah: Thanks for doing all the work and bringing in MSU.
o Senator Perez
City University Meeting: SCC has a nat’l signing day for technology program. Have seen increase of 20%
enrollment, new president starting next fall; Bethany starting construction on nursing clinic (24
students), Yik Yak issue disc., Also, City wants students to stay in Mankato upon graduation and want to
find ways to expand. Public safety issues are improving. This is the result of more police patrols,
including the officer on campus, has helped things.

o Old Business
83 MM 02.03.16 02 Yik Yak - Open Discussion
Move to open discussion on student conduct in regards to Yik Yak as well as the use of Yik
Yak on campus.
Dahir: Free speech doesn’t protect people from racist comments. There are 50 universities who have
already banned them.
Sam: the fact that yik yak is anonymous is part of this, unlike FB. When it gets to be about bullying
college, it is a big problem.
Smith: The statement from CSU and tabling I feel is policy versus value.
De Ruiter: Are these public or private universities that banned? As an org. itself is being negligent and
not removing hate speeches soon enough. Positives are also part of that app.
Dahir: We’re student government and here to protect students. Should at least take stand and limit
access on school’s Wi-fi.
Bui: I feel like it is attacking the system and not the cause. Those students are still on this campus.
Dahir: It is threatening space. Black Lives Matter statements rec’d were disgusting and this is a huge
prob.
Bui: that sucks but they are cowards to say things that way.
Haffield: The platform has been misused badly. Eliminating from network won’t solve the problem.
Feel like it is something more symbolic that we need to do.
Dahir: I don’t think that is symbolic.
Filip: It is necessary to debate semantics of this. What are the diverse populations of those universities
who banned it? I think we have to approach from a softer perspective, like we would alcohol, etc.
Dahir: this is system of oppression and being threatened for who I am.
Lucas: Banning it wouldn’t change much and could backfire with more hate speech.
Sam: I think we’re drifting away from the real topic. We haven’t been asked to end racism, the problem
is Yik Yak. Many have not been affected by it. If you experienced it before, you’d be at this table. Feel
we need to start somewhere and provide students with something of where we stand on it.
Dahir: It is not realistic to think to say we can end racism. What is imperative to me is to rid this campus
of racist comments.
Smith: The idea of banning it from Wi-fi won’t solve problem but will say that the school is not okay
with it.
Haffield: I understand saying we don’t condone, however, now will any other type of app begins do we
continue to ban things we feel are being used inappropriately. Last year, FB was being used against
myself and others to harass, intimidate, etc.
Sam: Yes, and because of that it escalated. Why is this any different?
AY: I understand the symbolism and am affected by this myself. Have to understand the problem and
what we’re facing with this. Address that percent of the population that is responsible.
Sam: It seems everyone else is addressing this so why are we not? Why do we look at what others are
doing? Why can’t MSU be the one to fight this?
Filip: I sympathize with not being domestic students. I am also insulted by it. Thinking radical and you
are retrenching this and make it worse and punish them for being themselves.
Yang: I think those who are so passionate need to join us on the Diversity Committee as we’re talking
about this and ways to combat it.
Sam: It is symbolic that school is not providing access to do it. Banned in middle schools and high
schools so why not here? Bullying is bullying.
o New Business
83 MM 02.10.16 01 MSSA Logo Change
Bui/Steele
Whereas: The logo of the Minnesota State Student Association is integral to the publicity of the student
senate;
Whereas: The current logo may be difficult for the student body to associate it with governance and
student advocacy;
Be it Resolved: The Minnesota State Student Association directs the Public Relations Committee to
investigate possible changes and presents those recommendations to the senate in 30 days.
Motion fails.
Aye: 1 Nay: 16 Abstain: 8
Bui: I’ve talked to many of my constituents and no one could relate clock tower to student senate or
anything related to student issues. Changing name might not be necessarily, but at least the logo.
Sam: We don’t have a PR committee and have had this discussion before. Ask them if they’d like you to
spend $8-9,000 and that would be your answer.
Haffield: I agree but disagree. Would cost a ton of money, print, advertising and is the benefit going to
outweigh cost? Changing logo alone won’t promote MSSA but we should do more advertising.
Martin: I agree that clock tower didn’t tell me it was student government, however, with cost don’t feel
we should be spending money on it right now with budget deficit.
Smith: I disagree with motion and feel money better spent with constituents telling them what we do is
more beneficial.
Bui: Who in this room knows what the clock tower symbolizes?
Sam: I actually do. There was a trend of clock towers and MSU wanted one too. The University couldn’t
afford it and therefore asked student government to help with cost. They voted for an add’l fee to help
build it.
Callais: I don’t feel we should do as first need to commit to our responsibilities of being senators.
Gibson: I feel this is more than a symbol of student government and more representative of our
university.
Cowan: I was here when this happened and can tell you that there was a $130,000 donor and student
government paid for the rest.
83 MM 02.10.16 02 Student Affairs & Academic Affairs Coordinators Weekly Updates
Smith/Martin
Whereas: Senators are in either the Student Affairs or Academic Affairs committees;
Whereas: Senators would benefit from updates from both committees;
Be it Resolved: The Academic Affairs and Student Affairs Coordinators be required to give a report at
each senate meeting;
Be it Further Resolved: These reports will take place after Officer Reports and before Senator Reports.
Motion passes.
Aye: 17 Nay: 2 Abstain: 4
Smith: I feel everyone would benefit from a weekly update.
Martin: By doing it weekly, students may feel more accountable.
Haffield: I’m completely for this, however, could we include in operating pol. Or by-laws.
Farah: I assume we can add in Operating Policies.
Sam: I feel next year there may be other ideas and so we shouldn’t restrict it.
de Ruiter: For purpose of brevity, I suggest to alternate every week.
Smith: At the very least it will help senators to attend each week. Feel we owe senate explanation of
what we’re doing.
Sam; I agree with every other week as we will have a lot of work in coming weeks.
Dahir: Weekly as important to have debriefing of things and senate will benefit. If only extra a couple
minutes, should be sufficient.
83 MM 02.10.16 03
Yik Yak Solution
Smith/Haffield
Whereas: The Senate agrees action must be taken to discourage hateful Yik Yak posts;
Whereas: Negative Yik Yak posts present a larger scale campus issue;
Whereas: Our campus can always benefit from improving student mindset;
Whereas: Any message is better heard from trusted leaders and peers;
Whereas: The Senate cannot tackle the greater intolerance issue alone;
Whereas: Connecting students is the key to change;
Be it Resolved: The Senate will connect with RSO leaders or entire RSO groups to discuss the issue.
Be it Further Resolved: Each senator will be given a number of RSO leaders to contact that way the
information is presented will be determined on an individual basis.
Motion passes.
83 MM 02.10.16 04
Yik Yak Issue - Referral to Student Affairs Committee
de Ruiter/Dahir
Whereas: Yik Yak has been a space for hate speech:
Whereas: Other campuses have limited Yik Yak;
Whereas: The Student Affairs Committee is meant to discuss issues facing students;
Be it Resolved: The Student Affairs Committee investigates possible ways to limit Yik Yak.
Motion passes.
Aye: 18 Nay: 0 Abstain: 1
De Ruiter: I feel we need to explore on how to address this issue.
Gibson: Just a reminder that this happened last semester and were still just talking about it now.
Yang: I’d like to defer this to the Diversity Committee.
Ututalum: I feel like both committees should work on this.
o Announcements
o Sam: Asian night this weekend, tickets are $8. Seven food booths.
o De Ruiter: Student Affairs meeting right after this meeting.
o Bui: Student Events Team holding Price is Right event this Saturday. $5,000 worth of
prizes.
o Dahir: Black Lives Matter event featuring Angela Davis, Monday, 5-7 pm.
o Roll Call
o Adjournment
o Meeting adjourned at 6:15 pm.