83rd MSSA Senate
September 9th, 2015
 Call to Order by 83rd Speaker Farah
 Roll Call
Miranda Steele 4-0-0; Taylor Krueger 4-0-0; H. B. Hankerson 4-0-0; Wes Huntington 4-0-0;
Connor Martin 4-0-0; Katherine Gibson 4-0-0; Ivan Martinez 4-0-0; Maria Ruiz 4-0-0; YaYa
Jabri 4-0-0; Wayland Hunter 4-0-0; Paul N’gumah 3-1-0; Siavash Sadeghi 4-0-0; Faical Rayani
4-0-0; Noah Schumacher 4-0-0; Ricky Sargent 3-1-0; Patrick Riesterer 3-1-0; Zana Vejsa 4-0-0;
Tien Bui 4-0-0; Aliya Hussein 2-2-0; Desirae Kramer 3-1-0; Ian Irunga 3-0-0; Fred de Ruiter 40-0; Nelsie Yang 1-0-1; Abdul-Aziz Abdulrahmane 2-0-0; Kate Schmit 2-0-0

Presentations:
a. VP Richard Straka – Budget
i. Brief budget update for the university.
ii. Feb. open forum was held on $4.2m deficit. Addressed with 1x financial
measures like equip freeze, moratorium on projects, etc.
iii. Happy to report, we’re likely to breakeven this year because of those
measures taken.
iv. Structural deficit situation: continuing to work on our spending budget.
v. Legislature finished in May and did approve $100m for the MnSCU
system over the next biennial. MSU share is $3.3m. Next year less will
come through and there are also restrictions on this money.
vi. Tuition increase this year but not next year …$483,000 less in
appropriation from MNSCU and tuition freeze next year. Even though
less revenue, our expenses will still go up. Salary increases, state-wide
health increase $ (7.4% increase), 6.6% in ’17. July brought different news
than planning on during May.
vii. $2.7m in current year but in ’17 looking at $3.3 m deficit so there will be
some budget challenges.
viii. Real concern within Mnscu about two-year affordability.
ix. Quick overview of different funds within the University.
x. Prepare for less student fees next year and more expenses than expected.
Sam: As tuition will be frozen next year, will the int’l student and cultural scholarship change?
RS: No, as you’ll be grandfathered in and will only affect new students.
Rayani: Thanks for coming as I didn’t know many of these things.
Bui: What or who are the top stressors on campus right now?
RS: There are many but I wouldn’t single out any one area. We’ve all been good stewards of
our dollars. It is more of a revenue issue than a spending issue. In spite of being given only
98% of our budget, we’ll still be doing the great things with the resources that we’re allowed to
have.
b. Nick Johnson – MNSU Undergraduate Literary Magazine
i. We’ve been accepted as an RSO but now we are looking for funds. It is
now open for national review. Our thinking is to use the current
newspaper as our outlet org. We would provide the content and the
newspaper would publish monthly. We’re looking for the funding to be
a regular line item versus a continued SAC request.
ii. Would include fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Similar to the New York
Times Sunday Edition. Goal of 2-8 pages.
Bui: How many students are you looking for to submit?
Nick: Every student who picks up the Reporter. We also want to build the existing readership
with the Reporter. We are looking for quality and our needs to be met.
Abdul: What about doing it digitally?
Nick: We looking to do more hard copy vs electronically.
Sam: Have you spoken to the Reporter yet?
Nick: No, not yet. But we got the original idea from the Newspaper Board.
Sam: Is the Reporter providing the funding for costs?
Nick: No, the costs would include asking for incentives for submission, best-of type
submissions. We’re not really sure of the cost at this time.
Smith: Who is eligible to submit?
Nick: Any MSU student. The focus for undergraduate side would be for those working on the
journalist side. But otherwise, anyone from MSU can submit.
Martin: What is your plan for selection? Given the controversial transgender article last year,
we wouldn’t want that happening again.
Nick: With our focus being on fiction, poetry, etc., it would be up to the editors working with
the submission process. We would work within the standards of good taste. Certain things are
just taboo and shouldn’t be included.
John: Is this for on campus only?
Nick: Anywhere the Reporter currently goes.
c. John Bulcock – Collective Bargaining Units – Postponed until next week.
 Open Forum
 Approval of Consent Agenda
 Appointments: Katelyn Schmit, Parking Advisory; Taylor Kruger, Student Health Services
Advisory Board, and President’s Commission on Status of Women; Miranda Steele, Student
Health Services Board; Chad Thompson, Student Allocations Committee; Yaya Jabri and Denise
Adjidjonu, MSSA Diversity Committee.
Commission on Ethics & Standards:
Recognized Student Organizations: ASODP (African Students for Development & Progress), And Now …
the MNSU Undergraduate Literary Magazine, Eurasian Student Association, Alpine Ski Team, Students
Today Leaders Forever, MNSU Finance Club, World Language Organization, Assorted Misfits Gaming,
Secular Student Alliance, Chicano-Latin American Student Association, Muslim Students Association,
PRSSA, Circle K International, Beta Gamma Sigma Honors Society, MNSU Law Enforcement Club, Alpha
Phi Sigma, Gamma Phi Beta, National Black Graduate Student Association, Society of Professional
Journalists, Beta Alpha Psi, Graduate Student Coalition
Student Allocations Committee:

Recommend allocating up to $500 of expenses(including food purchased in accordance with
university policy served at the event and upon attending the RSO president dinner) to assist
the Economic Club host a speaker from the Federal Reserve giving a presentation about the
“Economic State of China” in Ostrander Auditorium, October 1, 2015 open to all students.
Meeting minutes 9.2.15.
Approved.

Vacancies
o Allied Health & Nursing (1) – Aris Ututalum
 Second semester of nursing and I have multiple connections on campus.
Bui: Can you name one or two challenges you’ve had and how you dealt with them?
Aris: school of nursing helps me work in groups more and as a team.
Haffield: Can you name one thing you’d like to change?
Aris: The amount of students that can be accepted into the nursing program. Currently, it is only 40.
Rayani: What experience do you have?
Aris: I was a freshman mentor in high school and also involved in theatre which it helped me break out
of my shell and was great for networking.
Ruiz: What is your greatest strength?
Aris: Networking and connecting with others.
Krueger: What leadership experience have you had here?
Aris: Part of choir and community council in the dorms.
Sam: You talked about your goal for the School of Nursing, however, what is one goal you have for the
general academic community?
Aris: There needs to be more support in students’ academics. In example, those students who are not
accepted in nursing are given no guidance as to what to do to get in.
Thank you for this opportunity. I think this is a fantastic organization and I think it would be amazing to
help other students be part of this.
Rayani: I think he was very well-spoken.
Martin: I like that he has some hands-on knowledge of students’ struggles.
Fred: Being a nursing student, I think that he would complement our existing senators in the College of
Allied Health & Nursing.
Ruiz: I liked that he would help people not making it into the program.
Vote: Unanimous. Aris Ututalum sworn in.
o Residential Life (1)
 Cynthia Callais– Political Science Major
CC: I’ve lived in the dorms and have a passion for politics.
Bui: What leadership experience do you have?
CC: I’ve been involved in theatre, captain of the swim team in high school and heavily involved in other
things. I want to do the same in college. This would give me great background in that.
Haffield: How long have you lived in the res halls?
CC: The last couple of years.
Haffield: change?
CC: amount of involvement students in events
Abdul: What has your involvement been while here?
CC: I currently work in the Community Engagement Office.
Ruiz: How do you plan to involve students in the res halls?
CC: make sure there is good relationship and encourage them to go.
Rayani: How long have you been in the Community Engagement office?
CC: Not too long as I just started. I work the front desk, log events and do outreach for them. I feel that
this would help me in student government as well. I feel this would be a great opportunity for me.
Haffield: I liked her and also feel that living in several different res halls, gives her a broader perspective.
Martin: Even though she was very soft spoken and seemed nervous with speaking in front of a group, I
feel she can grow with MSSA.
Rayani: I like that she had experience with the Community Engagement office.
Smith: I also think that living in Stadium Heights will give things more perspective.
Vote: unanimous. Sworn in.
o Graduate Studies (1) – Zeinab Dahir
First year student pursuing my masters. I worked with the Multi-Cultural Center and want to be more
involved with diverse students.
Sam: What would be one of your goals as a senator?
Zeinab: Many groups within the Multi-Cultural Center were affected by budget cuts last year and it was
very hard on them.
Ruiz: How will you work with students?
Zeinab: Most are not aware of how budgets, funding, etc. work so would help them understand some of
these things.
Ivan: What would you like to change?
Zeinab: There is a lot of research, training, to become professors. However, I don’t feel we get enough
services from them.
Haffield: Can you name one major strength?
Zeinab: My leadership and communication skills. I’m trying to become a professor and one thing taken
crating academic spaces and can do so without overshadowing everyone. Leadership is being an asset
to other people.
I’m glad to have had this opportunity and hope to create changes like more pleasant academic and
social experiences.
Schmit: I like her statement of, “leadership is being an asset to other people.”
Haffield: I love that she has experience and maturity. I think she will really be valued here.
Vote: Zeinab Dahir elected and sworn in.
 Officer Reports
o President Haffield
o Welcome to our three new members.
o M & C update: Preferred name policy: Current work on the system to be able to do so,
legal name will still be required.
o Charting The Future: The implementation will be talked about soon and what areas will
be focused on.
o Sesquentenial: A year-long celebration is being planned; action plan feedback wanted;
o Officer on campus: We’ve invited her to come in again and introduce herself to the
group.
o Minimum wage increase: It has been a lengthy process in adjusting student wages.
o Diversity Requirement team: implementation team will be meeting soon. Three
students have been submitted.
o Had a meeting with Greg Wilkins and the bike-sharing program. Apparently, the Int’l
Center had this and there is some talk about moving it over to Campus Rec. If you have
questions, please talk to me.
o Register to Vote: Please read the email and come back with questions.
o Sexual Assault Policy – This is currently a MnSCU adopted policy. Please read the U of M
article I sent. Feel we should at least talk about it.
Rayani: As far as student wages, does everyone’s change?
Haffield: It is a discussion about the ones that were being paid above the minimum wage already.
Rayani: Is there a bike share program committee?
Haffield: This is just an idea and we’re not at that stage yet,
Hunter: Is our sexual assault policy not working?
Haffield: It is not that it is not working, however, given the timing of the U of M article, we may want to
at least discuss it.
Ruiz: What happened to the students who were appt’d to the Cultural Diversity Requirement?
Haffield: There had been two appointed, however, apparently, they didn’t show up.
o Vice President Al-Mohamadi
o Committee appointments, please email if not assigned yet. Make sure to attend
committee meetings once assigned to them.
o New senators, three office hours are required.
o Please read our constitution and by-laws as how to communicate.
o Speaker Farah
o Senator training tomorrow from 10-5 for those who haven’t done so.
o Senator business cards are almost ready to go to print. We are just waiting on one
senator.
o Senator reports: If interested in giving one, let me know so I can put you on the agenda.
 New Business
Discussion item #1: Literary Magazine (Haffield)
Haffield: I like the idea but I’m just not sure of how to go about. But don’t know about implementing it
as a line item in the SAC budget. Why not just allocate more to the Reporter?
Sam: I think it is a great idea but they haven’t done any research on it. He doesn’t know even how
much funding he can get. Feel like they should talk to Reporter and then bring back to senate.
Martin: I feel the same. He hasn’t done the research or enough answers for us to make a decision.
Bui: What’s the barrier between undergraduate and graduate? Why not work together?
Smith: As I understood it, it is not completely separate but submissions would be only graduate
students and an addition to the newspaper.
De Ruiter: I feel like it is sort of mistaken identity as they are not sure who they should be asking funds
from.
Mark: If I have your approval to do so, I’d like to reach out and talk to him about the process and get
that linkage with the Reporter done.
Discussion item #2: Campus Rec summer fee of $50 (VP Al-Mohamadi)
o It is easier to go to Anytime fitness or something similar, for $10 and I think it is a better facility.
o Martin: It is to offset expenses; however, students have option to go wherever.
o Riesterer: I agree, someone has to pay for the lights to stay on over the summer. I think it is
kind of worth it as hardy no one is in there and you have it to yourself.
o Ngumah: I agree. Yes, only $10/mo. But there is also an annual fee so would work out to be
about the same.
o Rayani: Where does Campus Rec money come from?
o John B: This department is heavily subsidized by student fees on a semester basis. The summer
is considered a separate academic term.
o De Ruiter: Other companies are willing to waive the fees, however, those other companies are
intentionally doing more to attract more students.
o Sam: We’re losing students to other facilities for $10. Secondly, those registered for summer
are already paying student fees. Thirdly, why can I use everything else on campus, (i.e. CSU,
Library) so why not Campus Rec?
It is a building right on campus. They are going to find the money to stay open. Why not charge
$20 each semester and not $50? Plus, there must also be more communication with the
Cashier’s Office because if/when Todd Pfingsten tells you $25, the Cashiers Office doesn’t know
about that. I feel we need to be more competitive with other facilities.
Vash: The right thing is to lower the fee as would get more students coming in to use. Would
like to see more numbers on this.
Smith: How are we going to incent students to stay here?
Ruiz: I feel it is our purpose is to advocate for students and feel we should be able to use that
facility.
Riesterer: I think we should end this discussion until we have more facts and figures.
Sam: I move to move this to Student Affairs Committee for discussion. (seconded by Sargent)
 Announcements
 Ruiz: Celebration for students from Mexico tonight at 6 pm.
 Martinez: Latino Affairs events update.
 Bui: Non-traditional student picnic
 Sam: America’s night, sept 26th ; Please send me Homecoming ideas. Also, have promo items.
 Jacob, SCC – League of Women Voters (email)
 Haffield: info on St Cloud executive, incorrect. Not even Minnesota.
 Farah: SBU
 Roll Call
Senators Present:
Fred de Ruiter; Katherine Gibson; Faical Rayani; Siavash Sadeghi; Miranda Steele; H.B. Hankerson, Wes
Huntington; Ivan Martinez, Maria Ruiz, YaYa Jabri, Paul Ngumah, Aliya Hussein, Zana Vejsa, Tien Bui;
Connor Martin, Ricky Sargent, Taylor Krueger, Wayland Hunter, Cristian Perez, Nelsie Yang, Abdul-Aziz
Abdulrahmane; Kate Schmit. Desirae Kramer; Patrick Riesterer
 Senators Absent:
Executive Leadership Present:
Mariah Haffield, President; Sam Al-Mohamadi, Vice President; Jessica Farah, Speaker
Executive Leadership Absent:
 Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 5:45 pm.