83rd MSSA Senate
September 16th, 2015
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Call to Order by 83rd Speaker Farah
Roll Call
Presentations:
a. John Bulcock – Collective Bargaining (PPT)
i. Basic structure; university organizational chart; what is collective
bargaining; overview of committees.
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Collective bargaining is a process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees
aimed at reaching agreements to regulate working conditions. The interests of the employees
are commonly presented by representatives of a trade union to which the employees belong.
(Wikipedia)
 A vast majority of state employees in Minnesota are represented by a union, also referred to
as a “bargaining unit.” Local associations are part of a larger, state-wide, or even national
organization.  The Minnesota State Student Association is the “bargaining unit” for students.
The MSUSA is the state-wide bargaining unit for the students.
 Local Bargaining Units have periodic (usually monthly) “Meet & Confer” sessions with
“Management”
 This provides for the open sharing of concerns and ideas.
 Shared governance/consultation process for most decisions that affect the university’s
operations involves feedback being sought from bargaining units.
 Examples include policy review, room & board rates, fees, tuition increases, etc.
Sadeghi: What happens when there is disagreement? How do we negotiate? (example: asking
prof. to observe others’ classes” was met with opposition)
JB: As it is a bargaining unit, it has to be mutually agreed upon between management and the
union.
i.
MSUSA Officers – Cara Luebke, Chair; Sarah Berns, Legislative
Affairs; Joe Wolf, Vice Chair.
ii. Overview of roles within MSUSA. (PPT)
iii. Mission, structure, being a non-profit.
iv. Basic info: Every student pays .43 cents per credit; MSUSA pays for one
full-time office staff person. Very fortunate, as most don’t have this.
Benefits include student programming, lobby day and administrative
costs. Currently, serve 70,000 students. One of the most powerful in the
country. Older than most similar organizations.
v. Issues working on this year: 1. Affordable tuition; 2. Walk to the capitol;
increase financial aid; textbooks prices; repairs; Charting The Future;
online voter registration.
vi. Issue campaigns for this year: textbook affordability; mental health
awareness; safe campus campaign; diversity campaign; state leg. work;
federal leg. work; rebranding; board initiatives, increase alumni
engagement.
vii. Scholarships: Penny Program, JPS, acquired 4 new scholarships this year.
Encourage all of you to apply.
viii. How to get involved.
Bui: Thanks for coming. Can you please elaborate on textbook pricing?
Cara: I’d like to develop a taskforce to work with MnSCU committee on this.
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Open Forum
Approval of Consent Agenda
Appointments: Zeinab Dahi: Academic Affairs Committee, Student Allocation Committee; Cynthia
Callais: Student Affairs Committee; Amis Ututalum: Academic Affairs Committee; Zeinab A Dahir:
Student Allocations Committee, Academic Affairs Committee; Fred de Ruiter, Constitutional
Commission, Rebecca Wegscheid: Constitutional Commission, Ethics and Standards, Nolan Brinkman:
Student Health Services Advisory Committee, Ethics and Standards Commission; PJ Piotrowski: Ethics
and Standards Commission, Constitutional Commission; Noel Leul: Student Health Services Advisory
Committee; Qendresa Isniqi: Student Union Board; Ethics and Standards Commission Chair: AbdulAziz Abdulrahmane; Parking Appeals Board, Patrick Riesterer; Connor Martin, Parking
Appeals.
Commission on Ethics & Standards:
Recognized Student Organizations: Student Association of India; ASHRAE; The Meditation Club;
GROOV; Super Smash Bros. Club; Pre-Physical and Pre-Occupational Therapy Club; NeStCom; Handball
Club;
Panhellenic Council; Scandinavian Club; American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; PreMedical Club; Physics and Astronomy Club; Athletic Training Student Association; Eta Sigma Gamma
Council for Exceptional Children; Men’s Rugby Football Club; Fraternal Values Society; Gamma Sigma
Alpha; Sport Management Association; Cognitive Science Student Organization; Hmong Student
Association; Order of Omega; Men’s Club Soccer; RANGE; Lutheran Campus Ministry – The Crossroads;
Police Women of MNSU; Information Security Student Organization; Pivot Hosanna Highland Campus
Ministry; Student Athletic Advisory Committee; Sigma Chi Health and Physical Education Club;
Women’s Club Volleyball; Integrating Mentorship and Untapped Student Talent; History Club; NRHH;
Sigma Nu; SAJAC; Lambda Chi Alpha; Cru; Math Club; MSU Drag Race Team; Engineers Without Borders;
MavLankans; Women in Aviation, Northern Lights Chapter; Honors Student Council; Mankato Women’s
Ultimate Frisbee Club; MSU Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club; Student Nurses Association; The Herd; American
Institute of Graphic Arts.
Student Allocations Committee: - None
Meeting minutes 9.16.15.
 Vacancies
 Officer Reports
o President Haffield
a. I’ll be giving an info session on Charting The Future next week.
b. Sexual assault incident. We’ll be having an open discussion in Old Business
c. Welcome Abdul Nakumbe as MSUSA Campus Coordinator.
d. Other spots open for MSUSA, so let Abdul Nakumbe know.
e. MSUSA update: Chancellor’s review process. No one from MSUSA was invited
to be part of it. Personally, I feel we just need to make this year better. I’ll have
an update next week.
f. Still committee openings. Please talk to me if you’re still looking.
g. Tomorrow Sam and I will be meeting with President Davenport.
h. Partnering with the Herd for U of M Hockey game on 11/13. Hope to obtain
sponsorships to help cover costs.
o Vice President Al-Mohamadi
a. Homecoming: MSSA will do something for the parade. Considering something
like the dunk tank or pie in the face for senators. Date is yet TBD.
b. SAC – We have a full committee and will be meeting for first time this Friday.
c. Div. committee met first time today.
d. At the request of President Haffield, I will be chairing the City/Univ. meeting this
year.
e. Senator Spotlight in Reporter. Looking at once every two weeks. Approximately
400-500 words. The sign-up sheet will be in the MSSA office.
f. MTRP – I met with the Library regarding late fees. These funds go to the library.
However, the actual programming is funded by B & N and MSSA, not the
Library. When asked, they said they have no data on how much this amounts
to. They said it is the cost of doing business. I want to know this info.
De Ruiter: Has there been any more discussion about the MTRP money and how to use it?
Sam: have left this to AA. Feel that it is as imp. To have money coming in.
o Speaker Farah
a. I feel a need for us to know more about where the money goes. Therefore, on
Sept. 30th Rick Straka will do a presentation on this. It will be open to all
students and held in Ostrander Auditorium from 5-6 pm. Our normal meeting
will be held prior, from 4-5 pm., in Nickerson.
b. Attended the Budget Sub-Meet & Confer meeting this week. It was a relief to
hear that the equipment freeze is not staying in place. It was also nice to hear
that MSU is the biggest school in the MnSCU system.
c. OneDrive and logging office hours – If you don’t know how to do this, please see
me so you can begin logging them in. I’m going to start checking frequently. I
expect all of you to be doing so by the end of this week.
 Senator Reports
o Senator Smith
 Issues with PR and Res Life senator;
 Talked with area director about getting sort of image of senators for their
locations. Would like RHA also reps also on posters and should include our
contact information and scheduled office hours.
 Senator Ruiz and Rayani – (handout)
 Summer orientation classes this past summer; approximately 1350-1600
students
 Presentations included MSSA information and services offered;
 Feel it significantly increased gap between incoming freshmen and MSSA.
 It is important to carry this on next summer as this is the populations we want
to reach out to.
Martin: Thanks for doing a really good job. This is really cool.
Abdul: I was one of the students who attended one of these sessions. I just want to say thank you for
doing them. It was very helpful.
 Old Business: Sexual Assault incident sent out in today’s email:
Haffield: feel it was a lot of disc. On the victim and not about tackling the issue.
Smith: already heard from some of my constituents with concern as to how it came across. Focus
was on how personally prevent instead of pairing it with what can all of us do.
Fred: Can I Kiss You and Train the Trainer events last. Year. Wondering if we’d be interested in
looking at some sort of program that is similar to take proactive steps.
Sadeghi: think it is too complicated. Think it would be good to get prof. and give advice on how to
counter this.
Dahir: under the impression that this is policy change, if so then change mnscu policy. Is it this or
ed. Programming for students?
We have Violence Sex. Awareness program in Women’s Center by Laura Schultz so she would be
best to contact on this.
 New Business
 83.MM 091615 01 – MTRP Late Fee Haffield/Al-Mohamadi
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Be it resolved: The Maverick Textbook Reserve late fee issue be referred to Academic Affairs
Committee.
Aye: 28 Nay: 0 Abstain: 0
Motion passes.
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83 MM 09.16.15 02 - Senate Dress Code -- Riesterer/Sargent
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Be it resolved: The Student Senate should participate in a dress code that would require a
polo/jeans at the very least. Requesting a friendly amendment.
Amendment: (Friendly) Refer this to the Speaker to be added to the MSSA Operating Policies.
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Aye: 28 Nay: 0 Abstain: 0
Motion passes.
Riesterer: I feel that if we’re getting paid for this position, so feel we should dress prof. on Weds.
Haffield: referred back to Speaker Farah and put into the senate operating policies.
Farah: I am currently working on them and would put that in there.
Sadeghi: I think that this is a bad idea. We are at a college and want to dress as a student. We should
rep students and dress like them.
Noah: I think it is important to represent senate in positive way but think we can do so without dressing
for the occasion. What would be the consequences if not?
Farah: E & S could decide.
Haffield: I’m in favor of this concept. Other student government meetings require that senators be very
dressed up at meetings. Like the idea of dressing better than sweatpants. Perception of looking
professionalism is not only looking good but also being taken more seriously. I’m not suggesting a suit
and tie but there are many other professional-looking options to explore. I think this organization
should be kept
Sam: this is something I think is imp. As good for you to learn to look prof. esp. in the future. Downside
is that is putting another requirement on senators, but feel that it is a good thing.
Rayani: Would it be a MSSA polo or regular polo?
Riesterer: Either one.
Haffield: I feel it is also a good way to show respect to others who come here.
Riesterer: I didn’t mean to offend anyone with bringing this up. I just think it is important to take the
time and effort to look professional and think it makes us work better. We’re here to work for the
future and most professions we choose will require it.
Steele: many already wear good outfits, would this suit?
Yang: As we’re talking about how we can create more awareness for MSSA, why not do this. It also
gives us the look of unity.
Vote: unanimous
 Announcements
o Farah: Polos are here tonight if you need one. Onedrive and office hours.
 Roll Call
 Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 5:35 pm.