83rd MSSA Senate
November 18th, 2015











1.
2.
3.
4.
Call to Order by 83rd Speaker Farah
Roll Call
Presentations
a. Lucas Howk - Internship and External Partnerships Coordinator
i. (PPT)
National Internship Data - -Internships.com
How many internships turn into actual employment? - 70% - Internships.com
Is an internship worth doing even if you're not required and you have enough credits to
graduate without one? Yes.
Why Participate in Internships?
 Everyone’s doing them. Approximately 2/3 of the class of 2013 completed at
least one internship before graduation – Nationwide survey conducted by
Internships.com.
 Decide if a career path is right for you by seeing what your career could be like.
 Build relationships with professionals and organizations that can further your
career.
 Make your resume more attractive to employers by adding real-world
experience to it.
 Optimize your education by applying what you learn in class to real-world
situations and earning credits toward your degree.
 Earn money through one of the many paid internships available on
MavJobs.com.
 Get hired after graduation. According to a nationwide survey, 70% of those who
completed internships received job offers from the companies they interned with.
What are my options other than the job fair to find internships in the cities for this
summer?
 Networking, LinkedIn, MavJobs.com, Indeed.com, Current Job, Internship
Coordinator, Company websites, Mass text.
 Importance of Networking
What qualifies an internship for credit in the COB?
 80% major-related job duties
 120 hours of work while registered
Mentor
 http://cob.mnsu.edu/internship/
Campus Internship Resources
COB Internship Website:
 http://cob.mnsu.edu/internship/
COB Internship Coordinator:
 507-389-2963
 Cobinternships@mnsu.edu
 Send resume and email today!
Career Development Center
MavJobs Website:
 http://www.mnsu.edu/cdc/mavjobs/
De Ruiter: There are different types of internships, some known for poor practices. What do
you do with those?
Lucas: It is important for us to partner with. We also talk with those students who’ve worked
with those cos. We’ve seen a 70% increase in internships and participation.
Farah: Hopefully, you’ve seen some of the resources available and hope you take advantage of
Lucas as well.
Cindy Janney - Res Hall rates proposal (PPT & handouts)
Haffield: Formerly, increases have been 3% or 4%. This year it is closer to 5%, even without all
RHA recommendations in there. Aren’t the increases the same each year?
CJ: The planning principal that has been used is to increase expenses + 1%. (i.e. would include
things like special projects, etc.) The employee stuff generally represent a bigger bump. This
year also includes debt services with the new dining hall. I will get you more facts and the
driving factors. In the past, most things that RHA voted on were not 1%. This year was water
bottle filters and costs associated with that.
Haffield: I thought students wouldn’t incur a fee for new dining hall. Thought it included a
bond.
CJ: Whenever it is a revenue fund area, there is no tuition or tax dollars that come to Res life
budget. We’re also trying to cover the shortfall and come out of the hole.
Haffield: Is difference in cost of living included in this?
CJ: No, what we do is go out to other university websites and find the data/rates.
Sam: With the remodeling of lobby restrooms, will they be gender neutral?
CJ: Some are gender neutral now but need improvements and made to look nice.
Sam: What is actual change % from last year?
CJ: I will pull sheet from last year and send it to you.
Sam: Every year there is an increase with renovations, and shortfall from year before. Will next
year be 5.9 or 6.9%? Why don’t we stay flat as we’ve already done those renovations?
CJ: We just re-did plumbing, roofs, etc. Now it will be windows. We’ve done good job keeping up with
building systems and have to continue to do so.
Sam: Will this affect enrollment next yr?
CJ: I don’t think so. Don’t think it is all about room rate and comes from other factors. In general,
we’re in the middle of the pack as far as competitors. I’m a good steward about funds and understand if
not, it is combined with a lot of debt.
Perez: I think it better if the comparison was done with the rest of MnSCU schools.
CJ: I pick these because you pick these. At least, Admissions’ data tells us that.
Perez: Is the same attention given to Stadium Heights?
CJ: Are you from there?
Perez: Yes, referring to the washers/dryers.
CJ: We’re listening to concerns all the time and then adjust. Not everybody makes the charge every
year. We can talk about that.
Callais: Am I paying for things I don’t have?
CJ: We will take note and look into that as well.
Farah: Looking at your comparison, they are at 3% and we’re at 4.9%
CJ: We don’t know what they’ll increase it to. My job is to be a good steward of funds.
Sam: So if someone says you can only increase 3.5%, what are you going to do?
CJ: Well, then I’ll wait for the Board of Trustees to see what they say. I make my best recommendation
going forward. Possibly, just lose more money next year.
b. Dr. David Gadberry - Music Department



Music Education and music therapy.
(Australian chant)
Unique characteristics: builds community, elicits physical response; (has
helped people who’ve had strokes, increases oxygen, can lower need for
pain meds, etc).
c. s, communication, emotional expression; entertainment, aesthetic expression;
d. Research finds that music enters through more animal-type brain to affect heart
rate, breath. Also has shown to help people with memory problems.
e. What it is: the use of music for non-musical goals. One can practice from prebirth until after death.
f. Gabby Gifford claims it was helpful with her comeback.
g. Requires board certified therapist.
h. Talking about developing a program. In fall, we will do an intro to music
careers. Also a class in drumming and strumming. Will include beginner
students.
Noah: Thanks for coming. A drumming and strumming a class?
DG: Yes.
Noah: Are there any opportunities for one to learn an instrument?
DG: Yes, please talk to me.
c. Kelsey Pederson - Sexuality and Equality Club
I feel it is a good time to educate people. These are especially good for people transitioning into
transgender. Often, it is an accessibility issue. They are also face harassing situations. This
can help out transgender people who aren’t comfortable with coming out as it can be a mental
health issue for some. Society enforces that sex and transgender are the same thing. It is not.
They are often dehumanized and traumatized. The best way to combat this issue is by
education and having transgender bathrooms. They should be required for each building.
There is currently only ten on campus. Changes in signage is also needed. Possibly, also
creating a directory for transgender people. We have started collecting petitions and we
already have up to `50 signatures.
Abdul: B.I.G. collaborated on this for many reasons. It is an RSO at MSU who encourages
members to explore and think diversity. We contribute to multi-cultural society and hope that
it is an opportunity to enhance our campus. We consider ourselves an ally of the LGBT
community. We can advocate for these initiatives. These students work just as hard to be here
and should be made comfortable. This is a great opportunity to fill the need of gender neutral
bathrooms. I encourage you to think with empathy. As a member of a targeted population, I
understand what it feels like. Simply, “no one should have to feel excluded from taking a shit.”
(reference to latest poster).
Gallery: If I bring a staff member into a bathroom it is a very uncomfortable issue for them. I
feel this is a very important issue for MSU.
Guest: I am a first year student and just starting my transition. I would like to walk into a
bathroom without getting dirty looks. It is very hard to find a bathroom here. Being able to go
to a gender neutral bathroom is impossible. This is ridiculous. With more, it would create more
convenience and help with any student who doesn’t feel “right” in their own bathroom.
Haffield: Thanks for coming. Personally, I support this. What are you thinking as far as
logistics? One per building?
Guest: Yes, one per building.
Haffield: Are you thinking about creating new or renovating the existing?
Guest: We have both kinds in LGBT area. For others, renovate current bathrooms, even just a
single stall. It is about accessibility.
Haffield: Do you know what other schools doing?? Cost?
Guest: cheap for signage; varibles as to uniqueness of bathrooms.
Dahir: thanks for coming. Takes a lot of courage. Want to commend you for collaborating with
other groups.
Sam: Would existing ones be called family or unisex?
Guest: There is currently a family one by Ostrander, however, feel that there may be people
coming in that wouldn’t feel comfortable with trans people also coming in. We would like all
called gender neutral. It would make it more comfortable for those who are in transition. The
highest traffic is near the LGBT Center.
Tien: What about male and female dressing rooms – how do you feel about that?
Guest: That would come afterwards and a good thing to reach out for.
Ruiz: Have you thought about res halls?
Guest: Often times, students get to pick which ones to use, however,that is another issue to
tackle. Look at next yr.
Haffield: How about gender neutral/family?
Guest: Yes, that may work but at the same time also includes families who may not be
comfortable.
Kate: What other schools are doing this?
Guest: NW and Chicago just changed that. Also an elementary school in California.
Steele: What about just a symbol instead of wording?
Guest: Yeah, however, for those not conformed to a gender it may be difficult.
Dahir: If hesitant about re-labeling, comfortable if half labeled family and other gender neutral?
Guest: I would have to say no. Sometimes, simply just putting “restroom” would work. It can
be as simple as that.
JB: This probably would require a need for an education component. Is there a plan to develop
that?
Guest: Yes, Jess Flatequal does transgender training so we would just start to increase that.
We’d also be doing things like having speakers, panel discussions, etc.
Yang: Could anyone go in there then??
Guest: Yes.
Yang: I feel like people may be uncomfortable it. What are ways we can respond to that??
Guest: Educating people about that.
a. University of Missouri Issue update – Diversity and Student Affairs
Committee
i. Student Affairs: Discussion on action plans: writing letter of support
(President Haffield), and holding a diversity panel.
ii. Schumacher: The panel would allow students to discuss anger, pain and
solutions. This is happening all around the country. Panel would consist
of staff, students, etc.
iii. Diversity Committee: There was a history of Mizzou racism along with
the recent incident; asking senators to go to diversity training. MSU only
has about 2,000 students of color. It is up to us to nurture that.
 Diversity: Open Forum
 Approval of Consent Agenda
Appointments: Grace Smith, Preferred Name Campus Implementation Kickstart Team; Mariah
Haffield: Commencement Committee
Appointments still needed: Technology Fee Advisory Committee, Elections Commission, Athletic
Advisory Committee, CSU Board (1 more), Learning Technology Roundtable (1 more), Budget Sub-Meet
and Confer (1 more), MSSA Budget Committee
Commission on Ethics & Standards:
Recognized Student Organizations:
Student Allocations Committee:




Recommend allocating $0 (zero) for program related expenses to Student Athlete Advisory Committee to
host an on-campus sports camp for kids 5-12 years of age in Myers Field House on January 18, 2016. It
was the consensus of the SAC membership that this event did not align with the criteria cited in the SAC
guidelines.
Recommend allocating up to $300 for non-food related travel expenses to Delta Sigma Pi to assist 28
business students travel to tour Mintel and 1871 in Chicago, IL November 20-22, 2015.
Recommend allocating up to $2,000 for non-food related travel expenses (per SAC guidelines section IV,
item 11) to Mankato Women’s Rugby to assist the 16 competing students that qualified to compete for
Sweet 16/Elite 8 travel to the ACRA National play-offs hosted in Colorado Springs, CO November 20-22,
2015.
Recommend allocating up to $1,400 of supplemental SAF funding (per SAC guidelines section I, item 9) for
non-food related travel expenses to assist 13 competing students and 1 coach/advisor of Repertory Dance
invited to participate in the North Central Regional Conference of the American College Dance Association
in Stevens Point, WI March 19-23, 2016.
Sam: The Rugby team already receives funding from campus rec., however, they are still requesting
$2,000 to travel to Colorado?
Dahir: This is a national competition and per SAC guidelines, are eligible for up to $2,000 in funding.
Sam: It is ridiculous that we can’t get anything done as people keep leaving. Why is this happening??
We had some really good motions today. Also, SAC funds can’t be released until the Consent Agenda
was approved.
Farah: We can call an emergency meeting. I will talk to Mariah about holding an emergency meeting.
Meeting minutes 11.11.15.
 Vacancies
o Arts & Humanities
 Officer Reports
o President Haffield
o Vice President Al-Mohamadi
o Speaker Farah
 Senator Reports
o Senator Abdulaziz and Senator Schmidt
o Senator Krueger and Senator Ututalum
o Senator Callais and Perez
 New Business
Motions for approval 11.18.2015 – ** Motions Tabled until Special Meeting on 11.19.15
83 MM 11.18.15.01 – Family and Unisex Bathrooms
Al-Mohamadi/Dahir
Whereas: There are current family and unisex restrooms that exist in ten buildings in the University;
Whereas: MSU has a high rate of diversity and constantly supports equality on campus;
Be it Resolved: All unisex and family bathrooms on MSU campus be called, “Restrooms.”
Motion passes.
83 MM 11.18.15.02 – Response to Racial Issues on Campus
Al-Mohamadi/Dahir
Whereas: The Diversity and Student Affairs Committees recommend writing a letter to address our
student body responding to racial issues on campus.
Be it Resolved: The Diversity Committee draft a letter to address the student body and be addressed by
the President of the MSSA and confirmed by the Senate.


Announcements
Roll Call
 Adjournment
* Meeting adjourned at 6:15 pm.
(6:10 pm - No quorum- Speaker Farah moved for meeting to be adjourned.)
All Consent Agenda items moved for approval at a Special Senate Meeting later scheduled for 11.19.15.
Appendix
SAC Guidelines mentioned in the above SAC recommendations
Section IV item 11:
Any organization may request SAC funding for competition and tournament travel on an individual basis by filling
out the RSO Funding Request form’s travel section.
a)
Invited organizations or teams who are participating in a tournament or competition are eligible funding
of up to $100 per competing student and one (1) coach or advisor, with a maximum of $2,000 for the
event.
b) Organizations or teams, which have competed and qualified for a tournament or competition, may be
eligible for funding of up to $400 per competing student and one (1) coach or advisor, with a maximum of
$6,000 for the event.
c)
SAC should review the above amounts as often as they deem necessary.
Section I item 9:
Supplemental funding requests, which are not included in the annual budgeting process, will only be considered by
SAC if the Student Activity Fund non-budgeted funds request is completed. (This form is only for use by
departments who already receive funding from Student Activity Fees, who have realized an unexpected expense;
examples might include, competition travel, a special concert, post-season student athletic tickets, or
unanticipated personnel expenses.) The request form can be found at the following web link.
http://www.mnsu.edu/mssa/saf/nonbudgeted_funds_form.html
a)
One-time supplemental allocation for competition travel will follow the sited criteria specified in “Section
IV, Item 11, a-c” of these guidelines.