82nd MSSA Senate
February 11th, 2015

Call to Order by 82nd Speaker Ben Shakespear

Roll Call
PJ Piotrowski 20-0-0; David Schieler 16-3-1; Elizabeth Anderson 12-7-1; Arnold Bagamba 19-1-0;
Fred de Ruiter 20-0-0; Noel Leul 14-5-1; Nolan Brinkman 19-1-0; Kyler Schoner 19-0-0; Tyler
Conlon 19-0-0; Connor Martin 15-4-0; Ashley James 17-1-1; Miesso Wako 15-3-1; Marshall
Tromborg 17-2-0; Patrick Riesterer 11-9-0; Becky Wegscheid 20-0-0; Elizabeth Jacobson 20-0-0;
Nick Kragness 16-4-0; Michael Hanson 20-0-0; Faical Rayani 13-2-0; Karli Heroff 12-2-0; Wayland
Hunter 5-1-0; Abdul-Hafeez Nakumbe 17-1-0; Siavash Sadeghi 3-1-0
A. Presentations
 Steve Smith, Asst. VP Finance & Administration –Student Senator Stipends
i. Potential implications: Federal Affordable Care Act and employees
working more than 30 hrs/week; Are senators considered employees or
not? How many hours do senators put in? Do we have responsibilities to
track hours? Raised questions in my own mind. Whenever money is
given to students, that isn’t being given to other students, then there may
be financial aid implications.
Schieler: Were you provided clarity of senators’ hours/week? Generally not more than 10 hours per
week.
Smith: Would this also include other hours put in aside from office hours and meeting hours that are put
in with committees, etc.? There’s a difference between it being a scholarship and it being a student
employee.
Schieler: Would it be considered student work or a scholarship? Also, is it taxed if it were a scholarship?
Smith: That is another question that I’m asking myself. What is the intent of the funding? Is it because
of hours put in as an employee or is it criteria met for a scholarship? Any wages or different loans affect
financial aid packages even though we’re talking small dollars here. Right now to me it is leaning towards
an employee being paid a stipend. The benefit of the way we are currently doing senate executive
stipends is that they are being run through the payroll system so those individuals are already paying taxes
on them.
Leul: How is it different for Int’l students?
Smith: Int’l students are treated differently as situations are different dependent upon their country’s
treaty of origin. I honestly don’t have all of that information at the top of my head so would have to do a
little digging on that as I don’t have them all memorized.
Nakumbe: Is there a direct definition of a stipend?
Smith: That’s a very good question and I’m not sure I have the real definition. Generally, it is a payment
for employment or scholarship. I think we overuse the word and we need to keep in mind the rationale
behind the purpose of the payment. For example, if a donor or other entity has set aside money for a
scholarship there is certain criteria that needs to be met. That’s different than this. If it is payment given
for work, then the University has control over it and it is treated as employee compensation. However,
this is different as it is not being paid for employment or related to a scholarship and just is a straight
payment however it is still taxable but the university has no control over it.
Nakumbe: How about students who get paid a stipend through the Dis. Serv. Office?
Smith: Essentially, those students are considered as employees and there is an actual contract that
describes what the duties are. This is somewhat the same as what you are currently doing. We may need
to consult with HR to get a more firm basis for determining whether these types of payments should be
considered student employee compensation or something different such as a non-financial aid award.
Shakespear: Speaker’s list is closed.
VP Rick Straka – Budget Update:
 Legislative request asking for $142m over the biennium.
 Very beginning of that process and don’t know where we’ll end up.
 Will most likely see another tuition freeze.
 Significant decline in enrollment (3%) so budget shortfall. ($4m)
 Assumption is that MnSCU will approve a 3% aggregate fee.
 Open Forums tomorrow where more detail will be released.
 Variables of what could happen at the legislature are many. Governor has not
given recommendations yet. Would likely do so after February forecast. MnSCU
and bargaining contracts also factor into it. A lot to be determined yet.
 Budget is funded by 70% tuition and 30% state appropriation.
 Last went through this process in 2010-2011. This time, dynamics are different
in funding including the public policy concerned with student debt.
 Student fee budgets needs to be close to what was projected. If further
enrollment declines next year, that you may need to raise your fees to generate
same level of dollars as now.
Johnson: What would you suggest that student government do to help fix this problem?
Straka: There are a number of factors we’re looking at. We’re not declining like some of our colleagues.
Other factors include demographics and economic. Be your best salesman while on campus. Word of
mouth is often one of the best ways. Don’t be afraid to tell people about us. I brag a lot. What I love
about what I do is that there isn’t a month that goes by that I don’t learn something new about this
university.
David Jones: Being good with our own finances. For instance, one of the offices under financial aid is
looking on partnering with another institution on financial aid software with no cost to us for three years.
It these kinds of things that will help us be more efficient.
Straka: Hope to come back and talk to you and keep you informed and get your input on going forward.


SHAC Members: Nolan Brinkman/Noel Leul – Student Health Services Budget
i. Handout
ii. One-third of our students utilize. Fees can be as low as $20.
iii. Twenty-one employees.
iv. Goals for 2016: Transition to new medical director; Analyze health
assessment of data trends; plan for health services facility; increase
number of students that use as primary clinic; reassess survey and how
we can better satisfy our patients; recipient of grant from PFFSBS grant.
This would fund position as community education coordinator to help
students with problems like alcohol, drug, etc.
v. Currently don’t have a concrete plan of where SHS will be in ten years.
vi. FY 2016 Proposal = Increase of 3.48% or $53,919.58.
vii. Current Fee Per Credit=$4.72 (or $56.64/semester - Proposed= $5.00 (or
$60.02/semester)
viii. Due to amount of student employees, much of increase due to minimum
wage increase and Federal Affordability Act.
Open Forum
a. Breanna Werner – Head tri-chair for Dance Marathon, February 28th.
b. Issue with graphic standards and t-shirt design. Weren’t able to brand as we
usually do. All of our other items look this way, however, we weren’t allowed to
brand the way we like to.
c. All money that is raised goes into funding the organization.
d. Appreciate all of your efforts on this issue and wanted to bring our issue to your
attention.
Hanson: Suggest you get in contact with Doug Fenske as there are guidelines for national organizations.
Schieler: What was the process of your denial?
Werner: Graphics came up with this design to reflect brand for the event. Wanted to integrate into t-shirt
for the event. It was denied for the color standards.
Bulcock: The colors that come into play are local for this event.
Schieler: What would you like us to do?
Werner: Would like to see a bigger variety of colors as people are paying $25 for this t-shirt. We would
like to sell a t-shirt that you guys want to buy knowing that it goes to the Gillette Children’s Network.
We were perfectly fine with everything else the university wanted, however, all we wanted was this color.
 Kim Greer – Assoc. Dean of AA
 There are three reports (handout) now available on the website.
 Ask that you encourage other students to check out the reports and recommendations.
 There will also be open forums coming up Feb. 24th and 27th.
 Feb. 16th and 25th, drop-in sessions are also open.
 Approval of Consent Agenda
Appointments: Cultural Contribution Scholarship Ad Hoc Committee-Jessica Farah, Bassam AlMohamadi, Yahya Jabri, Debashish Gupta, Ali Sekkat; Elections Commission-Michael J. Hanson; Jessica
Farah, Tech Fee Advisory
Commission on Ethics & Standards:
Recognized Student Organizations: United Prairie Bank Integrated Business Experience - dissent as don’t
fit into the RSO standard. (Shakespear: further examination required); Society of Professional
Journalists
Student Allocations Committee:
1. Recommend allocating up to $250 for non-food related student travel expenses to assist 6
students of the MSU Chapter of the American Fisheries Society to attend the Minnesota annual
chapter meeting in Brainerd, MN March 2-4, 2015.
2. Recommend allocating up to $250 ($50/student x 5 students) for non-food related student travel
expenses to the College Republicans to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference
(CPAC) in Washington, DC February 25-March 1, 2015.
3. Recommend allocating up to $750 ($50/student x 15 students) for non-food related student travel
expenses to the Athletic Training Student Association to attend the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’
Association Conference in Wheeling, IL March 11-15, 2015.
4. Recommend allocating $0 to the Mavericks for Fair Trade based upon their written response to
questions asked about their other sources of revenue. The RSO group has secured funding from
other campus departments in excess of $500 for the proposed on-campus lecture to be held on
March 17, 2015. Therefore, it makes the Mavericks for Fair Trade ineligible to request program
funding under the current SAC guidelines.
Approval of Minutes: 2.11.15
 Vacancies
a. Allied Health and Nursing (1)
 President Haffield
a. Becky, Liz, myself going to MSUSA this weekend.
 Vice President Wolf
a. Begun the RFP (draft) process for student attorney.
 Speaker Shakespear
a. Pedal for Poverty forms – need by Friday. Still have a couple spots open.

Senator Reports
a. Fred deRuiter – Weathersign online work solution.
b. Weathersign targeted at math.
c. Becoming more and more prevalent.
d. Textbooks now come with it. Textbook: $179/Code is $65.95. Can’t buy used
from the bookstore so students are being forced to buy new.
e. Feel it should be paid through a course fee instead as would allow more
scholarships to be applicable to it.
 Old Business
MM020415 01 Approval of SAC Guidelines - Schieler/Wegscheid
Approve the SAC Guidelines as Presented.
Motion passes.
82 MM 020415 03 Appeal Presidential Veto 82 MM 01 012815 - Schieler/Conlon
Appeal the Presidential veto of 82 MM 01 012815 and to reaffirm the senate’s
ruling.
 Conlon Rescinded. - Moved to next week.

Shakespear: We’ve spent weeks going over this and with going over both the Constitution and the by-laws, they
read that the Budget Committee, along with the coordination of the President, and officer manager are responsible
for setting the budget for the coming year.
Schieler: The Constitution gives senate the authority over all other subservient committees.
Shakespear: No one is disagreeing with this and have only asked for time to investigate this. Everyone supports the
intention of you guys getting a stipend for the work you continue to do but this is a conversation that needs to
continue. On that basis, I’m killing the motion.
Schieler: You cannot! You’re out of order! The Senate has authority over that committee as stated in the
Constitution.
Shakespear: Senator Schieler, I’ve called you out of order on four occasions and am naming you for being rude and
for your disrespectful comments. Let this be reflected in the minutes.
82 MM 01 02.11.15 Residence Hall Letter Conlon/Schoner
Whereas: The residence community of Stadium Heights has experienced an unsafe pedestrian commute,
And Whereas: The RHA Specific Issues Committee identified this as an issue to take action on by
drafting a formal letter of appeal;
And Whereas: The RHA General Assembly voted unanimously to both approval of the letter and the
invitation of the MSSA to co-author the letter;
Be it Resolved: The MSSA “Sign” and support the letter and also list President Haffield as a contact.
Motion passes.
Aye-25 Nay-0
82 MM 02 02.11.15 Motion to Rescind Robert’s Rules Copies for Senators on 1.28.15 - Hanson
Whereas: The motion was passed in a hasty timeframe and the $240 dollars appropriated to purchase individual
student senators a personal copy of Robert’s Rules in Brief for them to personally keep is not the best way to spend
student dollars due to ethical concerns.
Be it Resolved: The adopted motion in question from 1.28.15 dealing with purchasing senators a personal copy of
Robert’s Rules be rescinded.
Motion Not Recognized by Speaker– Referred to Senate Budget Committee
82 MM 03 02.11.15 Reallocate Robert’s Rules in Brief Funding - Hanson
Whereas: It is important to have senators trained on usage of Robert’s Rules it would be important to have senators
trained in Robert’s Rules usage as per MSSA By-Laws;
Be it Resolved: The MSSA hosts a workshop with the purpose of Roberts Rules training in the beginning of each
spring semester on an annual basis.
Motion Not Recognized by Speaker– Referred to Senate Budget Committee
Exclusion of MSSA Executive Stipends – Schieler / Malloy Whereas: The line of reasoning behind not allowing student senator stipends is clear and rational;
Whereas: We are currently “paying” executive leaders and coordinators with far less oversight than offered to
student senators;
Be it Resolved: A move to exclude all student compensation other than work study from the FY16 budget request.
Motion Not Recognized by Speaker– Referred to Senate Budget Committee
Shakespear: I honestly do have an impartial role hear. Senator Schieler, I am naming you again. Let it be reflected
in the minutes. It is really, really, bad that you are attempting to vote to give yourself money. Honestly, I’ve been
in positions within this body for over three years now and I can tell you that with fair certainty, it will happen that
senators will get some sort of stipend. It is right around the corner. There were already people looking into this a
year ago and I know it is going to happen. I want to make sure that we’re not putting forward motions that if
everyone in this room hadn’t read, would look pretty bad. You will be compensated eventually; whether it be this
group or the group after you. This is public service and we’re not always given what were worth. That’s just the
way it is. So, be patient. Keep working with others like Steve Smith, Rick Straka, David Cowan and Cindy, who
are genuinely trying to make something like this happen. But when we have experts telling us to listen and slow
down, we need to trust them and have to look at a bigger picture here. Trust that it will happen over time.
Therefore, I’m sending all three motions over to the Budget Committee, the President’s Cabinet and Office Manager
to look over as that is how it is stated in the By-Laws. If we were to do something else then someone would have to
put forward a by-law amendment. Does everyone understand that?


New Business
Announcements
Shakespear: Reminder that I need those registrations forms by this Friday.
*** Candle Vigil for Suicide Awareness @ 6:00 pm – CSU Ballroom
 Roll Call
Senators Present:
Elizabeth Jacobson, Tyler Conlon, Rebecca Wegscheid, PJ Piotrowski, Dillon Petrowitz, Ashley James,
Alexander Johnson, Michael Hanson; Kyler Schoner, Karli Heroff; David Schieler; Nolan Brinkman;
Connor Martin, Arnold Bagamba; Siavash Sadeghi; Abdul-Hafeez Nakumbe; Nick Kragness; Fred de
Ruiter; Marshall Tromborg; Katherine Gibson; Will Malloy, Jessica Farah, Scott Hartman; Noel Leul;
Josh Atencio
Senators Absent:
Faical Rayani; Wayland Hunter; Miesso Wako
Executive Leadership Present:
Mariah Haffield, President; Joe Wolf, Vice President; Ben Shakespear, Speaker
Executive Leadership Absent:
 Adjournment
Meeting adjourned @ 5:40 p.m.