Student Congress
Student Association at Binghamton University
October 19th, 2015– Meeting Agenda
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Call To Order
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Sheeva calls meeting to order 7:10 PM
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Roll Call
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Sheeva takes Roll Call
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Approval of the Agenda
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Agenda passes
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Public Comment (Undergraduate Students wishing to speak are recognized by the Speaker.)
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Justin comments about the bill regarding public transportation from UP
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Nobody else is here for Public Comment
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Public Comment closes
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Assembly Speaker Report, Sheeva Massoudi(A brief Q&A will follow the report.)
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Sheeva welcomes SA from Oneonta
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When you need to email Sheeva about something, email the speaker account instead of her personal
binghamton email address
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Discusses Constitutional Committee
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email Sheeva with questions
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Discusses Safety Committee
i.
They are looking for 3 girls to join the committee
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email Sheeva if you’re interested
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Sheeva gives Sarah’s report
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Don Nieman commented on academic affairs and student quality
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President Stenger commented on fall concert weekend
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Valerie Hampton emphasized our need for diversity
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Executive Board Reports (A brief Q&A will follow reports.)
● President, Dillon Schade
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Dillon is not here
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His assistant, Justin, gives his Report
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Friday of this week E-Board launched It’s On Us Campaign
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Anti-campus sexual assault
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Forged partnerships with campus organizations for this campaign
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Justin shows videos of It’s On Us Campaign
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Looking for involvement with this campaign regarding potential legislation and future
events
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Judicial Board Nominations
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Judicial Board Nominations: Habeeb Sheikh & Ushna Khan
4400 Vestal Parkway East ▪ Binghamton, New York 13902 ▪ Tel 607.777.7777 ▪ www.binghamtonsa.org
Student Congress
Student
Association
at Binghamton University
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Two candidates discuss how they would do a good job as part of Judicial
Board
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Judicial Board is the judicial body of the SA
They deal with election disputes, congressional review, stc.
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Questions?
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No questions
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Two candidates step into hallway
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Nick comments: Habeeb is a good candidate because he listens to both sides
before making a decision
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Any opposition to Habeeb?
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None
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Confirmed
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Any opposition to Ushna?
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None
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Confirmed
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Executive Vice President, Zachary Vigliani
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Zach isn’t here
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Zach’s assistant, Troy, gives report
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Open Houses went well
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Student groups and tabling would be great this weekend to let students know what they can
get involved with
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Saturday 12-3
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No more intended charters after Oct 30
Vice President for Finance, Katherine Tashman
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Treasurer’s exam is closed for all treasurers
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Prior approval is necessary the Tuesday or Thursday before
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Budget is closer to 2.6 million
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Going over front page of budget:
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SA lawyers $15,000
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Insurance $175,000
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OCCT insurance
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15 dollars per person every semester
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Administration expense
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Things for the office
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Auditors fee
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discretionary to FinCo
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Student assembly
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Business Capital Replacement
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College Reserve
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Complications
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Business salary
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Business replacements
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Harpurs Ferry
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Vehicle Replacements
4400 Vestal Parkway East ▪ Binghamton, New York 13902 ▪ Tel 607.777.7777 ▪ www.binghamtonsa.org
Student Congress
Student
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at Binghamton University
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Operations
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Equipment
SAPB
Fundraising supplements
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Under FinCo
NY Times Readership Program
$180,000 for how much we release from fund balance so it doesn’t get too high
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Some goes into discretionary, insurance, etc.
Group allocations
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Vice President for Academic Affairs, Amanda Baker
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Student advocates going well
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Make sure you let your friends know about it even if it involves student conduct
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Want to bring speaker from NY Times next semester
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If your friends are avid readers of NY Times, let Amanda know at her SA account
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Have been meeting with different academic committees
Vice President for Multicultural Affairs, Ruslan Klafehn
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Had first ICA meeting which was a disaster
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If any of you know ICA representatives make sure they go to the meeting because if they
don’t show up at the next meeting they will be penalized
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Spoke to Val Hampton
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Going to give her dates and times of planned ideas
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Week of Nov. 9
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Give students administrative perspective on cases
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Spoke to her about Turbo Vote
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She still doesn’t know if she can fund this because registration deadline already
happened
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Three groups weren’t paid last year for a project
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Need to pay them out of budget
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Question:
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When and where are ICA meetings?
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6 PM every other week
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Vice President for Programming, Bernadette Machuca
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Fall concert was Thursday
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It was a success
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This weekend is family weekend
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Comedy show
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Speaker will be announced by the end of this week
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Speaker will be Nov 5
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Frost Fest is November 6
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There will be a silent disco
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Nothing planned for Spring concert
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Questions:
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How many tickets were sold for Big Sean
4400 Vestal Parkway East ▪ Binghamton, New York 13902 ▪ Tel 607.777.7777 ▪ www.binghamtonsa.org
Student Congress
Student
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3,324 tickets
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Committee Reports (A brief Q&A will follow the reports. Committee reports can be amended)
● Internal Affairs, Charlie Scheftic
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10-12-15
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approved TCA re-registration
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approved Neuroscience Club Appeal
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Ellipsis never showed up
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10-19-15 approved
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will hear from Italian club, LiNK, SHADES, Campus Climate Change, and Newman
Association
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BDR broke repertoir
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Took away their room
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There was a business being held in their room (hair-cutting business)
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No opposition to IA report
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Passes
● Planning, Research & Elections, Julie Kline
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divided into 3 subcommittees
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MPP
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Bylaws
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BU Council
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Plan to edit further
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Sarah Grose is official winner
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Question:
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Why is Habeeb also being included?
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There was some miscommunication during the process and they decided this
would be the best way to go about fixing these mistakes.
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Question:
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Does that interfere with Habeeb standing on J-Board
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No
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Any opposition to PRE report?
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No
● Student Life & Academics, Brendan Cunningham
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Sheeva reads Brendan’s report
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Any opposition to SLA report?
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No
● Financial Committee, Ryan Sheppard
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Treasurer last year had vendetta against their group and didn’t fill out their rollover form
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This is why we have roll over adjustment form
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Liberty in North Korea allocated $1,913.42 from the Rollover Adjustment account.
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International Connection allocated the full amount of their $400 request
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Fundraising Supplements were approved
New Business
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Sheeva comments that new business cannot be debated, but questions can be asked
4400 Vestal Parkway East ▪ Binghamton, New York 13902 ▪ Tel 607.777.7777 ▪ www.binghamtonsa.org
Student Congress
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Student Association at Binghamton University
F2015 - 02/R: Support for SUNY Student Assembly Resolution on Unpaid Credit-bearing Internships
○ Nick presents resolution
○ He helped write this resolution
○ Says it will help a lot of student
○ The resolution is about unpaid creditbearing internships
■ doesn’t mean we will no longer have unpaid internships
■ want to discuss how they’re conducted at Binghamton University
■ Such as not allowing the unpaid coffee-bearing internships
○ SUNY Binghamton should play a more active role in internships
○ Student being Primary Benefactor
○ Why should SUNY get involved with this
■ Want students to know what they’re getting themselves into before accepting
internship
○ To tell people we as SUNY want these internships to be a lot better
○ Students should be concerned with internships that undermine their courses
○ Question:
■ How should one summarize this resolution to their community?
● For students to know that they aren’t stuck in an internship
that isn’t reaching their expectations
○ Question:
■ How are you going to raise awareness?
● NACE standards
● SUNY would be following footsteps
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○ Question:
■ Is this the same version of the resolution that was already passed?
● Yes, it is the same version aside from the first page
summarizing to Student Congress
○ Any opposition?
○ Moved to Old Business for next meeting
F2015 - 03/R Support for Course Reserves
○ Amanda Baker discusses this legislation
○ Has been talking with librarian
○ Want to add to Course Reserves
○ Would like there to be at least 1 book for every 25 to 30 students within a class
○ Legislation to tell them that we support them to push publishers to give more free copies of a book,
to use more of their funds
○ Any opposition?
○ Moved to Old Business for next meeting
F2015 – 04/R Biodiversity Protection Act
○ Adam discusses this legislation
○ A lot of students are concerned with situation in nature preserve
○ Know that deer population is 10 fold its natural carrying capacity
○ Alex Grabstein has been in contact with the head of the nature preserve
○ This is not any specific policy, it is more of a statement that the SA recognizes this issue
■ And that the SA gives administration to deal with this the way they best see fit
○ If we vote on this it will show that SA included feels that something has to be done regarding the
deer population
○ Have you discussed moving the deer to another location? What about sterilization?
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Student Congress
Student Association
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■ There are too many deer in other locations too, so that doesn’t work too.
Sterilization is too costly
○ Comment:
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The presence of the deer also affects the soil and other animals in the preserve
Question:
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Why is it so bad to have so many deer?
● It’s throwing off the ecosystem and the natural expansion of
plant life in the preserve
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Comment:
■ The deer themselves are suffering because of the lack of plant life for them to eat
■ They’ve also been damaging property
■ Can bring this up to PETA
○ Management staff of the nature preserve support this statement
○ Email Adam with questions
○ Any opposition
○ Moved to Old Business for next meeting
F2015 - 05/R: Support for University Course Replacement Policy
○ Amanda Baker discusses this legislation
○ Across all 5 schools it is suggested that:
○ If you fail a class and have to retake it and get an A, then the grades are averaged
○ If you get a class above an F and then have to retake it, the second grade be taken and averaged into
you transcript rather than taking the first grade
○ Question: Is this for major courses or electives as well?
■ This would be for both major courses and electives that you have to take
○ Question: If you took a class at Binghamton and then retook it at a community college which grade
would they take?
■ They would probably keep the grade you got at SUNY Binghamton
○ Question: Will both grades appear on the transcript?
■ Hopefully some of them will not appear on the transcript, but Amanda is unsure
○ Question: Will you get more credits if you retake it?
■ The credits will be replaced
○ Question: What if the class you’re retaking causes you to have credit overload for a semester? Will
you have to fill out an overload form?
■ This is probably determined by your GPA. Again, not positive about the answer
to this question.
○ Question: If this were to be passed, when would it be enacted?
■ Hopefully starting Fall of next year
○ Any opposition?
○ Moved to Old Business for next meeting
Old Business
● F2015-01/R: UP at Metroplex’s State Street Express Bus
○ Nick presents this legislation again
○ Saying that the voice of SA thinks that Metroplex should provide the bus from UP to downtown
○ Students signed leases believing that they would have access downtown by a bus leaving from UP
○ UP decided to cancel their plans for said bus
○ There was opposition to the bottom Resolve clause
4400 Vestal Parkway East ▪ Binghamton, New York 13902 ▪ Tel 607.777.7777 ▪ www.binghamtonsa.org
Student Congress
Student
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Any opposition to crossing out Resolve clause?
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This is a friendly amendment because the author is in consensus
No opposition -- Resolve clause is crossed out
Question:
■ Was the bus promised in their lease?
● No
○ Question:
■ Is there a good chance that UP will do anything about this?
● Hopefully so.
○ Comment:
■ This resolution sets a good precedent as a student body as a whole
■ UP shouldn’t be allowed to promise things and then take them away as we are
paying customers
○ Moving into voting
■ Yes: 37
■ No: 0
■ Abstentions: none:
○ Legislation passes
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Announcements
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Do not email Sheeva’s personal email
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Roll Call
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Richard does ending roll call
Adjournment
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Meeting adjourned 8:43
4400 Vestal Parkway East ▪ Binghamton, New York 13902 ▪ Tel 607.777.7777 ▪ www.binghamtonsa.org
Student Congress
Student Association at Binghamton University
President
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Judicial Board Nominations: Habeeb Sheikh & Ushna Khan
It's On Us Campaign Launch: It's On Us is a national grassroots movement, created under the Obama administration,
aimed towards campus sexual assault awareness and prevention. Binghamton University's Sexual Assault Task Force
consists of the SA Executive Board and Justin Santabarbara. There are three phases of Binghamton's campaign:
Awareness, Programing, and Sustainability. Take the pledge atitsonus.org and together we can stop sexual assault at
Binghamton University.
Executive Vice President
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Open House was successful! About 35 groups tabled and there were 4,000 prospective Student
Sign Ups for Family Weekend to table is open. It will be On Saturday 10/24 from 12-3 in Old Union Hall. There will
also potentially be a student groups showcase on the third floor in the New Union
Project SAnta has started the early stages. If your community wants to sponsor a child or help out, let me know!
Re-Registration Appeals should be wrapped up!
Expect to see some Intent to Charters to start coming through
Reminder: I will not be accepting Intent to Charters after October 30th
Vice President for Finance
- The Treasurers Exam is now closed to new submissions
- Prior approvals are done Tuesday/Thursdays
- Going over the front page of the budget
Vice President for Academic Affairs
1. Advocates are going well make sure to tell your friends and
community all about it! You can come to us with any issues at any
stage of the process.
2. Add us on facebook! SA Vpaa
3. We are having a NY Times committee to choose someone to come next
semester. I am looking for students that are really advid or pretty
advid readers.
Vice President for Multicultural Affairs
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No Report Submitted
Vice President for Programming
-Fall Concert was a success!
-Family Weekend Comedy Show 10/24 - John Mulaney
4400 Vestal Parkway East ▪ Binghamton, New York 13902 ▪ Tel 607.777.7777 ▪ www.binghamtonsa.org
Student Congress
Student Association at Binghamton University
-Hosting a speaker 11/5 - TBA
-Frost Fest 12/6 - Silent Disco
Internal Affairs
10-12-15
- approved TCA re-registration
- approved Neuroscience Club Appeal
- Ellipsis never showed up
10-19-15
- will hear from Italian club, LiNK, SHADES, Campus Climate Change, and Newman Association
- talk about BDR
Planning, Research & Elections
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Divided into three sub-committees: MPP, Bylaws, BU Council
BU Council Grievance: Sarah Glose confirmed official winner. Habeeb Sheikh as potential, unofficial representative.
Student Life & Academics
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Elected Jonathan Raitses as Vice Chair
Chose to meet one additional time each month
Delegated a proposal idea and asked for an update as of our next meeting
Discussed Health Services problems
Discussed approaching departments about eliminating class restrictions on students based on standing
Financial Committee
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----Liberty in North Korea allocated $1,913.42 from the Rollover Adjustment account.
----International Connection allocated the full amount of their $400 request.
----Fundraising Supplements Approved: UAEM, Circle K, Shades, Quimbamba, Pakistani Student Association,
UNICEF, Cosplay Club, Global Medical Brigades, Charles Drew Minority Pre-Health Society, Society of Asian Scientists
and Engineers, and Evolution Dance Company.
4400 Vestal Parkway East ▪ Binghamton, New York 13902 ▪ Tel 607.777.7777 ▪ www.binghamtonsa.org
Student Congress
Student Association at Binghamton University
F2015 - 02/R: Support for SUNY Student Assembly Resolution on Unpaid Credit-bearing
Internships
AUTHOR: Nicholas Ferrara, SUNY SA Executive Committee Representative
SPONSORS: Nicholas Ferrara, Jonathan Raitses
DATE: 19 October 2015
Whereas, The Executive Committee of SUNY Student Assembly passed a resolution on unpaid credit-bearing
internships on August 22, 2015; and
Whereas, The proposals contained wherein would help Binghamton University students if implemented; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Student Association at Binghamton University supports the SUNY Student Assembly
resolution on unpaid credit-bearing internships.
Attachments:
1. SUNY Student Assembly resolution on unpaid credit-bearing internships
2. National Association of Colleges and Employers Internship Standard
Impact Statement
This resolution would declare the Student Association’s support for the SUNY Student Assembly resolution on
unpaid credit-bearing internships.
4400 Vestal Parkway East ▪ Binghamton, New York 13902 ▪ Tel 607.777.7777 ▪ www.binghamtonsa.org
Student Congress
Student Association at Binghamton University
F2015-03/R Support for Course Reserves
Author: Amanda Baker
Sponsors: Serena Tesler, Adam Wilkes, Nick Ferrara, Karla Valdespino
Whereas, the Course Reserves, both physical and electronic copies, is a great resource for Binghamton Students;
Whereas, this part of the library needs the most improvements since they do not receive funding to increase their
collection
Whereas, there is a high demand for many textbooks and other texts for classes
Whereas, the need would be one book for every twenty five students
Whereas, this service is vitally important to help students who cannot afford the textbooks
Whereas, this service provides accessibility and convenience
Whereas, these books would be on a short term loan to students
Whereas, with increased usage of electronic reserves students would have access at their computer providing
access to many more students especially those with learning/reading disabilities
Whereas, if professors use this service they must notify students in their syllabus
Whereas, the library will convert these texts for electronic reserves for professors
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Student Congress
Student Association at Binghamton University
Whereas studies have been done that demonstrate having textbooks on reserves and using electronic reserves
improves students grades
Therefore be it resolved that the university and its departments should help to increase the amount of textbooks and
other course materials in the library. Professors should contact these publishers as well as other administration to
ensure that these books are available for students. Similarly, electronic reserves should be used more often
especially when such a small amount of the book is going to be used.
Impact statement:
The purpose of this legislation is to promote further collaboration between the Student Association and the library
staff with the specific purpose of expanding the course reserves both in the library and online. This is an ongoing
project and this explanation should begin immediately with the goal of continual expansion.
F2015 - 04/R: Biodiversity Protection Act
Authors: Shashank Dimri (CIW, -PRE), Adam Wilkes (CIW-, FINCO), Justin Sagalow
Sponsors: Allan Gendelman (OC3, -IA), Nicholas Ferrara (Hinman-, SLA), Che Sun (Dickinson,
-FINCO), Jared Sherman (Susquehanna, -FINCO), Ali Kidwai (Hinman,- PRE), Karla
Whereas, the deer population in the Nature Preserve and all other natural areas on campus has disrupted
ecological equilibrium; and
Whereas, natural forces have failed to adequately maintain the deer population, which currently
is ten­fold the forest’s long ­term carrying capacity per square mile; and
Whereas, there is a large consensus among the biological -academic community, including members of
Binghamton University’s faculty, that this disruption is already reversing the process of ecological
succession, which within fifty years will inhibit tree growth and the vast majority of animal species; and
Whereas, our campus has a social responsibility to steward and protect the national environment we
utilize; and
Whereas, the nature preserve has a positive impact on education and recreation on the we utilize; and
Whereas, specific plans of action to manage the deer population were developed in 2011 but
have not been implemented through to 2015; and
Whereas, a potential deer cull could be carried out by organizations with experience in reducing
4400 Vestal Parkway East ▪ Binghamton, New York 13902 ▪ Tel 607.777.7777 ▪ www.binghamtonsa.org
Student Congress
Student Association at Binghamton University
the populations of nuisance species; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the Student Association at Binghamton University urges the Binghamton University
administration to take action to reduce the deer population and to continue to protect biodiversity for
generations of students and local residents to come.
Impact Statement
This resolution recognizes that biodiversity is under threat and administrative action is in order.
This resolution’s omission of a detailed plan of action is for the purpose of acknowledging that this
campus discussion must be pushed and action is mandatory, but it is the ultimate jurisdiction of the
Binghamton University administration to develop and execute a plan of action.
F2015 - 05/R: Support for University Course Replacement Policy
Author: Amanda Baker
Sponsors: Serena Tesler, Adam Wilkes, Nick Ferrara, Karla Valdespino
Whereas students believe that there should be a change to the current policy of retaking courses;
Whereas students feel it should be uniformed across all schools in Binghamton;
Whereas students who are not doing well in classes are inclined to fail due to the Course replacement policy;
Whereas SUNY schools and other New York States schools have adopted policies more conducive to students success
(University At Buffalo, Geneseo, certain departments in University at Albany, New Paltz, Cornell, and New York University);
Whereas when retaking a course at Binghamton, the grade is only averaged in Harper, Watson and College of Community and
Public Affairs if a student fails the first time;
Whereas the grade is averaged in School of Management and Decker regardless of if a student passed or failed;
Whereas all students across all schools should have the same opportunity to succeed;
Whereas in Harper, Watson and College of Community and Public Affairs students should be given the opportunity to have
their grades averaged if they must retake a course;
Whereas students who want to retake courses they have passed previously to improve their GPA’s and for future academic
endeavors should be given last priority in registration;
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Student Congress
Student Association at Binghamton University
Whereas all students should have the ability (credit bearing) to retake these classes for future plans;
Whereas there should be a maximum of three classes students can retake throughout all five colleges;
Whereas the second grade achieved will be the grade used;
Therefore be it resolved that the course replacement policy should give students the opportunity to retake a maximum of three
classes for grade replacement. It should be a uniform policy for all five schools.
Impact statement
It is imperative that this policy be passed as it would enable students to go beyond the scope of their undergraduate
careers and pursue higher education (such as Medical School, Law School, etc.) and in the long return, this would
raise Binghamton Universities ranking of professionalism and prestige. This policy motivates students to display
higher results than previously, due to the fact they have taken the course already and are inclined to do better. This
policy would state that colleges and the University want to see their students succeed.
F2015 - 01/R: UP at Metroplex’s State Street Express Bus
AUTHOR: Nicholas Ferrara, Student Congress Representative
SPONSORS: Nicholas Ferrara, Ali Kidwai, Peter Mattar, Serena Tesler
DATE: 5 October 2015
Whereas, UP at Metroplex is an independent housing provider for university students that needs bus service to
downtown Binghamton as it is out of walking distance; and
Whereas, The Student Association provides its own bus services to UP at Metroplex and downtown Binghamton
through its subsidiary OCC Transport Inc., but the additional stop is costly to the Student Association, time
consuming for passengers, and not always available on busy weekend evenings; and
Whereas, The former management of UP at Metroplex misled students when signing 2015-16 leases that it would
provide its own bus service from UP at Metroplex to downtown Binghamton called the State Street Express; and
Whereas, The new management of UP at Metroplex has refused to provide the promised bus to students, forcing
them to deal with the same hassles they were explicitly told they would not have to deal with; and
4400 Vestal Parkway East ▪ Binghamton, New York 13902 ▪ Tel 607.777.7777 ▪ www.binghamtonsa.org
Student Congress
Student Association at Binghamton University
Whereas, 450 people have already signed a petition in favor of the bus; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Student Association at Binghamton University calls on UP at Metroplex to provide the bus it
promised its residents at the earliest possible time; and
Resolved, That the Student Congress Speaker shall ensure that this resolution is distributed in the widest possible
manner, including being posted on the Student Association website, linked to on Student Association social media,
forwarded to relevant media outlets, and presented to the management of UP at Metroplex. This resolution would
be an official request by the Student Association to UP at Metroplex to provide a bus for its residents. It would also
be widely distributed.
Impact Statement
This resolution would be an official request by the Student Association to UP at Metroplex to provide a bus for its
residents. It would also be widely distributed.
4400 Vestal Parkway East ▪ Binghamton, New York 13902 ▪ Tel 607.777.7777 ▪ www.binghamtonsa.org