Student Government Association
Senate Meeting
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 3:45pm
BC Rooms Student Union
I.
Call to Order 3:52 p.m.
II.
Pledge of Allegiance
III.
Invocation – Alyssa Foley
IV.
Roll Call – Secretary Danielle Brown
V.
Approval of Minutes
VI.
Approval of Agenda
VII.
Special Orders of the Day
a. Representative of the Week “ROW” Award : awarded to Scott Hull for being an
exemplary committee member
VIII.
Open Forum

Gina has noticed an improvement in the wait time for student union food
lines. Brandon encouraged students to let Ben or he know if the lines start to
get longer again.

Callie has gotten a lot of feedback about people feeling uncomfortable at SFC.
She also noticed a lot of students applying for the desk aid/RA/peer mentor
positions. We should try to find more jobs for students on campus.

Kasey has an update on the bathroom trash cans. The people in charge of this
are looking into costs for trashcans.

Gina has heard complaints about elections. Emily says that you should open
elections up in Firefox or Safari and you can e-mail Blackboard or call the help
desk if you get locked out.

Sarah Clark wants to know who plans Spring Break. She feels that we are
always a week off of other schools. Ben states that that is decided 3 years in
advance. It will be quite a wait before we will see change with this.

The Lancer Cash machine did not have change on two separate occasions
when Rosa Townes went. Ben talked to the lady who does the lancer card
center. He is going to work with them and try to come up with a solution.
IX.
Orders of the Day
a. Executive Report – President Benjamin Brittain

For Elections use Firefox not Internet Explorer 8.

The Constitutional Amendments were not posted and that will be going
up next week sometime as well as Judicial Board Elections. Judicial
Board Elections need to be separated. Some of those people are on DP
and do not have the GPA.

Board of Visitors was this weekend. Overall there were some really good
things that came out of the meeting. There is a possible 6% increase in
tuition. It will be about a $1000.00 increase per year. John Adams
suggested that we go all the way up to 10-12% (roughly $2,000.00
increase), but that decision will be decided on in May following
graduation. Brandon and Ben spoke out heavily about any tuition
increase. Ben stated that we are a public university with private school
feel and public school cost, but this is changing. This will turn some
away from Longwood. Some faculty brought up endowments to take
some things off of the students. Brandon told them that students will
not go here if this tuition increases by that much. Kyle Pemberton states
that if they are in a cost crunch they turn to the tuition of students to
help. The three major ways to get funding for a school is tuition,
endowments, and state funding. Gina talked to a faculty member and
they think that it will not go any higher than 6%. Gina wants to know
what we can do as student leaders. Ben wants to meet with John Adams
to discuss this issue. “All we have is our voice and luckily we have a
strong group of voices.” Callie thinks it is excluding students of a certain
socio-economic status and first generation students. Ben and Callie
discussed a cap on the tuition. Shannon wants to know if we can
publicize the Board of Visitors Meetings for more students to go. Kyle
wants to know if we could lobby to a senator or get the student body to
write letters and call to express their opinions. Ben Tyree thinks this
sounds a lot like “taxation without representation” and he thinks it’s time
“we declare independence.” Emily thinks if students are passionate
about this then you should call or talk to tell people how you are feeling.
James Pinc thinks that their push to move the meeting on deciding the
tuition was their way to dodge the students. Ben does not think that was
their intention. Callie made a motion for someone on the senate to step
up and take on the tuition issues for Longwood. Many senators raised
their hands to join the efforts. Four were chosen. Donald thinks the
main point is to make this known to the students.
b. Committee Reportsi. Emily Van Daniker- VA 21: Senator Mark Warner wants to meet with
students next Wednesday on a conference call at 3. Also she needs us
to think of 3 questions to ask him on a federal level. Emily thinks we
should definitely discuss financial issues with him. Callie wants to
know if we can ask him about the housing issue. Emily stated financial
aid now falls under national government.
Elections: New member
packets will be created for next year. She wants all senators to e-mail
her “something you wish you would have known.” Callie wants to
know if position duties could be included. Brandon urges the newly
elected exec board to meet with old exec members. Emily says to keep
voting.
ii. Historian Hovey brings to senate Phi Mu Delta. He read their purpose.
Callie states that IFC has accepted Phi Mu Delta. There are 6
gentlemen who have been extended bids and are ready to lead.
Historian Hovey had a few questions about their constitution. James
made a motion to table the vote of this constitution. There was some
discussion and confusion. James Pinc resents his motion. Ben states
that this constitution came in today and there are other constitutions
ahead of this one. IFC president, Dane Summerell spoke on it not
being fair to Phi Mu Delta. Callie wants to agree with what Dane says.
Ben makes a motion to move on. Motion passes. Historian Hovey
apologized greatly to the representatives of Phi Mu Delta for the
confusion and this will be brought up next week.
iii. Keenan Crump spoke on tabling session. Their next committee
meeting will be next Wednesday and they will take a look at comments
that were written down.
iv. James’ committee will meet at 3 on Friday to talk about the Medical
Amnesty Act of 2011.
v. Alyssa’s committee does not have anything planned right now.
X.
Old Business
XI.
New Business
a. SFC Report

SFC moves to reallocate $1,260.00 from Security to Novelties for Senior
Class. Callie wanted to say that they over budgeted for security and that
is why they have asked for this. Motion passed.

SFC moves to allocate $105.00 to the ballroom dance club for weekly
lessons. They have had a high faculty turn out and this concerns
Treasurer Hoyt. Gina believes that this is really a student thing and
students are trying to promote this club. Alyssa thinks that if we make
this clear to them that this is more for students then they will understand.
Kyle wants to know if there is ways to pre-pay for this so it doesn’t come
out of the student’s fees. Ben wants to know where this money is going.
It is going toward instructors. Dane, from the gallery, talked to the
young lady about this and they are hoping to learn all the dances so that
they can teach them. It is just a onetime fee. Shannon wants to clarify
that members have been paying and they need a boost to get it going.
Emily called it to question. Motion passes.

SFC moves to overturn the bylaws to allocate $2,000.00 to Honor Board,
Judicial Board and SGA. Treasurer Hoyt decided to pay for these
medallions and they will be stored in Elsie’s office. If HB, JB, or SGA
members want to buy a medallion they can go to Elsie’s office and
purchase one. Emily wants to know if we can vote on over turning the
bylaws. Motion passes. There was a motion to allocate $2,000.00 to
Honor Board, Judicial Board, and SGA for medallions. Emily wants to
know how this happens. She thinks that these people should be held
accountable for their mistake. For example start fundraising. Ben
Brittain, Nick Sneed, and Allie Smith are the 3 exec members that they
are referring to. Ben assumed that we paid for these out of the overhead
account, but was later told that that was not the case. Dr. Pierson made
it clear to Treasurer Hoyt that it will come back to us in the future if we
do not take care of it now. Scott Hull asked for a point of clarification.
James Pinc wants to know what we would do if it was another club and
what if this happens in the future. Treasurer Hoyt stated this is exactly
what happened with SEAL. You have to look at all the organizations.
Callie thinks this is horrible PR for us and she thinks we should not use
student funds for this. Emily Van Daniker stated that she has never been
so furious in SGA in all her four years serving because this is completely
irresponsible. Treasurer Hoyt stated that the medals will be billed to Dr.
Chassey’s office and he will be looking for the funding from SGA which
could not come if we don’t allocate this money. Sarah Clark asked
President Brittain for a point of clarification on this issue. Emily states
that regardless they should never have been funded because gifts are not
in our bylaws. Erinn Larson states that we need to stop pointing fingers
and come up with a resolution. Matt Jones believes we should take the
hit now. Ben takes complete blame and he thinks Erinn has a great point
that we need to not play the blame game. James states we are not
spending the student’s money because the money will be put back in the
account over time. Chloe, from the gallery, spoke about this saying that
these people should hold a fundraiser. Dane, from the gallery, spoke
about this. He states that none of this money should be spent from
student funds. Nicole Dales states as a member of Judicial Board that
they were sent an e-mail about paying for their medallions a month ago.
Alyssa Foley asked if there will be an actual ramification for the
consequences of these actions. Motion passed.

Allocations are this Saturday and Sunday.

Callie moves to move SFC report to Special Orders of the Day
permanently as letter b. Motion passes.
b. First Reading of the Medical Amnesty Act of 2011

They came here to give a resolution to students not calling medical help
because they are afraid they will get in trouble. Callie encourages that it
go in the student handbook. Lauren Smiley stated that it doesn’t state
that you get off free. It states that there are programs that these students
could go to. Gina wants to know how this will tell students that it is not
ok to do drugs and consume alcoholic beverages under age. Lauren
states that students will learn about this through peer mentors like her.
XII.
Announcements

Senior Class Bowling Night tonight at 9:30-close.

Spring Weekend Seniors will be selling a cup, a t-shirt, and a bracelet for $11.
Bracelets and cups will be sold to other classes.
XIII.
Adjournment
IF YOU READ THE MINUTES E-MAIL ME AND
YOU WILL GET A TREAT! 