A look inside the machine

Senate meeting minutes: a look inside the machine

by Lucy Morris

Wednesday February 22, 2006

Meeting #1
Student Senate Chair Shamara Wyllie began the February 8 senate meeting with a message from a fortune cookie: "First seek to understand and then to be understood." Wyllie, a sophomore, then continued in the same vein by urging the senators assembled around her at a large U-shaped table in the Bates Meeting Room to "be more friendly to community members," and to "smile and be welcoming."

The first order of official business was funding for The Little Jackie Paper, continued from the previous week. Senate granted the LJP $1,040 last semester for the publication of a literary journal but appeared hesitant to continue funding, due in part to the inclusion of the work of many of the journal’s editors and a perceived unavailability of copies. In response to senator concerns, LJP editor Tim Falzone, a senior, made a statement announcing a blind selection process for the next issue as well as a more transparent distribution system. Falzone also presented senators with letters of support from SLC community members and a petition with over 150 signatures.

The discussion opened with remarks from Senator Sarah Jankowski, a sophomore, who noted that while she "appreciated" the group’s efforts in demonstrating community support for the journal, she still felt "deceived" by their publishing editors’ work.
Falzone took the opportunity to respond to a statement Jankowski had made about "lies disseminating about Senate," in regard to community members allegations that Senate had denied the publication funding when in fact the matter had not yet come to vote. Falzone remarked that any such misinformation was the fault of Senate because "what goes on in [Senate meetings] isn’t really known outside." Shortly after this exchange, full funding for the LJP was granted, with twelve senators voting in favor and three against.

Another major topic on the agenda was the budget for Common Ground, a new student space in Bates. Wyllie excused herself from the proceedings in order to join senior Sarah Ihmoud in representing the space. Senate Vice Chair Sara Tunic assumed her duties. The managers of Common Ground presented senators with a detailed budget for the current academic year. The majority of the budget–$2,545–went to wages, while the remainder was earmarked for office, artistic and kitchen supplies as well as media resources. The request totaled just over $4,000. The main point of contention for some senators was the $598 within the budget set aside for "entertainment and academic resources," including books, DVDs and magazine subscriptions suggested by members of student identity groups.
Sophomore Alana Sliwinski expressed discomfort with "funding a third library," noting that all but five of the 27 books on Common Ground’s list were available in Esther Raushenbush Library. She noted that when political group POSSE approached Senate for funding of books for their space, the Red Room, none of the books they requested could be found in the library.

A community member observing the meeting, senior Richard Contreras, voiced concerns about the predominantly African-American-related media titles. "I don’t see a single Latino author on there," he said.

Controversy was sparked when first year Class President Neil Makhija remarked that "the food could be more ethnic" upon surveying the snack portion of the budget, which included snack-packs and popcorn. Wyllie replied, "I am offended." Makhija explained that he would have liked to see fewer "normal American" items. Natalie Gross, Director of Diversity and Campus Engagement questioned Makhijia’s phrasing, "Is then Common Ground not part of normal culture?"

Mary Spellman, Dean of Student Affairs, encouraged senators to provide funding for the books. "Common Ground is important to every single one of you and I urge you to fund [it]," she said. Senate Treasurer Amina Sariahmed motioned to fund Common Ground the full requested amount. First year Samantha Scala suggested an amendment to the motion, granting the full amount with the recommendation that the book list be "flexible." Sariahmed’s proposal with the addition of Scala’s amendment was put to question. A secret ballot was decided upon and the motion passed with one abstention.

Wyllie then raised the issue of the student activities fee, an amount included in tuition that comprises Senate’s budget. She explained that Senate has the power to increase the fee, which currently stands at $184, in $4 increments. Junior Davin Searls favored the increase. "I think we’ve done a good job with money this year so I move to increase it to $188." Jankowski supported the measure, saying, "$200 is not a lot to ask in terms of what we pay in general [tuition]." Sariahmed asked, "Were we really lacking in funds this year?" She added that she was uncomfortable having the power to increase tuition, even by $4, and said she needed to consult with constituents before deciding. Wyllie said that the matter had to be decided at the current meeting, adding that she had sent out an e-mail to senators earlier in the day so that they would have time to consider the question.

Nine senators voted against increasing the fee, five voted in favor and one senator abstained.

Wyllie drew the meeting to a close by asking senators to discuss with their constituents the general perception of Senate on campus. Scala reported that she had already talked with other students. "They said, ‘I don’t know what Senate does,’ or ‘Senate sucks," Scala said. She suggested that Senate post their minutes online or contribute a summary of meetings to the daily e-mail. "We need to make ourselves more available to students," Scala said.

Meeting #2
The February 15 Student Senate meeting got off to a somber start, with sophomore Senate Chair Shamara Wylie announcing her resignation.

She opened a discussion on the topic of "the state a theme which has carried through meetings for several weeks. When no senators responded, Wyllie became visibly emotional. "What I want to say at this meeting," she began, "is that senate means a lot to me…I will no longer be senate chair this year." "I’ve tried to always do my best as senate chair," she continued, but "I feel as though I’ve reached a sort of impasse." Wyllie noted that she realized this at the previous week’s meeting. "I feel like this body does not respect my leadership and because of that it is no longer effective." She added, "I urge you all to think strongly about what it means" to be on senate and about "how we are all representatives of constituents." Announcing that current senate vice chair Sara Tunic would assume her duties for the remainder of the year, she said, "I hope that you treat her well."

The first acknowledgement of Wyllie’s announcement came during the report on the Student Activities Subcommittee. "I don’t speak just for myself," committee chair Amina Sariahmed addressed Wyllie. "I really appreciate all the work you have done for this group." Her statement was met with applause.

Official business began with a request from student accessibility right’s group Beyond Compliance for funding of their ‘zine. Senior Lucy Callard and sophomore club treasurer Kristen Schuster represented the club. Last semester, senate funded 300 copies of a five-page publication that were, according to junior Davin Searls, a senator and a member of the club, claimed immediately. He added that the club continues to receive requests for the first issue. Beyond Compliance asked for $480 to print two issues this semester, with runs of 400 copies each. Callard, welcoming feedback from senators, concluded that the Beyond Compliance ‘zine covers a topic that no other publication on campus does. Senior class co-president Alexandra Conboy motioned to fund Beyond Compliance’s request in full. It was passed unanimously.

Throughout the meeting, discussion arose of improving student perception of senate. Sophomore Alana Sliwinski suggested that the conversation on the topic should not be "relegated to these two hours." The possibility was raised of devoting a Student Body Meeting, an independent monthly campus forum, to discourse on senate. Several senators volunteered to get in touch with its organizer, senior Jesse Hensel to arrange it. Sophomore Catherine Hooper suggested that senate begin nominating students to four senate positions currently vacant so that "more voices can be heard." The problem with senate, according to sophomore Lauren Palmor, is that "we don’t laugh. I think we forget that we’re allowed to have fun while we do our job." Senators snapped their fingers in approval. Conboy suggested "naked senate."

Newly elected General Committee member Anthony Gambol suggested that senate e-mail each meeting’s agenda in advance to all students and, if possible, post them at the Siegel Center. "If anyone who was interested in any one topic knew when it was discussed," they might come to meetings, he said. He urged senate to take minutes, a record keeping process senate bylaws mandate, but is not always followed. (A motion had been passed earlier to forego taking minutes during the meeting.) Newly elected senate secretary Samantha Scala said they would in the future be taken. Contreras, a member of the Committee for Student Life, suggested that the meeting be changed to a time when more community members can attend. "Where the perception of you comes from is how you fund," he added. "[Senate] is in a tough position" Sariahmed replied. "No matter what we do, there will always be someone dissatisfied with funding."

For more information on what happened in the past two senate meetings, go to raptor.slc.edu/phoenix to read the full versions of these articles.