Order of Business for SMU Student Senate

February 22, 2011

I. Call to Order
II. Moment of Silence
III. Roll Call
IV. Approval of Minutes
V. Speaker’s Podium
• Roza Essaw
o Would also like to recommend Ray Hunt
 Contributed to Dallas community
 Founded the Hunt Scholars program
o Rick Halperin should be awarded the Student Association Award
 Created the Human Rights Minor, and is working as making it a major
 Recognized nationally
 Director of several national committees
 Has taken students all over the world
 Roza has never had a class with him, but thinks he deserves the award
 Only professor that came to every Aaro preview
o Savannah Stevens took Rick Halperin’s class
 Says Rick Halperin cares about fellow man
 Believes in humans
 Recommends him for the award
• Aden Abiye
o African Student Association
 Extravaganza Thursday from 6:30-9PM
• Free Event
 Reception in the Hughes-Trigg Commons from 9PM-10PM
 Contact aabiye@smu.edu
• Haynes Strader
o Student Strategic Plan
 On Board for Student Media Company
• Board has budget that you get to allocate
• Interact with people in control of the Daly Campus
• Applications are available now and due March 11th
• Experience on any board will help you in the future
• Pass this information to anyone you think would be interested
• Independently operated outside of SMU
 All student representatives have been working on outline for general goals for
students long-term
• Will be brought before Senate in a few weeks
• Stacey Cherones
o Graduate Women’s Association
 Exist to promote development for Graduate Women
 If we are not chartered immediately, will be unable to receive funding
 Tabled twice
 Asks for the organization to be treated fairly
 Wants issue to be resolved by March 3rd
 Alex Ehmke – you can still get funding through weekly meetings
 What schools is your membership currently from?
• Dedman, Lyle, Meadows
 Senator Essig – Could you please explain the reason you would like to be
chartered?
 • Need to be able to reserve rooms for events
• Want legitimacy to be able to operate on campus
 Senator Ray – Were you told why you were tabled the second time?
• Yes, because we didn’t
• Erin Callahan
o Women in Law
 One of the only professional organization on the law school campus
 Opportunity to network with local judges, attorneys, and students
 Over 217 students and 400 on mailing list
 Hold three quality events annually
 Hope to increase sponsorship – increased dues, reaching out to community
members, etc.
 Asking for $2,450.00 – have opportunity to attend conference in LA
• Educational opportunity, networking opportunity, would like to learn how
a national conference is put on and bring it back to our members
• Hold elections for national officers
• Hold two officer positions on the national level
 Chair Leung: Are you aware that Finance Committee doesn’t fund outside of
standards?
• Yes
 Senator Fox: Why did you pick this conference?
• It is the only national women’s conference
 Senator Ishmael: How much are you asking for?
• Are asking for $1,000
 Chair Mackingtee: Are the students you would send Seniors?
• Yes, but they will bring experience from conference to the students
• Would like to start tradition of attending conference
 Senator Hoffman: Could you explain what you mean by being more equivalent to
coaches?
• At the law school we don’t share rooms because our ages are closer to
coaches
• Follow up: Were you aware that coaches at the Varsity level share
rooms?
o No I was not and am a little surprised
 Senator Abiye: Are you going to use $5,000 in checking account for conference?
• No, are using that money for other things
 Chair Mackingtee: Is this mandatory?
• Yes

Motion to add S-11-02-14 to the agenda

VI. Officer Reports

President Torres
• If we have visitors that want to give presentations, please let Exec know beforehand
• Senator Sharp – Can we have the projector available every week?
o We will have that budgeted next year, but it is $75 per meeting to use the
projector currently
• Nominations for Student Association Awards
o Motion to open floor for debate for Trustee - Passed
o Motion to close Debate – Failed
o Motion to end Debate – Passed
o Motion to open floor for debate for Administrator – Passed
 o Motion to end Debate – Passed
o Motion to open Debate for Professor – Passed
o Motion to end Debate - Passed
• Meeting with the Health Center
o If Senator Dow, Carr, and Pool would talk to President Torres after the meeting
• Senate Softball – If you are interested please contact President Torres
Vice President Prentice
• Meet and Greets
• Budgets
• If you did not attend training, e-mail
Secretary Perkins
• Absences
o
• Office Hours
• Absences available on Blackboard
• Ordered Placards
Speaker Gaasbeck
• Chair Committee Reports & Legislation:
email jgaasbeck@smu.edu by Mondays at 5 PM
Parliamentarian Esau
• Meet & Greets
• Website
o E-mail pictures and information to Parliamentarian Esau
• Facebook
o Please like the Student Senate Facebook page
• Twitter
Chief of Staff Mace
• Committee Assignments for New Senators
Executive Director Jones
• Awards Extravaganza is on April 11th
VII. Committee Reports
Organizations
• Student Code of Conduct changed and if Graduate Student Organizations must be open
to the whole campus
• Asked for an updated roster and it was given
• Asked for other reasons beyond finances for chartered status
o They said they wanted institutional support to be able to represent SMU off
campus
• Said they were not open to undergraduate students
• Chief of Staff Ehmke: If we table them again, what direction will they take to be
chartered through their school?
o They are aware of the other options
• Senator Amos: Is the main reason because of the perceived discrimination?
o Yes, among others
• President Torres: Do they meet all the requirements as far as time spent, roster, etc?
o Yes
• Chief of Staff Mace: Have they looked into being chartered by the women’s center?
o I will mention that to them
• Senator Rogers: Are you focused on the funding?
o Should it be clarified keeping schools more separate, inherently funding?
 That’s something we can strive toward in the future
• Senator Sharp: Is this a discretionary process or if they meet the requirements they
charter them?
 o Most organizations do not use all privileges, but we do look at requirements. The
main issue is making sure that they are doing what they are doing, they will be
sustainable.
• Parliamentarian Esau: What is the committee’s reasoning?
o Can say you are open to the entire campus without really being open, want to
make sure they are open to the entire campus
• Senator Ehmke: Do they need another reason beyond financial recommendation?
o They can get funding through other organizations
• New Business
• Old Business APPROVED
o Chartered:
 Phi Alpha Delta 6-0-1
o Tabled:
 Guitar Club 6-0-0
 Graduate Women’s Organization 7-0-0
Student Concerns
• Meet at 5PM on Thursdays
• Townhall Meetings
o One before or after Spring break, one in April
o If you would like to participate e-mail Chair Pool
• Committee Member of the Month
• Meet & Greets
o If you would like comment forms, please e-mail Chair Pool
• Snack with Senate
o Once or twice a month
o Possibly during lunch time
• Survey
• Working on Student Senate Drop Box
• GI Bill Updates
o Still talking to the SMU staff
o If you are interested in helping, please e-mail Chair Pool
Membership
• Interviews this week
o Finance and Organizations interviews are still going on
o 4-5:30PM Thursday are when interviews will be held
• Old Business
o Membership Chair:
 Katherine Ladner
o Lyle Senator
 Katie O’Neil
Scholarship
• Releasing applications this Friday – please advertise to your constituents
• Applications Due the Monday after Spring Break
• Tentative reception on April 28th
Communications
• No Submission
Diversity
• Meeting with Coordinator of Diversity Initiatives in Admissions
o Talked about ways to improve minority enrollment
o Students are needed to house students campus visits
 If you are interested in hosting a student e-mail Chair Carr
Finance
• New Business
 oAnthropology Club - $760.00/$990.00 Vote: 8-0-1
 Requesting funds for Spring Lecture
o Omega Psi Phi - $728.00/$728.00 Vote: 8-0-0
 AV Tech, Room fee, etc. for Scholarship pageant
o Dedman School of Law – Women in Law - $0.00/$1,000.00 Vote 7-1-0
 Due to standards reduced to $1,000
 Need hotel, airfare, and registration
 Decided to fund in $0
1. Conference is not mandatory
2. Have large checking account
3. How much does it really benefit SMU Community?
o Philosophy Club - $1,080.00/$2,160.00 Vote 7-0-0
 Expenses for one speaker
 Said in the past events have only brought out 10-15 people, but they
said they would reach out to bring a larger crowd
 Wanted to fund for one and see how it goes
• Vice President Prentice: Can you e-mail the Senate budget?
o Yes
• Senator Ishmael: Do you receive the receipts after organizations make a purchase?
o Yes
• Old Business APPROVED
o Association for Public Interest Law - $2,215.00/$2,215.00 – 9-0-0
o NPHC $600.00/$600.00
VIII. New Business
• S-11-01-14 A Resolution Supporting
o Diplomatic Legislation to set tone for legislation that will be coming later for
LGBT Seat
o Where it says be it resolved – is not to require or mandate senators to take Allies
training
o Chief of Staff Mace: Would you consider tabling this until next week?
 Yes
Motion to table this piece until next week - PASSED
IX. Old Business
• S-11-01-13 – A Resolution Codifying the Student Senate Affiliate Program and Senatorial
Responsibilities
• Under this piece senators will be required to
• Amending absence policies
• Those who forfeit their membership will not be able to run in elections
• Senate will have the ability to amend by-laws
• Article 10 – explains student senate affiliate program
• Standing committee chairs
• Line 200-242
• Friendly amendments should be given to the Secretary to be submitted in the minutes
• Time limits changed to make it straightforward
• Points O, N, and P have been stricken
• Chair Carr: Could you please explain the ramification of Speaker not being able to
recommend legislation to committees?
o Speakers have not recommended any legislation to committee in three years
• Chief of Staff Mace:
• Senator Genco: Are there any changes made that are not reflected on the blackboard
copy? What is reflected on your copy?
o Yes, it will be updated for the final copy
Motion to move into debate
 Chief of Staff Mace: The whole point that it’s the speaker’s discretion,
understand value of reducing redundancies, but even though it hasn’t been used,
the right should still be reserved for future speakers, Line 253 and 254 Would
suggest lines not be stricken and that it would remain

Chair Carr: If you haven’t read this piece, I think you should table it so that you
can review this properly. Watch you’re voting for and think about the
ramifications. Committee was told that they are not allowed to write legislation,
but if the Speaker recommends a piece of legislation to a committee the
committee can vote and show support for a specific piece of legislation. Is taking
away voice for something that we are already limited in doing. Not openly made
aware to people that it can be utilized. Please consider that this should not be
stricken.

Parliamentarian Esau: My intention is not to take away power from anyone. Want
to point out that Committee review is not binding, is ultimately up to Senate.
Does not keep a chair saying I think this piece is good or bad.

President Torres: Motion to undo strike through line 74 and 75 and line
252-254 - Motion Passes

President Torres: Doesn’t think lines should be in piece. Thinks it is important,

and that we keep it.

Parliamentarian Esau: No one brought this before Parliamentarian Esau before

the meeting. No one is trying to take away any power.

Motion to Call to Question – PASSED

Debate on Legislation:

Senator Genco: Does not want to vote on piece he does not have. Would like to
table legislation.

Point of Information: Chief of Staff Mace – Would this be okay

President Torres: Wants to encourage someone to call to question because

doesn’t think that it should

Motion to call to question: PASSED

Parliamentarian Esau: Understand long resolution, should be no reason why

senate shouldn’t vote for this, just cleaning up the language.

Piece PASSES – Senator Genco and Senator Harris Abstained

X. Senatorial Forum
XI. Announcements
Destination SMU – March 3rd
Band opening for Sublime cover band on Saturday – Home Bar 2PM
LGBT Senate Seat – willing to collaborate, anyone interested e-mail Senator Luna
Student Concerns Committee meeting Thursday at 5PM
If you are interested in Senate Softball, contact Jake
University Award Nominations are due Friday
XII. Adjournment