Senate Meeting Minutes Correction and Clarification from October 11
In the meeting minutes for October 11, it was mistakenly noted that the Office of Student Success is closed on Fridays. This is incorrect. The Office of Student Success is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
For clarification, the Office of Access Services announced a change in testing accommodations hours, which are no longer available on Fridays.
Student Senate Minutes
October 25, 2022
Meeting called to order by President Sophia O’Neil at 7:00 p.m.
Prayer and reflection by Robert Budzius
Members Present
Sophia O’Neil, Jose Trejo, Joseph Schauf, Katie Pierpont, Maggie Newhouse, Anne Carmean, Riley Hall, Morgan Brown, Isabelle Fortner, Madeline Wilsey, Allison Moysis, Joel Tranel, Faith Rains, Abby Gilliland, Seth Peterson, Leah Parker, Madison Clark, Allison Urlaub, Paige Morris, Grace Olmstead, Melanie Winzenburg, Robert Budzius, Kristian Lindanger
Members Absent
Guy Cardinal
Members Excused
Connor Close, Noah Kiemel (Proxy – Allison Urlaub), Samuel Frick (Proxy – Paige Morris)
Guest Speaker – Brian Kusek
Relaunching what Campus Ministry is. Service has been off the radar over the past few years. The Catholic Church says that every person should look at the other person without exception as another self. This is part of Catholic social teaching. We are a Lasallian institution. No matter where you are from or what you believe, you know that every other person is another self. This is even more urgent when it concerns the disadvantaged, poor, and marginalized. We can serve others with compassion, dignity, love, and respect. The biggest opportunity that has come back is S.O.U.L. (Serving Others United in Love). These groups go and serve in different communities, like poor schools, and have the opportunity to provide love and care to these communities. Another opportunity that has been dormant is Buddies, a group that works with the developmentally challenged, and provides love and care to the people that come to campus. This takes place every Thursday night. Another small opportunity that can be attended as available is the warming center downtown, run by Catholic Charities, where you help check people in and get people settled in a safe place for the night. Catholic Worker is similar and provides hospitality and a safe place that allows for interaction, a meal, a shower, laundry, and more. Trying to combine with another club in order to have an email list to provide this information.
Open Forum on Club Volunteer Requirements
VP for Student Affairs, Katie Pierpont, explained the forum discussion:
Any club or organization that receives money from the Student Activities fee fund from the Student Senate will be required to volunteer five hours plus 1% of the clubs allocated budget in volunteer hours. Clubs or organizations who do not meet the required volunteer hours shall face a 20% decrease to their budget for the following academic year.
President, Sophia O’Neil provided more context:
Last year, clubs just had to fundraise. Now this year, our bylaws say clubs have to volunteer and the way they get any kind of money must be volunteer based. There was discussion last year on how athletes already have a volunteer requirement, so we are looking for senator opinions.
Discussion Points
General Comments:
- Good idea
- But, hard and unrealistic as athletes who are already required to volunteer.
- We [Senate] don’t have a ton of money, so why wouldn’t we want clubs to fundraise for themselves.
Clubs can fundraise on top of their volunteering. Which would take less time, getting my money from volunteering and the student senate, or fundraise the same amount of money they would have received from senate. - Request for clarity since when it was voted on last year, it was unclear.
- Club leaders are overcommitted and confused on the actual process.
Clarifications
- President O’Neil- It is hard to control and regulate all of it, which falls on the executive board. We are a service-based university and service is not a bad thing. We don’t want to put a new stressor on the student body. It does change how clubs function.
- VP for Financial Affairs, Joseph Schauf- This is man hours, not hours per person. One percent of your total budget is hardly any hours; ultimately, it is manageable. This is over the course of the year, and becomes very few hours per person. The issue isn’t the volunteering requirement, the bigger problem is the administration of it and the work it makes on our side as we were not ready to implement it.
Questions:
- What is the proess to check volunteer hours? What types of volunteer opportunities are available for non-athletes
- Was the volunteer requirement mentioned in the required meetings with R.I.S.E?
No - Would a club that volunteers every week have those hours count?
VP Joseph Schauf- Only the money that they use not for a service project is subject to the volunteer requirement.
Suggestion:
- Partner with other clubs
Comment on bylaw
- Volunteer hours say anything that benefits individuals or members of the community, so as long as there is no payment involved it should count.
Conclusion
- It would be nice to have a way to keep track of service opportunities.
- Conversation to assist with determining if we need to make a change to the amendment or clear up the process moving forward.
Open Forum on Admissions Lobby Renovation
President Sophia O’Neil explained the open forum discussion topic:
At the beginning of the year, I mentioned that working with and improving the admissions office was a goal of mine. With that, plans have been brought forward for upgrades to the admissions lobby that would cost roughly $15,000. I want to gather everyone’s opinion on using our surplus of money for this.
General Comments:
- Good idea because getting more students here ultimately helps the current students here. I feel that there are a lot of benefits.
Questions:
- Is this a space that current students actually spend time in?
- Executive Board Responses:
Some current students do spend time in there, but it is not solely intended for studying.
If everyone started using it, it would become a problem.
So the goal is to make it more attractive to incoming students?
VP Joseph Schauf- For capital improvements, the idea is to improve physical things on campus and making the environment a better place for students. - Is this something that admissions has come to us and asked for?
President Sophia O’Neil- One of my goals is to work with admissions this year. I am passionate about making admissions better.
Executive Board Reports
Sophia O’Neil, President
Nothing to report
Jose Trejo, Vice President of Academic Affairs
If anyone is interested in being a proxy for the Ed Standards committee, please reach out to Jose.
Joseph Schauf, Vice President of Financial Affairs
Finance committee heard the first special request, which will be brought to the senate next week pending approval at the executive board meeting. Please be sure to attend or have a proxy to attend so we meet quorum.
Riley Hall, Vice President of Public Affairs
Political dialogue last night went well. Vote early day is on Friday 10/28. Tabling will occur during lunch and dinner time. Bring your I voted sticker to enter a raffle in the Toner game room on election day. Cardinals connecting cardinals
Maggie Newhouse, Vice President of Campus Affairs
Highway cleanup was a success, thank you to all that came. Capital improvement forms will be going out.
Katie Pierpont, Vice President of Student Affairs
Met with Billy Brooks about the testing center being closed on Fridays, still would like to get student concerns in writing if they come up.
Anne Carmean, Vice President of Media and Communications
Career fair tomorrow, 10/26, you can get professional headshots done. Working on finding a time for senate headshots to take place before a meeting for the website.
Morgan Brown, Executive Assistant
Nothing to report
Dr. Marisa Naryka, Advisor
Nothing to report
Class Officer Reports
Freshman: Nothing to report
Sophomores: Nothing to report
Juniors: Nothing to report
Seniors: Nothing to report
Senator Concerns
Adjournment
Motion to Adjourn by Madeline Wilsey
Seconded by Abby Gilliland
Motion passes unanimously
Meeting Adjourned at 7:52 PM
