Student Senate Meeting Minutes
2/13/2024
Meeting was called to order by President Maggie Newhouse at 7:00 p.m.
Members Present
Connor Close (David Nesburg), Mario Rodriguez Gomez, Lizzie Pike, Alison French, Sidney Polzin, Gabe Potyk, Abbie Stigler, Jacob Fiala, Abby Nosbisch, Owen Ziegler (Allison Ciero), Caden Rodning, Emma Mara, Teagan Phillips (Colin Tushie), Melanie Winzenburg, Mallory Von Tersch, Emma Gerdes, Paige Morris, Jack Campion, Sam Frick, Maggie Newhouse, Joel Tranel, Noah Kiemel, Nick Kiemel, Maddi Clark and Ann Merchlewitz
Members Absent
None
Members Excused
Leah Parker
Guest Speaker: Monica Hennessy Mohan
● Monica is supervises Winona City Transit for the City of Winona.
● Cassie Ferriss is the new Transit Coordinator.
● Monica is also the city clerk.
● Introduction to Winona Transit Service
● Public transit through Winona and Goodview
● Four bus routes
○ Follow a set route and schedule
● Fares
○ Cash Fare For Adults
■ Single ride Cash or Token $1.25
■ Monthly Pass (Unlimited) $42.50
● Deviation Route System
○ Drivers can go up to four blocks off the route for a scheduled deviation
○ Deviations must be scheduled by calling 507-454-6666
● Services Availability
○ Dial A Ride
■ $3.50 per person/ride and 10 ride punch cards are available
■ Monday – Friday 6 am-6 pm
■ Saturday 9 am-5 pm
■ Call 507-353-6666
● All Winona transit buses comply with ADA and are equipped with wheelchair lifts
● Drivers cannot assist with packages or bags
● Winona Transit is funded by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)
● Monthly passes, single ride tokens, and punch cards for other services are available at City Hall
● The bus that comes to Saint Mary’s comes every 30 minutes.
● If you wanted to go downtown, you would either take the yellow bus or the green bus. Both of these busses cover all of the city.
● Winona State and Minnesota State Southeast both have contracts with the City of Winona.
○ $3,000 a year for WSU
● The safe ride bus was Thursday-Saturday nights before COVID
○ 6 pm-1 am
○ Continually running two/three buses during these times
● The City of Winona is willing to do it again with Saint Mary’s. The university would have to determine how to fund it.
○ There are four cameras on each of the buses
Special Request: Nordic Ski Club
● Presenting for Nordic Ski is Westley Larson
● 2024 Biathlon
● Salt Lake City, Utah
● Requesting funds for flights to and from Utah
● Other finances are already covered by the current budget
● Requesting: $3,900
● They are looking for money for 6 flights. The roundtrip is a total of 1,978 miles so using
the 0.16/mile according to the bylaws it comes out to $316 per ticket so in total of $1,900.
● The Finance Committee suggests we finance at $1,900
● Move to fund at the suggested amount of $1,900, Caden Rodning
● Second: Emma Mara
● Votes:
○ For: 15
○ Against: 1
○ Abstain: 0
● Resolution Passes
Academic Request: Rosie Aschenbrener
● Rosie is presenting for the request
● April 11th, 2024
● Women’s and Gender Studies Consortium in Madison, WI
● Requesting: $378
● Requesting money for conference fee, travel, and a hotel.
○ Conference fee: $80
○ Travel: $142.80
○ Hotel: $85
○ Total of $308
● Suggested by the Finance Committee: $310
● Motion to Fund at the suggested amount of $310: Melanie Winzenburg
● Second: Caden Rodning
● Votes:
○ For: 15
○ Against: 0
○ Abstain: 1
● Resolution Passes
Academic Request: ACS Conference
● Brooke Kline and Maddie Patterson previously presented before the Senate. They had requested money for flights and transportation.
● They are now requesting money for hotels.
● Studetn can only request $500 per semester
● The Executive Board decided to fund the ACS Conference an additional $220 ($110 each) to help cover the costs of the otel for the conference.
Executive Board Reports
Maggie Newhouse, President
● Thank you for your responses to the question from the Google form. I appreciate all of the feedback.
● There are just a few things that came up in the responses that I want to address now.
● Meeting minutes are available on the student senate website.
● The resolutions also get posted there for anyone to see.
● If you are looking for more engagement from your residents, an idea is to make a sign for your door that states who you are and how people can contact you.
● A lot of you liked what we have done with social media, so a big thanks to Noah for that.
● If you have any ideas for the Senate bulletin board, let Sam know.
● I will be sending out an email with a few questions for you all for your bios on the Student Senate website.
Joel Tranel, Vice President of Financial Affairs
● Budget Requests are due this Sunday, February 18th at 11:59 p.m. so please submit them on time!
● The Finance Committee will begin hearing them next week. Club leaders be on the lookout for an email about those meetings with the committee.
Sam Frick, Vice President of Academic Affairs
● Sam will be working with the bulletin board soon. If you have any ideas please email him.
Paige Morris, Vice President of Student Affairs
● Events for the week
○ Wednesday
■ Mens Basketball 7 pm
● SAAC will be having a giveaway
○ Thursday
■ FGI Movie Night 6 pm
○ Friday
■ Women’s Hockey 7 pm
○ Saturday
■ Women’s Hockey 2 pm
■ Mens and Women’s Tennis 3:30 pm
○ Sunday
■ Women’s Tennis 3:30 pm
● Chartwells Survey:
○ Paige will be email results within the next week.
Jack Campion, Vice President of Public Affairs
● Had a meeting with Ms. Ann to figure out more logistics for Day of the Capital.
Nick Kiemel, Vice President of Campus Affairs
● He sent out the capital survey. If you haven’t filled it out please do that as soon as possible.
Noah Kiemel, Vice President of Media and Communications
● Working on finishing Senator Spotlights on the Instagram account.
● He will be working on Executive Spotlights next.
Maddi Clark, Vice President of Administrative Affairs
● Nothing to report.
Leah Parker, Vice President of Multicultural Affairs
● Nothing to report.
Ann Merchlewitz, Advisor
● Please register for Day of the Capital.
● Bring someone with you!
● We are trying to bring Dennis Egan here to train us on what we will be requesting of our represetnatives at Day at the Capitol.
● Ms. Ann will not be here for the next two meetings because of the Board of Trustees meetings on the Minneapolis campus and vacation. Niki Peterson or A Getzin will attend these meetings on her behalf.
Class Officer Reports
Freshman
● Nothing to report
Sophomore
● Nothing to report
Junior
● Nothing to report
Senior
● Nothing to report
Senator Concerns:
● None.
Adjournment
Motion made to Adjourn- Emma Mara
Seconded – Caden Rodning
Motion passes unanimously
Meeting Adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
