Student Senate Meeting Minutes (2-11-25)

Student Senate Meeting Minutes

2/11/25

Maggie Newhouse called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  

Members Present: Maggie Newhouse, Caden Boyer, Noah Lahner, Shania Vanlewin, Mario Rodriguez-Gomez, Ali French, Lizzie Pike, Scott Walker, Allison Ciero, Aidan Indahl (Zack Illig), Priyanka Satish, Garrett Rotzien, Joey Dunn, Jaedyn Fellenz (Lia Richgels), Javier Cifuentes, Sidney Polzin (Connor Buetin), Luke Pilot (Emma Gerdes), Jacob Fiala, Diego Corvera, Zoe Fink, Reese Heitzman (Alex Hale), Amanda Siemienas, Conner Perry, Simone Vega, Maggie Albers (Marc Fletemeyer) 

Members Absent: Cynthia Sele, Taryn Dornseif, Joel Tranel

Career Services Presentation & Information: 

• New Career Service Website on the SMUMN.edu browser/website

• • • At the bottom of the website is information about the staff (names and emails) & links to book appointments through Handshake and Penji. 
    • There are 50-minute appointments available for students to discuss their careers, jobs, majors, minors, etc.
    • The appointments can be made through Zoom and/or in person. 
    • Several events are being offered on campus, such as resume workshops, career fairs, and mock interviews.
    • On Handshake is where all of the scheduling can be made for on-campus events, which can be signed in through your SMUMN email. 
    • Available virtually every day and on-campus 2-3 times a month to meet in person.
    • Career Services can help with future jobs, internships, graduate school applications, and resume-like materials. 

• Build Career Skills Tab on the Career Services Website

• • • There is a large number of selections to build career skills choose from, which have information on each selection.
      • For example, resume templates and articles on how to make resumes and cover letters better are linked in these drop-down tabs on the Build Career Skills Tab on the Career Service Website.

• Game Experience Tab on the Career Services Website

• • Give students easy skills and access to incorporate into a resume. 
  • Micro Internships are offered on this tab being offered to students to gain experience and gain some money. This is a small internship that students can gain experience to put into their resume.
  • Breadcrumbs to further your major are available on this tab. This shows other jobs that you can have with your corresponding major. Show jobs that you may not know qualify for your major. 

Special Request: Skate Club

• • Requesting $52 for laces & hot chocolate.

• The Finance Committee agreed on $52 to fund.

• Requesting a fund for hot chocolate on their open skate night and new laces for their skates.
• 35 students will off-and-on participate in the Skate Club.
• Looking to host more themed events for their open skate nights. Also, the club wants to do the hot chocolate night after Spring Break. 
• Open skate twice a week for anybody to be a part of. 
• Posters are up around campus for open skate times & skate club. Weekly emails are sent to the members about upcoming times and events of the Skate Club.

Motion Made to Adopt: Joey Dunn

Seconded: Jacob Fiala

For: 17

Against: 0

Abstain: 0

Motion Passes

Resolution 004: Water Bottle Fillers

• Maintenance told the Senate that both of the RAC water bottle fillers have been there for 25 years, so they have requested that we replace these due to the time they have been around.
• Updates with water bottle fillers around campus in Aquinas Hall, Residence Halls, and the RAC are needed around campus after a certain time.
• It will cost $3,400.  

Motion to adopt Resolution: Jacob Fiala

Seconded: Jacob Fiala

For: 17

Against: 0

Abstain: 0

Motion Passes

Executive Board Reports

Maggie Newhouse, President

• Por La Cultura and K Pop Club are Student Senate recognized now!
• Hillside Reps: How much use in the exercise room getting in Hillside? Can you poll the residents and see? What do you need from the e-board for this?
• We read through last week’s notecards and discussed what you all had to say. First off, thank you for your feedback. We are always looking to be better for you all. Your comments have been noted.
• Additionally, the capital improvement process this year has been a little all over the place and I apologize for that. We have been going out of order with things, but we want to make sure that we are sharing with you all how we get to the resolutions that we present to you. I assure you that we are working to try and make your ideas happen on campus. 
• I want to thank the class officers for their work in fundraising and their preparation for their senior weeks.  
• Notecards will be made for the senators for how to pass motions, table, ask questions, etc. to better assist them during Senate meetings.

Joel Tranel, Vice President of Financial Affairs

• Club budgets are due on Sunday the 16th at 11:59 pm.
• Joel, Mario, and Sen. Garrett met with Tim Stensgard about the golf simulator. Possibly putting it in one of the racquetball courts in the lower level of the field house. 
• Brian Sission and Joel met about getting new skates in the skate room.
• A flow chart will be made to explain the processes of finances for everyone. 
• The Finance Committee will be meeting on Monday around noon. 

Mario Rodriguez-Gomez, Vice President of Campus Affairs

• There will be another resolution next week for Residence Hall signs. They will be the same color and theme as the new signs put on campus this past fall. These will help the actual residence halls stand out more, rather than just relying on the directional signs. 

Noah Lahner, Vice President of Academic Affairs

• The transfer policy is changing slightly to help better credits. Revision will be occurring soon for the transfer policy for students moving.
• I will reach out to Career Services to help table for them and help advertise to students around campus.  

Caden Rodning, Vice President of Public Affairs

• Tabling will occur next week and the following week to advertise for the Minnesota State Grant Project. Anyone is welcome to join!

Ali French, Vice President of Student Affairs

• On Wednesday, Men’s and Women’s Basketball Home vs. Augsburg 
• On Friday, Men’s and Women’s Tennis Home
• On Friday, Women’s Hockey Home
• On Saturday, Men’s Hockey Home

Taryn Dornseif, Vice President of Media and Communications

• Don’t forget to sign up for an Instagram Takeover if you’re interested! 
• Senator Jaedyn will be doing one on Wednesday!

Lizzie Pike, Vice President of Administrative Affairs

• The Junior Class Officers raised $89 on Thursday selling chocolate-covered strawberries!
• More upcoming fundraisers will be coming up in the upcoming weeks/months, so keep an eye out for those. 

Shania Vanlewin, Vice President of Multicultural Affairs

• Nothing to report.

Scott Walker, Advisor

• Nothing to report. 

Class Officer Reports

Freshman

• Nothing to report.

Sophomore

• Nothing to report. 

Juniors

• We raised $89 selling chocolate-covered strawberries last Thursday for our second fundraiser of the year!
• On March 17th we will be selling alcohol in the pub during St. Patrick’s Day Trivia.
• A Spikeball or Bean Bag tournament will be set up soon for the springtime. 

Seniors

• Getting a meeting set up with the Fraternity and Sorority for Gaslight, to continue to plan for our large fundraiser at Gaslight. 

Senator Concerns: 

• • Javier: Students have been kicked out of the gym even when there are no teams in there. 

• Joey: The couches in RSM have been told that they are needing replacing due to springs sticking out of the couches and old fabric not holding up well. 

• Simone: Are the freshman class officer fundraisers still happening even though the freshmen class officers aren’t in the Senate anymore?

• Conner: Will fans be put in the racquetball courts if the golf simulator is in place?   

Adjournment

Motion made to Adjourn- Jacob Fiala

Seconded – Conner Perry

Adjourned at 7:48 pm.