Student Senate – November 2, 2021
Meeting called to order by President Elijah Williams at 7:00 p.m.
Prayer by Robert Budzius
Members Present
Mary Furlong, Joseph Schauf, Jonathan Krull, Angel Sacta Espinoza, Riley Hall, Lyanna Novak, Destiny Walker, Sophia O’Neil, Elijah Williams, Allison Moysis, Oran Dornelly, Robert Budzius, Sam Carlson, Delaney Calabrese, Katie Pierpont, Maria Flynn, Seth Peterson, Maddie Wilsey, Haddy Falkman, Annie Carmean, Liam Gallup, Elise Roxas, Jordan Keeley, Morgan Brown, Josette Francois, Kristian Lindanger
Members Absent
None
Members Excused
Oran Dornelly (No Proxy)
Presentation by Leon Dixon, M.B.A.
Vice President of Inclusion and Human Dignity
Fostering a culture where the community can improve diversity and inclusion.
Starting with the faculty by reflecting on why they entered education, working to engage in human dignity, which allows us to treat each other as humans, acknowledging that the student experience lies largely within the student interaction with them as faculty.
Then working with the student body in a number of capacities such as focus groups, peer learning, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion trainings.
Implementation of family and community by recognizing that a family rallies around each other, no matter our differences or opinions.
First campus-wide climate survey comes out on Monday, November 8, 2021.
Resolution 002: Rescinding of the Plaza Furniture Capital Improvement Funds
Will the umbrellas be a part of this money recession?
No, these have already been purchased with university funds.
Motion to adopt Resolution 002 by Seth Peterson
Seconded by Katie Pierpont
Yay: 16 Nay: 0 Abstain: 1
Executive Board Reports
Elijah Williams, President
Please, please submit your capital improvement ideas! We have money this year that we want to spend and would love to hear what students/faculty want to see on campus.
The Toner 14 furniture has been ordered and if you would like to see the final renderings, please reach out to us at senate@smumn.edu and we will share those with you. Members of the executive board are entering additional meetings now to begin Phase II of the project and we will have more information to the student senate facilities and student life committee’s when we have that.
The COVID-19 Q&A was today (Nov. 2), but if you continue to have questions please submit them to covid@smumn.edu and they will be answered as quickly as possible.
Congratulations, and good luck, to Brother Leopold/Residencia Santiago Miller Representative Haddy Falkman and Executive Assistant Sophia O’Neil on their win last night (Nov. 1) and their upcoming semifinals game!
Mary Furlong, Vice President of Academic Affairs
Registration is starting next week on Monday and you can find your time slot in your student portal.
Joseph Schauf, Vice President of Financial Affairs
Financial requests continue to be in the works.
Jonathon Krull, Vice President of Public Affairs
Highway Cleanup is this Sunday; meet at 10:00 a.m. in the Aquinas Hall parking lot to carpool.
Our Student Voting Results from the 2020 election are in! We had a 77% voting rate, which was a 5.5% increase from 2016 and is higher than the national average (66%). The data will be published in Saint Mary’s Today soon so take a look!
Our voting results have been entered into both the Minnesota Democracy Cup and the American Democracy Cup, which “crowns” the university with the highest voting turnout.
Ann Merchlewitz will be sending out an email on Friday which details our vaccination data, please make sure to read it.
Angel Sancta Espinoza, Vice President of Campus Affairs
Capital improvements are live right now so make sure to send in your requests. If you have any questions, please reach out to me at arsact18@smumn.edu.
Lyanna Novak, Vice President of Student Affairs
SAC
November 3: National Stress Awareness Day – Stress Kits available at 11:30 a.m. in Toner
November 4: Henna Tattoos 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in Hall of Fame Room
Blue Angel
Auditions hosted November 5 and 6.
Chartwells
Takeout is through November 5.
Wellness Center
Currently no wait list for counseling, reach out to the Wellness Center if you wish to seek counseling.
Riley Hall, Vice President of Media and Communications
Nothing to Report
Destiny Walker, Vice President of Multicultural Affairs
There are día de los muertos (day of the dead) altars on the first floor of Saint Mary’s hall, the chapel, the library, and the student success and first generation initiative office.
Diversity cafe is looking for committed students to help continue the legacy of diversity cafe. A number of our committee members are upperclassmen who will be graduating in the Spring.
Lyanna and I will send out a poll for the student life committee very soon, so please look for this!
Sophia O’Neil, Executive Assistant
Women’s soccer is playing in the semi-finals tomorrow at St. Bens at 2:00 pm.
Dr. Timothy Gossen, Advisor
Nothing to report
Class Officer Reports
Freshman: Nothing to report
Sophomores: Hot chocolate/ Cookies or donuts in the morning as a fundraising opportunity
Juniors: Nothing to report
Seniors: Nothing to report
Senator Concerns
Cultural Engagement credits are no longer showing up in canvas.
Is being looked at and we will have an update back to you all.
Concerns over professors not responding to emails / their timeliness in regard to communications to classes and students.
Senators also expressed concern in regard to some professors not providing accommodations to student-athletes.
Both of these concerns about professors are being looked into and will be addressed.
Adjournment
Motioned by Jordan Keeley
Seconded by Catherine Pierpont
Motion passes unanimously
Meeting Adjourned at 7:49 p.m.
