Student Senate meeting minutes, Oct. 26

Posted By: Jo Nesler On: 2021-11-01
Posted On: 2021-11-01

Student Senate – October 26, 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, Elise Roxas, Jordan Keeley, Morgan Brown, Josette Francois

Members Absent

Members Excused
Kristian Lindanger – Thomas Schaming, Liam Gallup (Late)

ASCD Special Request
Motion to fund in full at suggested amount of $38 by Sam Carlson
Seconded by Catherine Pierpont
Motion passes unanimously

Resolution 001: Allocation of Capital Improvement Funds for Phase I of the Toner 14 Renovations
Motion to adopt resolution by Sam Carlson
Seconded by Jordan Keeley
Yay: 15             Nay: 1              Abstain: 1
Resolution Adopted

Executive Board Reports 

Elijah Williams, President
The Science and Learning Center is now Aquinas Hall (includes the newly renovated section and the section built a few years ago).

Working on a social event with university administration, will have more information to the senators shortly.

The Guide to student life feedback is needed by the next Student Senate meeting. I encourage you to speak with your peers and gather feedback for this.

Jonathan and I will be meeting with Ann Merchlewtiz and Tim Gossen next week to conduct a COVID-19 Q & A via the Student Senate Instagram. We will have posters up with QR codes so students can also submit questions via google form.

Please reach out to us with any questions, comments, or concerns about campus. You can reach us at senate@smumn.edu.

Mary Furlong, VP for Academic Affairs
I hope you all did well on your midterms, if you need additional help feel free to contact the student success center to get connected with a Peer Learning Assistant. The writing center also is there to help with papers, resumes, and any other written assignments.

I am meeting with the Dean of the College this Friday and as always if anyone has anything to share about classes or anything academic related feel free to let me know.

Joseph Schauf, VP for Financial Affairs
There are more financial requests coming in that should be in front of the student senate within the next two weeks.

Jonathon Krull, VP for Public Affairs
Highway Cleanup ( https://forms.gle/2RvZS7mNRUyuvajQ7 ) will be on November 7. We will meet at 10:00 a.m. in the SLC parking lot and carpool from there. There are two portions of the highway we need to clean. Posters are up around campus so please sign up!

MAPCS met last week, our legislative agenda has been finalized. We are looking to finalize a meeting to write thank-yous to the legislators.

Engage Winona reached out to present at our meeting to help gain feedback and input on the city of Winona’s comprehensive plan. They will be joining us on November 16 to present.

Capital Improvements (https://forms.gle/hAKkRVUHxL5mToaC9) are live, please scan the posters around campus to enter your plan!

Angel Sancta Espinoza, VP for Campus Affairs
November 10th Security committee will be meeting to conduct a walk around campus.

Advertisements and capital improvements have been sent out with posters in the works. Committee members for facilities will be meeting soon in order to discuss capital improvements.

Lyanna Novak, VP for Student Affairs
Cardinal Club
The coffee shop and market are not affected by this closure

The closure will be for this week and next week

The Cardinal Club will open at 2:00 p.m. and close at regular hours (10:00 p.m.)

To make this temporary closure a little more feasible, the Cafe will introduce some “grill” items for the lunch menu

SAC
October 28, 4:30 p.m. – “SMU Pumpkin Patch” in Saint Edward’s field

October 28, 7:00 p.m. – Scary Stories Tour around campus will be held. If you or anyone you know is interested in being a tour guide or “scarer”, please email Sarah Phipps (sdphip18@smumn.edu)

R.I.S.E and Senate
Meeting with Twigz (James McGuire) on what students want to see more of on campus. Reach out to me or Twigz (jsmcguir@smumn.edu) if you have any input!

Riley Hall, VP for Media and Communications
I met with Deb about the Saint Mary’s Today emails last week. They will continue to be daily as they have a 70% open rate. They are working on educating the faculty that submits articles on how to title them appropriately and include who is posting the article. They have no vetting process otherwise for things that get posted.

Marketing and Communications is putting together videos to showcase SMUMN student life. If you want to be involved in that process, please let me know.

You should have received an email from me with your headshots from a few weeks ago. If not, or if you do not like the picture I sent you, please see me after today.

I am also still in communication with IT about the printer problems and the Wi-Fi concerns. I am also advising them to get the posters hung up about who to notify if printers are out of paper in academic spaces.

Lastly, the Public Relations Committee, please stay after for two minutes so we can figure out our Groupme issues.

Destiny Walker, VP for Multicultural Affairs
Diversity Cafe will resume as normal, presentations resumed last week and I will be presenting on Monday. There are around four or five sessions left. Three are required for the CE requirement.

On Friday, MIX will be decorating sugar skulls in Griffin Hall 181 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

BSA will be having a Halloween party on Saturday, October 30 at 7:00 p.m.

Sophia O’Neil, Executive Assistant
Nothing to Report

Niki Peterson, Interim Advisor
Nothing to Report

Class Officer Reports
Freshman: Freshman are confused about the meal plan perks

Sophomores: None

Juniors: Pushing back the dunk tank to the spring due to the cold weather

Seniors: Sports teams are allowed to volunteer via the highway clean up

Senator Concerns
Study spaces in Aquinas Hall need to be unlocked

Unable to get into the makers space

Physical Education not showing up on the Student Portal

Concerns about the lack of lights going down the hill to Saint Yon’s Hall.

Wi-Fi has continued to act up despite working with IT

Adjournment
Motioned by Sam Carlson
Seconded by Catherine Pierpont
Motion passes unanimously
Meeting Adjourned at 7:38 p.m.PM