Student Senate Meeting Minutes
3/26/2024
The meeting was called to order by President Maggie Newhouse at 7:00 p.m.
Members Present
Mario Rodriguez Gomez, Connor Close, Lizzie Pike, Alison French, Sidney Polzin, Gabe Potyk, Abbie Stigler, Jacob Fiala, Abby Nosbisch, Owen Ziegler, Caden Rodning, Emma Mara (Maeve Cannon), Teagan Phillips, Melanie Winzenburg, Mallory Von Tersch, Emma Gerdes (Brynn Lenz), Paige Morris, Jack Campion, Sam Frick, Maggie Newhouse, Joel Tranel, Nick Kiemel, Noah Kiemel, Maddi Clark and Ann Merchlewitz
Members Absent
None
Members Excused
Leah Parker
Budgets:
Yoga Club Budget:
● Amount Requested: $2,510
● Motion to fund at the suggested amount of $1,850 by Caden Rodning
○ Second: Teagan Phillips
● Voting:
○ For: 14
○ Against: 0
○ Abstain: 2
● Motion Passes
Culture of Life Budget:
● Amount Requested: $5,928
● Motion to fund at the suggested amount of $2,880 by Connor Close
○ Second: Jacob Fiala
● Voting:
○ For: 15
○ Against: 1
○ Abstain: 0
● Motion Passes
Future Health Professionals Budget:
● Amount Requested: $260
● Motion to fund at the suggested amount of $260 by Melanie Winzenburg
○ Second: Connor Close
● Voting:
○ For: 15
○ Against: 0
○ Abstain: 1
● Motion Passes
Pre-Law Society Budget:
● Amount Requested: $400
● Motion to fund at the suggested amount of $360 by Connor Close
○ Second: Mario Rodriguez Gomez
● Voting:
○ For: 15
○ Against: 0
○ Abstain: 1
● Motion Passes
Fashion Club Budget:
● Amount Requested: $824
● Motion to fund at the suggested amount of $450 by Mario Rodriguez Gomez
○ Second: Gabe Potyk
● Voting:
○ For: 14
○ Against: 1
○ Abstain: 1
● Motion Passes
Academic Request: Kyle Palmberg and Riley Rudd
● Midwestern Psychological Conference
● Requesting: $1,893
● Money will be used for conference registration, travel, and hotel.
○ Conference fee: $90
○ Travel: $280
○ Hotel: $630
○ Total of $910
● Suggested by the Finance Committee: $1,000
● Motion to Fund at the suggested amount of $1,000, Melanie Winzenburg
● Second: Gabe Potyk
● Votes:
○ For: 16
○ Against: 0
○ Abstain: 0
● Resolution Passes
Academic Request: Kristian Lindanger
● Midwest Instrustruction and Computing Conference
● Requesting: $791
● Money will be used for conference fees, travel, and hotel.
○ Conference fee: $245
○ Travel: $100
○ Hotel: $195
○ Total of $540
● Suggested by the Finance Committee: $540
● Motion to Fund at the suggested amount of $540, Connor Close
● Votes:
○ For: 16
○ Against: 0
○ Abstain: 0
● Resolution Passes
Executive Board Reports
Maggie Newhouse, President
● RSVP for the Senate Banquet and include any dietary restrictions.
● Dinner at Father Burn’s house is on April 4th at 6 pm. The dress code is business casual.
● Jim Bedtke is going to come to the meeting next week and speak about directional signage. As of right now, these are the updates I have:
○ The project is going to cost around $70,000.
○ We are currently discussing as an Executive Board how much we are willing to contribute to this project.
○ If you have input, please let me know.
○ The signs are going to include residence halls and will update buildings.
○ There will be one 7 ft sign near admissions and the rest will be the 6 ft ones.
○ There is potentially going to be a QR code on the map that displays on a digital map that can be continuously updated.
Joel Tranel, Vice President of Financial Affairs
● We have 9 more budgets left for the semester.
Sam Frick, Vice President of Academic Affairs
● Ed Standards Meeting
○ Discussed time limit on grade change
○ Discussed double dipping policy again
○ Not sure what counts towards a certain degree/major
○ Example Brought Up:
■ Business majors could complete classes for two majors and end up earning a third degree with no additional requirements.
● If any feedback on this, please reach out to me sjfric20@smumn.edu
Paige Morris, Vice President of Student Affairs
● Events for the week
○ Wednesday
■ Res halls close at 7 pm: fill out outbreak check-out forms
■ Baseball vs. Bethany Lutheran 1 pm
○ Thursday
■ Baseball 1 pm (rescheduled from Tuesday)
○ Friday
■ Softball (rescheduled from Saturday)
○ Saturday
■ Baseball vs Hamline 1 pm & 3:30 pm
○ Sunday
○ Monday
■ Res halls open at 12 pm
● First Five Weeks Committee
○ We are trying to connect students and get them engaged for the first 5 weeks of school.
○ Please let me know if you have any ideas or comments on implementing anything for the first 5 weeks next year.
Jack Campion, Vice President of Public Affairs
● Nothing to report.
Nick Kiemel, Vice President of Campus Affairs
● Working on Cardinal Coffee Furniture and equipment for the gym.
● Writing a resolution for a fund requested by maintenance. This would be for the water bottle filler replacements, which the Executive Board will review at our next meeting.
Noah Kiemel, Vice President of Media and Communications
● E-Board Petitions are due 3/28.
● As of now, at least 1 person is running for each position.
Maddi Clark, Vice President of Administrative Affairs
● Nothing to report.
Leah Parker, Vice President of Multicultural Affairs
● Nothing to report.
Ann Merchlewitz, Advisor
● Student Satisfaction Survey Inventory was sent out so please fill that out. Encourage others to fill it out. It will close on March 27th.
● Business casual for the Father Burns dinner.
Class Officer Reports
Freshman
● Nothing to report
Sophomore
● We are just waiting on a reply from Curt for our upcoming events.
Junior
● Nothing to report.
Senior
● Nothing to report.
Senator Concerns:
● The gazebo roof is a different color than the dugouts.
Adjournment
Motion made to Adjourn- Jacob Fiala
Seconded – Caden Rodning
Motion passes unanimously
Meeting Adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
