RUSA Minutes February 8th, 2018 Student Activities Center

Transcription

1 RUSA Minutes February 8th, 2018 Student Activities Center *Statements are paraphrased and consolidated for the Minutes* *All legislation contained in the minutes may be in its original form and may not be the final language.* *Visual/Audio record available on official RUSA Facebook page* 1. Call to Order 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Approval of Agenda a. Unanimously Approved 4. Approval of Prior Meeting s Minutes a. Unanimously Approved 5. Recess for Town Hall a. Dr. Felicia McGinty, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs i. Recording available online 6. Legislation a. A Bill to Pose a Referendum Question to Expand RUSA Election Eligibility i. Motion to change Authors to Author by Alex Anderson, Cook 2020 Representative 1. Unanimously Approved ii. Motion to adopt by unanimous consent by Nick Tharney, RBGA Representative 1. Opposed, therefore fails iii. Motion to move to automatic debate procedure by Jeff Zhang, RBGA Representative 1. Alex Anderson, for

2 iv. a. I was really disappointed that the RUSA Constitution was being very protectionist to SAS. This is really important to allow students to have these multiple voices and bring their perspective to RUSA. I feel like a lot of members of other schools won t be as welcome if they see something like this. Making this change says this is what we believe in. 2. Nick LaBelle, against a. I don t think many students care about the matter at hand. I feel like this is needless bureaucracy. I think it is important that other students from non-sas have a voice. I agree that students shouldn t be able to hold multiple offices and therefore don t support this bill. 3. Jeff Zhang, for a. This is not a question of whether they care because the answer is that they should. I am already restricted in my ability to elect representatives for SAS being a Business School. There are several of us who have important opinions to bring to this body. Motion for an extension of debate: 1 for, 1 against, 2 minute speaking time each, by Hazem Mohamed, EGC Representative 1. Motion to vote by roll call by Viktor Krapivin a. Failed ( ) 2. Tied ( ), therefore Evan Covello got to break the tie: votes Yes 3. Passed 4. Hazem Mohamed, for a. The reason why I m supporting this bill is that we are the most passionate people on campus as students. We are more passionate than faculty, staff, and any worker. Our voices are much stronger and can be heard if we work together and unite. We all should stand together and work with all governing councils in order to achieve what we want as students, and that is progressive and real change that will impact and make it right to the Rutgers

3 community. I d like end this again by saying that we should all unite and help one another and never have that division. United we stand, divided we fall. I really hope that you vote yes for this bill. Thank you. 5. Jhanvi Virani, against a. I m concerned about how we are delivering this information and there are so many nuances and we should deliberate more on how we deliver the information. v. Motion for 4 speakers, 2 minute speaking time each by Nick Tharney, RBGA Representative 1. Failed ( ) vi. Motion to call to question 1. Passed ( ) 2. Motion to vote by roll call by Nick Tharney, RBGA Representative a. Passed ( ) 3. Record held by the Secretary and Internal Affairs Chair Ramsey Abdeljaber: Y Adeel Ahmed: Y Austin Altman: Y Akeen Anaele: Y Alexandra Anderson: Y Sara Bailey: A Tilak Bhatnagar: Y Kate Brandt: Y Vladimir Carrasco: Y Daniel Chulak: Y Michelle Glauberzon: N Patrick Grifone: Y Sachi Gulyani: Y Eddie Hayes: N Lucy Huang: Y

4 Eseosa Idumwonyi: P Nimra Jaqob: Y Abha Joshi: N Emily Kane: N Jeremy King: Y Evan Koslowski: Y Viktor Krapivin: Y Nicholas LaBelle: N Kammi Law: Y Harrison Lee: Y Suzanne Link: Y Shivum Mehta: Y Eleanor Meli: Y Hazem Mohamed: Y Scholastica Okoye: Y Damiola Onifade: Y Shaan Parikh: Y Ali Pasha: Y Meet Patel: Y Mohini Patel: Y Hinita Patel: Y Jaidev Phadke: Y Rita Portenti: Y Arsh Raince: Y Jessica Resnick: Y Juliette Rolffot: Y Ini Ross: Y Paveena Sachdeva: Y Samantha Salem: Y Julie Serrano: Y Shruty Shrestha: Y

5 Cass Sicherer: Y Wamia Siddiqui: Y Bryan Smith: N Nicholas Tharney: Y Neeharika Thuravil: Y Jessica Tuazon: Y Casey Veit: Y Jhanvi Virani: A Seth Wasserman: Y Amber Zaki: Y Jeff Zhang: Y Paul Ziessler: Y 4. Passed ( ) 7. Officer Report a. Ini Ross, Health and Wellness Chair i. I am trying to make a RUSA DM team, please let me know if you want to join. b. Shannon Chang, Treasurer i. Please follow the Allocations FB Page ii. Allocations Chair and Vice Chair Applications close tomorrow iii. Allocations Regular positions applications are open c. Viktor Krapivin, Elections Chair and Internal Affairs Chair i. Elections 1. Committee met this week and voted to define running for as starting at the elections period 2. Will provide a sample DOI so that first-come-first serve is more aware of what is on the DOI 3. Planning to have a public meeting towards the end of February ii. Internal Affairs 1. Please submit the absence form as opposed to contacting me in a different way 2. Will work to publicize the absence roll for this year

6 d. Dan Chulak, University Affairs Chair i. Had a dining hall meeting last friday ii. Finishing up healthy dining promotion iii. Addressed concerns about Hallal and Kosher diets: there are options for Hallal students, but not for Kosher since they can be served on campus at other locations iv. UA will be meeting after adjournment tonight e. Claudia Marconi, Chief of Staff i. You must sign up for Office hours and remember to sign in f. Rita Portenti, SVE Department Chair i. From February 12-16th, we will participating in a campaign to celebrate survivors 1. Please take the pledge which will be posted in the group or in person ii. Will be performing and filming the Break the Chain Dance g. Suzanne Link, Legislative Affairs Chair i. Federal level: Doing research on Prosper Act ii. State level: spoke with state relations about advocating for more financial aid programs for students iii. Local: please volunteer to take samples using our supplies, compiled best practices to take good samples h. Adeel Ahmed, Voter Registration and Civic Engagement Task Force Chair i. Working on report, will be meeting 2/23 i. Christie Schweighardt, Vice President i. WOYM was a survey done last year with very broad findings: there are a lot of individual answers which we are just starting to go through ii. You can be part of multiple committees, however you need to decide on your main committee iii. We want to have more tabling with themes for RUSA j. Calvin Ferrara, Public Relations Chair i. There was confusion with ordering the polos, they are coming in soon k. Julie Serrano, Senate Leader i. 2/16 is a Senate meeting, please reach out to myself or Viktor l. Sara Bailey, Alcohol and Other Drugs Subcommittee Chair

7 i. Lollanobooza will be tomorrow night (10p-1am) m. Evan Covello, President i. Moving forward with free menstrual hygiene products ii. Setting up meeting with RUPD to finalize off campus cameras initiative iii. Meeting with Pat Hobbs next Friday to work on Title IX Policy on Athletics iv. In the process of writing commencement speech, please give me any feedback n. Jessica Tuazon, Secretary i. Please me if you need a Workshop extension ii. If you are going to Lollanobooza, please wear your RUSA polo. If you don t have one, come find me after the meeting and I will give you one of the older ones. iii. Academic Affairs 1. Working on cheaper online software codes 2. Mental Health and Academic Policy 3. Learning Management Systems 4. Scholarship Project 5. Universal iclicker and loaning out clickers/other resources 8. Advisor Report a. Laura i. We get the best Allocations Board when we get the most applications so please encourage everyone to apply ii. If you are in a student organization please have elections by the middle of April so you have time to re-register and apply for your own funding for next year iii. Please take care of yourself iv. There are still tickets to see Once on this Island for Saturday 9. External Representatives Report a. Nick Tharney, RBGA i. In the process of designating a new University Senator ii. RBGA Allocations Committee is still accepting appeals and cosponsoring requests iii. RBS is holding a pageant and Akeen is hosting it for the benefit of charity iv. Looking to hold a town hall with Dean Markowitz

8 v. Emphasized the importance of the RUSA Constitutional Amendment which passed the Assembly as an important way to get students involved and promote positive relationships between the student governments at Rutgers - New Brunswick vi. Alluded to repeated comments made by a member at the dais that are harmful to the relationships between different student governments at Rutgers vii. After longer coordination than expected coordination between the Dean s Office and Student Involvement, RBGA s Assembly is scheduled to vote on Constitutional Amendments, which among other things, increase democratic influence within the RBS undergraduate student government. b. Hinita Patel, WCC i. This Monday, we will be taking a trip to the College Ave gym at 7:30pm for the #MeToo event c. Seth Wasserman, Off Campus Chair i. Thank you for spreading the infographic ii. Still accepting applications for appointment d. Arsh Raince, ASC i. Planning a trip to conference 10. Public Sector a. Christie Schweighardt i. My office hours are usually 1-3 PM on Wednesdays and 1-3 PM on Fridays b. Nick Tharney i. Brief report on the status of the IA Subcommittee on Allocations Transparency and urged anyone interested to reach out c. Adeel Ahmed i. Comments on this evening s town hall ii. Every student matters iii. The student affairs budget doesn t impact the unrestricted reserve iv. There will be legislation next week to support a $15 minimum wage v. There s a scavenger hunt in the RUSA office d. Damilola Onifade

9 i. Next week will be spirit week from Scarlet Council, all events have free shirts ii. Blood Drive Monday iii. Notecard Station Tuesday iv. Food Drive Wednesday v. Cookie Giveaway Thursday vi. Pop-up Parade Friday e. Paul Ziessler and Jaidev Phadke i. Asking for police presence after 9pm for the train station through phone call ii. There s not really a police presence off campus unless they re busting parties iii. Going to start going out to New Brunswick City Council Meetings every month f. Jeff Zhang i. Please be specific on IA Absence form so we don t need to spend so much time debating g. Dan Chulak i. Meal Swipes for Charity applications open tonight at midnight and close February 23rd, Top 3 will be announced February 26th, presentations will be March 1st ii. Bonnie Watson Coleman will be having a rally on Cook Campus soon h. Eddie Hayes i. School Pride is very important and here is a quote from a Mark Conference Ignite Speaker in 2017: ii. All battles, all pain is valid i. Nick LaBelle i. This meeting was very dynamic and I enjoyed the debate ii. I will be attending open office hours for McGinty, please join me iii. Mr. McDonald, Director of Endowment Funds, is willing to speak and you can file for to not fund certain things iv. There s supposed to be a Student Fee Advisory Committee chosen by February 15th v. My friend is looking for female roommate for Newells Apartments j. Aril NJPIRG i. Was at higher education sustainability summit yesterday

10 ii. SGC passed resolution to support 100% renewable campaign iii. Just launched webpage for 100% campaign: go100renewable.com k. Viktor Krapivin i. On the topic of Student Fee Advisory Committee: if we want to raise the student fee, that s what that group is for; doesn t think it s something we need to form now ii. Please try to include more detail in absence forms iii. Please try not to express opinions as beliefs of other committees without the committee formally voting on an opinion iv. The town hall answers seemed very disrespectful to me l. Neeharika Thuravil i. I am the Co-President of RU Progressive ii. We will be holding non-partisan civic engagement workshops every alternate Tuesday s iii. I will be biking from New Brunswick to Orlando with DREAM Group to fundraise for at-risk children in New Brunswick, please reach out about helping or contributing iv. Please don t freeze in the cold this weekend m. Scholastica Okoye i. Off campus caucus recently launched initiative to let students know about resources available to them, please share ii. I am working with UA to fix the bus system, please propose solutions so that we can start implementing them iii. Rutgers Cinema is offering free flowers with movie tickets on Valentine s Day n. Nick Tharney i. I think we should look further into monetary transparency with the administration and we can start within RUSA with Allocations ii. We need to think about how money moves within our University iii. Agreed with Viktor in that student fees is an important issue but that we do not necessarily have enough information currently to act on it o. Jaidev Phadke

11 i. I think it s important to be polite to our administrators, but they should also be respectful to us p. Christie Schweighardt i. STEAM Women s Empowerment Conference is looking for ambassadors, please look for on facebook or #stemherstory q. Evan Covello i. With the change to the Allocations Guidelines to have 2 members of most orgs have Bystander Intervention training going into effect in the fall and will impact next spring s funding, we will be spreading publicity on this topic and organizing more trainings r. Jessica Tuazon i. Mark Conference tickets are currently on sale for $25 and they are anticipated to sell out ii. Eweek will be 2/19-2/23 1. Monday: Spirit Day and Outstanding Scholars Day 2. Tuesday: Conversation with Dev Ittycheria (CEO and ECE RU alum) (9a-12p) 3. Wednesday: Young Engineer s Day 4. Thursday: Bring Your Teacher to School Day and Cardboard Canoe Race 11. Adjournment "Public notice of this meeting has been given to all undergraduate students requesting such notice. Please speak to the Secretary of the Assembly after this meeting to learn more about how you can join the list to receive a 24 hour meeting notice and a copy of the Agenda."

12 RUSA Bill: S18-3 Authors: Viktor Krapivin Sponsor: Internal Affairs Committee A Bill to Pose a Referendum Question to Expand RUSA Election Eligibility Whereas, the Rutgers University Student Assembly (RUSA) has historically had a diverse membership, Whereas, it is desirable for students with multiple different views to participate in the work of the Assembly, Whereas, a recent ruling of the Parliamentarian has shed light that the RUSA Constitution restricts certain classes of students, particularly those in governing councils, from serving as external RUSA representatives, Be it hereby resolved, by two-thirds of the Rutgers University Student Assembly, 1. The Assembly approves of placing the following question before the undergraduate students of Rutgers University: Should the Rutgers University Student Assembly (RUSA) Constitution be amended to allow candidates to stand for and serve in multiple student government associations at Rutgers University? 2. Two options should be placed on the ballot: YES and NO. 3. The following explanatory text shall be placed on each ballot, along with a link to the text of the proposed amendment, the current constitution, and the constitution-if-amended: RUSA is composed of representatives directly elected to RUSA and representatives from the professional school governing councils, special population representatives, and cultural umbrella organizations. The RUSA constitution prohibits students from running for or being elected as a representative directly elected to RUSA if the student also serves on a governing council or another body. Adoption of this amendment will allow for more diverse RUSA membership by allowing actively engaged students to run for and be elected to both RUSA and other elected bodies. This amendment will also indicate that SAS Senators will be elected by SAS students.

13 Furthermore this amendment will clarify that only students from each respective campus can vote for the representatives from that campus. 4. If the majority of those voting vote YES and at least 10% of students vote, then the RUSA Constitution, section 4.01 is amended by replacing No member may concurrently run for or hold an elected office on more than one body. Students may only vote in elections respective of their school and campus. with No member of the Assembly may serve in more than one externally elected position on the Assembly. No member of the Assembly may serve in more than one voting position in the Assembly. A member of the Assembly accepting appointment to a voting position in the Assembly shall immediately cause the member to vacate that member s previous position. Only students enrolled in the School of Arts and Sciences may vote for Senators representing the School of Arts and Sciences. Only students enrolled in the School of Arts and Sciences who reside on a particular campus may vote for the Senator representing the School of Arts and Sciences for that campus. Only students enrolled in the School of Arts and Sciences who do not live on campus, may vote for the Off Campus Senator representing the School of Arts and Sciences. Only students who are of a specific class year may vote for RUSA Representatives for that specific class year. Only students who reside on a particular campus may vote for RUSA Representatives for that campus. Only students who do not live on campus may vote for Off Campus Representatives. 5. Otherwise, no action shall be taken. Be it further resolved, by two-thirds vote of the Assembly, this referendum question shall be asked as part of the Spring 2018 RUSA Election ballot.