Stony Brook University – Undergraduate Student Government – Senate

Regular Meeting – Thursday, November 13, 2008

Meeting called to order at 7:16 p.m. Executive Vice-President Geeta Malieckal presiding.

1.0 Attendance

Members present:

Senator Matthew Anderson

Senator Sungyong Bae

Senator Aharon Benelyahoo

Senator Aneta Bose

Senator Ebbie Boutehsaz

Senator Kevin Brady

Senator Shahzad Chaudry

Senator Shamell Forbes

Senator Daniel Graber

Senator Adam Kent

Senator John Kriscenski

Senator Dae Young Lee

Senator Kirin Mahmud

Senator Sean Moore

Senator Lauren Potenza

Senator Ashley Reji

Senator Kathleen Schultz

Senator Blake Wind – arrived late, at 7:18 p.m.

Senator Jonathan Harounian

Members absent:

Senator Steven Hauptman – unexcused

Senator Adal Regis – excused

2.0 Minutes 10.30.08 –

Senator Mahmud moved to amend the minutes to add Senator Kirin Mahmud to the attendance. Seconded. Motion #1 carried unanimously.

Senator Forbes moved to approve the minutes. Motion #2 carried unanimously.

3.0 Minutes 11.06.08

Senator Benelyahoo moved to amend the spelling of his name, to remove Senator Forbes from “Members Present”, amending the spelling of Senator Chaudry’s name and adding Senator Mahmud to members present.  Seconded.  Motion # 3 carried unanimously.

Senator Kriscenski moved to approve the minutes with the amendment of the spelling of Schultz’s name and adding her to the members present. Motion #4 carried unanimously.

4.0 Announcements

The Chair discussed the upcoming budget cuts and USG-sponsored protests.

5.0 Senate Bylaw Amendment

Senator Anderson, Chair of the Rules Committee presented this amendment. Senators spoke in favor of this amendment.

Senator Kent moved to approve the amendment. Seconded. 18-0-1. Motion #5 carried.

6.0 Senate Visibility Act

Senator Kent, Chair of the Legislative Review Committee presented this act.

Senator Boutehsaz moved to approve the act. Seconded. 18-0-1. Motion #6 carried.

7.0 Executive Council Reporting Act Amendment.

Senator Kent, Chair of the Legislative Review Committee presented this act.

Senator Harounian moved to approve the amendment. Seconded. 18-0-1. Motion #7 carried.

8.0 Amendment to the Executive Council Visibility Act

Senator Kent, Chair of the Legislative Review Committee presented this act.

The Senators and the Chair of the Legislative Review Committee discussed the amendment.

Senator Benelyahoo moved to approve the amendment with the amendment adding “3 hour block” where it reads “3 block”. Seconded.  18-0-1. Motion #8 carried.

9.0  Amendment to the Office Hours Act

Senator Kent, Chair of the Legislative Review Committee, presented this amendment.

Senator Forbes moved to approve the amendment. Seconded. 17-0-2. Motion #9 carried.

10.0          Payroll Act 4

Senator Kent, Chair of the Legislative Review Committee, presented this act.

The President questioned the Chair of the Legislative Review Committee about the act.

The Senators also discussed the act with the Chair of the Legislative Review Committee.

Senator Anderson moved to amend section 4, part 1a to strike the word “of” and add “by”.  Seconded. Motion #10 carried.

The Senators continued to discuss the amended Payroll Act 4.

Senator Brady moved to amend the act to remove section 4, part 1b. Seconded.  12-6-1. Motion #11 carried.

The Senators continued to discuss the amended Payroll Act 4.

Senator Kriscenski moved to approve the Payroll Act 4. Seconded. 15-1-3. Motion #12 carried.

11.0          Executive Branch Agencies Reporting Act

Senator Kent, Chair of the Legislative Review Committee, presented this act.

President Akita spoke about the bill and the Senate discussed the act with him and the Chair of the Legislative Review Committee.

Senator Moore moved to approve the act. Seconded. 18-0-1. Motion  #13 carried unanimously.

12.0          Open Agenda

President Akita spoke about his happiness with the quality of work being displayed from the Senate as well as the impending State budget cuts.

The Senators discussed the importance of co-sponsorship among student groups.

Andrew from NYPIRG spoke about the USG-planned rally, the NYPIRG book exchange, and the Ultimate College Bowl (a competition within which Stony Brook was #9 from all over the country).

Charlene from the Social Justice Alliance spoke about her group’s USG budgetary issues and asked how to go about appealing the Budget Committee’s recent decision regarding the Social Justice Alliance’s budget.  The Senators discussed the Fall Revision Budget Process with her.

Meeting adjourned at 8:44  p.m.