Stony Brook University Undergraduate Student Government Senate

Regular Meeting

Thurday, March 5, 2009

Meeting called to order at 7:14 PM, Executive VP Geeta Malieckal presiding

1.0 Attendance

A quorum is present. (20 members present)

2.0 Minutes from 2/26/09

Motion made by Sen. Benelyahoo to approve the minutes.  Seconded.  No debate.  A vote was taken by voice.  Motion #1 failed.  Motion made made by Sen. Benelyahoo made a motion to approve the minutes with 2 corrections 1) Change date at heading from 2/19/09à 2/26/09  2) Assistant to President name spelled incorrectly.  Jean-Lovis à Jean-Louis.  Seconded.  Vote taken by voice.  Motion #2 Carried.  Minutes approved with corrections.

3.0 Grant Approvals

Treasurer Vanessa Cheris presented a spreadsheet with proposed budget grants requests.  Some discussion held.  Sen. Forbes made a motion to approve the grant requests. Seconded.  After brief discussion a vote was taken.  Motion #3 carried 19-0-1

4.0 Amendments to Southampton Organic act

Sen. Kent presented the act to the senate.  Discussion was held.   Several corrections were made.  Section 1: meeting à meetings

Section 2B: failure to have a 2.5 à failure to have at least a 2.5 GPA

Sen. Graber made a motion regarding Sec. 4d.  No second.

Sen. Kriscenski made a motion to approve with amendments.  Seconded.  After no debate a vote was taken.  Motion #4 carried 18-1-1.   Amendments to Southampton Organic Act passed.

Sen. Kent made a motion to amend the agenda to include USG Marketing Act.  A vote was taken by voice.  Motion #5 carried.

4.5 USG Marketing Act.

Sen. Kent presented the USG Marketing act.  A lengthy discussion was held.  Sen. Anderson made a motion to amend Sec. 3A from “responsible for distributing flyers” à “responsible for distributing USG flyers”.  Seconded.  A debate/discussion was held.  A vote was taken.  Motion #6 carried 18-0-2.

Sen. Brady made a motion to amend Section 4: 4c: add “Out of their own budgets”.  Add 4d: “The flyers for clubs and orgs. Shall be designed by the VP of communications but distributed on their own effort.  Seconded.  A debate was held and a vote was taken by voice.  Motion #7 failed.

Sen. Anderson made a motion amend Section 4c: add “out of the club’s and budget. The money will go to the USC budget or Senate emergency fund, if established.”.  Add Section 4d: The fliers for clubs and organizations shall be designed by the VP of Communications but distributed on the club or organization’s own effort, as well as approval.

Sen. Brady departed at 7:52.  Sen. Brady returned at 7:54. Sen. Benelyahoo departed at 7:54. After lengthy debate, a vote was taken.  Motion #8 carried 16-3-0

5.0 Announcements

Send office hours to VP of communications

SSC Chair report

6.0 Open Agenda

Sen. Forbes: expressed concern over motions being seconded or voted on too quickly.  He asked senators to be more patient.

Sen. Potenza: requested that Parliamentary procedure presentation to be re-sent out.

Sen. Schultz: advised senate of rally tomorrow.  Flyers were distributed.

Sen. Regis:  Sen. Brady and Sen. Regis met Gov. Patterson last week and expressed dissatisfaction with amount of tuition increase that is going back to school (10%)

Sen. Brady: Requested show-of-hands vote to poll support for re-negotiation with NYPIRG.  Sen. Anderson made a motion for formal vote of approval for budget committee to negotiate a contract with NYPIRG.  Seconded. A vote was taken.  Motion #9 approved 16-1-2

Andy from NYPIRG: reported on lobbying efforts in Albany.

Executive VP: All members reminded to attend committee meetings unless otherwise excused

Email Executive VP if interested in joining Constitutional Revision Committee.

The meeting was adjourned by Executive VP Malieckal at  8:15.