Stony Brook University Undergraduate Student Government Senate

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Meeting called to order at 7:10 PM in SAC Ballroom B, Executive VP John Kriscenski presiding.

1.0 Attendance: See above

2.0 Announcements

-Item 8.0 will be moved to Item 4.5.

-Item 9.0 is a grant proposal.

-Senate reports are due next week.

3.0 Approval of the Minutes from 2/16/2010

-Several grammatical corrections were proposed by various senators, seconded and passed without objection.  They included the following: 1) The location of the meeting was SAC Ballroom B, not the Student Union.  2) Item 6.0 “Allocate” was changed to ‘ALLOCATE.’  3) Number of absent senators changed from 6 to 4.  4) Item 2.0 ‘was’ was changed to ‘were each.’  5) Item 7.0 Inserted ‘and Financial Informatics Act.’  Sen. Benalyahoo made a motion to approve the minutes as amended.  Seconded and approved without objection.

4.0 Guest Speaker: Provost Kaler

The provost made a 25 minute powerpoint presentation on PHEEIA, the university budget, tuition, and other challenges Stony Brook faces in the future to remain a leader among public institutions.  The Provost then took questions from the Senate.  A round of applause was given to the Provost.

4.5 Confirmation of President’s Assistant:

-Matthew Graham: President Wilson introduced the candidate to the Senate.  Mr. Graham spoke to the Senate.  Sen. Fan made a motion to approve Mr. Graham.  Seconded.  After a lengthy debate, Sen. Ahmad called the question (passed, 17-0-1).  A vote was taken and Mr. Graham was confirmed (16-1-1).

5.0 Special Services Council Allocations: Presented by Katie Schultz

-Cycling Club: $150 for toolbox and first aid kit (original request was for $1000):  Sen. Harounian made a motion to approve the allocation. Seconded.  A debate was held.    Sen. Benelyahoo made a motion to amend to the motion to increase the amount to $200.  Seconded.  Additional debate was held.  A vote was taken and the motion to amend the allocation carried (17-1-0).  A vote was taken on the amended motion and the motion carried (17-1-0).

-Pre-Law Club mock trial: Request for $795.58:  A discussion was held. Sen. Bose made a motion to approve the allocation.  Seconded.  After brief additional debate a vote was taken and the motion carried (13-3-2).

-Society for Physics Students: $560 (original request for $750):  A discussion was held.  Sen. Benelyahoo made a motion to postpone consideration in order to get a breakdown of the costs.  Seconded.  A vote was taken and the allocation was postponed (13-4-1).

6.0 Special Services Recommendations for Line Item Budget Status:

Ms. Schultz presented the following groups for Line Item Budget Status:

-Alternative Spring Break Outreach:  Discussion was held.  Sen. Cushing made a motion to approve the group for Line Item Budget Status.  Seconded.  After no debate a vote was taken and the motion carried (15-2-1).

-Habitat for Humanity:  A discussion was held.  Some pictures of houses that have been built by Habitat were distributed.   Sen. Cushner made a motion to approve the group for Line Item Budget Status.  Seconded.  A debate was held.    Sen. Khan called the question (passed, 17-1-0).  A vote was taken and the motion carried unanimously (18-0-0).

7.0 Guest Speaker: SUNY Assembly Associate Director of Governmental Relations

-Kyle Hill, from SUNY Oneonta: He spoke about SUNY Palooza, Wednesday, March 24, 2010 in Albany to protest tuition increases and cuts to TAP and encouraged the Senate to support this event.  There will be lobbying of politicians.  The date is based on the budget deadline.  He also talked about ‘Spark SUNY,’ a program highlighted SUNY’s role in ‘sparking’ the economy.  Letters to professors to be excused from class for the day are available.  A discussion was held.  A round of applause was given to Mr. Hill

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Sen. Cushing made a motion to suspend the rules temporarily to allow are revision of the agenda to accommodate time constraints.  A debate was held.  Sen. Benelyahoo called the question (passed 17-1-0).  A vote was taken to suspend the rules for the purpose of revising the agenda.  Motion carried 16-2-0; rules suspended. Sen. Benelyahoo left the meeting at 8:39 pm. Sen. Graber made a motion to move Items 14.0 to 8.1, 12.0 to 8.3, and 13.0 to 8.5.  Seconded.  Sen. Graber made a motion to amend his motion to be 9.1, 9.2, 9.5 instead of 8.1, 8.2, 8.5.  Seconded and approved without objection.  Sen. Graber called the question (passed, 16-0-1).  A vote was taken on the restructuring of the agenda and it passed unanimously (17-0-0).  Sen. Benelyahoo returned at 8:46 pm.

8.0 Moved to item 4.5

9.0 Appropriations Act 15:  Stony Brook Press for $4000.

-Treasurer Khan presented the act.  Sen. Cushner made a motion to approve.       Seconded.  After no debate a vote was taken and the Act carried (17-0-1)

9.1 Confirmation of Election Board Members, nominated by PPT Haq

-Alex Alverez: Sen. Benelyahoo made a motion to approve the candidate.  Seconded.  After no debate a vote was taken and Mr. Alverez was approved unanimously (18-0-0).

-Shireen Jayman (not present): Sen. Benelyahoo made a motion to approve the candidate.  Seconded.  After no debate a vote was taken and Ms. Jayman was approved (16-0-2).

9.2 Commission on Constitutional Reform Act

-Sen. Dimitriyadi presented the act.  Discussion was held.  Sen. Machalow made a motion to approve the act.  Seconded.  Debate was held.  Sen. Graber made a motion to amend Sec. 6.0 by inserting ‘and Executive Vice President’ after PPT.   Seconded.  After brief debate, a vote was taken and the motion carried (17-0-1).  A vote on the original motion was taken and it carried (16-0-2).

9.5 2010 Checks and Balances Act

-Sen. Dimitriyadi presented the act to the Senate.  Sen. Machalow made a motion to strike Sec. 3 and renumber the remaining sections.  Seconded and passed unanimously (18-0-0).Sen. Graber made a motion to insert “by joint appointment of the Executive Vice President and President Pro Tempore” in Section 5, after the word “establish”.  Seconded.

Executive VP Kriscenski adjourned the meeting at 9:02 pm since our room reservation expired at 9pm.  All unfinished business/remaining agenda items were postponed to the next meeting.