Dearest Beloved Constituents,

I hope the end of the semester finds you in good spirits, well-prepared for finals.  As the semester draws to a close, I hope you take advantage of the beautiful weather and the beautifully-blooming campus.  As usual, I’ve taken great pleasure in serving you over the past month.

Prior to the first meeting in April, I was quite busy.  Along with my distinguished colleague, Senator Geckle, I worked on two resolutions.  The first one, in response to repeated state-level budget cuts, condemns the state budget cuts to Stony Brook, resolving that New York State must stop slashing Stony Brook University’s budget, properly fund our institution of higher learning, and reminds legislators that students, as voters, have the ability to vote against those who do not believe in funding the education of the next generation.  The second resolution, in response to the Administration’s decision to close down the campus at Southampton, condemns that action and the rapidity at which this decision was made.  It resolves that Southampton is important to the University community, that the state needs to adequately fund Stony Brook (and thus not force the University as a whole to absorb $34 million in cuts this year alone), and that the decision to curtail operations at Southampton must be rescinded.

For those of you who are wondering what these resolutions do practically, unfortunately, our resolutions are non-binding expressions of the will of the undergraduate student body, but they still make great press releases, and hopefully garner attention so that our opinions are taken into consideration.  One of the first duties assigned to the Undergraduate Student Government is to “provide leadership that will ensure the undergraduate student voice will be a powerful force in all decisions made at Stony Brook.”  One of the duties assigned specifically to the Senate is to write and pass resolutions “on issues of importance to the undergraduate student body in regards to academic policy, student rights, and student welfare” these two resolutions were just publicizing the feelings of the student body.

Additionally at the first meeting in April, the Senate was faced with tough decisions.  The 2010 Employment Act outlines the various offices in the Executive branch, the number of hours per Office per week, and made hiring and termination of employees much more streamlined.  The 2010 Due Compensation Act was intended to adjust payroll and clearly outline how much each official/employee was to be paid.  Of utmost importance at that meeting, the Senate voted unanimously to extend the deadline on the 2010-2011 Undergraduate Student Government Budget.  The Treasury was given until April 30^th to come back with a new, revised budget that took into account the displaced Stony Brook Southampton students.

The second meeting in April proved to be quite interesting and very informative.  After viewing a presentation by Dr. DiMonda on the Campus Recreation Center, the Senate took up the 2010 Establishment of Student Life Act.  After reviewing the bill at least twice before in committee, I was happy to see that all of the Legislative Review Committee’s hard work was fruitful.  Overall, I thought the bill was well put together, yet it still needed to be amended on the floor, just to insert a few clarifying lines.  Personally, I didn’t believe debate should have been cut off, but by allowing the Senate to vote via secret ballot, people were able to vote with their consciences.  In the end, the bill passed 16-4-0.  The final thing on our agenda that evening was Senator Geckle’s brainchild, the Senate Resolution Decrying the Scheduling of Classes during Campus Lifetime.  I motioned to approve it, as the nearly 20-year old tradition of Campus Lifetime is being encroached upon by classes that do not necessarily have to be scheduled during what should be the campus-wide break.

Prior to the final meeting in April, I was appointed to an ad-hoc committee to vet President Wilson’s nominee for one of the openings on the USG Supreme Court.  His confirmation passed by a vote of 14-2.  Also at this meeting, we voted again to extend the budget deadline to give Treasurer Khan and the Budget Committee time to meet with the clubs from Southampton and transition them onto the budget this weekend.  The Office of the Executive Vice President Act clarified the duties of the Office, and restated the constitutional duties of the Executive Vice President.   The final act on our agenda dealt with the issue of Southampton.  I believed it was defeatist to remove the structure governing Southampton now, when the buildings are being maintained.  The campus and its academic programs could reopen in the future, when there is a more positive economic outlook, in which case, the USG Code will need to be amended again.

As always, I’ve enjoyed serving you immensely.  Best of luck on finals!  Enjoy summer!

Warmest Regards,

Deborah Machalow

USG Senator

Dear Vice President Kriscenski:

This month as a Senator has been stressful, as usual. In fact, I would say it was the most stressful. As usual, I was bombarded with numerous exams, quizzes and assignments. But this month I had more than any. But I am glad that Spring Break came along. I had a lot of fun and I got plenty of rest. I am glad to be back in school and ready to study hard again!

I attended all of my Senate meetings, completed all of my office hours, all of my Budget Committee meetings, and also my Ad-hoc committee meetings. In terms of the Senate meetings, there were many things being discussed such as new legislation, and PHEEIA. The members of my Ad-hoc committee also discussed PHEEIA. We came up with a survey and presented a final report. In terms of the Budget Committee, I have been working closely with my committee on the Deliberations and we presented the Budget to the Senate floor.

I also helped out with Leadership Day, which was run by Ashley Reiji. Ashley really worked very hard on making Leadership Day a success. I would like to commend her for her hard work and dedication. She is really wonderful!

Last month was unimaginably hectic. I am so glad it’s over. Now is the month of April and we are approaching the end of the semester. I will work and study extra hard so I can ace my finals and get A’s in my classes (except Bio Lab. I am definitely not getting an A in that class!) I wish everyone best of luck on their academics as well. Study hard because it will pay off in the end! I look forward to the month of April and I look forward to the future. I don’t know whether or not I will succeed in all of my plans, but I will always try my best. As I look at the smiling faces at Stony Brook, I realize how truly wonderful our school really is. Especially in the Springtime, where is whether is so nice and there’s a really beautiful scenery outside! I am Senator Fan and I am proud to be a part of USG!

Sincerely,

Senator Fan

Dearest Beloved Constituents,

I hope your week leading up to Spring Break hasn’t been too terribly difficult.  I would first and foremost like to thank you for reelecting me to serve you faithfully for another year.  I look forward to the continued opportunity to represent you in the Undergraduate Student Government Senate.  As usual, I’d like to take this opportunity to report back to you on how I’ve served you over the past month.

The March 2^nd meeting began with the old business that had carried over from the last meeting in February.  The 2010 Checks and Balances Act, the handiwork of my distinguished colleague Alex Dimitriyadi, ensures that presidential appointees are qualified, that there is a distinct separation of the different branches of government, and thus prevents an official from serving in two separate branches of the government.  I voted to allocate money to the Juggling Club, the Photography Club, and the SB Independent, my rationale for voting such has not changed since my last report.  I agreed with Senator Cushing that CIAO should receive the full $1500 so that its members could go to both Ellis Island and to see Tina and Tony’s Wedding.  Additionally, I presented the preliminary report for my ad-hoc committee.  We had spent a week reading through PHEEIA and deciphering it, so that the undergraduate student body would understand what it was about.  Later that evening, the Rules Committee took a stab at the Special Services Council Bylaws; big picture discussions were held, and the entire revisions were postponed.  The reason these bylaws are being reformed is to make it easier for new clubs to get funding.

The meeting of March 9^th was pleasantly short, sweet and to the point.  We allocated money to a few clubs; both in the form of budget and in the form of grant.  It was a very interesting meeting to see how people acted, as a political coup, which I’m sure you’re now all aware of, was underfoot.  Later that week, the Law Revision Council met for the first time.  All members received their assignments of recently-enacted laws that needed to be incorporated into the Code.

The next week proved to be quite entertaining.  On Sunday, March 14, 2010 the Ad-hoc Committee to Examine Potential Tuition Changes decided that Microsoft SharePoint was too much of a hassle, and that we were going to take advantage of Google Documents’ Survey Forms.  My Vice-Chair, Senator Craig McCarthy, was good enough to begin advertising our survey on Facebook and got the survey onto the Student Life Listserv.  I was named to the Commission on Constitutional Reform.  Prior to the Senate meeting on Tuesday, the Legislative Review Committee edited and approved the 2010 Establishment of Identity and the 2010 Clarity of Legislation Acts.  These two acts, which both were approved by the Senate, create a standardized and unified image for the USG so that it can better serve the students (through recognition) and required the legislation amending prior Acts had the to-be-amended Act attached, so that the Senate would clearly know what it was potentially changing, respectively.  My esteemed colleague, from the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Senator Cushing’s resolution, jokingly referred to as “The Puddle Resolution” came up for a vote and was passed unanimously, hopefully there will be no more electronics drowned by the gigantic puddle behind the Engineering Quad.

The final week before Spring Break started off with a bang.  After my ad-hoc committee’s survey closed at 11:55pm on Saturday March 20^th, I drafted the final report, detailing the students’ responses.  On Sunday, the Committee went through said draft and finalized it.  It, in addition to some very pretty graphs and charts (which were created with much assistance from Senator McCarthy) were submitted and presented to the Senate on Tuesday.  Additionally, the USG Budget came up for a vote this past Tuesday.  It passed unanimously, after all the work and incredible hours clocked by the Budget Committee and Treasurer Khan.  Treasurer Khan took the liberty of drafting, and Senator Cushing the liberty of presenting, a resolution condemning the lack of internet on Tabler Quad last weekend, which thankfully passed unanimously, as we all acknowledge how difficult it is to go an entire weekend without access to the internet.  After the Senate meeting adjourned, the Rules Committee began looking over the Elections Board Bylaws, and discussing possible changes of such to improve the elections’ process for years to come.  The first meeting of the Commission on Constitutional Reform occurred this past Wednesday, and curiously enough, I was unanimously elected Vice-Chair.

I believe that covers my actions throughout the month of March.  I hope you all enjoy your vacations and that you come back ready to finish the semester off wonderfully!

Warmest Regards,

Deborah Machalow

USG Senator

Re: Anonymous Letters and Comments

I am excited to see so many of you taking interest in matters of the Undergraduate Student Government this year. As many of you know, part of my responsibility is to listen to and address your concerns. Although we are always happy to hear from you and respond, we have been receiving anonymous letters that we can’t respond to. This puts us in a very difficult position, because even if you have a valid concern, we have no way of talking with you about it. As a result, it looks as if we are ignoring your concerns.

Your input is very important to us, and by submitting anonymous letters, we are frustrated that we can’t address your concerns directly. This office is open every weekday 8:30-4:30, SAC Suite 202. We always have a receptionist at the front desk, and there is almost always an elected official here that would be happy to talk to you. We aren’t easily angered or surprised, so you should feel comfortable talking with us. We are regular students who often share the same concerns as you.

Furthermore, according to the United States Postal Service, anonymous letters can be dangerous. As you know, there was an anthrax scare several years ago, and that threat still exists. As such, the USPS advises against opening letters without return addresses, because it may be an indication of a suspicious package. To read more about this policy, visit http://www.usps.com/news/2001/press/pr01_1010tips.htm

As such, the Office of the President will no longer entertain anonymous letters or comments. We sincerely urge you to come to the office and speak with any of us personally. We will do everything we can to protect your identity. If you still do not feel comfortable talking to one of us, seek help from the University Ombuds office in the library at the bottom of the stairs next to the Zebra Path. They can address almost any issue at the University while protecting your identity. Our safety and your safety must be the first priority, and then we can begin to address the important issues that you bring to our attention. We simply cannot address an issue that is brought to us anonymously.

I hope we can move forward in a more open and productive manner. Enjoy your winter break.

Sincerely,

Jasper Wilson

President, Undergraduate Student Government

Download in PDF format on letterhead

Even if I can’t sell you on why you should vote, I do have a bit of good news. It’s easier than ever to vote and to spread the word. Just go to http://sbusg.org/vote which will direct you right to the Elections on SOLAR after you login. Tell your friends to check it out too; easy to remember, just http://sbusg.org/vote.

All of the candidates have carefully crafted a purpose statement for you on SOLAR so that you can become familiar with each of the candidates before you vote, if you haven’t already met them during the campaign. If you want to meet all of them, join us in a public debate this Thursday night after the senate meeting in SAC 311 at 9:30pm.
USG Fall Elections Info Packet

Update: The voting deadline has been extended to Thursday 10/29 at 10am due to technical difficulties we had with SOLAR. Please start voting now, http://sbusg.org/vote

Share the Link on Facebook

I understand that some of you thought your other e-board members should see my presentation, and others wanted to see it again. I’m posting it here as promised for that purpose. We are thinking about holding a smaller presentation for those who missed it, so I will keep you updated on that if it happens.

Download My Presentation (which was too fancy for PowerPoint)
All Operating Systems:
Club Marketing.mov (manually operated Quicktime slideshow, Windows or Mac)
Club Marketing.pdf (compact version, animations removed, Windows, Mac, Linux, Other)
Mac Keynote Presentation:
Club Marketing.key (for Mac only)

Finally, all the contact info that you wanted but missed:

• David Mazza, VP of Communications and Public Relations (me)
  • Email dmazza [@stonybrookusg.org]
  • Visit SAC 208, usually at lunch time (12:50-2:20)
  • Call (631-63)2-6808

• John Kriscenski, Executive VP (talked about minutes and attendance)
  • Email jkriscenski [@stonybrookusg.org]
  • Visit SAC 208
  • Call (631-63)2-6473

• Matthew Anderson, Treasurer (talked about budget stuff)
  • Email manderson [@stonybrookusg.org]
  • Visit SAC 206
  • Call (631-63)2-6382

• Jennifer Chan, Junior Class Representative (talked about Bureaus)
  • Email jchan [@stonybrookusg.org]
  • Visit SAC 209

• Ashley Reji, VP of Clubs and Organizations (organized the whole thing)
  • Email areji [@stonybrookusg.org]
  • Visit SAC 209
  • Call (631-63)2-3297

  For more contact information, please visit USG in SAC Suite 202 or Student Activities in SAC 218

If you have a conflict that Saturday, send one of the other 3 members on your e-board.
If all four of you have a conflict, you must contact Ashley Reji directly as soon as possible in order to accommodate your club.

RSVPing is a 3-Step process.

Step 1

Have you signed up for SBUlife.com yet?
Sign up for SBUlife with your Facebook account or Stony Brook email account. You will need to use it at the conference.

Step 2

Have you found the Club Leadership Conference event?
Find it and click “Will Attend.” You can click “leave event” later if you will be sending someone else in your place. Make sure they click “will attend” first.

Step 3

RSVP Form

Thank you for opening a new line of communication with us, we greatly appreciate everything that you do.

Please email areji [@stonybrookusg.org] with any questions.

Update: Last night the senate confirmed the following chairs:
Events Management
Audio Visual
Elections Board
2 Justices

SAB Chair confirmation has been postponed until next week and is still open.
The minutes for last night’s senate meeting will be posted next week.