STUDENT SENATE MINUTES
February 14, 1995
The meeting was called to order by Senate President Kevin Mayeux at 7:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Roll call was taken by A&E Chairman Shelton Bridges. Quorum was established with 59 senators present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Michael Cotzen led the Senate in the pledge of allegiance.
AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA:
President Mayeux asked that it be moved to have President's report before public debate. This was seconded and approved. The agenda was approved as amended.
AMENDMENTS TO THE MINUTES:
None
PRESIDENT'S REPORT:
President Mayeux announced that tonight's meeting is dedicated to Jason Cherner, a University of Florida Law student who passed away on Thursday due to heart failure. Mr. Cherner had been very active in student organization. One minute of silence was observed in the chambers in honor of Mr. Cherner. A copy of tonight's agenda and minutes will be forwarded to Mr. Cherner's family.
President Mayeux continued by announcing that Senate Parliamentarian Brian Lazzaro has resigned. His replacement is Matt Rubel. The Florida House Committee on Higher Education met on Tuesday with several students to discuss student issues and concerns. The feeling amongst the committee was that there will be no tuition increases for next year. They also are not in favor of raising requirements from 12 to 15 hours as a base for financial aid. The Chair of this committee is a former UF Student Senate President. Jay Rhoden, SG Lobby Director, will be announcing a revised SG legislative agenda, and will be making several trips to Tallahassee. Anyone interested in assisting him is encouraged to contact him. President Tompkins had asked President Mayeux to announce that Todd Hinkson has been appointed as Director of the Community Affairs Cabinet to replace Meredith Brown who has graduated. This appointment was approved.
President Mayeux left at this time to attend the memorial service for Jason Cherner. Pro Tempore Stadlen presided in his absence.
PUBLIC DEBATE:
Senator Cosenza spoke on Senator Kirkpatrick's proposal to have students graduate in four years. He felt that graduating must take its course for each person. He encouraged everyone to have their parents write their senators on this issue. He also congratulated Senator Grapski on the success of the SOS Speakout.
Former Senator Ejimofor wished the ladies a "Happy Valentines" and announced the upcoming events for Afrikana History. There will be speakers on February 15 and 16, and an appreciation picnic for staff on February 17. On February 18 there will be a show at the Bandshell with Notorious Big and Zhane', the Invitational Stepshow at the O'Connell Center, and a production of Macbeth by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain at the Performing Arts Center. Updated calendars are available in the BSU office. He had pictures that had been made of Senate during the Summer.
Dave Hardy announced he will be running for Senate with the Armeggdon Party in the upcoming elections.
Accent Chairman Michael Cotzen announced the next Accent speakers will be Ben & Jerry of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream on March 1 in the O'Connell Center. This show is being cosponsored by JSU, and ice cream samples will be given out after the speech.
Senator Kirby announced Nursing Student Week being held next week. She had fliers to distribute for the Pre-Nursing Seminar on February 22 in Room 286 of the Reitz Union. The Nursing Student Association will be holding a clothing drive in March. She will have more information on this at a later date.
Senator Grapski said that the signup for SOS at the Speakout had been very successful. He was disturbed at the lack of notice and limited invitations for the meeting with the House Committee on Higher Education held on Monday.
Senator Muller announced his resignation. He stated he had accomplished all he felt he could in Senate during the 20 months he has served. He thanked those senators who had worked with him in Senate and on committees.
Senator Dial shared a story he had heard. He is from Georgia where there used to be a law that when approaching an intersection on a horse or in a carriage you must fire your gun into the air to warn people coming from the other direction. About six years ago a group of Emory Law students in a BMW speeding through Atlanta fired a shotgun out the sunroof. They were arrested and charged with illegal discharge of a firearm in the city limits. He urged support of SB 95-1006 to remove an antiquated portion of a law from the books--an action Georgia had failed to do.
Senator Niederhausen spoke on Senate Bill 95-1006 being heard on second reading tonight. He had information sheets available which he felt would explain the opposition side on this bill.
Charles Hart spoke on the flag bearers who have served in wars of the past presenting their country's standard. When the standard bearer fell, someone else rushed to fulfill the task. He urged everyone to join College Republicans in their nonpartisan fight for support for the flag.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
R&A:
Senator Bridges, for Chairman Stadlen, reported that the committee met on Sunday and have the following recommendations: Eric Carboneau for Family Housing A and Robert Blake for LS. Both were approved. Senator Gordon for Budget Chairman, Senator Ransom for Budget, and Senator Taylor for Judiciary. All were approved. The committee will meet on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. in room 347.
Open Seats: PH (1); DN (1); District D(1); District E (1)
Committee Seats: Budget (1); Finance (1); A&E (1)
BUDGET:
Chairman Gordon thanked R&A for his recommendation, and Senate for their approval. He would like to meet with the committee after the Senate meeting. He announced that the Special Events Budget Requests will be due on March 3 and the Organizational Budget Requests on March 16. The committee will try to have both budgets finished prior to the end of Spring semester. There will be no A&S fee increase, so additional funds will come only from increased enrollment. He thanked Senator Muller for his past work with the Budget committee saying that Senator Muller's comments had always been entertaining in the hearings.
FINANCE:
Chairman Delafield congratulated Senator Gordon on his appointment as Budget Chairman. The committee has received one new request, and will probably be meeting next week.
A&E:
Chairman Bridges said the committee met on Sunday and have the following absence recommendations: Senator Imanuel one-half on 2/7 excused for sickness; Senator Meyer one-half on 2/7 unexcused for attending an interview session; Senator Ransom on 1/24 unexcused for attending a speech. The recommendations for Senators Imanuel and Ransom were approved. Senator Medford questioned why attending an interview for a future job was not excused. Chairman Bridges said there had been no precedent set on this issue. A format for debate on this question was set at two minutes each for con/pro speeches. Senators Fallon and Drapeau spoke con saying that you were not excused from classes for interviews or from Senate for academic trips. Senator Grapski said that if you can't attend Senate meetings, you should get out so that someone who can attend can hold the seat. Senators Taylor and Muller spoke pro saying that the precedent could be set tonight to allow members to pursue their future employment which is part of their university education. Senator Niederhausen said the precedent had been set by the Rules and Procedures. Senator Grapski asked for a roll call to determine what senators were present for voting. Senator Imanuel moved that the roll call be held after committee reports. This was approved. The absence for Senator Meyer was excused by a vote of 46/11.
Judiciary:
Chairman Carroll said there will be meeting on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. in room 288. Senator Cosenza volunteered to read for Senator East now that Senator Taylor has become a member of the committee. The committee will be discussing excusable absences. Chairman Carroll played a tape of a previous committee meeting concerning SB 95-1006. Senator Cosenza stated that he was not the author of the bill although it had been attributed to him by a miscommunication. Chairman Carroll said the bill was not heard at that time, but was held one week. Senator Medford authored the bill because she was concerned about it being heard. Chairman Carroll said that in many cases he is given requests for bills, but types them himself to present them in proper bill form. This bill resulted from the response of the Board of Masters when asked for previous opinions which had not been reflected in the statutes.
I&I:
Chairman Niederhausen said Senate meetings will continue being aired on Thursdays, and requested that speakers please use the microphone in order to be heard on the tape. The committee is working on constituency requirements. He said a request had been filed for the committee to investigate absences by a senator, but had been returned for more information. The investigation will be conducted when the request is resubmitted. The next meeting will be on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Orange & Brew.
President Mayeux had returned and resumed the meeting at this time.
IRO:
Chairman Wotocek said there will be a social after next week's meeting. The committee will meet on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. She will have more shirt information next week. Please turn in Senator of the Month forms.
SECOND READING:
95-1002 Amend SBS 306.11 to add members of the Board of Masters and Justices of the Honor Court to the recognized list of Student Body Officers. The bill had been passed on first reading, and then sent back to committee pending a clarification from the Board of Masters. The Board of Masters had replied that members of the Board of Masters are impeachable and may not be removed by a joint appointment of the Student Body President and the Honor Court Chancellor. There is a separate procedure for Traffic Court Justices because they are not elected and serve a finite term, so they are not included in this statute. Senator Grapski felt the statute should be more expansive to include all SG positions. Chairman Carroll disagreed that it should be more expansive. Senator Grapski reminded Senate that the Constitution establishes Student Body Officers, and that any legislation passed would always be up to judicial interpretation. The bill passed 49/3.
95-1006 Amend SBS 700.317 to remove section (7) which states that a candidate for Honor Court Chancellor may not be enrolled in a law school schedule that is eligible for graduation prior to the Spring term of the following year. The bill was presented by Senator Medford who said it is a good bill, and it shouldn't matter how the bill originally got to the Senate floor. She felt that this section of the statute is unconstitutional, and needs to be removed because there are students precluded from running because of this qualification. Senator Grapski disagreed that the Board of Masters had previously stricken this section. A motion to extend questioning on this bill failed by a vote of 20/33. Con debate by Senators Kostick, Drapeau, Fallon, and Grapski expressed concern that the bill does not reflect the accurate decision of the Board of Masters, does not exclude law students from running at some time while in law school, was being heard now for the benefit on one student, and does not allow for continuity. Senator Grapski questioned if Senate could change the intent of the Board of Masters and remove the section. Senator Medford responded that she felt the intent had been changed by the section being included. Senator Grapski felt the Board of Masters had been successfully used, by not being filled for over a year, to keep it from being able to strike down legislation. Pro speakers included Senators Tarquinio, Gay, Zudans, Carroll, Baker, Dial, and Muller. They felt this would allow more students the opportunity to run, and was not intended for any particular student. Senator Aquino submitted an amendment to add a rider to the bill stating that it would not effect the Spring 1995 elections. After discussions with her constituents, she felt this would alleviate the political implications of the bill. The amendment failed 15/40. The bill went on to pass after extensive debate and questions with a vote of 44/13.
FIRST READING:
None
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Information is available for "Body Acceptance Week" next week.
2. Senator Meyer thanked those who voted to excuse his absence.
3. The Budget Committee will meet outside after Senate adjourns.
4. Senator Smith asked to see A&E members outside after adjournment.
5. The National Theatre of the Deaf performance is next weekend.
6. Engineer's Fair will be celebrating its 50th anniversary and the 85th anniversary of the College of Engineering on March 30.
7. Gator Rock Cafe' will be held at Broward Area on Saturday.
8. The Alternative Funding Committee will meet outside.
9. The Graduate Student Research Forum will be March 22.
10. Senator Meyer had just returned from the memorial service for Jason Cherner and said it was a beautiful ceremony. He challenged those who did not have a chance to meet Jason to ask anyone who did know him in order to find out more about the man who a lot of people truly cared about.
11. Pre-Nursing Seminar is next week. Please hang fliers for advertising.
12. Dance Marathon is March 25. Applications are in the IFC/PC office.
13. Gator Christian Life meets on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. in 101 Little Hall.
They are sponsoring Veritas "Truth" Forum on Tuesday through Friday next week.
14. Senator Bridges will be 22 on Sunday.
ROLL CALL:
MEETING ADJOURNED: 10:03