STUDENT SENATE MINUTES
May 16, 1995
The meeting was called to order by Senate President Joseph Stadlen at 7:05 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Roll call was taken by Senator Fuller. Quorum was established with 46 senators present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Senator Lex Taylor led the Senate in the pledge of allegiance.
AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA:
Senator Kilman moved to add SB95-1042, Resolution concerning parking tickets. Senator Taylor moved to add SB95-1037, Restructuring the Executive Cabinet, and SB95-1041, Charter of the Recreational Sports Division. Both motions were approved. The agenda was approved as amended.
AMENDMENTS TO THE MINUTES:
None
PUBLIC DEBATE:
Meghan Jahlbert, from Gainesville Pet Rescue, spoke on behalf of the SETA bill. She said SETA has worked with the organization in various roles, and without SETA's help, their programs could not have been as successful.
Matt Johnson asked everyone to vote for the SETA bill. He also reported that the UF Crew Team had placed second in the state finals.
Ed Hennis said President Mayeux's Alligator comment on "reputable leaders" had insulted him personally. He is the President of VAX Unlimited, which he feels to be a very effective organization that teaches classes and helps students with computer usage.
Steve Morgan spoke on "freedom". His speech is attached.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT:
Senate President Stadlen reminded everyone that Summer Senate meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. William Lee has been appointed Parliamentarian.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
R&A:
Chairman Obesso said that Senator Drago is retaining her seat for Summer.
Applications for open seats are due Friday, May 19, at 3:00 p.m. The committee will meet on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. in room 336.
Open Seats: Permanent: AG (1) PH (1); FH/A (1); Murphree (1); District A (1); District B (2); District C (2). Summer: LS (3); HHP (1); Graham (1); Jennings (1); Beaty (1); Broward (1); District C (1); Undergraduate Freshman (1)
Committee Seats: Budget (1); Finance (3); Finance Chair; Judiciary (1); A&E (4); A&E Chair; I&I (1); IRO (6).
BUDGET:
Chairman Gordon welcomed everyone back and said budget hearings for the Organizational Budget will begin Monday at 5:00 p.m. He said that the decision made tonight concerning SETA will set the precedent for committee decisions.
FINANCE:
Vice Chairman Chapman said she would be presenting SB 95-1036 tonight.
A&E:
Chris Fuller encouraged everyone to apply for the open seats.
Judiciary:
Chairman Taylor said the committee met Monday to hear the Executive Cabinet changes and the Charter for the Recreational Sports Division. The next meeting will be Thursday at 6:00 p.m. to discuss Rules and Procedures.
I&I:
Chairman von Oven announced a forum to be held May 24 to allow students to talk with Senate representatives. The committee will meet Sunday at 1:00 p.m. for the investigations of the Black Law Student Association, Student Art League, and Environmental Law Society for after-the-fact SARs.
IRO:
Chairman Hurley asked everyone to apply for the committee. There are still ten shirts available for sale. There will be a social tonight at Bennigan's. Replacement senators can pick up IRO packets in the Senate Office. The Summer A community service project will be announced next week. Turn in nominations for Senator of the Month for May.
President Mayeux, returning from the Board of Regents and FSA in Pensacola, spoke at this time. He reported on the ending of the legislative session which gave an almost 10% increase to SUS funding to go to classroom evaluations and instruction. The legislature also adopted a standardized student/teacher evaluation form to be used on every campus and published. The Activity and Service Fee bill did not pass because of a Florida PIRG amendment attached to the bill. President Mayeux plans to present statute changes concerning ACCENT and SGP in the next few weeks. A plan will also be formulated concerning the current debt incurred by Tower Yearbook. FSA will meet here on June 9.
THIRD READING:
95-1036 Special Request for SETA for $461.75 which had been vetoed by Treasurer Koukos. Robin Levine, representing SETA, and Vice Chairman Chapman presented the bill. Ms. Levine restated the purpose of SETA, which was chartered last Fall and currently has over 70 members. The group is primarily educational in nature. Treasurer Koukos would not comment on his reasons for the veto which were stated in his memo dated April 26, 1995. Treasurer Koukos said if the veto is overridden he will approve any SAR submitted that adheres to the approved expenses on the bill. Senators Kilman, Parks Zudans, Taylor, an McGovern spoke con discussing the purpose of land grant universities for agriculture, the "Great American Meat Out" program planned, the political nature of the group, and medical experimentation on animals. Senators Fallon, Demko, Kostick, Shatkin, and Johnson spoke pro. Pro speakers said land grant universities are to inform the public and provide education, and spoke on the rights of people to their beliefs and opinions, the need for a service which works with animals, and that the precedence has been set for funding politically involved organizations. The bill, requiring a 2/3 vote to override the veto, failed with the vote of 23 to 26 sustaining the veto.
SECOND READING:
None
FIRST READING:
95-1042 Resolution calling for the Chief Justice of the Traffic court to invalidate parking tickets given during the first three days of Summer A. The resolution was authored by Senators Gordon and McGovern. They explained that full parking restrictions had taken effect on the first day of classes, and many students had received parking tickets due to not being allowed to purchase decals prior to being registered for Summer, the length of lines at the decal office, and the lack of advertising prior to finals. The resolution will ask the Chief Justice of the Traffic court to find all appealed parking tickets not guilty for the penalty of "no decal" given in student parking lots on May 15-17. Senator Fallon made a friendly amendment to request the restrictions be lifted for students and employees. This was not accepted because Student Traffic Court has no jurisdiction over employee regulations. Senator Zudans offered an amendment to extend the time period for the first five days, May 15-19, rather than three. This was accepted as friendly. David DeAngelo, the Chief Justice of the Traffic Court, has been contacted and indicates he will do what he can to comply with this request. The bill passed as amended 51 to 2.
95-1037 Amend Student Body By-Law 1 Section XI to restructure the Executive Cabinet. Student Body President Mayeux authored this bill to eliminate duplicated cabinets and establish some new ones. Directors for the cabinets have been approved. A liaison position will be created to work with the Graduate Student Council to replace the Graduate Affairs Cabinet. The bill passed 45 to 6 with no debate.
95-1041 Charter of the Recreational Sports Division, revised to combine all branches of Recreational Sports under one governing body comprised of students and administration. The new board will be student controlled with a student Chair. The Recreational Sports Division will include Intramurals, Lake Wauburg, Sports Clubs, both Fitness Centers, and all campus recreation opportunities. A friendly amendment to remove the stipulation that unencumbered A&S fees would revert to SG Reserves at the end of the fiscal year was accepted. All unencumbered monies at the end of the fiscal year will be retained in a Charter Reserve line in the Recreational Sports Budgets. These funds will be used for equipment, maintenance, improvements and increased programming, and will be subject to Student Body Treasurer approval. The bill passed 50 to 2.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. New BOCC officers are Helda Melo, President; Carlos Herrera, Vice President; Herb Hinson, Treasurer; and Mae Ly Salas, Secretary.
2. FAX Unlimited will meet on Thursday at 6:00 p.m.
3. Summer Senate will meet at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
MEETING ADJOURNED: 8:25 p.m.