SGA Meeting November 15, 2009 November 17, 2009
Posted by Tanya in : minutes , add a commentEmma W-B ‘11 calls the meeting to order at 7:10 PM.
Roll Call
Excused Absences: Nga Nguyen ’12, Malina Toza ’12, Caitlin Evans ’12, Shannon Ryan ’10, Jennifer Savage ’12, Jill Settlemyer ’10, Elle Works ’10, Caroline Heffernan ’10, Marisa Franz ’10
Unexcused Absences: Blair Smith ’12, Claire Smith ‘12
Community Members: Brittney Thornbury ’11, Allyson Schmieder ’11, Renee Beyer ’12, Heather Taddonio ’12, Lydia Bello ’12, Sharan K. Mehta ’12, Celia Turner ’10
Announcements
Tanya Kaur ’10, On behalf of Caroline Heffernan ’10: This Tuesday from 11-2 and 4-7, there will be a Smart Women, Strong Women Open House in the Fitness Center. The Open House will have information about the upcoming gym closings, Rhoads Fitness Center Openings, and potential new equipment for the new facility. The Athletic Department will also be having a Moving Sale on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday! Come get some great deals on Bryn Mawr Athletic Gear!
Other Dates to know:
All personal belongings in the locker rooms must be out by Thursday, November 19.
The fitness center will be closing on Sunday, November 22 at 8:00 PM.
Rhoads Fitness Center will be opening on Monday, November 30.
Recreational Pool times will end on December 4 at 2:00 PM.
Your Two Cents
None
Middle States Reaccreditation
Dean Tidmarsh: I know you were given a link about the Middle States Reaccreditation process but I realize you might be busy and may not have had time to read it, or perhaps you read it and don’t remember everything, so I brought 40 copies with the information.
Mary Osirim-Hi everybody, I’m Mary Osirim and I thought I would take about 30 seconds to explain the Middle States Reaccreditations process. The Middle States includes states like New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The reaccreditation process is in place because any school that takes any federal funding needs to be accredited. So every 10 years an institution is reaccredited. There are 14 areas that the school needs to be accredited in. We have a committee that deals with this specifically and takes a very detailed look at our college and each of these 14 areas.
Dean Tidmarsh: So the entire reaccreditation documentation can be found in the library, it’s about 150 pages long. What you have in front of you is 40 pages that we thought would be the most pertinent and interesting to you, which is student life. The entire document can only be 150 pages, so the section on student life, which is quite condensed, I’m afraid is in front of you.
Tanya Kaur ’10: So this question isn’t about the actual document but about the accreditation process. Exactly who gets to see this 150-page document?
Dean Tidmarsh: So the document is first seen by the campus community and then we give that self-study to the Middle States committee who reads it and then talks to faculty, administrators, and students about the content.
Dean Tidmarsh: We don’t think we’ll lose reaccreditation as Bryn Mawr College, but at the same time we don’t want to get accredited with a provision to improve in any area because that would be a slap in the face.
Maddy Court ’13: Where does the Middle States Reaccreditation get their authority from?
Mary Osirim: They get their authority from the federal government. The past administration was quite worried about the educational achievement in college, and was going to set up standardized college tests. Not to worry, the Middle States were absolutely against that provision.
Dean Tidmarsh: The idea is that we’re going to be accredidated by peers as opposed to Bureaucrats from Washington D.C.
Emma W-B ’11: So it says that Plenary requires 40% of the student body, but really it requires 1/3 of the student body.
Hannah Curry McDougald ’10: Where are some of the people who are reviewing our college from?
Dean Tidmarsh: I think the chair of the committee is the President from Hamilton College, but I’m not sure about the rest of the committee.
Annalee Garrity ’11: Is there anything the student body should be doing?
Dean Tidmarsh: It’s nice of you to say, but I don’t think so. Be engaged, and answer their questions—you should answer honestly, you don’t need to say everything is wonderful, but be pleasant.
Elizabeth Howell ’12: Could you just talk about these goals that you’ve listed on the back page?
Dean Tidmarsh: We want to address some goals that we as an institution want to meet. We want to make the Deans more accessible to the entire student body. We realize they have a lot of responsibilities and sometimes not all students get their needs met. In addition we’d like to increase the faculty involvement with students when it pertains to academics, while remaining conscious of the other commitments that faculty members have. We also want to introduce a program that would include graduate students on campus in the health center helping with issues pertaining to residential life. We also want to see if we can have a staff member available from residential life to address any concerns Has may have on weekends. We are also planning on enhancing academic programs, particularly quantitative reasoning. And this is important so that the Middle States realize that we are setting goals for the future and looking towards the future.
Hannah Curry McDougald ’10: On page 5, it says “Customs people, sophomores” but actually not all customs people are sophomores.
Sophie Papavizas ’11: I’m confused what it means that the SGA has restructured it’s board in Section 2(v)
Dean Tidmarsh: Yeah I was confused by that as well, so now that I know that’s not accurate we’ll take that out.
Yung Jung Cho ’12: I was wondering about experimenting with Graduate Students on campus.
Dean Tidmarsh: It’s something we are experimenting with this year, since we can’t have a nurse on campus Friday-Sunday, so instead we are trying to get graduate students involved and we are interviewing potential staff members, who probably are graduate students to be on campus at that time. So in case there is an emergency or someone needs to get to the hospital, there is someone to help.
Taline Cox ’10: So is that one person? Or a few?
Dean Tidmarsh: It would be one per weekend, but we would probably hire 2 people so that they can work every other week.
Adelyn Kishbaugh ’12: Does it have to be someone on campus? Or can they live close to campus? I feel that someone won’t stay awake on campus all time.
Dean Tidmarsh: We are willing to be flexible depending upon where they live.
Colleen Hayley ’11: I was wondering if the pay is different for nurses and graduate students?
Dean Tidmarsh: Sure, great question. The hourly pay for nurses is higher. However, there isn’t a significant difference that would be hard to accommodate financially. However, there is a very high demand for nurses, especially on weekends. Hospitals also want nurses to work on weekends, and they can afford to pay them more. As a result, even if the nurse model was one we thought was better, it was getting hard to staff at this point.
Adelyn Kishbaugh ’12: Would you consider a student EMS service? I know other colleges have student services that create student positions on campus.
Dean Tidmarsh: I think it’s something we would be perfectly happy to talk about. Our small size would mean that students know each other so it sometimes becomes uncomfortable. But we can certainly talk about it.
Emma W-B ’11: We have run out of time for this, but if you have any questions please email them to mosirim@brynmawr.edu.
Big Cheese Forum
President McAulife: I’m Jane McAuliffe and I’m the President of the College. I thought in explaining my role it could be helpful if I just told you what I did for the last 2 weeks. November 1 was Lantern Night, which I greatly enjoyed. Monday morning I had lunch with other college administrators from the Tri-Co. Back in the office I hosted an administrative meeting with fellowship awardees who are shadowing the leadership of other institutions. I then went to Philadelphia to be on the panel for an inner city school, the Jesus School. Every year they host a symposium that brings in educators and philanthropists, which then place these students in different high schools. About 95% of these students graduate from High School. Then I came back to campus to introduce the Flexner speaker, Sanjay Subrahmanyum at the Flexner lecture. Tuesday I met with new staff members and the cabinet, and then later met with the diversity council. The next day I was in Boston fundraising with alumni and donors. I do this quite a bit—in fact I’m generally away from campus at least once a week fundraising. Friday, I was back for meetings and to host a lunch with the Flexner lecturer, and a reception for Parent’s Weekend. The next morning, there were various panels I was on and moderating during Parent’s Weekend. That gives you one week in November, which encompasses my role: meeting with senior staff on campus, to meet with students, to meet with parents, to heighten the exposure of Bryn Mawr and to fundraise.
Dean Tidmarsh: The dean of the undergraduate college is responsible for the welfare of the students and the college. I straddle the responsibilities for academic and non-academic advising. So I oversee the deans academic responsibilities, as well as non-academic advising—res life, student activities, and the like. I also have an advising load of my own students. I meet with Emma as a link to SGA. Ex-officio I am co-chair with Katherine Redford of Honor Board and of the Curriculum Committee.
Angie Sheets: I’m the director of Residential Life, and Bryn Mawr is a residential campus, so my main responsibilities are with housing, residential council, and the hall advisor program. I also network with and collaborate with a number of campus groups and departments—for example, I may have to deal issues around a raccoon, or with students in their room with the flu.
Jenny Rickard: I’m Jenny Rickard and I’m the Chief Communications and Enrollment Officer. It’s a new office, and it was the result of a yearlong process that looked at how we were creating and delivering services to all of you. We look at financial aid, and have combined that with student accounts. This also includes College Communications, and the Registrar among some other departments. One goal is to align the communications effort for recruitment and visibility purposes. Right now we are in the process of looking at Student Services and seeing how we deliver services and how we can fix it, so we’ll be looking to you for feedback and then we’ll be trying to transition that by the end of the this year.
Elizabeth Howell ’12: How did we respond to Haverford’s Sexual Assault last week?
President McAuliffe: I was immediately in touch with Steve Emerson to offer support and to briefed if necessary. Of course Mike Hill and Tom King have also been in touch and were working well together in order to resolve the situation.
Dean Tidmarsh: I also was briefed and kept informed, and we have a weekly Monday meeting to discuss what had happened, and I felt that we had a lot of access to the information—both myself and the community. I felt that they were telling us what they knew.
Taline Cox ’10: So last year in the spring, when we were discussing budget cuts, we were talking about expanding the post-bac program, so has that been discussed further?
President McAuliffe: Well something occurred that was not expected but fortuitous. We had proposed to increase the post-bac students by 10 spots, and then we did have an increased yield of post-bac students who were very qualified-and it was in fact, 10 additional students. In terms of your questions, we always have admission goals, but none that we have expanded officially.
Liana Donahue ’12: I had a question for Angie for single mothers—will they get housing on campus? I was giving a tour yesterday and I was asked this question.
Angie Sheets: We just had this conversation last week because we do think this is very important. We still have a leasing arrangement with the Marks Apt, and so we have apartments close to campus, which is our best option, because we would like to offer family housing options. In terms of logistics, we haven’t determined costs, but as a women’s college we would like to address that need.
Hannah Curry McDougald ’10: I was wondering why current students don’t get their financial information till July and prospective students get it with their offers earlier.
Jenny Rickard: Sure well part of it is logistically; we time our financial aid packages around tax season, which is filed by April 15. We send it to prospective students first and then send it to current students. We would love to send it to everyone around the same time, but we don’t have the staff to make that happen.
Julia Fahl ’12: President McAuliffe, last year you spent a lot of time talking students in dorms. Are you planning on expanding that program? What have you reaped from that? What are you other ideas?
President McAuliffe: Sure, I’m trying to have dinner with student groups in Haffner but I’m not too sure if that is working well. I will also be inviting the senior class to dinner at Pen y Groes. I was thinking about office hours, but I’ve also heard that can be intimidating. So I’m not sure what would be the best informal venue for us to have a productive conversation, so I would love any ideas you can have.
Julia Fahl ’12: As a quick follow up—what is your role in student life?
President McAuliffe: I want to be in a listening role frankly. Additional ways where I can be part of the thought life are of great interest to me.
Pragya Krishna ’13: Dean Tidmarsh, I heard that there will be changes in the foreign language requirement…
Dean Tidmarsh: Sure so we are talking about, requiring all students to take 2 semesters of a language regardless of proficiency. So if you are proficient you can take 2 semesters of a new language, or a higher level of the language you are proficient in. This of course wouldn’t apply to any of you, as your requirements are the ones that you come in with as freshman.
Sophie Papavizas ’11: Jenny, in terms of the restructuring you were talking about, how are you getting student feedback?
Jenny Rickard: Sure, so we have had student focus groups, and we have sent out student surveys. So we will be coming back to you to figure out how we want to garner feedback. It seems communication and technology seems to be the biggest thing: there seems to be a lot of feelings about Virtual Bryn Mawr and that it could be better, or that it is better but students don’t know how it’s better and that’s on us as well, to communicate to you how to effectively use these resources.
Renee Beyer ’12: I’m the president of the outdoor club, and I know at fall frolic President McAuliffe you had come by and said that you would be interested in getting increasing bi-co outdoor activities.
President McAuliffe: Sure, you are good to remind me—I still would be interested in increasing bi-co participation in outdoor activities, and I certainly need to look into this more.
Rachel Brody ’11: This was more of last year, but how is the sister campus in Abu Dhabi going?
President McAuliffe: It’s not. Due to the economic downturn, it didn’t make sense to invest our time there. However, I am still looking towards similar ventures. I just met with the Indian Minister of Education for setting up a partner institution in India.
Daisy Shetterly ’12: I had 2 questions: the first was about Guild: we were told that we were downsizing Guild due to reasons around reducing our carbon footprint, however given that everyone on campus needs a computer—if we don’t provide computers, they are still being brought on in the form of laptops and so we aren’t reducing our carbon footprint at all. As a student who doesn’t have a laptop, I’ve found the current state of Guild really problematic because it makes it a lot harder to get work done. Is there any way of bringing Guild back? The second question was about your policy on alcohol use on campus: how does it conflict and go along with our principles of self-governance?
President McAuliffe: Sure, I have spoken to Elliott Shore about this primarily. And the idea was to consolidate the resources in Canaday so that everyone can have access to it. But if you have feedback please feel free to let us know. Now your question about alcohol use, I don’t really understand.
Daisy Shutterly ’12: I wanted to give feedback about Guild: the current system isn’t working very well at all. Guild is a completely unused space, and the computers that have been removed from there are missed. In terms of my other question, I’ve heard a lot of things around campus about your policy on alcohol usage, but I wanted to know from you what your policy on drinking on campus is?
Presidnet McAuliffe: My policy is the laws of Pennsylvania. It does deeply concern me that people on campus end up in the hospital from alcohol consumption and I think that as a community we need to be more conscientious about alcohol consumption and be more careful. People die from alcohol consumption and students who are taken to the ER neeed the help that they are given there.
Simran Singh ’10: This is a question for Dean Tidmarsh: has there been any talk about getting course credit for internships?
Dean Tidmarsh: Yes, and we’ve been talking to Ellie Esmond, and I do think it’s been an increasing trend for summer employment to only offer academic credit rather than some compensation, and it leaves us to write incredibly convoluted letters explaining that we don’t give credit, but we want this student to have this opportunity, so we are trying to roll something out by spring so that students can take advantage of it for this summer.
Simran Singh ’10: As a follow up question-a lot of internships turn into jobs, so would this be made available for graduating seniors?
Dean Tidmarsh: Well we certainly want the seniors to get jobs, but it puts us in a strange place to offer academic credit towards a degree that a student has already earned, nevertheless that’s a category of people we should be talking about.
Emma W-B ’11: We are running out of time on this conversation, so all in favor of extending time to the end of the speaking order: Yes-30; No-0; Abstain-0; time has been extended.
Miranda Hansen Hunt ’11: What is being done to integrate our virtual registrar with Haverford’s virtual registrar? I major at Haverford, and it’s problem sometimes.
President McAuliffe: We realize it’s a total mess to get access to information. Part of the problem is technology and it’s fixable but it’ll take time. Part of the problem is faculty policies. Faculty policies differ about the add/drop period, and about how many people can be in a class, so coordinating those policies can be a bit of a challenge.
Yung Jung Cho ’12: Where are Bryn Mawr College’s priorities in terms of sustainability? What do we hope to achieve in the next 5-10 years?
President McAuliffe: Well Bryn Mawr certainly believes in green energy policies and in sustainability. I talk regularly with Don Abramowitz who coordinates sustainability issues and is a great resource. There is an effort into integration and coordination of ideas rather than of implementation at this point. The report about this is going to be completed by the end of this year. In terms of our carbon footprint, it is really due to our electrical use—for example, Park Science is a huge chunk of our electrical use. Sustainability is very much on people’s minds at this point. However, we struggle between what we want to do and what we can afford to do at this point.
Angie Sheets: I would just echo some of those sentiments, and I think that this is really echoed throughout residential life. For example, with buildings and grounds committee, we really discuss our sustainability goals. The trustees also expect that the college takes this seriously. Glenn Smith is always trying to get grant funding for this, and it’s been successful. Facilities are also working really hard to figure out ways for students to get involved and research ways to find newer solutions that could work for our sustainability goals.
Liana Donahue ’12: What is Bryn Mawr and Tri-Co’s relationship with neighboring colleges? I know that we can always go into neighboring college’s parties, but they can’t necessarily get into which seems to be very exclusive. So how has this helped our community?
Dean Tidmarsh: Regarding the Halloween party, we did say that Bryn Mawr students can bring a guest from anywhere. We didn’t allow other students to come in primarily for safety reasons because we didn’t want other students coming in droves and making it an unsafe environment.
Old Business
None
New Business
None
Meeting adjourned at 8:34 PM.
SGA Meeting November 8, 2009 November 10, 2009
Posted by Tanya in : minutes , add a commentSophie Papavizas calls the meeting to order at 7:10 PM
Roll Call
Excused Absences: Sophia Abboud ’12, Miranda Hansen-Hunt ’12, Hope Wayman ’13, Sara Jane Rodgers ‘13
Unexcused Absences: Pragya Krishna ’13, Saba Qadir ’12, Nga Nguyen ’12, Augusta Irele ’10, Marisa Franz ’10
Community Members Present: Brittney Thornbury ’11, Sarah Theobold ’12, Kathryn Gould ‘11
Announcements:
Lydia Bello ‘12: I’m Lydia Bello, 2012. Moira Nadal, 2010, and I are your Co-Landscaping Representatives. We are responsible for the new lawn furniture that has appeared on the Carpenter Beach, in front of the Library, and we just wanted to let you know that you can feel free to use it and move it around. If you have any questions or comments, you can contact me at lbello@brynmawr.edu.
Your Two Cents:
None
Smart Women, Strong Women Campaign: Gym Renovations
Kathy Tierney: Hi everyone. I’m here to talk to you about the $7.5 Million Gym Renovations. It’s called Smart Women, Strong Women. It has three goals. The first is to improve the appearance of Schwartz. To improve the external improvement we want to increase the natural lighting and fix the roof. Internally, we will be improving the pool, and completing re-doing; it’ll be a dramatic transformation. The locker rooms will be remaining in the current configuration, but they will be renovated and changed as well. The second goal is to create a state of the art fitness center—this has been the driving force behind this renovation. Currently the fitness center is on the second floor, and that entire floor will become the renovated fitness center. We will have televisions, private yoga and Pilates and group exercise spaces, machines for cardio and lifting and a new atrium.
Rachel Brody ’12: Where are the coach’s offices going to be?
Kathy Tierney: There are going to be across from the locker rooms, where the training room currently is.
Adelyn Kishbaugh ’12: If there’s more space for group exercise/yoga classes, will they have more classes available for people?
Kathy Tierney: Yes, absolutely. What I hope to be able to do is to have drop-in exercise classes. What I would like to have is a non-punitive system for physical education yet keeping students involved and active.
Someone: When will renovations start?
Kathy Tierney: We will start November 23, 2009 when we move out of the fitness center and into Rhoads.
Someone: How will this affect student workers?
Kathy Tierney: Student workers will have comparable hours to work at Rhoads—because we’ll be operating and having some one available at the fitness center whenever it’s open. However, the pool will be closed, so no student workers will be needed to staff that area. So yes there will be less hours available overall.
Colleen Hayley ‘11: Will they have TV’s available around the treadmill area?
Caroline Heffernan ’10: Yes, all the treadmill machines will have personal TVs built in. There will also be different TV’s hanging around the elliptical and bicycle area.
Kathy Tierney: We also wanted to create an opportunity for students to hang out and sit, so there will be bleachers, which will look into the pool. We also want to have a student worker at the new fitness center. The new building will be wireless. Dates for you to keep in mind: Schwartz will be closed Sunday November 22nd at 8 PM. The fitness center in Rhoads will open November 30.
Colleen Hayley ’11: Has there been any drive to address the accessibility issues?
Kathy Tierney: Sure, so prior to the budget cuts, we had a plan to create a bridge from the top of the stairs to Schwartz gymnasium so we could address the mobility issues. However, after the budget cuts, we had to let that aspect of the renovation go. Now while mobility issues still exist to get to the gym, once students arrive at the gym, the new gym will be fully accessible.
Rachel Brody ’11: Will the gym have AC?
Kathy Tierney: The Pool and the large Gym area—for basketball and such will not have AC. The other areas will. We are also trying to get a High Ultra Violet light filtration system for the Pool, so that the pool can stay clean and sanitary and won’t require as much chlorine as it currently does.
Taline Cox ’10: How can the alumni use this?
Kathy Tierney: We do have membership for Alumni, which Haverford does not, and we will continue to do that. I believe it’s a nominal rate like $150-$200 a year. Also, for those people living in Rhoads Hall we do plan on meeting with you before we come to your dorm.
Hannah Curry McDougald ‘10: If we don’t live in Rhoads, we can’t get into Rhoads before 8 AM, so will that being changing?
Kathy Tierney: The OneCard hours will be changing and you’ll be able to get in.
Someone: How much equipment from Schwartz will be coming to Rhoads?
Kathy Tierney: Good question. We are bringing all the weighted equipment, we’re buying new mats, we’ll bring most of the cardio stuff, and 4-5 elliptical and none of the strength equipment.
Rhoads Resident: I’m a Rhoads resident, how is the fitness center going to affect the quiet hours?
Caroline Heffernan ‘10/Kathy Tierney: Well depending upon how it works, we’ll change it as it goes if it’s a problem to anyone. However, keep in mind that Rhoads Dining Hall used to start very early and it wasn’t a problem.
Caroline Heffernan ‘10: Teams won’t be relocated till the end of the semester—so up until December 12 you can come see games, but you can’t work out in the gym.
Alcohol Concerns Review Board
Sophie Papavizas ’11: So as we talked about last week, we will have to vote on the members of the Alcohol Concerns Review Board this week. So we have two students who applied here: Sarah Glazer ’12, and Beth Wiseman ’13. One student has a family emergency and can’t be here. Another student hasn’t come. I’ll let them introduce themselves and open it up for questions now.
Sarah Glazer ‘12: Hi I’m Sarah Glazer ’12
Beth Wiseman ’13: Hi I’m Beth Wiseman ‘13
Sarah Sherman ’11: Why do you want to this and what experience do you have?
Sarah Glazer ‘12: I’m just really interested in this because I think we need to take more responsibility for our alcohol usage and be more aware of alcohol usage on both the Bryn Mawr and Haverford campuses.
Beth Wiseman ’13: I’m a freshman and I’m just interested in seeing how people, frosh specifically deal with alcohol and how they deal with it based upon their different experiences with alcohol. Customs group go out but then inevitably someone will get sick, and people end up taking care of people, and getting sick that frequently shouldn’t be happening.
Julie Fahl ’12: How do you guys plan on representing students at larger parties like Halloween and West/East party?
Beth Wiseman ’13: I know at smaller parties there was an incident with the cross-country team and one of the freshmen got in trouble. I think that large Halloween parties and East/West parties are a good place for upperclassmen to model good behavior. Granted that some upperclassmen aren’t great models but I think it’s a lot easier to model your behavior off of upperclassman and other people who have experience, than other frosh who don’t have experience.
Sarah Glazer ‘12: I think that there needs to be more of a conversation and accountability taken by all students that attend these parties.
Elle Works ‘10: Is there anyone who is over 21 on the Alcohol Concerns Review Board and would actually be able to drink legally?
Sarah Glazer ‘12: It’s almost more important if you aren’t 21 because a lot of the underclassmen that don’t drink responsibly aren’t 21 and so there should be awareness among them.
Beth Wiseman ’13: Yeah, also I don’t want to wait till I’m 21 to get involved with this board because I think it’s important now.
Jennifer Savage ’12: What are your time commitments?
Beth Wiseman ’13: I’m in 4 classes, and one’s an intensive language. Next semester I’ll be playing Tennis and that will take up some of my time, but I think I can manage it well.
Sarah Glazer ’12: I’m in 4 ½ credits because I take voice lessons. I’m also in Night Owls and Chamber Singers and I think that I can add this to my schedule and manage it well.
Simran Singh ’10: So if you guys were appointed, what do you plan on changing? I know Haverford has this thing called Quaker Bouncers—do you want to do something like that?
Beth Wiseman ’13: I don’t think Bouncers are as applicable, because we don’t have as many parties. I think what’s important is to bring awareness and have an open dialogue.
Sarah Glazer ’12: One of my friends is on the Quakers Bouncers Board so I am familiar with it, but I think our party policy covers it and more because we take responsibility for our actions. I think that it would be important to hold more meetings, more teas, and raise awareness about our policy because I don’t think there is enough.
Taline Cox ’10: The COPS program holds Alcohol Awareness Tea at least once a semester, and there might be 5 people at a tea. How do you plan on getting people there?
Sarah Glazer ’12: I think in Wellness–that’s another place where students can have this discussion on Alcohol. I also think that Customs week is a place where students can discuss alcohol.
Beth Wiseman ’13: I agree that it’s difficult to get people to talk about it. But I think the biggest thing is that people are sick of the workshops, and the same people having the same discussion, but the important thing is to get people to talk about it in an informal setting. I think the Customs group idea is a good idea. Getting people to talk about it in an informal setting.
Hannah Curry McDougald ‘10: Which applicant isn’t here and why?
Sophie Papavizas: So Beth and Sarah Glazer are right there. Samantha Hanco can’t be here for a family emergency and Stephanie Tse isn’t here. Now we are going to vote.
Shannon Ryan ’10: Can you go over the Constitutional reasons as to why we are doing this again?
Sophie Papavizas: ‘11 So the appointments committee always makes unanimous decisions, and this time we couldn’t so then the decision is brought to a simple majority vote of the assembly members. We sent out the applications to all the assembly members and you should have read it over and looked at it earlier this week, and we had a candidate’s forum so that everyone could make an informed decision.
SGA and Religion
Katherine Redford ’10: So SGA’s theory on religion is because Bryn Mawr is so diverse and we celebrate so many religions we can’t cancel meetings for each holiday. As for Plenary this year we didn’t realize it fell on an important Jewish Holiday and once we found out it would, it was too late. In the future we plan on making future exec boards know as well as being cognizant ourselves of the holidays that fall on weekends.
Colleen Hayley ’11: Have you guys put anything into effect?
Katherine Redford ’10: In terms of passing it along to future exec boards, yes, we keep notes of everything we do and we pass along in form of binders and whatnot. Is anything in the Constitution? No, not right now, but that’s certainly something people can bring up for Plenary.
Hannah Curry McDougald ’10: I know I had a similar issue last year when I scheduled Candidates Forum on Passover. So how should I find out about these days?
Shanna Fricklas ’10: I think that alternate dates can be scheduled for such meetings so that people can make up what they missed. I missed SGA and Plenary for the Jewish holidays, I don’t feel that I should be penalized for being Jewish. I know there are 2 excused, and 2 unexcused absences, but things come up and I’m just asking for extra accommodation.
Katherine Redford ’10: I totally understand about SGA and Plenary which is why you’re allowed 2 excused and 2 unexcused absences.
Sarah Sherman ’11: To answer Hannah’s question, you can also Google the date and see what comes up.
Maddy Court ’13: I’m really concerned that the only religious holidays you would be making exceptions for would be Judaism and Islam.
Katherine Redford ’10: Actually no, SGA doesn’t make exceptions for any holidays, but it grants religious excused absences for its members.
Madeline Velturo ’11: What would happen if someone had 3 excused absences. Is there a way to make excused absences, unexcused absences, and then religious absences?
Tanya Kaur ’10: Sure, so the only time someone would be asked to step down would be is if they had more than 2 unexcused absences or if they had 4 absences. If someone had 3 excused absences that would be okay. Just to clarify what the differences are—an excused absence is for religious reasons, family emergencies, illness, make up classes and the like. Unexcused absences are for pretty much anything else. Everyone is allowed 2 unexcused absences, but in addition to that they are allowed 2 excused absences. The reason why we only allow 4 absences a semester, is because there are about 10 meetings a semester, and so 4 absences already means that you’re missing 40% of the meetings, at the point at which you’re missing 50% of the meetings you can’t possibly be fulfilling your role as expected. However, in the case that someone has 4 absences, we do look at whether or not it’s excused absences or unexcused absences, and that plays a huge factor in whether we decide to ask someone to step down or not. Does that answer your question?
Madeline Velturo ’11: Yeah, thanks.
Alexandra Ashley ’11: I think that having an alternate schedule is a great idea and it would be nice if there were alternate schedules that existed.
Sarah Sherman ’11: Yeah but for example making up candidate’s forum is problematic because when people don’t see you there they hold it against you. It’s important being at these forums because it helps you get out there and be seen.
Shanna Fricklas ’10: I think that things happen and arise throughout the semester and that you should be able to make up meetings with an exec board member so that you can stay on top of your responsibilities.
Colleen Hayley ’11: If we are going to do alternate meetings then we would need to figure out how to do so because I know the exec board members have a lot of meetings outside of this one that they need to attend.
Simran Singh ’10: How are you supposed to be voting at an alternate meeting?
Tanya Kaur ’10: Point of Information: in situations like today’s meeting where we announced a week ago that voting was going to take place, individuals who knew they wouldn’t be able to make it at today’s meeting due to an excused absence—like they were sick, or they had a class—would be able to give me their vote in writing in advance. In all other situations, an absence would mean that you weren’t allowed to vote.
Julie O’Neil ‘10: I just think that you know when the meetings are and you are making that commitment when you run for this position. It’s always Sunday at 7 PM and if you can’t set aside that hour and half every week and say that you have a time commitment then you can’t be doing your job.
Shanna Fricklas ’10: I just wanted to address what you said because you have those 4 absences because things happen, and when you have Jewish holidays that compromises the numbers of absences you are allowed and so accommodations should be made.
Sophie Papavizas ’11: Okay thank you. Just wanted to let everyone know that we have appointed Beth Wiseman ’13, Sarah Glazer ’12 and Samantha Hanco to the ACRB.
Old Business
Sophie Papavizas ’11: Last week we talked about Yearbook, and how we want to create an external committee of people who want to explore the issue and come back to us.
Simran Singh ’10: I sent out a survey to our class, and the majority of our class wants one within a year of graduation.
Colleen Hayley ’11: I think if a yearbook isn’t available then an online yearbook is financially feasible and could also be used for admissions.
Shannon Ryan ’10: I followed up with the class of 1960 and they want to do a large thing in TGH in the spring.
New Business
Meeting ended at 8:22 PM.
SGA Meeting November 1 November 2, 2009
Posted by Tanya in : minutes , add a commentEmma W-B ‘11 calls meeting to order at 1:10 PM
Roll Call
Excused: Emily Tafyaro ’12, Nga Nguyen ’12, Eileen Downs ’12, Sara Jane Rodgers ’13, Colleen Hayley ’11, Sarah Sherman ’11, Simran Singh ’10, Taline Cox ‘10
Unexcused: Julia Fahl ’12, Katherine Lewis ’12, Samantha Newman O’Gara ’12, Sophia Abboud ’12, Ellen Butler ’13, Pragya Krishna ’13, Shanna Fricklas ’10, Caitlin Evans ’12, Kali Graham ’10
Announcements
Katherine Redford ’10: The honor board heard no cases in the month of October. The Senior Gift Committee finished their first week of tabling and are now at 12% participation and have raised over $1000.
Amanda Darby ’10, Naomi Hamermesh ’10: We’d like to introduce ourselves as the two student representatives on the Goodhart Steering Committee. At present, the committee is working on preparing a document that covers all policies and procedures regarding Goodhart. We are here to act as liasons between the faculty on this committee and the student body. We’ll probably be collecting some formal feedback later on in the process, but in the meantime, if you have opinions or questions about policies regarding Goodhart, please feel free to contact either of us and we will try to answer your questions as best we can. Thanks!
Recruitment and Retention Policy
Emma W-B ’11: So a couple of weeks ago there was a comment made about the recruitment and retention policy at Bryn Mawr and we have a statement from the administration clarifying that.
Jenny Rickard’s Statement:
Our goal each year is to recruit and admit talented students from throughout the country and around the world, to bring to Bryn Mawr a diverse group of students with outstanding intellectual ability. This has included, and will continue to include students from across the spectrum of economic means. Like most colleges and universities nationally, Bryn Mawr expected to and did spend more than in previous years on financial aid for incoming and returning students. A strong financial aid program is an important part of what makes Bryn Mawr such an extraordinary institution. In fact, we are proud that among highly selective liberal arts colleges nationally, Bryn Mawr ranks fifth in terms of the socioeconomic diversity of our student body. Even when the economy is stronger, we are very aware that an investment of $50,000 per year for a private, liberal arts education is one that families consider very carefully. Because 50% of the College’s revenue is derived from tuition and fees, it is important for the College to convey clearly the great value and competitive advantage that a Bryn Mawr education provides its students and graduates. Conveying that message is an important part of the admissions office’s recruiting efforts.
Emma W-B ’11: Dean Tidmarsh also wanted to add that Bryn Mawr historically has been a school that attracts students from lower ends of the economic spectrum because of our need policies, however, students from the higher end of the economic spectrum have a higher rate of transferring out because they aren’t bound to Bryn Mawr because of aid. So that this recruitment and retention policy is one that we’ve always had in place.
Julie O’Neil ’10: I know we are need-sensitive, so how do they determine if people are on the higher side of that economic spectrum?
Emma W-B ’11: I’m not sure but I would guess that they look at people who don’t apply for FAFSA, or perhaps don’t get aid.
SGA Institutional Memory
Emma W-B ’11: This is a problem that we as a SGA community have had trouble with in the past, which is this idea of continuity and institutional memory. La is going to come to a meeting in the future to discuss creating binders, which can be passed down from year to year. There’s also a piece of paper that we’re going to ask all of you to fill out that says what you do for your position on a daily, weekly, and semester basis. Co-positions will be filling out one binder together, so for example: each dorm will have a binder, but the co-presidents can create it together.
Old Business
Emma W-B ’11: So about Yearbook—there has been some response that people do want a senior yearbook, and we want to work towards creating a committee that can talk about this.
Caroline Heffernan ’10: So the Gym, Cathy and I are going to come talk to you about it. The week before Thanksgiving, we are going to transition the fitness center into Rhoads. Kathy can answer your questions next week, and if you have any questions you can ask them then.
Jill Settlemyer ’10: As Res-Co head, just wanted to remind all of you about Project Dormroom, and that submissions are due by November 11, 2009
New Business
None
Meeting adjourned at 1:32 PM.
SGA Meeting Minutes October 25 October 25, 2009
Posted by Tanya in : minutes , add a commentEmma W-B ’11 called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM
Roll Call
Present: Elle Works ’10, Meghan Mahoney ’10, Kali Graham ’10, Julie O’ Neil ’10, Taline Cox ’10, Shannon Ryan ’10, Simran Singh ’10, Madeline Velturo ’11, Ashton Shaffer ’11, Adelyn Kishbough ’12, Elise Hernandez Landaverde ’10, Sarah Theobold ’12, Claire Smith ’12, Maddy Court ’13, Hope Wayman ’13, Sara Jane Rodgers ’13, Caroline Heffernan ’10, Augusta Irele ’10, Jennifer Savage ’12, Blair Smith ’12, Jenny Nam ’12, Sophia Abboud ’12, Antara Tulsyan ’12, Adrienne Webb ’11, Hildi Greenberg ’10, Jill Settlemyer ’10, Mae Carlson ’12, Nga Nguyen ’12, Shanna Fricklas ’10, Caitlin Evans ’10, Eileen Downs ’10, Saba Qadir ’13, Hannah Curry Mc-Dougald ’10, Brittney Thornbury ’11, Liana Donaue ’12, Reggie Kukola ’10, Marisa Franz ’10, Alice Fischer ‘13
Excused Absences: Julia Fahl ‘12, Isabel Donolon ‘13
Unexcused Absences: Emily Tafyaro ’12, Pragaya Krishna ’13, Samanatha Newman O’Gara ’12, Katherin Lewis ’12, Malina Toza ‘12
Announcements
Taline Cox ’10: Cops is having an alcohol awareness tea this Tuesday at 8 in campus center 200. There will be pizza and root beer! See you there!!
Jill Setllemyer ’10: Annual Dorm Trick or Treat will be happening this Wednesday 10/28 from 4 to 6pm with a party following in TGH from 6 to 7 pm. Dorm presidents can be contacted for orange pumpkin signs and if you are interested in volunteering at the party. Also, don’t feed the raccoon in Pem Arch, or anywhere/thing else.
Katherine Redford ’10: The Honor Board heard one case in the month of September. A student was found to have submitted work that was written by someone else and she failed the course. No social cases were heard.
Your Two Cents
Taline Cox ’10: We have talked a lot in HA area groups that we be responsible at Halloween so that we can preserve our parties, and this Halloween party in general.
Emma W-B ’11: Over Fall Break, we lost a member of our community, Ray and we’d like to observe a moment of silence for him.
Lantern Night
Emma W-B ’11: We have to move our meeting next week because of Lantern Night, and we are going to vote to move the meeting to 1 PM.
For: 25
Against: 0
Abstain: 1
Special Events
Emma W-B ’11: So when Special Events Funding Forms were turned in, one of the forms was lost on Mary Beth’s desk and so we didn’t want to penalize the student for turning in the forms on time and not having an opportunity to present her event to the assembly.
Anagha Roy ’12, Jenny Nam ’12, Adrienne Web ’11: We are from the Art Club and our proposed event is a gallery opening, that would display student and faculty artwork. It will have artwork, live music, and a display of deserts. The purpose of this event is to show what kind of artwork can be created at Art Club, and to showcase that. Our total amount requested is $1961.07.
Ashton Shaffer ’11: How much money did we have left over in Special Events?
Emma W-B ’11: We had $80K budgeted, and gave about $13K, and so we have $60K-$67K left to give.
Jacqueline Levin ’11: Didn’t the previous Arnecliff event budget for twinkle lights?
Anagha Roy ’12: Yes, but we ended up borrowing those lights, and so now we want to buy the lights.
Colleen Hayley ’11: My event is Liana Carrera, comedian extraordinaire. She asked to come the night before because flights are often delayed out of South Africa, and she didn’t want to miss the gig. So I need an extra $100 to cover her hotel the night before.
Emma W-B ’11: For the Gallery opening…
For: 26
Against: 0
Abstain: 2
Emma W-B ’11: For the $100 extra to Colleen’s budget…
For: 28
Against: 0
Abstain: 0
Zip Car
Laurel Lemon ’11:So we are going to go over the information for Zipcar one last time so we can have a vote on the issues. You can get zip car if:
· You are 18: have a valid driver’s license, have had no incidents, and no major violations, and no alcohol related incidents.
· You are 21: have a valid driver’s license, allowed two incidents, no major violations, and no alcohol related incidents.
For the first 30 days they will give you a credit of $35 (the membership fee) in driving expenses. The minimum agreement is for 2 years—if after a year, we are not doing so well (not meeting the revenue guarantee) they can let us go, we cannot choose to cancel. We could have 2 cars—this is dependent on the fact that this is not going to be Bi-Co. The costs are as follows:
· Type of car: $1500-$1600 per car per month, depending upon the type of car. So $3000-$3200 total per month for both cars, not including summer months. If we meant the monthly guarantee for 6 months, the guarantee would go away.
· If no one ever uses the cars, it would be $19200 for the 6 months.
· Weekdays $8/hr, $66/day
· Weekends $9/hr, $72/day
· $35 annual member ship fee
· $25 application fee waived
Taline Cox ’10: Where is this money coming from?
Laurel Lemon ’11: Well it would initially come out of club budgets for next semester
Rachel Brody ’11: How many people are using Zip Car?
Emma W-B ’11: We don’t have those exact numbers
Liana Donahue ’12: Lets do a survey monkey to see how many people use Zipcar or would be interested in using Zipcar.
Shanna Fricklas ’10: I used Philly CarShare a lot—I don’t think that we would have to shell out the money because a lot of people would use it.
Colleen Hayley ’11: If we could pay for a car, why don’t we do that?
Emma W-B ’11: Dean Tidmarsh and I had this conversation, she said that it would be incredibly difficult and hard to do because of the costs of maintenance of a car and the logistics of insurance.
Tanya Kaur ’10: Point of information: if we were to get a car, Bryn Mawr College would have to cover the insurance information and be liable for that car, and students would have to go through the same process as van-certification.
Ashton Shaffer ’11: I want to second what Liana said—why we don’t do a survey?
Emma W-B ’11: We can definitely do that, but keep in mind that people don’t necessarily take or will understand all the information that we’ve laid out above in a survey
Augusta Irele ’10: Can we use special events funding for Zip Car rather than use club budgets?
Laurel Lemon ’11: Yes
Mae Carlson ’12: If we decide not to go into ZipCar, then what?
Emma W-B ’11: This is the only option we know of right now; it’s either Zip Car or nothing?
Rachel Brody ’11: If we go for this, then can we advertise it, and send out emails about it?
Emma W-B ’11: Sure, we could definitely advertise it and let people know about
Sarah Sherman ’11: Has there been any discussion if we could get just one car, and not just two?
Colleen Hayley ’11: Is Zipcar cheaper or more expensive than other similar programs?
Tanya Kaur ’10: Point of Information: Zipcar is cheaper than Philly Carshare; Philly Car Share is $16/month, and Zipcar is $35/year, and the per hour rates are cheaper as well.
Alex Ashley ’11: If we vote against this now, can we vote for it in the future? Like next year?
Emma W-B ’11: Yes
Emma W-B ’11: Okay now we’re going to vote on whether we want to decide this tonight, or whether we want to send out a survey?
Tonight: 15
Survey: 11
Abstain: 2
Emma W-B ’11: Okay we are deciding this tonight. Who wants Zip Car?
For: 7
Against: 11
Abstain: 9
Emma W-B ’11: We voted not to have Zipcar, but does anyone want to still send out a survey?
Elle Works ’10: Let’s send out a survey to find out if people want ZipCar.
Yearbook
Emma W-B ’11: We have to produce a 2008 and 2009 yearbook. We need to produce these yearbooks. So here’s the decision that needs to be made:
· Should we keep the yearbook as a student club? Or should we create a paid student position that would be paid through Mary Beth’s office?
Brittney Thornbury ’11: What does Haverford do?
Emma W-B ’11: It created a paid position fairly recently because they were having similar problems
Hannah Curry-McDougald ‘10: What department will pay for this position? And is it one or multiple positions?
Laurel Lemon ’11: The position will be coming out of Mary Beth’s department. And we can have multiple positions.
Elle Works ’10: Has anything been done that someone who is being paid could work off of?
Laurel Lemon ’11: The 2008 yearbook is almost done and would require very little additional work, but the 2009 yearbook needs to be done from scratch.
Adelyn Kishbaugh ’12: Why are we making these again?
Emma W-B ’11: When we talked to Mary Beth she told us that people had pre-ordered these yearbooks…So let’s vote on whether we want a paid position.
For: 24
Against: 2
Abstain: 4
Emma W-B ’11: We also need to decide tonight if we want to order the 2010 yearbook as well. It is a $24k contract for the 2010 yearbook.
Annalee Garrity ’12: How many people order yearbooks?
Laurel Lemon ’11: Point of information: There are several hundred yearbooks in storage so not that many people buy yearbooks.
Jill Settlemyer ’10: It would be $24k to make a yearbook, but that cost would be offset by the number of people who buy the yearbook right?
Emma W-B ’11: Yes.
Shanna Fricklas ’10: Is it possible to get yearbooks done by graduation so that people could get them and sign them?
Emma W-B ’11: No.
Elle Works ’10: So we voted to have a student in a paid position for 2009-2010, would it be possible to look for a 2010 yearbook committee?
Emma W-B ’11: Sure
Simran Singh ’10: I don’t necessarily want a yearbook, but I think it’s important to have yearbooks in a college in order to maintain institutional memory and such.
Jacqueline Levin ’10: Would it be possible for a scrapbook to be made that would sit in admissions and that would be nice.
Emma W-B ’11: We are going to vote whether we want a 2010 Yearbook.
For: 7
Against: 17
Abstain: 4
Old Business
Caroline Heffernan ’10: We are going to have a meeting about the Gym on November 8 rather than tonight.
Emma W-B ’11: I’m going to not be at the November 8th meeting because I am going to a competition in Tennessee that weekend.
New Business
Shannon Ryan ’10: I met with some members of the class of 1960 to talk about collaboration between their class and our class in some sort of cocktail-esque hour. So keep an eye out for any sort of announcements/emails to that end.
Meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM.
SGA Meeting Minutes October 5 October 5, 2009
Posted by Tanya in : minutes , add a commentEmma W-B ’11 calls the meeting to order at 7:10 PM
Roll Call
Present: Emma W-B ’11, Sophie Papavizas ’11, Tanya Kaur ’10, Laurel Lemon ’11, Katherin Redford ’10, Jill Settlemyer ’10, Reggie Kukola ’10, Marisa Franz ’10, Sara Jane Rodgers ’13, Colleen Hayley ’11, Sarah Sherman ’11, Hannah Curry Mc-Dougald ’10, Caroline Heffernan ’10, Jacqueline Levin ’10, Madeline Velturo ’11, Nga Nguyen ’11, Julia Fahl ’12, Malina Toza ’13, Elisa Hernandez Landeverde ’10, Taline Cox ’10, Simran Singh ’10, Shannon Ryan ’10, Ashton Shaffer ’11, Liana Donahue ’12, Mae Carlson ’12, Isabel Donlon ’12, Pragya Krishna ’13, Saba Qadir ’12, Maddy Court ’13, Hope Waymen ’13, Adelyn Kishabugh ’12, Clair Smith ’12, Jennifer Savage ’12, Blair Smith ’12, Katherin Lewis ’12, Samantha Newman O’Gara ’12, Jenny Nam ’12, Sophia Abboud ’12, Antara Tulsyan ’12, Emily Tafaro ’12, Elle Works ’10, Meghan Mahoney ’10, Hildi Greenberg ’10, Rachel Brody ’11, Shanna Fricklas ’10, Sarah Capasso ’11, Caitlin Evan ’11, Eileen Downs ’11, Alexandra Ashley ’11, Analee Garrity, Julie O’Neil ’10, Augusta Irele ‘10
Excused Absences: Miranda Hansen Hunt ‘11, Alice Fischer ‘13, Ellen Butler ‘13
Unexcused Absences: Kali Graham ‘10
Community Members Present: Mia Chin ’12, Sue Yee Chen ’12, Sarah Moser ’12, Sam Salazar ’11, Caroline Kelly ’12, Catherine Miller ’12, Brittney Thornbury ’11, Allyson Schmieder ’11, Zayna Schaffer ’13, Chelsea Dunkel ’11, Celia Turner ’10, Cristina Smith ’12, Angana Roy ’12, Adrienne Webb ’11, Laurel Russess ’11, Becky Findlay ’10, Gaia Brusasco ’13, Yong Jung Cho ’12, Brittney Sampson ’12
Announcements
Sophie Papavizas ’11: Appointment rounds are coming up for a lot of things, so look out for an email from me.
Tanya Kaur ’10: Two things: first, my hard drive crashed so I lost all the minutes from September 20, and so they will never be published. If you want to see them, you can either fix my hard-drive yourself, or raise $800 so I can get it fixed by a professional. Second, there seemed to be a lot of positive feedback on the Plenary t-shirts, and we are thinking about ordering more, so if you want some, please let me know by the end of the meeting or by email sga@brynmawr.edu
Emma W-B ’11: We just wanted the assembly to know what the upcoming meetings are going to be about. The future meetings are as follows:
October 25th: Gym Renovation, Yearbook, Zipcar
November 1st: Student Recruitment and SGA and Religious Holidays
November 8th: Methods of Budget Approval, more to come!
As always if you want something added to the agenda, please let us know and we’ll add it.
YTC
Laurel Lemon ’11: I work at the CDO and I’m just here to talk about what a CDA does. We review resumes, and cover letters, and go over job applications. We are a great resource—there are 8 of us, and we have a lot of hours, and we can help anyone out about issues post-graduation, so come check us out!
Plenary Recap
Catharine Miller ’12: I presented a resolution that the Counseling Center change its policy to have written consent. I have sent these recommendations to Reggie and I’m waiting to hear back. I also know that there were a lot of questions about the actual implementation of these changes so I’ve also recommended that these changes be implemented with student input and so if there’s a forum for that I really hope that people attend.
Pragaya Krishna ’13: I spoke to Reggie, and the Counseling Center is seriously considering the policy and are making the policy is now the default policy.
Adelyn Kishbaugh ’12: I proposed the second resolution at Plenary about Haverford leadership at Bryn Mawr, and it failed, but I’m really glad that we had this discussion as a community. Even though it didn’t pass, there are a lot of other ways of improving Bi-Co relations and I hope we continue to look into ways of doing so.
Radnor Budget Approval
Emma W-B ’11: We are now going to vote on approving the Radnor Budget. They asked for $2221, and they got $1095.
For: 27
Against: 1
Abstain: 1
Special Events Funding
Emma W-B ’11: We are now going to go over Special Events, keep in mind we are going to hear all proposals and then vote. Each person has 5 mintues to talk and then we can ask questions. We also have a total of $15000 requested out of a pool of $80,000
Malti ’12, Debbie ’10, Ntshadi ’12 Mea ‘12: We represent BACASO and we want to bring the Blk Jks to campus. We are fascinated that they are an African rock band, and we want to diversify the events we have at Bryn Mawr and this would be a great way of seeing a different musical genre. This is planned for Wendesday October 21, at Thomas Great Hall.
Hannah-Curry McDouglad ’10: Are any of these costs going to change because the event is in 3 weeks
Ntshadi ’12: The amount for the booking agent will probably go down, so that money can go towards higher priced airplane tickets.
Maddy Court ’13: How many people are going to come to this?
Ntshadi ’12: We are hoping to have the event open to Tri-Co
Sarah Capasso ’11: I think this is really cool, but it’s on a Wednesday, so what about turn out?
Ntshadi ’12: That Saturday is the ASA culture show, so TGH is just booked for anytime that they would be able to come.
Simran Singh ’10: What if you change the venue to Rhoads?
Shanna Fricklas ’10: Would this event be better for a future Saturday?
Debbie ’10: This is a really big band, and so their American tour is ending and so we need to get them relatively soon.
Emma W-B ’11: Next event, Abby…
Abby Olson ’10: I want to have two speakers, Lily Ledbetter and Jocelyn Samuels, come to campus to talk about unequal labor practices in the workplace. Lily Ledbetter was someone who worked in the Alabama Goodyear Tire Plant for 20 years, and found out that she was paid 40% less than her male counterparts, and so she sued, was awarded money, but then it went to the Supreme Court and they said she sued too late. However, President Obama passed the Lily Ledbetter Bill in January that says that you can sue once you find out discrimination has occurred. Jocelyn Samuels is a woman who is an advocate for women in the workplace, and I would want both of them to come to talk about their experiences. This event is planned for next March. Lily Ledbetter isn’t confirmed yet, so if she doesn’t come then I’ll return this money except for the $75 which I need for food and publicity.
Emma W-B ’11: Next event, Colleen…
Colleen Hayley ’11: I want to bring a comedian to the Bi-Co community who I think is absolutely fabulous. Her name is Liana Carreras and she is just a great comedian, she’s being called the next Ellen DeGeneres. She herself identifies as Gay, her father is a Southern Baptist Preacher, and her mom was deaf, so she was raised in the deaf community so she can relate to a lot of different communities out there.
Brittney Thornbury ’11: When would this be?
Colleen Hayley ’10: This would be November 14 in Thomas Great Hall
Ashton Shaffer ’11: What is the $18 for Haverford?
Collen Hayley ’10: It’s for the Publicity at Haverford. Posters are $1 a piece, and so I’m putting up 18 posters at Haverford.
Emma W-B ’11: Next Event…
Adrienne Web ’11, Catherine Zeger ’10: We want to invite Nicole Reynolds and her band at Batten House, on Friday October 30.
Caroline Heffernan ’10: What time is this event?
Adrienne Web ’11: At 8 PM
Adelyn Kishbaugh ’12: How many people were you expecting?
Adrienne Web ’11: Batten can hold around 60-80.
Marisa Franz ’10: You had her last year, how many people came?
Adrienne Web ’11: We had a good turn out, about 50 people came.
Emma W-B ’11: Next Event
Mia Chin ’12, and Sue-Yee Chen ’12: This is a Art Fiesta, it is for tri-co students, and the ACLAMO kids and their families. It is on November 21. All the food is coming from Norristown restaurant, the face painter and balloon painter will be from Norristown.
Adrienne Web ’11: How are you going to transport people? R100? Bus?
Mia Chin ’12: No, they’re going to transport themselves; we have a bus for kids and their parents.
Sarah Moser ‘12 and Sam Salazar’11: Andrea Gibson is a spoken word artist and we want to get her October 23 at 8 PM at Rhoads Dining Hall. She is really awesome and she really wants to come here, and she’s really into the Women’s College thing. We want $2000 for her.
Shanna Fricklas ’10: If she’s so excited to come, can’t we lower the price?
Sam Salazar ’11: Yeah, we budgeted the top amount, however her booking agent is very flexible. Andy Suzuki is another performer we want to bring who went to Brown, however is brother is a post-bac here so we hope that a lot of people will be coming out. We want $300 for him.
Julie O’ Neil ‘10: When is this?
Sam Salazar ’11: November 14th
Julie O’Neil ’10: Isn’t there another event proposed that night?
Sam Salazar ’11: Yes
Emma W-B ’11: We are now going to vote for the Blk Jks.
Approve: 28
Against: 2
Abstain: 0
Approved
Emma W-B ’11: We are now going to vote for Lily Ledbetter and Jocelyn Samuels.
Approve: 28
Against: 0
Abstain: 3
Approved
Emma W-B’11: Next Event, Father, Son, and Holy Gay.
Approve: 28
Against: 0
Abstain: 0
Approved
Emma W-B’11: Nicole Reynolds Concert, Fall Festival
Approve: 28
Against: 0
Abstain: 3
Approved
Emma W-B ’11: Mexican Art Fiesta.
Approve: 25
Against: 0
Abstain: 5
Approved
Emma W-B ’11: So now we are voting for Andrea Gibson
Approve: 24
Against: 1
Abstain: 5
Approved
Emma W-B ’11: So now we are voting for Andy Suzuki
Approve: 24
Against: 2
Abstain: 1
Approved
Emma W-B ’11: All events pass, congratulations!
Old Business
New Business
Meeting adjourned at 8:02 PM
Plenary Minutes October 1, 2009
Posted by Tanya in : minutes, plenary , add a comment
We reached Quorum at 11:43 PM.
Emma W-B ’11: Welcome to Plenary! We have Quorum! We will need to vote on Robert’s Rules of Order which is as following: Plenary uses a form of communication based on Robert’s Rules of Order. They ensure that the will of the majority is done while protecting the voice of the minority. While the rule of order may seem awkward and sometimes constraining, it will limit chaos and personal attack. Please give your attention to the guidelines and follow them. In the long run, they will make plenary run smoother and faster. Each resolution will be presented as follows:
Reading of the resolution by the presenter(s)
Explanation of the resolution by the presenter(s) 3 minutes
Floor open to questions and Pro/Con statements 12 minutes
(Questions are given priority during this time)
(If an amendment is presented, it is given an additional 8 minutes)
Floor open to Pro/Con statements only 7 minutes
Rebuttal period for presenter(s) of the proposal 3 minutes
Voting on the resolution
If there is discussion occurring at the microphones, then discussion will proceed for at least 12 minutes as outlined above, before the resolution and/or amendment may be called to question. This is to ensure that at least a minimum of discussion and consideration is given to all proposals, as the community has already warranted these resolutions worthy of discussion.
If there is no discussion on the microphone the SGA Executive Board will give a 30 second time limit for those who wish to speak to identify themselves by either approaching the microphone or alerting their section counter. If after the 30 seconds no one has announced that they wish to speak, the amendment or resolution will be voted upon.
There will be a member of the SGA Executive Board moderating as well as another member keeping time for each resolution. One minute and 30 second warnings will be given for each timed period. Also, NO FOOD IN HERE. PLEASE, PLEASE, NO FOOD IN HERE. We spent 19 million on renovating this theater, so please no food. Okay so we are going to go ahead, and vote on approving Robert’s Rules of Order. So if you want to approve Robert’s Rules of Order, please raise your hand. Okay, if you are against accepting Robert’s Rules of Order. Okay, if you are abstaining. Okay we seemed to have lost quorum so we are going to revote. For, Against, Abstain. Okay we now have less numbers than before. However, we have 465 people so we haven’t lost quorum, people just aren’t voting. SO PLEASE VOTE! Please stay in your section till we’re done voting! Okay now, again, we have lost even more people. So everyone please stay in your seats, and counter please get a tally of the people in your section. Okay good news: we have quorum! We have exactly 433 people! So now, for the fourth time, can we please vote. Can everyone PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE VOTE. Okay great we have quorum and we have now approved Robert’s Rules of Order.
For: 457
Against: 0
Abstain: 4
APPROVED ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER.
Emma W-B ’11: Moving on to the next resolution, if we could please have Catherine Miller ’12 here to present the first resolution.
Resolution #1: Counseling Service Written Consent presented by Catherine Miller ‘12
Whereas, it is normal for Bryn Mawr students to experience personal difficulties for which they may wish to seek help,
Whereas, the Counseling Service is an important resource for such students, and, according to the Health Center, is used by about 1/3 of the student population,
Whereas, the confidentiality of the information discussed in a student’s conversations with a counselor is critical to a productive therapeutic relationship,
Whereas, the current privacy policy of the Counseling Service requires only oral consent for personal information to be shared with deans and family members of students,
Whereas, the use of only oral consent may result in misunderstandings between a student and a counselor about what information is to be shared with whom, potentially resulting in the unintentional violation of the confidentiality of the student’s personal information or of the counselor’s opinions about the student,
Whereas, the use of written consent may prevent such misunderstandings, and is common practice in the psychological profession,
Be it resolved that we recommend that the Counseling Service require written consent to disclose a student’s personal information, or the counselor’s opinions about the student, to all persons other than the student, including deans and family members, in all situations in which any form of consent is currently required. Exceptions should be made only if circumstances make it impossible for a student to provide written consent, in which case oral consent shall be acceptable.
Emma W-B ’11: Okay you now have 3 minutes to explain.
Catherine Miller ’12: Okay so this basically stems out of the idea that to avoid miscommunication between what information about a student can be shared from a counselor with a dean, or a family member that it’s better to have this information written down.
QUESTION MIKE
Melanie Bowman ’12: I’m wondering how having written consent will decrease the amount of miscommunication between what should and what does get said
Catherine Miller ’12: It will just clarify the entire process so rather than relying on what someone said, and having no record of that, it will be more clear to write it down so that there’s a record
QUESTION MIKE
Alex Stratner ’11: In Psychological counseling, there are some situations where consent isn’t required or can’t be obtained, what about these situations?
Catherine Miller ’12: Yes, and the resolution accounts for this that whenever there’s a situation where people can’t give consent or when their life or someone else’s life is in danger, and any other situations that the medical community recognizes as not needing consent. This will not change.
PRO MIKE
Kim Lunsford ’10: I think it would help to clarify a lot of confusion to explicitly say what you want to be shared and with who, rather than leave it ambiguous.
QUESTION MIKE
Asha Vee ’13: Will this written consent have any power if the counselor breaks the consent?
Catherine Miller ’12: I don’t know the power or the policy is if it’s broken, but it would clarify if consent had been broken or not.
Emma W-B ’11: Are there any other questions or comments?
QUESTION MIKE
Melanie Bowman ’12: Regarding what Kim said, what would the written consent be—would it be a student signing their name to a piece of paper, or a student saying that you can share this information with the counselors?
Catherine Miller ’12: So the resolution doesn’t go into details about this, but I will make a recommendation to either have a general consent form where specific details can be given, or alternatively, to have a specific consent form where individuals can detail what they want and don’t want shared.
Emma W-B ’11: If no one has anything to say for the next 30 seconds we will move straight to a vote; Catherine you also have 30 seconds to give a rebuttal if you wish.
Catherine Miller ’12: No, I’m good, thank you!
Emma W-B ’11: Okay then we’re going to vote.
For: 433
Against: 2
Abstain : 32
RESOLUTION #1 PASSES.
Emma W-B ‘11: Okay onto the next resolution.
Resolution # 2: Bi-College Exchange Leadership Reformspresented by Adelyn Kishbaugh ‘12. Submitted by James Merriam ‘11, Laura Alexander ‘11, and Adelyn Kishbaugh ‘12.
Concerning participants in the Bi-Co housing exchange programs living on the campus of Bryn Mawr College, who are enrolled as students at Haverford College, hereafter ‘exchangers’.
Whereas Bi-College students are allowed to select which campus they feel most comfortable studying, majoring, and residing.
Whereas the selection and election of exchangers to all manner of leadership positions was once commonplace, though the nature of the colleges and of the exchange have changed since that time.
Whereas some Bryn Mawr undergraduates do not identify as female.
Whereas the majority of exchangers identify as female.
Whereas some leadership positions must be held by BA candidates because of the specific duties entrusted to them, others should be performed by the most qualified and enthusiastic community member, and could be held by exchangers
Whereas students attend Bryn Mawr College for a wide variety of reasons, and may find that the exchange of leadership opportunities enriches their college experience.
Whereas Haverford College will consider equivalent reforms at their Fall Plenary on October 4th, 2009.
Part I: Considering Elected Positions
Exchangers shall be eligible for election to the positions of Member at Large and Dorm President, as well as the minor dorm positions with the exception of all traditions related positions. They shall be eligible for positions including but not limited to Recycling Committee, Curriculum Committee, and Committee on Public Safety.
They shall be specifically ineligible for all traditions related positions, including but not limited to Traditions Mistress, Traditions Representative of any kind, and Hell Week Committee Member or Head. Also forbidden to them shall be offices within the Bryn Mawr undergraduate classes including but not limited to the Class Presidency.
An exchanger must meet all other requirements to stand for the positions for which they are generally eligible, including but not limited to class year, location of major, or duration of residency.
Article II, section I, subsection D is hereby amended to allow for the election of any member of the association as defined in Article I, section II, subsection C, to the offices of Dorm President or SGA Member at Large, thereby allowing exchangers to hold these offices
Article II, section I, subsection D will read as follows:
‘The above officers shall be elected as specified in the Elections Bylaws and shall assume office immediately for a term of one year and/or until the student’s successor takes office. Dorm presidents and members at large shall be members of the association. All other officers shall be candidates for a Bryn Mawr A.B. degree.
Part II
Considering Dorm Positions Selected by Committee.
Exchangers shall also be eligible to apply for the positions of Hall Advisor, Peer Mentor, and CDA.
Exchangers selected for residential leadership positions shall not be guaranteed participation in the housing exchange; it shall however give them priority for selection in the exchange program over those who hold no position. A selected exchanger who is unable to participate in the exchange because of a lack of numbers in equal exchange shall be required to resign the position.
The Association shall have the same expectations of all exchangers in leadership positions as matriculated Bryn Mawr undergraduates in those same positions. Financial resources and compensation for exchangers in leadership positions shall be at the discretion of the Administration to bestow or withhold as they see fit to most significantly benefit the students of Bryn Mawr College.
The association also requests that a question be added to the freshman housing form asking if the student would be comfortable with the possibility of “Co-Educational Dorm Leadership,” with an explanation of the ramifications thereof, along with the question of co-educational dorm residency already posed to incoming students.
Emma W-B ’11: So Adelyn you now have 3 minutes to explain the resolution.
Adelyn Kishbaugh ’12: Basically the resolution stands to include Haverford students in any leadership positions at Bryn Mawr excluding Traditions, Class Presidents, and this is not an exclusive list. More can be added to this list. Basically this resolution is meant to strengthen and foster a more cooperative environment between Bryn Mawr and Haverford. I also wanted to apologize to anyone in the community that is made uncomfortable by this, but I think it’s really important to have this conversation.
QUESTION MIKE
Colleen Hayley ’11: Is there anything addressing the traditions related responsibilities that a dorm president has, specifically with hell week?
Adelyn Kishbaugh ’12: Right now, the dorm president can help out in the organizing and planning Hell Week, but they do not need to be involved any more than that.
CON MIKE
Jane Morris ’10 and Sarah Sherman ’11: We want to propose an amendment:
Be it resolved, that this resolution should it pass, shall not take effect unless a Haverford Plenary resolution with equal terms is enacted at the Haverford plenary next Sunday
Be it resolved, that if the resolution fails at Haverford plenary, no changes to the SGA Constitution or to current Residential Life policies shall be enacted, and Haverford students shall still be prohibited from holding SGA Positions and the positions of Hall Advisor, Peer Mentor, or Community Diversity Assistant.
Equal terms are defined as: Bryn Mawr students shall be eligible for election to applicable positions in Students’ Council the positions of Peer Awareness Facilitator, Upper Class Adviser, and Ambassador for Multicultural Awareness, and to the position of Dorm President (in cooperation with a Haverford student). Should the resolution be amended during the course of Bryn Mawr Plenary, the definition of equal terms may change accordingly
Emma W-B ‘11: Okay please write that up and bring that up here, Adelyn, please let us know if this is an unfriendly or friendly amendment.
Adelyn Kishbaugh ‘12: This is a friendly amendment
Sarah Sherman ‘11 and Jane Morris ‘10: We just think it would be even more detrimental to bi-co relations if Bryn Mawr allows this and Haverford doesn’t, so that’s the basis for this amendment.
QUESTION MIKE
Beth Miller ’11: I don’t understand how the gender clause affects this amendment…
Adelyn Kishbaugh ‘12: It’s in there because we don’t feel that a gender conversation is appropriate in this discussion so that’s why we put it in there.
QUESTION MIKE
Cornelia Dalton ’10: This is a very contentious resolution—I’m a little confused as to why we have this resolution–what’s the purpose? Why do Haverford students need to take a leadership role here, when there are so many available at Haverford?
Adelyn Kishabugh ‘12: The goal of the resolution is to get the communities more involved with each other, and the reason that we bring it up at Plenary is because we think it’s an important conversation to have.
QUESTION MIKE
Rachel Goddard ’10: I was just curious, the language in the resolution doesn’t say if Haverford students can be part of the SGA Exec board
Adelyn Kishbaugh ‘12: Sure, so the resolution doesn’t explicitly say they can’t, but it says that more positions can be excluded, which therefore but it leaves it open ended, and therefore it includes it in the open-ended-ness.
QUESTION MIKE
Hannah Curry McDougald ‘10: Have you spoken with Angie Sheets, Carolyn Llyod, Chris McDonald Dennis or any of the other people that are actually in charge of hiring and deciding dorm leadership positions? And also, do you know that Haverford students can’t be paid at Bryn Mawr, and visa versa?
Adelyn Kishbaugh ‘12: Angie Sheets does support this recommendation, and would welcome working with any students. And as for the workstudy, there’s a point of information.
Jane Morris ‘10: Point of information: That’s actually not 100% accurate, you can get paid by the other campus, you just can’t get your federal work study grant. You can only get work study from the college issuing your degree.
QUESTION MIKE
Becky Findlay ’10: Why are there two separate clauses, specifically the one about gender?
Adelyn Kishbaugh ‘12: We felt it would help tailor the conversation away from talking about gender which isn’t appropriate but rather talking about
QUESTION MIKE
Nga Nguyen ’11: I spoke Chris McDonald Dennis and I was wondering if you know what his opinion or anyone else’s opinion about this is
Adelyn Kishbaugh ‘12: I haven’t personally spoke to Chris.
PRO MIKE
Kim Lunsford ’10: I think this will create possibilities on both campuses, because it doesn’t seem like the HC and BMC rep on both campuses seem to be doing much, and because most of these positions are elected, if you don’t like the person, don’t elect them.
Sarah Sherman ’11: Just a point of information: there is no BMC rep on Haverford’s campus
QUESTION MIKE
Elizabeth Held ‘11: How would this apply to Appointments committee?
Sophie Papavizas ‘11: Point of information: guidelines for each appointments changes per appointment and can be changed by an unanimous vote on the appointments committee
QUESTION MIKE
Hosanna Odhner ‘13: What positions does BMC get to have on HC campus?
Adelyn Kishbaugh ‘12: We wish to add the PFA and Underclass Advisor
Sarah Sherman ’11: Point of information: As of right now, all students enrolled at Haverford College and all Bryn Mawr College undergraduates residing in Haverford dormitories are ipso facto members of the Students’ Association.
CON MIKE
Julia Fahl ’12: I appreciate having this question brought to the community, however I think that exchangers choose to come and live on another campus, and by doing so you forfeit certain leadership positions and so if you want a leadership position you should stay on your home campus.
Amanda Bowes ’10: As a person who has been a Dorm President and is currently a HA, I don’t think the issue is about gender, but I think it’s about being a Bryn Mawr student, and that both Dorm Leadership positions are integral in executing traditions, specifically hell week, and that a Haverford student, male or female, cannot fulfill these positions.
PRO Mike
Kim Lunsford ’10: You are no where obligated to elect someone that is a Haverford student, so if you don’t want to elect them, then don’t!
BALCONY (PRO) MIKE
Annalee Garrity ’11: I would have worked with James Merriam, had he not been kicked out and I think that if he’s elected, or if any Haverford student is elected then they should be allowed to have the position.
CON MIKE
Julia LeBouvier ’11: As a Haverford major I certainly spend a lot of time at Haverford, and take advantage of the Bi-Co relationship as much as I want to, and I think this resolution is trying to shove too much into the Bi-Co relationship and it’s going to do more harm than good. I want spaces, like dorms, that are free of Bi-Co so that I can choose where I want to get out of the relationship.
PRO MIKE
Caitlin Evans ’10: I think that people in dorms can elect whomever they want and that if people elect a Haverford student then we should respect that.
CON MIKE
Audrey Cravotta ’13: I think there’s a huge difference between male-identifying Bryn Mawr students and Haverford males, and also I am very proud of being a Bryn Mawr student and going to a Women’s college. We are two separate schools, and I feel that this violates the Bryn Mawr values.
PRO MIKE
Alex Stratner ’11: Motion to extend time to end of speaking order.
For: 430
Against: 34
Abstain: 14
MOTION PASSES
PRO MIKE
Alex Stratner ’11: I, in my position on the bi-co news, have been recording this and it didn’t take us long, but it did take some time to get quorum and there are 2 Haverford students who are also here. We should recognize that they care about our community as much as we do. They aren’t trying to infiltrate our community, but they are trying to get involved and we should let them.
CON MIKE
Hannah Curry McDougald ‘10: I propose an amendment: I wish to strike the second part from the resolution.
Adelyn Kishbaugh ‘12: This is an unfriendly amendment—only because I want there to be a discussion.
Hannah Curry McDougald ‘10: None of DLT positions are officially announced, so Bryn Mawr Students don’t get to choose which hall or which dorm they live in based upon the dorm leaders. Bryn Mawr students can’t apply to dorm leadership positions if Haverford students are taking these positions away from them. Also the campuses have two different cultures so it’s not the same, male or female.
Emma W-B ’11: Because this has been ruled as unfriendly amendment, there will be 4 minutes for questions, and then 4 minutes for Pro/Con statements.
PRO MIKE
Rene Byer ’12: I think that this amendment will make the resolution more likely to pass.
Becky Findlay ‘10: I think it’s a great idea to just vote on part 1 and see how we as a community feel about that, and then at a later date figure out if a)that’s working for us, and b)if we want to add part 2 back in.
Liz Bilenski ’10: As a former dorm president, and customs person, I am in a huge support of Hannah’s amendment, because we can’t make a resolution that is so overriding. I agree with Becky, we should see how this works in the community first and then come back to it.
For: 391
Against: 19
Abstain: 33
AMENDMENT PASSES
Emma W-B: We’re calling the room back to order.
Tina Blum ’12: I want to propose an amendment to strike the student curriculum position from the resolution, given that last plenary we changed student curriculum committee to an appointed position.
Adelyn Kishbaugh ’12: This is a friendly amendment
Tina Blum ’12: I felt that there was some confusion with student curriculum committee, because last plenary we decided to change it to an appointment position but I know some dorms still voted on it as an elected position.
PRO MIKE
Mari Stein ’10: I move to strike the two Whereases that deal solely with gender, because they are extraneous. I.e. we should get rid of:
Whereas some Haverford students are women, and
Whereas some Bryn Mawr Students identify as men.
For me personally this issue is not about gender but about whether it’s a Bryn Mawr and Haverford students. Also instead of not talking about gender, we are talking about it even more.
Adelyn Kishbaugh ’12: This is a friendly amendment.
CON MIKE
Amanda Bowes ’10: I don’t think gender is the issue, I think the issue is that we are putting non Bryn Mawr students in leadership positions
PRO MIKE
Reggie Kukola ’10: I propose that dorm presidents be stricken from the list since so many people think that dorm presidents are a traditions-related role, so I think it should be stricken from the resolution so it’s more logical and easy to follow.
Emma W-B ‘11: Okay Adelyn is this a friendly or unfriendly amendment?
Adelyn Kishbaugh ‘12: This is an unfriendly amendment
Emma W-B ‘11: Okay there’s an 8 minute limit on this discussion
CON MIKE
Alison Lunge ’12: I think this amendment defeats the purpose of the resolution
PRO MIKE
Liz Ritchie ’10: As a dorm president I want to support this amendment, because of the heavy involvement that dorm presidents have with traditions
QUESTION MIKE
Elizabeth Reich ’12: What responsibilities do dorm presidents have with hell week?
Amanda Bowes ’10: Point of information: dorm presidents are involved with every aspect of Hell Week—whether it be trials, or anything else.
Taline Cox ’10: Point of information: dorm presidents are also active in coordinating all traditions reps for every tradition at Bryn Mawr.
PRO MIKE
Brittney Thornbury ’12: I propose an amendment to an amendment—that if this resolution passes without this amendment, that a Haverford dorm president has to be a president with a co-president that is a Bryn Mawr student. So the amendment would read as follows:
Whereas the dorm president position requires active participation in traditions, be it resolved that should a Haverford student run for dorm presidency it must be in cooperation with a Bryn Mawr student.
QUESTION MIKE
Erin Washburn ’13: If Haverford students are living on campus, can they participate in traditions?
Sarah Sherman ’11: Point of information: No they can’t take part in traditions.
Julia Fahl ’12: Point of Information: they can take part in public traditions, like May day, but not traditions like step sing or lantern night.
Colleen Hayley ’11: Point of information: just to clarify Sarah’s point before, the public can come to May Day, but you can’t participate in the may pole dance or walk in the parade, only Bryn Mawr students can do that.
Sarah Sherman ’11: Point of Information: you can’t get a lantern as a non-Bryn Mawr student but you can buy tickets to lantern night and participate that way as a non-Bryn Mawr student.
Annalee Garrity ’11: Point of Information: we used to have Haverford dorm presidents
Sarah Sherman ’11: Point of information: things change. My mom’s friend went to Bryn Mawr, and she told me Traditions have completely changed—in the past there were no traditions mistresses, there was a committee, dorm presidents weren’t involved, traditions themselves were somewhat different. etc.
QUESTION MIKE
Audrey Cravotta ’13: How come certain people, and some Haverford students participate in traditions and have lanterns then?
Sarah Sherman ’11: Point of information: you can buy a lantern in the bookstore for $50, and you will have to buy glass panes as well.
QUESTION MIKE
Amelie Raz ’11: Why are frosh and 1st year transfers not allowed to hold dorm leadership positions such as dorm president?
Jane Morris ’10: Because of their role in tradition related duties as well as their duty in carrying out residential life policies that a frosh or a first-year transfer wouldn’t know.
James Merriam ’11: Point of Information: you have to be a sophomore to run for any of these positions as written in the resolution
CON MIKE
Alex Stratner ’12: If we’re taking the dorm president out, then what’s the point of this resolution? What are we voting for? Recycling Co head?
Reggie Kukola ’10: I don’t think it’s right to delegitimize certain positions on campus
CON MIKE
Alex Stratner ’12: Okay but this is a democracy, if you don’t want to vote for someone, then don’t vote for them.
Emma W-B ‘11: Okay that’s the end of 8 minutes. We are going to take a vote on this amendment and the amendment
CON MIKE
Amanda Bowes ’10: I still disagree with this resolution because I think you’re still sharing a vote, and the idea is about Bryn Mawr students being represented by a Haverford student.
CON MIKE
Evan Schneider ’10: I know that we have been not talking about gender, however, one of the goals of Bryn Mawr College is that it’s a women’s college and that it’s meant to empower women and there may be women who don’t feel comfortable running against a possibly more charismatic, assertive, and aggressive male counterpart.
CON MIKE
Julia LeBouvier ’12: I came here for the Bryn Mawr community, not because of the Bi-Co—the bi-co has done wonders for my academic major, but I’m here for the community, not for the bi-co.
Emma W-B ‘11: Okay thank you, Adelyn you now have 3 minutes for rebuttal before we vote.
Adelyn Kishbaugh ’12: I really appreciate the conversation, and I’m glad that people have made amendments that they are comfortable with.
Emma W-B ‘11: Okay we’re going to vote on just the amendment.
For: 324
Against: 41
Abstain: 74
Amendment Passes
Emma W-B ‘11: Okay now we’re going to vote on the whole resolution which includes all the amendments
For: 160
Against: 245
Abstain: 44
RESOLUTION #2 FAILED.
Plenary ended at 2:19 PM.
SGA Meeting Minutes September 20 September 28, 2009
Posted by Tanya in : minutes , add a commentUnfortunately there will be no meeting minutes posted from September 20. My hard-drive crashed the day after the meeting and I lost all my files. This meeting was a review of the Plenary Resolutions. However, Plenary Minutes will be posted which contains a longer discussion on the resolutions. Sorry for the inconvenience.
-Tanya Kaur, SGA Secretary
SGA Meeting Minutes September 13 September 28, 2009
Posted by Tanya in : minutes , add a commentSGA brought to order at 7:10 PM by Emma W-B
Roll Call
Present: Emma Wisniewski-Barker ’11, Sophie Papavizas ’11, Tanya Kaur ’10, Laurel Lemon ’11, Katherine Redford ’10, Reggie Kukola ’10, Marisa Franz ’10, Sarah Sherman ’11, Hannah Curry-McDougald ’10, Caroline Heffernan ’10, Jacqueline Levin ’10, Nga Nguyen ’11, Julia Fahl ’12, Elisa Hernandez Landeverde ’10, Taline Cox ’10, MJ Crookes ’10, Simran Singh ’10, Shannon Ryan ’10, Ashton Shaffer ’11, Liana Donahue ’12, Sumedha Niranjan ’11, Brittney Thornbury ’11, Susie Kim ’11, Adelyn Kishbaugh ’12, Clair Smith ’12, Jenniver Savage ’12, Blair Smith ’12, Katherine Lewis ’12, Jenny Nam ’12, Sophia Abboud ’12, Emily Tafaro ’12, Elle Works ’10, Meghan Mahoney ’10, Hildi Greenberg ’10, Caitlin Evans ’11, Eileen Downs ’11, Annalee Garrity ’11, Kali Graham ’10, Julie O’Neil ’10, Augusta Irele ‘10
Excused: Colleen Hayley ’11, Samantha Newman O’Gara ’12, Rachel Brody ’11, Sarah Capasso ’11,
Unexcused: Anagha Kumar ’11, Ean Oesterle ’11, Sadie Marlow ’11, Antara Tulsyan ’12, Shanna Fricklas ’11, Alexandra Ashley ’11,
Announcements:
Simran Singh ’10 and Shannon Ryan ’10: First Senior Cocktail of the year is on Thursday September 24, 2009 in Rhoads Dining Hall. It’s from 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM and the theme is A Black and White Affair!
YTC
Julia Fahl ’12: I’d like to bring a discussion to keep Plenary in the gym rather than in Goodhart…
Someone: Why?
Emma W-B ’11: Let’s have a 5 minute limit on this discussion.
Julia Fahl ‘12: Because I think it fosters more of a community feel as you can see everyone and walk around.
Caitlin Evans: ‘10 I know that there has been accessibility issues with the Gym in the past and they have not been able to attend
Taline Cox ’10: Will there be enough seats in Goodhart?
Emma W-B ’11: As a point of information, Goodhart can hold 574 seats
Sarah Theobold ’12: The acoustics in the gym are relatively painful, and I know that was something that was an issue last year.
Sophie Papavizas ’11: I know last year in terms of Dining Services logistics it was problematic having them in the Gym.
Emma W-B ‘11: Let’s get a straw vote on this issue.
In favor of Goodhart: 41
In favor of the gym: 1
Emma W-B ’11: Okay. Moving on to the next part of today’s agenda—Dean Tidmarsh is here to talk about the changes in her role as well as address any academic changes.
Dean Tidmarsh
Dean Tidmarsh: I’m not sure all that you mean about changes in academics, but I’ll talk about changes in my own role and then you can throw out questions. In terms of my own role, I decided that it would be my last year as Dean of Undergraduate College, and that I would take my semester of sabbatical that I’ve been due for 15 years. So I will return to teaching one course a semester as well as create a better support system for students who come in not really knowing certain things ie: Quantitative Skills. I also think that Peer Mentors do exceptional work but I think that a drop-in study forum would be helpful. The current system requires you to plan ahead and it doesn’t let you go get help at the last minute which is when a lot of students realize they need help. So I want to talk to students, alumni and faculty and figure out what we need but don’t have. So those are my plans. But you might have other questions, and I’m happy to try to answer them.
Julia Fahl ’12: How do you plan on implementing some of these changes?
Dean Tidmarsh: I’m not really sure but I do think that talking to groups of students would be helpful, and talking to PMS would be a natural place to start. On my semester of sabbatical I will also continue to trying to figure that out, as well visit colleges that have instituted some of these changes and see how well they work.
Sarah Theobold ’12: Are you thinking of a Quantative Skills Center that would be comparative of the Writing Center? As the office manager, we have about 22% of our hourly slots filled a year, which is a really small number.
Dean Tidmarsh: I think if we institute a system which is more accessible and that can be used on a last minute basis rather than a scheduled basis, those numbers might rise. And yes, I think that the writing center is under utilized and does a wonderful job when we do connect people.
Someone: What course will you be teaching Spring 2011?
Dean Tidmarsh: Good question; I need to have a conversation with Peter Briggs about this who is the head of the English Department and then I’ll get to decide what I want based upon what they need. I’m very open and flexible because I haven’t taught in 10 years so I’m really excited.
Mike Hill, Tom King and Nora Nelly
Mike Hill: Thank you for letting us impinge on your night. Tom, Nora and I thought it was a good idea to come to see you especially with all the collaboration going on. I say collaboration because it’s not a merger but a collaboration of ideas. I wanted you to all have the opportunity to put names and faces together and let you ask questions.
Tom King: Thank you again for letting us speak. Like Mike said, it’s not necessarily a merger but more of a taking the best of both communities and implementing it across the board. Nora is a regional expert with an emphasis on sexual crimes against women, and she’s with the Women’s Center.
Nora Nelly: We are very excited about the collaboration and we do a number of things at the Women’s center.
Emma W-B ‘11: I feel like I’ve heard the idea of collaboration before but what does that mean, especially for the students?
Mike Hill: I feel like it means that the services for students will get better. We want to make sure whatever experience you have with Public Safety is effective, efficient and supportive.
Tom King: I think Mike hit on all the important points and I think consistency is what’s going to be most apparent, sooner rather than later. I think it’s important that being are getting a professional and prompt response EVERY TIME. Especially with our campuses which are very unique, and I think it’s vital that students feel comfortable with a 24/7 presence and that when they pick up the phone they are getting a professional response. It’s a job requirement to embrace professional response
Tanya Kaur ‘10: How many jobs were lost in this collaboration effort?
Mike Hill: We lost some part time jobs, but we didn’t lose any people and in fact we have a couple of openings, which we want to fill with the right kind of people.
Tom King: Yeah absolutely and I’m really impressed with the Senior Staff (both Presidents and Boards who were very eager to get the right people in Public Safety) and we had no cuts and are in fact hiring people and are very excited to do so. We are available anytime, anywhere.
Jessica Coulter ‘10: So does this mean that there are going to be Bi-Co Public Safety vans or are they going to be Bryn Mawr or Haverford.
Tom King: Like I said we aren’t doing mergers, but in fact remaining special and unique and sharing the best practices. If anything like this does happen it’ll be way after we leave.
Jessica Coulter ‘10: Do we have enough night staff? I hear that we don’t.
Mike Hill: We will certainly look into that. We certainly have adequate staff, but it’s always nice to have more, and I’m sure Tom and Nora will agree that we’ll want more.
Tom King: One tangible difference that will happen is increasing night staff, rather than just having so many on-call night staff. And that’s sort of what we’re talking about when we say we’re looking to hire the right people.
Blair Smith ‘12: What are some of the Haverford practices that you’re implementing here?
Tom King: A lot of it is something that I’ve mentioned already which is having every interaction be prompt and professional.
Mike Hill: We are using the word collaboration as if it’s new, but it’s not. We’ve been in collaboration for years, for example our sirens, and our language has been very similar sometimes tangentially but now it will be directly similar.
Tom King: Nora is a great example. Nora is a regional expert on sexual assault issues. One immediate example is having her present on both campuses.
Nora: I think Mike’s right, we’ve always helped each other out and we would love to hear from Students.
Marisa Franz ‘10: I was just curious about the recent events at Haverford, about the prompt notifications for Bryn Mawr students. So is the emergency response system going to be combined as well?
Tom King: I think that’s a great question, and yes, that’s something that you’re going to see implemented relatively right away. That’s definitely an area that needs to be improved. And we were obviously taken surprise with the State Police coming on campus.
Mike Hill: Is there anything in particular that you wanted to be notified about?
Marisa Franz ‘10: Well I live at Haverford and it took a while for Bryn Mawr students to learn about the car fire.
Mike Hill: Well with that in particular I didn’t use the e2campus security because it wasn’t an immediate threat to students, which is why we sent out emails, and in fact you should have gotten multiple emails.
Tom King: Yeah, and one of the things we believe in at Haverford is that ‘When in doubt, let it out’ I like to err on the side of over notification so that everyone knows what’s going on and we’ll defiantly be collaborating on that side. If you have any other questions, please email us:
Mike Hill: mhill01@brynmawr.edu
Tom King: tking@haverford.edu
Nora Nelly: nnelly@haverford.edu
Elliott Shore
Elliott: Like Dean TIdmarsh, I’m not sure what would be the most helpful to talk about but I would assume that printing, Guild, and the Tech bar would be the best place to start. So the Tech Bar is the biggest innovation, from my point of view. So working with 6 students, three of which are here, we wanted to create a one-stop shop for everyone where they can go to one place and get all their questions answered. I sent out a lot of emails this summer that also addressed this. Another aspect of this is the economic situation. We had $600K to reduce in Information Services . So we eliminated three positions that weren’t filled, and then seven people left for retirement, or better job offers, or the like. We are now down 50% of our staff. A little under 20% of printing jobs weren’t printed because people didn’t want to print or they forgot to. A lot of people have asked if we are going to charge this year, and we are not going to be charging anything but rather monitoring.
Annalee Garrity ‘11: What’s going on with duplex printing in Canaday? You can’t duplex print anymore.
Hannah Curry McDougald ‘10: I’m the lead help desk specialist which is now in Canaday, and so we have two full time staff who are working on bringing back duplex printing.
Shannon Ryan ‘10: How many computers are available after Midnight?
Elliott Shore: In Guild I believe there were 29-30 computers, and now there are about 20-21 available post midnight. Guild also is a laptop lab—so you can bring your laptop.
Shannon Ryan 2010: And so what students were consulted about reducing the number of computers and creating more laptop space?
Elliott Shore: 97% of students on campus have laptops and we also wanted to reduce our carbon footprint. I realize it may not be as convenient as before, but I value Staff jobs over convenience.
Shannon Ryan ‘10: I also have a question on behalf of Colleen Hayley who wants to know if printers can be made available in dorms.
Hannah Curry McDougald ‘10: That would be hard because who would take responsibility of the printer, make sure there’s enough paper and toner, etc. Right now, the Help desk is 2 feet away from the printers and we can take care of everything.
Elliott Shore: Hopefully this year the Faculty committee is going to look into the issue of course reading, and books, and course packs. Do we want everyone to have a kindle for example—this is an intellectual community and people should be able to say things as hypothetical situations—do we want to reduce the number of readings on blackboard, what do we want to do?
Julia Fahl ‘12: What is the next step in making Guild a more study free zone?
Elliott Shore: We are always looking for student input and ideas—if you could email us with ideas that would be great. My email is eshore@brynmawr.edu.
Laurel Lemon ‘11: I know the idea of Guild was to have people there but no one is ever there.
Elliott Shore: What Guild may have lost, Canaday has gained. Any kinds of suggestions would be great.
Augusta Irele ‘10: What are the plans for getting printing and computers in Perry House?
Elliott Shore: We can look into that.
Julie O’ Neil ‘10: Just in terms of furniture in Guild, I think it would be nice to make it a most comfortable place. We have a lot of lounge-y space.
Elliott Shore: We actually moved around a lot of furniture this summer in trying to create spaces but we didn’t buy anything. A number of universities have closed all their computer labs for example University of Virginia closed all of them down.
Mary ‘12: Just in terms of printing, if it could say please print to One Note.
Hannah Curry McDougald: Please email us.
Tanya Kaur ‘10: Can the kiosks ever print after putting in the login information?
Reggie Kukola ‘10: No.
Elliott: Please get in touch with me.
Plenary
Emma W-B ‘11: Who do we want to invite to Plenary?
Jacqueline Levin ‘10: What was our decision last Spring?
Emma W-B ‘11: Last spring, the Deans came, and they didn’t speak
Ellen ‘12: What would they speak about?
Emma W-B ‘11: They would speak in a professional capacity. Let’s take a straw vote. Should they come? Yes: 42. No: 0. Abstain: 0.
Should they speak? Yes: 36. No: 16. Abstain: 0.
Old Business:
Laurel Lemon ‘11: Is Sadie here? We have an update with newspapers. So there was a miscommunication with ordering the newspapers and now we only get NY Times, I’m going to wait a couple of weeks to see how many papers get used and then we can establish how many newspapers to order.
Ashton Shaffer ‘11: What’s the update on the carshare thing?
Laurel Lemon ‘11: I’m curious to hear what you guys heard about this. Again it would cost about $1500 a car which we would share with Haverford. We can’t get out of the agreement but they can let us out. The minimum agreement is two years.
Taline Cox ’10: What does Haverford think about this?
Laurel Lemon ‘11: Currently Haverford doesn’t have a Treasurer, so I haven’t been able to communicate with them about this. I believe they have elections going on right now to elect their treasurer.
Marisa Franz ‘10: Point of information: results should be in tomorrow for the Haverford Treasurer.
Alex Ashley ‘11: What are the rules for student usage?
Caroline Heffernan ‘10: You need a license and you don’t need insurance.
Caitilin Evans ‘11: About 6 people out of 30 in Rhoads North said they would be interested.
Emma W-B ’11: According to the website, you need to be 21 and have a liscense. Let’s take a Straw Vote.
For Zipcar: 0
Against: All
New Business:
Laurel Lemon ‘11: We were talking to Mary Beth about the Yearbook. So we have already been paid for a Yearbook but we don’t have a product to show off for it, and so we’re two years behind. The contract cost $13,000-$15,000 a semester so about $30,000 a year which is a lot. So do you guys want to create a paid student position to make this yearbook because we have already paid to get it made?
Adelyn Kishbaugh ‘12: How many students would be involved?
Laurel Lemon ’11: It depends on what we decide.
Marisa Franz ‘10: Isn’t it like throwing money at a sinking ship?
Julia Fahl ‘12: Do we even have pictures to fill this yearbook?
Hannah Curry McDougald ‘10: I think if we are paying someone then it’ll get done.
Simran Singh ‘10: Who’s going to buy this? Can we use it instead to print other stuff? The class of 2008 and 2009 have graduated.
Jill Settlemeyer ‘10: Are we talking about getting it done for the next two years?
Sarah Theobold ‘12: Is it specifically 2008 and 2009, or can we publish it for 2010 and 2011?
Emma W-B: We can look into it and let you know. We’ll get back to you.
Meeting adjourned at 8:29 PM.
Meeting minutes submitted by Tanya Kaur.
SGA Minutes September 6 September 28, 2009
Posted by Tanya in : minutes , add a commentEmma W-B called the meeting to order at 7:09 Pm.
Roll Call:
Present: Emma W-B ’11, Sophie Papavizas ’11, Tanya Kaur ’10, Laurel Lemon ’11, Katherine Redford ’10, Colleen Haley ’11, Sarah Sherman ’11, Hannah Curry-McDougald ’10, Jacqueline Levin ’10, Nga Nguyen ‘11, Julia Fahl ‘12, Elisa Hernandez Landeverde ‘10, MJ Crookes ‘10, Simran Singh ‘10, Shannon Ryan ‘10, Ashton Shaffer ‘11, Sadie Marlow ‘11, Sumedha Niranjan ‘11, Brittney Thornbury ‘11, Susie Kim ‘11, Clair Smith ‘12, Jennifer Savage ‘12, Blair Smith ‘12, Katherine Lewis ‘12, Samantha Newman-O-Gara ‘12, Jenny Nam ‘12, Sophia Abboud ‘12, Antara Tulsyan ‘12, Emily Tafaro ‘12, Elle Works ‘10, Caitlin Evans ‘11, Annalee Garrity ‘11, Kali Graham ‘10.
Excused: Caroline Heffernan ‘10, Taline Cox ‘10, Adelyn Kishbaugh ‘12, Hildi Greenberg ‘11, Rachel Brody ‘11, Sarah Capasso ‘11.
Unexcused: Reggie Kukola ‘10, Marisa Franz ‘10, Anagha Kumar ‘11, Ean Oesterle ‘10, Liana Donahue ‘12, Meghan Mahoney ‘10, Shanna Fricklas ‘11, Alexandra Ashley ‘12, Julie O’Neil ‘10, Augusta Irele ‘10.
Introductions:
Emma W-B: Hi, I’m Emma Wiesenski-Barker and I’m a Physics and Psych major, and I live in Merion.
Sophie Papavizas: Hi, I’m Sophie Papavizas and I’m an Economics major and I live in Pem East.
Katherine Redford: Hi, I’m Katherine Redford, and I’m a Chemistry major, and I’m an HA on Rock 2nd 2nd.
Tanya Kaur: Hi I’m Tanya Kaur and I’m a Political Science major and I live in Pem West.
Laurel Lemon: Hi, I’m Laurel Lemon and I’m an Anthropology major and I live in Pem East.
Announcements
Your Two Cents
SGA Family Tree:
(in reference to the SGA family tree on the Powerpoint)
Emma W-B ‘11: Top of the flow chart is the exec board—the five of us that are sitting in front of you. The next group you see are the 5 members in large who don’t represent a particular group, but represent all of you and you can go to them for any questions. The next group is the dorm presidents who you can approach in your dorm if you have any questions about SGA. We also have individuals that represent different aspects of campus—like athletic association, OIA representative, etc.
SGA Slang—There is a lot of specific language used at SGA meetings. Here’s an overview. In addition, we will be putting all this information up on the website so you can access it there.
SGA Goals in a Group Discussion:
Emma W-B ‘11: If everyone can break up in smaller groups we will be talking about the following questions in the groups:
1. What are your goals for your position within SGA? What are your expectations from SGA this semester?
2. What are your goals for SGA as a whole?
3. What do you see as the top three most important areas for SGA to address?
Emma W-B ‘11: If we could have someone report back from each of the groups.
Group 1:
Colleen Haley ’11: Goals for SGA Position were position specific, but there was a lot of wanting to create an inclusive and connected community. Goals for SGA as a whole: we want to make Quorum at Plenary, have more campus awareness and more accountability with budgets. In terms of three areas: we had a lot of opinions on the changes, we think SGA should liaise between students and administration, and also get feedback and input to administration about student experience, for example on health center hours, and budgeting.
Group 2:
Hannah Curry Mc-Dougald ’10: Goals for SGA Position were position specific as well. In terms of the three areas, goals for SGA: having one T-shirt for both plenaries, having quorum at plenary. The 125th anniversary of the college is coming up, so planning and getting involved with that. Also, accessibility to student meeting spaces, for example Taylor, is still an issue.
Group 3:
Celia Turner ’10: Goals for SGA Position were position specific. Goals for SGA: having Goals that are set and met, having more direction, and also the creation of umbrella organizations. For areas for SGA to address: Keeping the budget coherent and relevant and having SGA be a forum for current events such as the party policy, what’s happening at Haverford, etc.
Group 4:
Samantha Newman ’12: Goals for SGA Position were position specific. Our goals for SGA are getting frosh involved in SGA, as well as figuring out the general school budget—where is my tuition going, etc.
Group 5:
Sadie Marlow ’11: We had a lot of Frosh in our group which was really great and we talked about what SGA has done in the past. Goals for SGA positions were also position specific.
Kali Graham ’10: In terms of SGA goals as a whole: we want SGA to be more accessible for the community, it seems like it’s very exclusive, let’s make it more inclusive. Also talk to the Dorm Leadership Team about getting the word about what’s going on in SGA.
Sadie Marlow ’11: In terms of 3 specific areas: Maintaining administration and student communication; Budgeting is very important; Making new people feel welcome; Having dorms compete to see how many people can come to SGA as community members and can get some sort of prize.
Emma W-B ‘11: Just so you know we as SGA exec board members recognize that a lot of time we talk about just SGA and ourselves, so we want that to change and have more community members involved.
Old Business:
Sadie Marlow ’11: What did we decide about the newspapers?
Laurel Lemon ’11: Starting next week there will be more newspapers in Erdman because there seem to be not enough. Are there any other concerns or questions?
Sophie Papavizas ’11: So last Plenary we decided to make Student Committee Curriculum an appointed position. I realize that some people ran for it in their dorm—I’m sorry but that’s a mistake. I’ll let you all know when that round of appointments begins in case you’re still interested.
New Business:
Sophie Papavizas ’11: PLENARY SEPTEMBER 27. MARK YOUR CALENDARS SUNDAY SEPT 27 AT GOODHART. Are there any plenary related questions?
Simran Singh ’10: When is there going to be a plenary information session as to how to write a plenary resolution?
Sophia Papavizas ’11: We will let you know via email in the following week.
Elle Works ’10: What are we going to do to make Goodhart more comfortable for Plenary?
Shannon Ryan ’10: I think that Goodhart only has space for Quorum, and that could get very uncomfortable.
Sarah Sherman ’11: Does that include the balcony?
Emma W-B ’11: I’m going to get exact numbers from the Registrar, but there is enough space for students over Quorum.
Simran Singh ’10: What about the gym?
Emma W-B ’11: The gym has a variety of accessibility and logistical issues.
Sophie Papavizas ’11: Any other questions/comments?
Hannah Curry-McDougald ’10: I just want to reiterate my t-shirt idea.
Laurel Lemon ’11: A few of you may have noticed that Philly Car Share is not here anymore; they have removed all their locations from Suburban locations and now it’s only in center city. So we have a new company—Zip Car—that is also a car share company and it wants to gauge interest at Bryn Mawr. The numbers for this are as follows: $8/hr (weekday) $9/hr (weekend) or $66 (per weekday), $72/day (weekend), as well as $35 annual membership fee.
Blair Smith ‘12: Who used Philly Car Share?
Colleen Haley ‘11: I think $35 Annual Membership Fee is a lot and will detract students.
Sadie Marlow ‘11: I used to be a member of Philly Car Share, and that used to be $16 a month so the zipcar sounds really good.
Ashton Shaffer ’11: This is something that we should talk to other students about before we talk about it here—so if representatives can send out emails and find out what the student population feels, that might be a more productive conversation.
Laurel Lemon ’11: There is also a $1500 guarantor fee that Bryn Mawr needs to commit to per car for the first 6 months, meaning if students don’t use this service, we need to pay $1500/month per car.
Katherine Redford ’10: Can we get this and then cancel?
Colleen Hayley ’11: Get a tally at the front door?
Laurel Lemon ’11: No, it’s a two-year contract. Any other questions?
Simran Singh ’10: Can you send me an email with this information so I can send it to my constituents?
Laurel Lemon ’11: Sure.
Emma W-B adjourned the meeting at 8:24 PM.
Meeting Minutes Submitted by Tanya Kaur.
SGA Minutes April 26 April 26, 2009
Posted by Tanya in : minutes , 1 comment so farRoll Call:
Excused Absences: Amanda King ‘10, Taline Cox ‘10, Fabiola Decius ‘10
Unexcused Absences: Nina Jankowicz ‘11, Antonia Kerle ‘11, Jasmine Howell ‘11, Katie Dahl ‘11, Rachel Brody ‘11, Arielle Paris-Hoshour ‘11, Rachel Awkward ‘10, Marisa Franz ‘10, Reggie Kulkola ‘11
Community Members: Elizabeth Held ‘12, Katherine Bakke ‘11, Samantha Salazar ‘11, Sarah Moser ‘12, Julia Aranda ‘11, Kate Gould ‘11, Evan Schneider ‘10, Katie Kellom ‘09, Erica Seaborne ‘09, Ashley Madden ‘09, Madeleine Lowenthal ‘12, Emily Reuman ‘11, Ruilin Xu ‘11, Kate Grant ‘12, Rebecca Sanders ‘12, Sue Yee Chen ‘12, Amanda Loo ‘12, Sharan K. Mehta ‘12, Lydia Bello ‘12, Moira Nadal ‘10, Caroline Kelly ‘12, Nadia Khalid ‘12, Praise Agu ‘12, Young Jung Cho ‘12
Announcements:
Your Two Cents:
Steph Hilton ‘09: Our tea last week was great, off the heezy fo’ sheezy. We talked about alcohol awareness. Even if you didn’t go I hope you are aware of the alcohol use that will be occurring in the upcoming festivities. Thanks. Okay Bye.
Emily Reuman ‘11: I wanted to know what everyone thought about the idea of having a Greens representative within SGA.
Katherin Battan ‘11: Since there are already Recycling Committee Co-heads could their position encompass responsibilities for Greens?
Emily Reuman ‘11: Sure but the Recycling Co-head position aren’t voting positions they are appointed positions.
Amanda Cieglewski ‘09: I think this sets an awkward precedent for other clubs to get representation in SGA and it’s a slippery slope.
Julia Fahl ‘11: What would the Greens representative do that the Recycling Committee Co-head doesn’t do?
Emily Reuman ‘11: They would act as a liason and could be representative of campus views about Green issues. Currently Greens Presidents can only represent the views of club members not the entire campus.
Jackie Levin ‘10: Could we possibly talk to the Haverford Council Greens People-I think they have a representative, can we find out if it is feasible or possible?
Emily Reuman ‘11: Absolutely
Moira Nadal ‘10: Lydia Bello ‘12, and I were just appointed to the Landscape committee and this past weekend we met with the Board of Trustees as part of our role. And we deal with issues of compost, and green buildings on campus so we could potentially help with this.
Katie Kellom ‘09: I think it’s an interesting idea, and I don’t have a pro/con opinion on it but I think having a vote is possible either through this period (Your Two Cents) or through requesting time to talk to the entire student body through SGA by emailing sga@brynmawr.edu.
Emily Reuman ‘11: Right, okay, thank you.
Sadie Marlow ‘11, Sarah Moser ‘12: This Saturday is the last rugby game of the semester. We will all be wearing prom dresses and playing rugby-it’s still a real game but it’ll be fun to watch. It’s going to be at the Graduate School of Social Work. So come see us play!
Sam Salazaar ‘11: This week is a big arts week for us, and so it would be awesome if we could get support for the arts students. Key Card access will be given to all students from Thursday 6-8, and 7:30-10.
Rodline Louijeune ‘11, Julia Fahl ‘11: This past weekend we had a Board of Trustees meeting and they did a couple of things. The gym’s structure will be changing. Goodhart is on schedule and under-budget. So we have an extra $5,000. Goodhart will be done by August 15. In the next five years, they will be revamping Pem Arch in some way-we don’t really have details yet.
Rodline Louijeune ‘11: What problems do you guys have on campus in relation to Information Services?
Someone in Audience: Wireless on campus green spots.
Appointments Announcements:
Sophie Papavizas ‘11: This week I’m announcing all the new appointed positions from this round. On the Elections Board we have Laurel Lemon, Allyson Schmieder, and Sue Yee Chen. On the Student Curriculum Committee we have Sarah Theobald, Nadia Khalid, and Cea Weaver. On the Student Finance Committee we have Anagha Kumar, Madeleine Lowenthal, Ruilin Xu, Praise Agu, Laura Costanzo and Grace Kung. The Alternative Concert Series Co-Heads are Sarah Moser and Samantha Salazar. On the Alternative Concerts Series Committee we have Sharon Kaziunas, Farah Rishi, Sara Chang, Caroline Kelly, Kate Grant, and Sarah Cooper. The Film Series Head is Sarah Sheplock. On the Film Series Committee we have Amanda Loo, Lena Barnard, Sarah Elias, Rachel Wilson and Jaselle Yrizarry-Pabon. The Student Landscaping Reps are Moira Nadal and Lydia Bello. Also, the Plenary Committee is being run in an emergency round. Applications are due Monday at 5 pm.
Year Summary:
Emma W-B ‘11: So we have a year summary of what we’ve done this year. This year, SGA managed to get a lot done. We found and elected two presidents, along with passing several plenary resolutions that affect the whole campus, like the resolution that released priority numbers for room draw a week early. SGA continued to encourage community involvement between the Representative Council and the student body. Another important achievement for SGA this year was increasing SGA dues by $50, which means that come next semester many clubs will have increased budgets and, hopefully, fewer complaints about the Student Finance Committee. The passing of Special Events like the Elections Party and Jessica Valenti allowed students who do not normally participate in SGA to get involved and inspire others about Bryn Mawr’s Self Governance. This year SGA has really taken a self-reflective look, making a conscious choice to include its constituency in all of its decision-making processes. We, the Exec Board, have created the agendas for weekly meetings through a combination of suggestions and comments from previous meetings and at the request of community members. Comments and questions raised at meetings have resulted in direct action, through the initial steps being taken to create an Arts Association and through the distribution of Representation in SGA survey. Transparency has been another issue for SGA in the past, and this year SGA has made its inner-workings as transparent as possible, hosting the SGA 101 meeting that covered the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of SGA. Additionally, access and awareness of SGA has been an issue that SGA has combated through weekly physical and electronic dissemination of minutes and Mawrk Notes. Finally, the website has been added to the current students’ page for easier accessibility and to facilitate understanding and awareness of SGA’s activities. In the 2008-2009 School Year, the Appointments Committee appointed over 50 people to 19 committees. After a resolution at Spring Plenary 2008, the Sustainable Food Committee was appointed for the first time to work with dining services to find ways to make dining on this campus more sustainable. In the fall of 2008, another position was added, the Film Series Committee to aid the Film Series Head in choosing and screening films as part of the film series. Also, an Alumnae Student Committee was appointed to help with alumnae events surrounding the inauguration of President McAuliffe. In conjunction with the Elections Co-Heads, two students were selected to serve the new Dean of Student Affairs Search Committee. The selection followed the same format as for the student rep on the Presidential Search Committee. Student were interviewed and then chosen to move on to an election. As of Spring Plenary 2009, the Appointments Committee added four positions to its April Round. Student Curriculum Committee, previously a dorm election, Plenary Committee, previously appointed in the late fall, Alternative Concert Series Committee, created to add woman power to the Alternative Concert Series, and Student Landscaping Rep, which had previously been appointed but not for a year or two. In consultation with the outgoing Student Curriculum Committee, three positions on SCC will be appointed in the April round and three in the September round in order to have a committee that can both start working over the summer but is representative of all four classes. Plenary Committee now has a more substantial role and will focus on keeping our Constitution up to date. In response to overwhelming interest and the desire for a better Alternative Concert Series, the Appointments Committee also appointed an Alternative Concert Series Committee of six people to aid the ACS Co-Heads. Two student representatives for Landscaping were appointed and attended a meeting yesterday with the Landscaping Advisory Group, a subcommittee of the Board of Trustees. The pair will continue to serve throughout the year and give a voice to students in the development of our campus landscape. Other positions appointed in the April Round included Recycling Committee Co-Heads, Financial Aid Advisory Board, Student Finance Committee, Elections Board, Film Series Head and Film Series Committee. SGA Webmistress was open but had no applicants. It will be run again in the fall. The Honor Board started thinking about abstracts, and whether or not the community found them satisfactory. They also looked at them in comparison to Haverford’s abstracts. Haverford releases their abstract about two weeks after a case is heard, and they are quite lengthy. This can become complicated when a Bryn Mawr student has violated the code at Haverford. Therefore, the Honor Board plans to work with Haverford more closely in the coming academic year to see what we can do together in regards to abstracts. They’re currently beginning plans for an Honor Code appreciation day sometime next semester. Also, we’ve had a full honor board almost the entire semester, which is really exciting, and was difficult to do last year, so people are definitely getting more involved with the honor code, and we’re really excited about that. Now that the Honor Board has the new blog website, they’re going to keep working with it and using it as a way to make the board more visible.
Recognition:
Emma W-B ‘11: We just want to take this opportunity to thank all of you that make it out to these meetings, and to the assembly for contributing to SGA. In addition, we want to thank and recognize all the seniors who have contributed to SGA and the community over the past four years.
Old Business:
Laurel Lemon ‘11: Newspapers! With the possibility of Rhoads closing would you like the newspaper in any other locations? Campus Center? Along with Erdman and Haffner?
Jackie Levine ‘10: I think having them in the campus center would mean that a lot of community members and students wouldn’t get them and others might.
Laurel Lemon ‘11: What I’m pushing for is based upon the feedback I’ve gotten back from all of you which is, more NYTimes, fewer Philly Inquirer, even fewer USA Today.
Julia Fahl ‘11: What about the library?
Liz Ritchie 11: If we are keeping them in the dining halls we don’t need as many
Straw Vote
Gym : 1
Campus Center: 27
Canaday/Lusty: 2
Erdman/Haffner: 23
Run-Off
Campus Center: 23
Erdman/Haffner: 30
Emma W-B ‘11: And this can continue to evolve if we decide this isn’t what we want in the fall.
Anne Bugnaski ‘10: Buzzing for Change-we had 29 people shave their head and 22 people cut their hair and give it to Locks of Love. We also raised $4,622 and we had over 50 volunteers and we had Bravo Pizza donate pizzas so it was a great event. Maybe we can make this an annual thing so thank you guys so much.
New Business:
Emma W-B ‘11: Monday Night there is going to be an additional budget meeting, 7 PM Campus Center Monday 4/27. We hope to see many of you there.
Meeting ended at 7:49 PM.