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Minutes

September 22, 2013 Minutes

SGA Meeting 09/22/13

Natalie calls the meeting to order at 7:10 PM.

Absent: Alexandra Krusinski

Announcements:

Lindsey Crowe ’14: Senior class – we have figured out dates for senior cocktails and have finalized five themes.

Jancy Munguia ’14: The first cocktail is November 9th. We originally planned it earlier but because of events on campus we had to push it back tremendously.

Lindsey Crowe ‘14: The second day is December 7th. Themes will be announced at a later date.

Karina Siu ’14: We have a lot of games this week at home. Wednesday is tennis versus Newman and 4 PM and soccer vs Ursinus at 4 PM. On Thursday there is tennis at 4 PM and the volleyball fan appreciation on Thursday against Ursinus at 7 PM. Friday is Cupcake Hour – the time is on the Facebook page. Saturday is fan appreciation for volleyball and soccer. They are both playing Franklin and Marshall at 1 PM. Head to the gym at 1, watch volleyball and soccer back and forth.

Natalie Zamora ’14: If you want to table for your club at plenary, email me at nzamora@brynmawr.edu.

Elizabeth Vandenberg ’16: Elections start tomorrow 9/23 at 9 AM and run until 9/24 at 7 PM. Moodle. You can find information at elections.blogs.brynmawr.edu. Questions can be directed to elections@bmc. For the full list of candidates, look at the SGA bulletin board or in the activities listserv.

Rebecca Cook ’15: Appointments are open this week until Sunday. Applications are on the SGA Moodle page. Information about positions are on appointments.blogs.brynmawr.edu. Sign up for an appointment!

Natalie Kato ’14: The American Red Cross blood drive is in TGH from 8 Am to 6 PM on Tuesday. It will be advertised by first-year dorm reps, as well as on Twitter and Facebook. Also, the representative council needs to be at plenary at 11 AM. Come in through the glass atrium.

Karina Siu ’14: Where on the elections blog are the statements? I couldn’t find them.

Elizabeth Vandenberg ‘16: They’ll be up by midnight!

Your 2 Cents:

Budget:

Amy Chen ’14: The overall budget breakdown is 39% going to clubs with that going to Bi-Co funding, Res Life, and the class of 2014. Budget breakdown totals:

Clubs – $61,264

Plenary – $800

SGA – $1,000

Bi-Co – $13,000

New York Times – $3,750

Res-Life – $10,170

Film Series – $8,863

Concert Series – $25,000

Class of 2014 – $9,500

Traditions – $22,764

Seven Sisters conference – $1,000

Standard cuts were transportation; you are not allowed to get supplies or transportation for community service because that is funded through the CEO. Field trips are not funded – for example, entrance to a park or a zoo. Events that are not open to the campus were cut. All DJs were cut to $300. Food for meetings was 10% of the budget or $50, whichever was less. A cappella t-shirts were cut. No outside food was funded. Unclear budget lines (for example ‘miscellaneous’) were all cut to $100 and it was suggested that those clubs attend grievances, or Mid-Semester Review, with a more itemized budget. Does anybody have any questions?

Colin Baumann ‘14: Is there a reason we didn’t get this earlier?

Natalie Kato ‘14: You didn’t get it because we got busy. Honestly. We got busy.

Syona Arora ‘15: My bad.

Natalie Kato ‘14: From the representative council, can I get a show of hands, are we comfortable voting on the budget today?

Jessica Ferriera ‘14: Can you go back to the slide?

Jennifer Mendez ‘16: For clubs, for example, are there breakdowns further than that? Are we able to see those?

Amy Chen ‘14: I have them but they don’t fit on a Google presentation. Is there a specific club you want to ask about? We can pull it up right now. We can scroll through slowly.

Do you want to see Bi-Co breakdowns?

Natalie Kato ’14: Any questions while we scroll through?

Natalie Zamora ’14: In comparison to last year, the only number that concerns me is Concert Series. It has a bigger budget than traditions. I’m not saying anything but is that a lot of money traditionally?

Amy Chen ‘14: They got that much last fall semester. It’s not a bigger number.

Pamudu Tennakoon ‘15: Traditions paid for some stuff already.

Amy Chen ‘14: The deposit from last year for lanterns.

Natalie Kato ‘14: The deposit for lanterns is paid over the summer.

Jessica Ferriera ’14: How come film series gets so much money?

Kayla Bondi ’14: Every Friday we have movies that aren’t out on film and the rights cost a ton of money, and regular movies cost a lot. We’ve been getting a really good turnout. Thanks guys!

Amy Chen ‘14: We buy rights in bulk. We buy 100 movies and them show them during the year.

Karina Siu ‘14: Also if clubs show movies, there are some extras bought.

Amy Chen ‘14: We buy like 10 extra movies.

Colin Baumann ‘14: On the Bi-Co funding, it looks like we either fund them or Haverford completely funds. Why are they split? Is it because we don’t want to fund them or is it because we split the total amount?

Amy Chen ‘14: We split the total amount. It’s basically equal, and Haverford will pay a little more next semester. It’s easier for reimbursements.

Natalie Kato ‘14: We are going to move to a vote now to approve the budget.

Approve: Lucy Gleysteen and Sam Terry, Colin Baumann, Carolyn Jacoby, Sarah Lovegren, Pamudu Tennakoon and Anna Sargeant, Jessica Arbon, Alex Beda and Hannah Hastings, Phoebe Jordan and Dani Weismann, Kaeun Bae and Alex Francendese, Emily Garcia, Anna Kalinsky and Emma Rosenblum, Namita Dwarnakanth and Jennifer Mendez Alba, Sofia Oleas and Meg Sumner-Moore, Sarah Lesser and Chrystyna Colon, Kayla Bondi and Sarah Gilmour, Jancy Munguia and Lindsey Crowe, Karina Siu, Angela Blatz and Karunya Venugopal

Do not approve:

Abstain: Natalie Zamora and Alexandra Krusinski, Jessica Ferriera and Ivy Drexel

We have voted to approve this budget. Thank you!

Plenary Resolutions:

Natalie Kato ’14: I’m supposed to give a summary about how many plenary resolutions were submitted and how many are going to plenary. 4 were submitted and 3 were going to plenary. The drop is due to one of the resolutions not accumulating enough signatures. Now we will have resolution presentations. Each presenter is given 15 minutes to present resolution, do a quick summary, and then have a Q&A. First is Piper and Betsy.

Piper Martz ’16: I am the co-head of the recycling committee.

Betsy ’16: I am a member of Green ambassadors.

Piper Martz ‘16: Whereas, Article VII, Section I, Subsection C and Article VII, Section II, Subsection D, Subsection E, and Subsection F of the Constitution of the Self-Government Association of the Undergraduate School of Bryn Mawr College (henceforth known as SGA Constitution) references “Recycling Representatives” and “Recycling Committee,”

Whereas, Article VII, Section II, Subsection F states that the “Recycling Representatives shall oversee recycling in the dorms and other activities the committee undertakes,”

Whereas, the recent expansion of projects and responsibilities of the Recycling Committee and Recycling Representatives have surpassed the overseeing of recycling in dorms to include a variety of other “green” projects and initiatives that encompass sustainability efforts at Bryn Mawr College,

Whereas, the term “Recycling” restricts the implications of the committee’s extent and responsibilities,

Whereas, Victor Donnay, the chair of the Sustainability Leadership Group, has indicated support for changing the name of the “Recycling Committee” to “Green Ambassadors Committee” and the title of “Recycling Representatives” to “Green Ambassadors,”

Whereas, Jim McGaffin, the Assistant Director for Energy and Project Management of Facilities Services, has indicated support for changing the name of the “Recycling Committee” to “Green Ambassadors Committee” and the title of “Recycling Representatives” to “Green Ambassadors”,

Whereas, the Sustainability Leadership Group Committee, has indicated support on Friday, September 20th, 2013 for changing the name of the “Recycling Committee” to “Green Ambassadors Committee” and the title of “Recycling Representatives” to “Green Ambassadors,”

Whereas, the 2012-2013 Recycling Committee met consensus regarding this name change during the fourth quarter of the academic year, after the 2013 spring plenary,

Be it resolved, that henceforth all initiatives set out by this committee will be attributed to the Green Ambassadors and Green Ambassadors Committee.

Be it resolved, that the use of “Recycling Committee” in Article VII, Section II, Subsection E be changed to “Green Ambassadors Committee,”

Be it resolved, that the use of “Recycling Representative” in Article VII, Section I, Subsection C and Article VII, Section II, Subsection D, Subsection E, and Subsection F be changed to “Green Ambassadors Representative.”

The Summary is that the Recycling Committee feels that the term restricts what we are able to do. We have started to embody and encompass a wide variety of sustainability efforts.

Betsy Helm ‘16: Beyond recycling we have also tried composting, sustainability hours in the dorm (when people are usually in class or outside, the heating is turned down). There is a program to exchanged used lightbulbs. First-years all got ‘give a hoot don’t pollute’ stickers in their tote bags. Green Ambassadors hopes to work with other groups on campus to promote sustainability.

Piper Martz ‘16: Recycling limits what our club is associated with because we have already started other initiatives and working with other groups on campus. Any questions, comments, criticisms, concerns? Thank you!

Natalie Kato ’14: The next resolution is presented by Sofia Oleas and Elizabeth Vandenberg.

Sofia Oleas ’15: This resolution regarding neutral gender language in the SGA constitution.

Whereas, the Constitution of the Self-Government Association (henceforth known as SGA Constitution) does not consistently use gender neutral terms throughout the document,

Whereas, Article IV, Section I, Subsection K, Point 4; Article V, Section I, Subsection A and Subsection G; Article VII, Section II, Subsection O, Subsection P, and Subsection Q; and Article VIII, Section IV, Subsection B use the words “Freshman” and “Freshmen”

when referring to first-year undergraduate students,

Whereas, Article VI, Section IX, Subsection A uses the word “Freshwoman” when referring to the Songs Mistress,

Whereas, Article VI, Section VI, Subsection A uses “her/his” and Article VIII, Section III, Subsection E uses “s/he”,

Whereas, “Freshman”, “Freshmen”, “Freshwoman”, “s/he”, “his/her” are non-neutral nouns and pronouns,

Whereas, The Constitution of the Self-Government Association of the Undergraduate School of Bryn Mawr College should use inclusive, neutral language,

Whereas, not all students of the Bryn Mawr College student body identify with the gendered language of the SGA Constitution

Elizabeth Vandenberg ’16: Be it resolved, that the use of “Freshman Class Songs Mistress” in Article IV, Section I, Subsection K shall be changed to “First-Year Class Songs Mistress,”

Be it resolved, that the use of “freshman” in Article V, Section I, Subsection A shall be changed to “first-year”,

Be it resolved, that the use “freshmen” in Article V, Section I, Subsection G shall be changed to “first-years,”

Be it resolved, that the use of “Freshman Dorm Representative” in Article VII, Section II, Subsection O, Subsection P, and Subsection Q shall be changed to “First-Year Dorm Representative”,

Be it resolved, that the use of “Freshman Songs mistress” in Article VIII, Section IV, Subsection B shall be changed to “First-Year Songs Mistress,”

Be it resolved, that the use of “Freshwoman Songs mistress” in Article VI, Section IX, Subsection A shall be changed to “First-Year Songs Mistress,”

Be it resolved, that the use of “her/his” in Article VI, Section VI, Subsection A shall be changed to “their,”

Be it resolved, that the use of “s/he accepts” in Article VIII, Section III, Subsection E shall be changed to “they accept,”

Sofia Oleas ’15: We felt that some students may not … it’s not very inclusive. It may potentially make a person decide between one of those two and there may be students who don’t identify like that. It’s the same thing with freshman/freshwoman. First-year is more inclusive.

Natalie Kato ’14: Questions?

Anna Kalinsky ’15: Can you explain your reasoning for mistress?

Elizabeth Vandenberg ‘15: Mistress is caught up in how Bryn Mawr talks about things. That will be addressed in spring plenary when the CRC presents a resolution (maybe several resolutions?) to change the constitution after we have had a chance to talk to the position holders and the Bryn Mawr community. It wouldn’t be fair to change it without potential alternatives.

Natalie Kato ‘14: Any other questions?

Natalie Zamora ‘14: What about upperclassmen?

Sofia Oleas ‘15: I actually had someone come up to me for spring plenary. I offered to co-present with them in the spring. It was not thought of initially, and we had a tight deadline to get the resolution done. Yes, that will be addressed in spring plenary.

Natalie Kato ‘14: Any other questions? Thank you!

Last resolution is Betsy and Sofia.

Sofia Oleas ’15: Whereas, the Environmental Justice League’s (henceforth known as EJL) mission is to work for and promote environmental justice,

Whereas, in order to achieve that environmental justice–and thereby make Bryn Mawr College an environmentally-sustainable institution–EJL hopes to use the tactic of fossil fuel divestment to help initiate real institutional change,

Whereas, The Bryn Mawr College Self-Government Association Constitution (henceforth known as SGA Constitution) provides the student body with self-governance and therefore empowers the student body to express and put into action the change wanted,

Whereas, in accordance with this tradition of self-governance, students deserve a voice in the discussions and decisions that ultimately affect student life on campus and should have a role discussing surrounding issues brought to the Bryn Mawr College Board of Trustees (henceforth known as the Board) by students from the outset,

Whereas, Bryn Mawr College as an institution resolves to “encourage students to be responsible citizens who provide service to and leadership for an increasingly interdependent world (A),”

Whereas, Bryn Mawr affirms in its Climate Action Plan a commitment to work with other educational institutions to facilitate the growth of alternative energy and pursue issues surrounding sustainability (B),

Whereas, the leaders of 167 countries (including the United States) have agreed that any warming of the planet above a 2°C (3.6°F) rise would be unsafe, and we have already (as of 2012) raised the temperature 0.8°C, causing far more damage than most scientists expected (C),

Whereas, in their campaign for fossil fuel divestment EJL has received overwhelming support from the student body in 250 petition signatures and a vote in favor of supporting divestment  from the 2012-2013 Representative Council of the Self-Governance Association (henceforth known as SGA) during a straw pole at the meeting on February 3, 2013 (D),

Whereas, the EJL has previously met with the Committee on Investment Responsibility and the Investments Policy Subcommittee to present the rationale behind divestment,

Whereas, the Board recently responded to student requests by sending a letter with no further explanation and the Board rationale has not been fully explained,

Whereas, further student support was accumulated through a photo petition–wherein members of the student body took pictures of themselves holding sheets of paper stating each individual’s reason for supporting divestment–from the student body after they were informed of this decision,

Whereas, the Board claims divestment will incur a loss of $10 million but provides no information to support or explain that claim (E),

Whereas, EJL hopes to remove any obstacles and complications to foster better communication and collaboration between the Board and the student body,

Betsy Helm ’16: Be it resolved that the student body calls on the Investments Policy Subcommittee of the Board to fully disclose the financial information used in their recommendation on divestment, including

  1. The fraction of the endowment in any type of fossil fuel investment
  2. The math used to calculate potential losses of $10 million
  3.  Bryn Mawr’s current investments in alternative energies
  4. The fraction of Occidental Petroleum and Southwestern Energy’s investments in alternative energies compared to their investments in fuel extraction
  5. Provide successful examples of shareholder resolutions brought before fossil fuel companies that reduced the impact of climate change.

Be it resolved that members of the Board should work with members of EJL to host an open forum for the Bryn Mawr community to discuss how students can better work with the Board to make decisions.

Be it resolved that the Board invite members of EJL to a negotiations meeting, with a third party facilitator, at its February meeting. This meeting will model active student participation in Board decisions regarding topics brought before trustees by students as well as supporting the formation of open communication channels between students and the Board.

Be it resolved finally that student supporters of divestment should consider backing up their vote today by coming to the open section of the Board meeting in October.

Betsy Helm ‘16: This resolution comes down to two main themes: fossil fuel divestment and student power on campus. With the Board of Trustees, we have had two face-to-face meetings and one conference call. We are working with the board, but it is difficult to keep communication. A lot of what is going on is to figure out who to talk to and bother them until they give you an answer. Students should have a lot more say in what happens on campus and have far more open communication channels with the Board and administration for decisions that affect the student body directly.

Natalie Kato ‘14: Any questions? No? No questions? Comments? Clarifications?

Elizabeth Vandenberg ’16: Who would be the third-party facilitator?

Betsy Helm ‘16: That is yet to be agreed upon. We want to find one that we can agree upon.

Colin Baumann ‘14: Do you have ideas for a facilitator?

Betsy Helm ‘16: We are looking for an impartial mediator between us and the Board of Trustees, so somebody with no close ties to divestment but somebody who would be willing to listen to both sides and make sure the conversation is productive.

Natalie Kato ‘14: Any other questions? Thank you!

Old Business:

New Business:

Amy Chen ’14: We have some reminders and announcements from Conferences and Events, and Dining Services. SGA funded clubs cannot charge admission. You can ask for donations but cannot charge admission. Posting policy: Don’t chalk under the arch because rain can’t wash it away.

Dining Services recently brought to us that if you are serving cake or anything not in a package you need to fill out a food waiver, even at regular club meetings.

Natalie Kato ‘14: Cake, cupcakes… not candy.

Karina Siu ’14: What do you mean if it comes in a package?

Amy Chen ‘14: If it was in a store and already sealed – no waiver. Cake, you do. Anything you need to be made.

Emma Rosenblum ‘14: What about stuff you do not serve already prepared in individual servings?

Amy Chen ‘14: The whole cake will need a waiver. A Hostess cupcake doesn’t.

Karina Siu ‘14: Does Bakery House need a waiver?

Amy Chen ‘14: Yes.

Colin Baumann: If you look at the posting policy online, it’s the old one.

Natalie Zamora ‘14: I don’t know why that website hasn’t been updated. Most of the websites have not been updated. The updated version is in the student handbooks.

Natalie Kato ‘14: I’ll do it… after the SGA meeting.

Karina Siu ‘14: Do you need to fill out a waiver even if you don’t reserve a space?

Amy Chen ‘14: For weekly meetings for a club in a dorm, you still need a food waiver.

Anna Kalinsky ‘15: Do you also need a waiver for bags of chips?

Amy Chen ‘14: Those are packaged.

Lindsey Crowe ‘14: Would you need the waiver for hall teas?

Natalie Kato ’14: We’ll get back to you with a list of examples. That will be helpful.

Karina Siu ‘14: The policy said it was when you reserve this space. If it’s not reserved then it’s fine, so when you reserve a space then you need a waiver…? Need the clarification.