Taking Care of Business
Minutes for SGA Meeting of 21 September 2008
Campus Center Main Lounge, 7pm
Agenda
Roll Call
Minutes Approval from 14 September 2008
Announcements
Budget Approval
Plenary
Constitutional Review Announcement
Old Business
New Business
Your Two Cents
Roll Call
Assembly Members Present: Trina Banerji, ’09; Arielle Parris-Hoshour, ’11; Patricia LeBron, ’09; Gavy Vollum, ’11; Katherine Redford, ’10; Amanda Ciccone, ’09; Elise Nelson, ’09; Rachel Corey, ’10; Nina Jankowicz, ’11; Anne George-Hallgren, ’11; Jasmine Howell, ’11; Rodline Louijeune, ’11; Liz Hood, ’10; Katie Dahl, ’11; Liz Ritchie, ’11; Teresa Palasits, ’10; Rachel Awkward, ’09; Chelsea Dunkel, ’11; Deepjyot Singh, ’09; Amber Zambelli, ’09; Weezie Lauher, ’10; Anne Bugnaski, ’10; Erica Seaborne, ’09; Caity McCarthy, ’09; Fabiola Decius, ’10; Amanda King, ’11; Shelley Gupta, ’09; Katie Kellom, ’09; Klaralee Charlton, ’09; Kendra Hayde, ’09.
Unexcused Assembly Member Absences: Antonia Kerle, ’11.
Excused Assembly Member Absences: Grace Kung, ’10.
Community Members Present: Katie Robins, ’09; Aheli Purkayastha, ’09; Elizabeth Olecki, ’12; Melanie Shafer, ’12; Stephanie Hilton, ’09; Jill Walker, ’09; Blair Smith, ’12; Aybala Ozturk, ’12; Natalie Simpson, ’12; Priya Saxena, ’12; Lillian Sogloff-Sevilla, ’11; Allyson Schmieder, ’11; Brittney Thornbury, ’11; Hannah Curry-McDougald, ’10; Sadie Marlow, ’11; Lauren Valenski, ’09; Margaret Fraser, ’09; Caroline Troein, ’09; Katherine Bakke, ’11; Sarah Capasso, ’11; Crystal Fraser, ’11; Jennifer Pierre, ’11; Kayla McDaniel, ’12; Laura Nelson, ’12; Ashton Shaffer, ’12; Madeline Vellturo, ’12; Heather Taddonio, ’12; Elana Peck, ’12; Sarah Khasawinah, ’09; Michelle Khilji, ’09; Catherine Miller, ’12; Zandra Martinez, ’11; Emily Reuman, ’11; Julia Aranda, ’11; Laurel Lemon, ’11; Sophia Papavizas, ’11; Simran Singh, ’10; Jillian Barndt, ’10; Rachel Goddard, ’10; Eden McQueen, ’09; Aly Honsa, ’09; Dasha Mikic, ’09; Taline Cox, ’10; Amanda Bowes, ’10; Ashley Madden, ’09; Danielle Marinnuci, ’10.
Minutes Approval from 14 September 2008
Vote to approve minutes from the SGA Meeting held on 14 September 2008:
22 in favor, 0 against, 1 abstention.
The minutes from the SGA Meeting were approved.
Announcements
Anne Bugnaski, ’10: If anyone would like to donate to the Plenary Raffle, please contact abugnaski or llauher. We welcome any sort of contribution including handmade crafts, jewelry, talent, or trade and all is appreciated. Thanks!
Erica Seaborne, ’09: Voting will take place starting tomorrow at 9am and run until Tuesday at 5pm. You will get an individualized SurveyMonkey link in inbox tomorrow morning and if you don’t vote tomorrow you will receive a reminder email on Tuesday morning. If you do not receive a link or hear of others who don’t get a link please contact elections@brynmawr.edu ASAP.
SGA Elections will open nominations tomorrow, Monday September 22 at 9am thru Sunday September 28 at 5pm for the following positions: Members at Large, Student Curriculum Committee Co-Head, Social Committee Head, OIA Rep, CEO Rep, COPS Head, McBride Rep, Off-Campus Rep, Songsmistress for Class of ’10 and ’11, the 2nd year of a two year Honor Board position (must be held by a senior), and Freshman Class Presidents.
Budget Approval
Klaralee Charlton, ’09: We did budgeting this past week, it all went well. I will scroll through the list of final numbers – if anyone has any problems, please bring it up now! I’ll go down the list slowly – if you need me to pause, I will.
Amanda Cegielski, ’09: We spoke last semester about Bi-Co News budgeting. Is there any further news on that?
Klaralee Charlton, ’09: We are still in talks.
Vote for approval of budget:
21 in favor, 1 against, 0 abstentions.
Plenary
Shelley Gupta, ’09: The first thing is to take a straw vote as to whether we want to invite the administration to come to Plenary. In years past, we both have and haven’t invited them. It’s entirely up to all of you here tonight.
Dasha Mikic, ’09: Would they be able to vote or speak?
Shelley Gupta, ’09: No, they would just be able to observe the proceedings, but not participate.
A straw vote was conducted, with 41 in favor of inviting the administration, 8 against, and 24 abstentions, thus, we will invite the administration.
After the vote, the plenary resolutions with necessary petition signatures were read; the full text of all three resolutions follows the body of the minutes.
Resolution 1: Resolution to Alter Date of Priority Number Release
Rachel Goddard, ’10: We just felt that it would help the room draw process be a little bit less stressful if students had more time in between getting their priority numbers and having to go through multiple occupancy draw. This would give them more time to decide whether they wanted to find a roommate, find a hall group, or try for a single. This does not effect the later parts of Room Draw, it would not push them back. We also have two appendices, one is a step-by-step list of the Room Draw process, and Appendix B is the room draw calendar from last year, for all of those who’ve never been through the process, or want a reference.
Anne Bugnaski, ’10: I think it’s a great idea, thanks!
Resolution 2: Reducing Paper Used for Publications Distributed to Students
Paula Hidalgo, ’11: I feel that we get these copies of both of these documents, and then you see them leftover everywhere, or being recycled. Given that they are easily accessible on-line, there is no use to waste this paper. Because it is an undergraduate document, you would be able to request a copy on-line, but you can get the faculty phone numbers through http://www.brynmawr.edu/find, and if you want a student’s phone number, you can find it through Virtual Bryn Mawr.
Taline Cox, ’10: In the past, when I’ve tried to use the student directory on Virtual Bryn Mawr, it tells me that I can only access that information within the time that’s for registration. So, in February or March, if I want someone’s phone number or address, it wouldn’t work, at least for me. Is there a different way that is accessible all the time?
Paula Hidalgo, ’11: It should work all of the time.
Katie Kellom, ’09: You can use the student directory for tri-co students, and it works for box and email addresses. Is the student directory the one that has addresses of students?
Paula Hidalgo, ’11: This one has addresses, and you can find them on Virtual Bryn Mawr, also. Both of them are compiled with both of the same databases, so through Virtual Bryn Mawr you can find phone numbers, address, and box numbers – but if the student alters privacy settings, you won’t have access to them, but you wouldn’t be able to see that information in the print version, then, either.
Caroline Troein, ’09: Is it cheaper or the same cost for this alternative?
Paula Hidalgo, ’11: The reason I want to do this is because it is definitely more eco-friendly, but it actually will be less expensive or the same as what the Office of Public Affairs already spends ($9000 dollars for catalogs, plus a separate cost of the directory).
Jen Pierre, ’11: Was there an option if you wanted a hard copy?
Paula Hidalgo, ’11: For the catalog, yes. That would be done through Virtual Bryn Mawr, and I got to meet with the Registrar, and they said that would be OK with them. But for the student directory, they don’t deal with that, the Office of Public Affairs does. They keep paper copies, too, in their office of the directory.
Christina Wagner, ’11: There is a point in the middle where the language is a little wordy, so for the sake of reading it at plenary, I would make sure it’s easier to follow.
Kendalyn Brown, ’09: I might also include what information is available on which sites.
Rachel Corey, ’10: I would also put a link up for Virtual Bryn Mawr on there.
Madison Schaeffer, ’11: Are there going to be some additional copies printed, in case the numbers of the frosh class change, and for peer mentors to use, as well?
Paula Hidalgo, ’11: Yes, the registrar will print extras.
Shelley Gupta, ’09: Peer Mentors can always ask for them through Rona.
Katie Kellom, ’09: Thank you for doing this! This is something that I’ve always wanted to do, and never did, so I’m really glad you did!
Resolution 3: Resolution Regarding Credit/No Credit
Dasha Mikic, ’09: It was presented two years ago, it might look familiar. This was regarding classes that we can elect to take credit/no credit. I think we should be able to uncover and factor them into our grades if we want to. It received overwhelming student support the first time around. I’ve spoken to faculty and deans, and to the Provost’s Office as to why the faculty said no the first time, but no one can seem to find minutes of those meetings. I think this is a positive change, and we should bring it to show them that we care about this issue still.
Caroline Troein, ’09: Could you clarify the last clause?
Dasha Mikic, ’09: I’ve spoken to some that say that this may get out of hand, so it’s to keep it from snowballing out of proportion. This is to make clear to everyone that this would make the same limits – it would only apply to those 4 courses.
Marisa Franz, ’10: Could the faculty rep from that year speak to this?
Dasha Mikic, ’09: I’ve spoken to Karen Tidmarsh and Dean Balthazar, and she can’t remember, and I know that the two faculty members who were co-heads of the Curriculum Committee aren’t on there anymore. I think that it will receive a lot of support, and I’ve spoken to the head of the Curriculum Committee about it.
Madison Schaeffer, ’11: I know you’ve mentioned that the current faculty co-head would talk about this after Plenary, but how do we make sure that there are students in there involved in that discussion?
Dasha Mikic, ’09: I did not know that they wouldn’t be elected by that meeting, but I’ve spoken to Ignacio Gallup-Diaz (co-head of the Curriculum Committee) and he wanted to talk to Lee Watkins, registrar at Haverford. He was very interested, and I believe that it won’t fall through the cracks. It was a very encouraging meeting at Haverford. I’ve offered to give those notes to him, and I’ve offered to get those notes from there from faculty and student reactions when they passed a similar resolution 5 years ago.
Katie Kellom, ’09: Did he give you any indication that this is necessary – since this has already been supported by students, and you are in the works of getting this heard at a faculty meeting – will this help at all?
Dasha Mikic, ’09: I’ve spoken to him about asking whether this would work by going directly through the Curriculum Committee, but he said that it would be better going through Plenary.
Constitutional Review Announcement
Katie Kellom, ’09: So that’s all of the plenary resolutions for this year. We wanted to talk to you all about something that’s in the works. Something that the current exec board worked on a lot over the summer was going through the Constitution and finding areas that could be improved. All of those changes would be formally presented at Plenary, but we decided that it was too big for the 4 of us, and we wanted student input and support on how we do this. What we thought would be best way, after a suggestion from someone, was to make a committee whose sole purpose would be to go through it and talk about these issues. There would be faculty members involved solely for offering a historic view of SGA. We would want to have a good range of students, but not too big – that’s why we didn’t want to bring it just to SGA, because while the opinions expressed here are important, it’s hard to vote on things here just because of the sheer amount of people. The other thing is that, if they couldn’t even decide on larger issues, they felt stuck, then those would be brought to SGA, so that we could get a feeling for what the rest of the students feel. We just wanted to let you know that that’s something we are planning to do . We are going to wait until we have a full exec board. We will probably discuss it more fully at the next SGA meeting.
Amanda Bowes, ’10: Who will be on this committee?
Kendra Hayde, ’09: That’s part of what we want us to decide as a group at the next meeting.
Katie Kellom, ’09: The goal is to present the changes at Plenary in the Spring. The full changes would be released earlier than one week before, of course, so that the whole student body could go through it and read it earlier.
Old Business
Sofia Nitchie, ’09: We talked to Tuesday group about the posting policy. They were OK with the exception made for Mawrk Notes. They just wanted to make sure that there is someone overseeing it. The mirrors in the bathrooms are a no-no. Talk to the housekeepers about where to put them, and make sure the housekeepers know who is putting them up. We told the dorm presidents about what to do and who they should talk to, so we are set with this for now.
New Business
Marisa Franz, ’10: On behalf of Caroline Troein, I would like to make a motion:
Whereas elections for Student Self Government positions must be conducted in a respectful, communicative and productive manner, with particular attention to the Honor Code,
Whereas while common practice has candidates trying to promote themselves without explicitly seeking votes for their candidacy, yet the purpose of campaigns is to solicit votes,
Whereas Bryn Mawr students can benefit from more opportunities to advocate for themselves and promote their abilities,
Whereas current Election Bylaws lack specificity when it comes to the forms of self advocacy in which candidates may participate,
Whereas while the focus of elections is on the election process, it is important for candidates to be able to directly and openly advocate their candidacies so that elections do not become a popularity contests,
Whereas all candidates campaigning must strictly abide by the Posting Policy and Honor Code,
Be it resolved that the following practices be added to the Elections Bylaws, that:
Candidates may self advocate and promote themselves in their campaigns based on their abilities, ideas and past experiences, and respectfully ask students to vote for them based on these qualifications.
Candidates should not make assumptions, inferences, or conjectures on other candidates’ ideas, potential, abilities, or character while campaigning.
Furthermore, this change in election practices will not be applicable until after the current election cycle has been concluded.
Chart of illustrations:
YES NO
“Vote for me because I believe that I am qualified for this position” “Vote for me because I am better than Candidate X.”
“Vote for me because I want to try to bring the campus together.” “Vote for me because I am the best candidate”
“Vote for me because I have two years of SGA experience.” “Vote for me because I have better experience than the other candidates.”
Marisa Franz, ’10: It’s pretty self-explanatory – currently, you can’t say “vote for me” while campaigning, and it seems a little odd that you can have a poster that has your name and picture, but can’t say this idea that’s implied in it anyways. It would clarify some of the things from the problems in the process that we’ve encountered.
Katherine Redford, ’10: I really like this, I think it’s totally in the right spirit, and abides by the Honor Code.
Christina Wagner, ’11: I would like to echo what Katherine said, and just add that I think that it goes a long way to clear up red tape in this process. Thank you.
Amber Zambelli, ’09: I think that this is a great thing to say, because, as Marisa said, there is an obvious sentiment behind the posters, etc. Why don’t we clear that up – that’s something that we as Elections Co-Heads are trying to do, and that’s what we are going to do now that we have quorum. It’s great to have community involvement in this process, so thank you very much.
Anne Bugnaski, ’10: My only worry is that this makes it very subjective, and so if someone makes a statement that one person sees as offending this policy, it becomes more subjective as to whether it’s out of order, in that it’s not specific anymore – it would make the Elections Co-Head job more difficult.
Caroline Troein, ’09: We could take a friendly amendment to change that, if you would like.
Patricia LeBron, ’09: Even if the Elections co-heads decide that, and you don’t like the decision, you can still appeal it to go to the Honor Board.
Caroline Troein, ’09: The regular confrontation procedure is still in effect – the process is still within the Honor Code and the Posting Policy.
Jasmine Howell, ’11: I really like this. I work with a lot of frosh as a customs person, and it’s really hard to explain why they are not allowed to say this.
Kendra Hayde, ’09: Can the Elections Co-Heads just clarify when this will go in effect if we approve this?
Erica Seaborne, ’09: This will count for all positions going up for nominations tomorrow – but not for the ones that we vote on tomorrow.
A two-thirds vote was held with a full two-thirds of the assembly present, and 23 votes in favor of this motion, a 100% approval vote. Therefore, the Elections By-Laws were amended with this motion.
Your Two Cents
Kendalyn Brown, ’09: Can we get more lights and less AC in here for meetings?
Amber Zambelli, ’09: They just turned up the thermostat a few days ago, because people were dying. So we are making strides. And the lights just don’t work.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Plenary Resolutions as presented at SGA:
Resolution 1: Resolution to Alter Date of Priority Number Release
Presented by Jill Barndt ’10 and Rachel Goddard ‘10
Whereas the Room Draw process is the mechanism by which housing assignments for returning students is determined. (See Appendix A for an explanation of the Room Draw process)
Whereas room draw is separated into two draws: the Multiple Occupancy/Hall Group draw and Regular (singles) draw.
Whereas a student may not decide which draw to enter until after priority numbers are released.
Whereas the current room draw calendar (See Appendix B for the 2008 Room Draw Calendar) allows only five days between the release of priority numbers and the date Multiple Occupancy/Hall Group cards are due.
Whereas a student who had not previously considered entering the Multiple Occupancy/Hall Group draw might choose to do so after the release of priority numbers.
Whereas five days is not always sufficient time to find possible roommates/hall group partners.
Whereas more time might be needed in order to research and make decisions that will impact a student’s living situation for the following academic year.
Whereas Director of Residential Life, Ms. Angie Sheets, has verified the feasibility of moving the posting date of priority numbers back a week without impacting the dates of the actual Multiple Occupancy/Hall Group draw and the Regular (singles) draw.
Be it resolved the student body recommends that priority numbers be released a week earlier than in the previous year, allowing approximately 12 days between the posting of priority numbers and the due date of Multiple Occupancy/Hall Group cards.
Resolution 2: Reducing Paper Used for Publications Distributed to Students
Submitted by Paula Hidalgo, ‘11
Whereas, Bryn Mawr prints two lengthy documents for all the students: the annual Undergraduate Catalog and the Campus Directory (with its respective Addendum),
Whereas, the Office of Public Affairs prints 3000 copies of the Campus Directory, which last year was 122 pages total (the Campus Directory was 112 pages and the Addendum is 10 pages),
Whereas, the Office of Public Affairs orders a total of 4500 Undergraduate Catalogs (which this year consists of 335 pages): 2100 copies for Admissions, 2200 for the Dean’s Office, in addition to 200 for their own office.
Whereas, both documents can easily be found online:
-The same catalog students receive as a hard copy is posted as PDF file at http://www.brynmawr.edu/catalog/,
-The Campus Directory is compiled from information of the online database found at http://www.brynmawr.edu/find/, and Virtual Bryn Mawr, which are constantly updated and are more accurate than the paper copy (which is why an Addendum needs to be printed during the spring semester),
Whereas, the involved administrative offices have agreed with the initiative in hopes of making of campus more eco-friendly,
Be it resolved, the student body recommends the Office of Public Affairs no longer print the Campus Directory (and its respective Addendum) for undergraduate students as it is easily accessible online.
The student body recommends the Dean’s Office to provide first year students (freshmen and transfer students) a hard copy of the catalog. Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who wish to obtain a hard copy of the catalog for the following academic year can request it online via Virtual Bryn Mawr by April 30 of each spring semester.
The student body recommends Public Affairs to reduce the number of catalogs printed for office use by at least 50 copies.
The student body strongly recommends Admissions to reevaluate the number of catalogs printed, as well as introduce an eco-friendly option for those students who will very likely have access to a computer and invite them to visit the online catalog.
Resolution 3: Resolution Regarding Credit/No Credit
Submitted by Dasha Mikic, ’09
Whereas, Bryn Mawr students are allowed to take up to four courses Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) during their time at Bryn Mawr, or one for each year in attendance for transfer students,
Whereas, the CR/NC option is widely used by Bryn Mawr students,
Whereas, currently, students who have elected to take a course CR/NC at Bryn Mawr are not allowed to have their grades officially uncovered, which is not the case at Haverford,
Whereas, the point of allowing students to take classes CR/NC is to encourage students to experiment with courses that, despite effort, they are unsure they will succeed in, by allowing these students a measure of flexibility and power over their GPAs and the presentation of their transcripts,
Whereas, all students taking courses CR/NC receive a numerical grade for their classes,
Whereas, many students who have taken classes CR/NC have earned numerical grades that they would like to have factored into their GPAs and shown on their transcripts,
Whereas, students should not be penalized for choosing to be cautious when taking challenging classes and then doing well in those classes,
Whereas, allowing grades to be uncovered may even increase commitment by students to coursework for classes being taken CR/NC,
Be it resolved that the student body recommends that the CR/NC policy be changed so as to allow students to choose to uncover grades received in a course taken CR/NC, so that these grades may be shown on their transcripts and factored into GPAs;
That the student body also recommends that, henceforth, students shall be required to request uncovering of a grade by the end of the first week of classes the semester after taking an CR/NC class, as is the case at Haverford;
That the student body also recommends that an exception should be made for current Bryn Mawr students who have taken classes CR/NC, and that they should be required to request to have their grades uncovered by the end of the first week of the semester after the policy is changed, or at a time to be decided by the deans of the college;
That the student body also recommends that the limit of four CR/NC classes be maintained in the case of uncovered grades.