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.