SGA Minutes
7:10 – Sophie Papavizas ’11 calls the meeting to order
Roll Call
Assembly Members Present: Katie Dahl ’11, Liz Ritchie ’11, Miranda Hansen-Hunt ’11, Sara Jane Rodgers ’13, Jennifer Savage ’12, Blair Smith ’12, Sarah Kelley ’11, Gabby Marangell ’12, Mae Carlson ’12, Duong Nguyen ’13, Adelyn Kishbaugh ’12, Courtney Pinkerton ’12, Irene Shin ’13, Sam Salazar ’11, Lindsey Turr ’11, Heather Taddonio ’12, Kyle Aguilar ’13, Akshyeta Suryanarayan ’13, Hannah Smith ’14, Krista Imre ’13, Pragya Krishna ’13, Elizabeth Olecki ’12, Maya Sachdeva ’14, Daisy Sheng ’14, Olivia Xia ’14, Keshia Koech ’13, Ali Raeber ’13, Joo Park ’11, Hope Wayman ’13, Mary Margaret Peebles ’13, Jordan Cottrell ’13, Sarah Schnellbacher ’13, Tanvi Surti ’12, Sarah Abbasi ’12, Anna Perocchi ’12, Emily Zhao ’11, Vrinda Varia ’13, Sarah Capasso ’11, Priya Saxena ’12, Katharine Woolls ’12, Sarah Henkind ’13, Tiffany Olszuk ’12, Callie Jensen ’11, Sumehda Niranjan ’11, Kerlyne Jean ‘11
Assembly Members Absent: Aki Snyder ’11, Isidora Armentrout ’13, Giang Tran ’11, Malina Toza ’13, Priya Gupta ’13, Sarah Aubrey ’13, Julie Gorham ’12, Ellen Halbach ’11, Liz Kamel ’14, Kate Gould ’11, Naznen Rahmen ‘13
Community Members Present: Elizabeth Held ’12, Zandra Martinez ’11, Ariana Hall ’12, Sarah Ann Jordan ’13, Emma Rosenblum ’14, Amanda Beardall, Jen Rajchel ’11, Julie Ershadi ’11,
Announcements
Katie Dahl ’11, Liz Ritchie ’11: In terms of keeping the Campus Center 24/7, it will continue for the rest of the year. One Card access will be installed over Winter Break, and security cameras will be put by the doors for safety.
Gabby Marangell ’12: On the last day of classes there’s a basketball game at 7pm. The Athletic Association is hosting an event, Owls Fight for a Cure to benefit the Bryn Mawr Hospital Breast Center. The tennis team is putting on a “Racquette” performance at half time.
Yong Jung Cho ’12: Mary Margaret Peebles was appointed to the position as Rep to the Seven Sisters Council. Jen Rajchel was appointed as a Computer Access Co-coordinator.The appointments committee is increasing accountability by sending out midterm progress reports.
Your Two Cents
Liz Ritchie ’11: I just wanted to bring up the fact that there have recently been some announcements that didn’t follow the posting policy in dorms where there was no contact information left. People also aren’t allowed to post on mirrors, which has been happening recently. We can’t really blame anyone, since there isn’t any contact info, but it would be great if it could stop.
Blair Smith ’12: I was wondering if we could have a report on how events that were funded with Special Events money went after they’ve happened.
Sophie: We can take a straw vote to see if people would like to see a report after special events. Straw vote majority: YES
Catering Presentation
Sophie: Catering is here to give a small presentation about catering related things.
Richard Clow: I’m the assistant director for administration and retail operations in Dining Services.
Nancy Cassano-George: I am the assistant director of Wyndham.
Richard Clow: We’ve been asked by the Provost to come talk to you about catering and food safety on campus. We’ve created a list of approved outside caterers that the students can use for events they hold on campus. The Provost wants us to bring you up to date. The options on this list are mainly ethnic caterers, and also include Halal cuisine, and kosher food. These are full service caterers who you can safely order food from. They can bring the food to campus, make sure everything is well regulated temperature wise, and also do the clean up.The reason we had to develop this list is because there are some things on campus catering can’t provide, like kosher food. There are a lot of issues with people going outside of Bryn Mawr’s catering service, which could potentially cause liability issues. A lot of people are trying to bypass the food catering policies, which concerns us in regards to food safety. We have food waivers, which are available online and these are very important. We can grant you a waiver for foods like pizza, cookies, cakes and chips, we pretty much grant you a waiver for almost anything. The foods we’re concerned about are foods that need temperature regulation. We don’t want anyone to get ill.
Nancy Cassano-George: More importantly, it’s more where the food was held before it’s served at your event. Cross contamination is something we really want to avoid. At Wyndham, we’ve tried to help SGA with any events you want to hold. Our concern is just knowing what’s going on so we can help you. Health and safety are our priorities.
Richard Clow: Often times we can provide things that are considerably cheaper than if you were to go off campus to buy food. There are lots of options on campus to order food for events. The big problem is that people don’t have the storage space to keep food at the correct temperatures. Another one of the problems generally is that the clean up is not done properly, event spaces that aren’t cleaned up is a problem. If you get in touch with us, we will help you out in any way we can.
Nancy Cassano-George: You need to look at pricing, and be aware of what the outside catering is doing. If there’s open flame anywhere, we need to come in to make sure nothing happens, like making sure the Great Hall doesn’t get burned down. Overall we’re really cheaper than going to an outside source. Even pizza might be cheaper going through us. It’s easier for you to go through us than to deal with an outside group. We only bring food 15 minutes before an event, we’re full service, we set up and clean up.
Richard Clow: Nancy has 2 full service chefs who are very willing to work with students to try and make your event successful. The approved list of outside caterers is made up of restaurants willing to follow our standards, but I would be very surprised if they were cheaper than we are, because we’re onsite. They will be a resource, but we have lots of creativity available.
Nancy Cassano-George: We’re so excited for Thursday’s holiday dinner.
Richard Clow: There are lots of staff preparing to dress up, and there might be some Harry Potter a capella.
Jordan Cottrell ’13: I was wondering as far as food waivers, when do you need to fill them out? What kinds of events need these forms? Does something like a dorm tea need waivers?
Richard Clow: There’s been a lot of discussion about what qualifies as an event. If you’re inviting people and it’s an organization, the safe bet would be to get a waiver. Simple things like chips and soda are probably fine. Dorm teas probably don’t count. I would say that it depends on how elaborate the teas are going to get. Be considerate about what you’re serving. If you have something that could conceivably be a dangerous food, talk to us and we can try to help you out, there may be resources you don’t even know about. The bi-co has a sushi chef at Haverford, so we have even more resources to utilize.
Nancy Cassano-George: To go even further, any time you’re serving a gathering with hot or cold food, it’s always better for us to know about it. We’re usually on campus pretty early in the morning or late at night. It’s mostly larger events that food services is concerned about.
Irene Shin ’13: I live off campus, and I would still like to go to the Hogwarts dinner, is that possible?
Richard Clow: Come see me tomorrow in Cartref.
ACS Fund
Laurel Lemon ’11: Are you guys happy with how much ACS has been at SGA this semester?What I think is best to make things more stream-lined, is to have them get the same amount each semester. Like if they get $20,000 first semester that’s how much they would get second semester. Since they would have a pre-set budget, they would go through regular SFC funding, and it would be easier for me to regulate.
Sam Salazar ’11: When we did the resolution it was written so that ACS would get the $20,000, the secondary element would be to make sure the student body would be okay with what bands are being brought.
Laurel Lemon ’11: I would just show you the budget, and if you didn’t approve then they wouldn’t bring any bands.
Blair Smith ’12: I think we as SGA should have artist approval, and I don’t think it should be SFC approval.
Laurel Lemon ‘11: The SFC would just look at the money, not really the band choice.
Sophie: The idea is that ACS is making the band decisions because they’ve been appointed.
Laurel Lemon ’11: This would still happen if they went through regular budgeting, because the Assembly does have to approve every budget. I just want to be able to keep track of the numbers not really the bands.
Blair Smith ’12: If we’re pre-approving the budget aren’t you already keeping track of the money?
Laurel Lemon ’11: With the new system, they would have to come with all bands prepared, instead of just coming whenever they have a concert to approve.
Sam Salazar ’11: So we’re approving the money now for the spring, and they’ll come to present what bands they’re planning on bringing?
Blair Smith ’12: So we’re just clarifying what the resolution is supposed to be?
Jordan Cottrell ’13: If it’s one presentation, it would be all the concerts at once right?
Sophie: Yes. It would either be a presentation together will all other budgets, or separate.
Katharine Woolls ’12: If we present them together with the other club budgets, are the budgets combined? If we don’t approve the ACS budget, do all other clubs get put on hold?
Laurel Lemon ’11: No
Blair Smith ’12: Is the reason to have ACS go through Laurel, because you’re worried about the budget?
Laurel Lemon ’11: No, I’m not worried. It’s more just having another check in place.
Sam Salazar ’11: Doesn’t this have to through Mary Beth. I don’t understand.
Laurel Lemon ’11: The contracts have to go through Mary Beth, but I still have to sign off on things.
Blair Smith ’12: So ACS going through you is like a pre-approval, and then the Assembly has final say?
Laurel Lemon ’11: Yes. The first thing we’re going to vote on is whether ACS comes to present or have them go through SFC. We’ll next vote on ACS budget for next semester, and I propose $20,000 again.
Sam Salazar ’11: How much did they use this semester?
Laurel Lemon ’11: I don’t really know, but they seem pretty on target.
$20,000 budget approved.
Old Business
Sophie: This is our last meeting of the semester does anyone have any questions they still want answered?
Sarah Henkind ’13: There have been a lot of issues with the Rhoads dining hall and noise levels. Is anything going to happen about that soon?
Katie Dahl ’11: Point of Information – We’re hoping to set up a meeting with dorm leaders and Res Life to talk about how to deal with this.
Blair Smith ’12: Have they looked into sound proofing the old dining hall?
Katie Dah; ’11: Point of Information – They have looked into it, but it would be really expensive.
Keshia Koech ’13: I’ve heard a lot of talk about extending library hours, not just for finals. Is there any information on that?
Sophie: I know there’s been talk about that before, but I can ask again.
New Business
7:55 – Meeting adjourned.