Click here for a full copy of the September 25, 2011 Plenary Packet!
Come for the Breakfast. Stay for the Democracy. (or vis versa). Just come. 10:30am. Sept 25th.
Establishing and Defining the Role of the Bi-Co Liaison
Presented by Priya Saxena ’12 (Head of the Honor Board).
Whereas, there exists a Bi-College Consortium (Bi-co) between Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College, that is utilized by many students on both campuses.
Whereas, in this exchange, in both academic and social life, there have been cases when students have broken the community standards of the institution other than, of which she/he attends.
Whereas, it has been necessary for the judicial body for Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College to get involved in some of these instances,
Whereas, no such form of communication has been created,
Whereas, differences exist between the Honor Codes, policies, and resources of each institution that is important in circumstances involving a trial or procedure at either institution.
Whereas, the creation of a Bi-Co Liaison would establish communication between the two schools in such circumstances and serve as a resource,
Be it resolved, that if the resolutions are passed at both Bryn Mawr and Haverford’s Plenary, the following addition be included in the Bryn Mawr Self Government Association Constitution: Section C “The Bi-Co Liaison” under Section V “Other Institutions”
e) The purpose of the Bi-Co Liaison is to keep the home institution informed, as well as serve as a source of knowledge about the home institution. The liaison will be responsible to attend any necessary meetings, transporting any necessary documents back to the home institution, and bringing up relevant points that the jury may have thus far neglected to consider.
The liaison at both institutions will be governed by the same set of procedures that were consented by both Bryn Mawr Honor Board and Haverford Honor Council and will be made readily available to the community. Changes to these guidelines that do not conflict with what has already been stated can only be changed with the consent of both the Bryn Mawr Honor Board and Haverford Honor Council.
Composting Research and Development at Bryn Mawr
Presented by Daniele Arad-Neeman ’14 and Karen Leitner ’14 (SGA Sustainable Food Committee)
Whereas, Bryn Mawr has made a commitment to make practices on campus more sustainable and “green” by signing the President’s Campus Climate Commitment;
Whereas, all of our compostable food waste is currently incinerated with the rest of the college’s waste;
Whereas, this waste releases 9,108 lbs of carbon a year;
Whereas, there is significant student support for a composting program as demonstrated by surveys and research done in Erdman dining hall by the 2010-11 Environmental Studies Senior Seminar;
Whereas, Dining Services has expressed interest in working with the Sustainable Food Committee on composting in the dining halls but both lack administrative oversight and financial support;
Be it resolved, Bryn Mawr students support the efforts of the Sustainable Food Committee in their efforts to conduct research for the creation of a comprehensive composting program on campus.
Reorganization of the Bryn Mawr Concert Series
Presented by Lauren Bochicchio ’12 and Kate Grant ’12 (BMCS Co-Heads)
Whereas, Article VI, Section XII of the Constitution regarding the Concert Series currently reads:
Section XII: The Alternative Concert Series
Subsection A: The position of Alternative Concert Series Head may be held by up to two people, to be appointed by the Appointments Committee from the Association in the spring semester prior to their year of service.
Subsection B: The Appointments Committee shall, at their discretion appoint up to six people to serve on the Alternative Concert Series Committee. The duties of the Alternative Concert Series Committee shall be determined at the discretion of the Alternative Concert Series Head(s).
Subsection C: An Alternative Concert Series Event shall be defined as an event featuring a performing artist brought to campus at the desire of the Association to fill a gap in campus programming and funded by the Alternative Concert Series Fund as outlined in Article VI, Section XII, Subsection D.
Subsection D: The Alternative Concert Series Fund
1. Every semester, in consultation with the current Alternative Concert Series Head(s), the Treasurer shall submit a recommended monetary cap for the Alternative Concert Series Fund in the next semester to the Representative Council for approval.
2. The source of funding for the Alternative Concert Series Fund can be derived from any SGA account at the discretion of the Treasurer, also at the approval of the Representative Council.
3. The Alternative Concerts Series Head(s) shall be responsible for allocating the Alternative Concert Series Fund in accordance with their By-Laws to events on campus that fall under the definition of an Alternative Concert Series Event as defined in Article VI, Section XII, Subsection C.
4. The Alternative Concerts Series Head(s) may co-sponsor Alternative Concert Series Events with other campus organizations but they will be held solely responsible for the allocation of the Alternative Concert Series Fund.
5. All Alternative Concert Series Events that receiving funding from the Alternative Concert Series Fund shall be approved by the Representative Council before contracts with performing artists are signed. Contracts can be approved anytime after the Alternative Concert Series Fund cap is approved.
Whereas, the series is now known as the Bryn Mawr Concert Series;
Whereas, in the creation of the Bryn Mawr Concert Series it was decided that three officers would be appointed and three would be elected by the members of the Series;
Whereas, booking a performer is often a time-sensitive process;
Whereas, the Bryn Mawr Concert Series must first get approval from Conferences and Events and Student Activities, which itself can be a lengthy process;
Whereas, scheduling a vote of approval by the Representative Council for each artist is often difficult on short notice especially later in the semester;
Whereas, the Bryn Mawr Concert Series Heads and Officers were appointed or elected to their positions on the basis of their previous experience and accountability in booking performers;
Whereas, after deliberation with the Treasurer it was decided that presenting a general list of events at once to the Assembly would make most sense;
Whereas, it was decided at the December 5, 2010 SGA meeting, the Bryn Mawr Concert Series wouldn’t present each artist individually in the future;
Be it resolved, that the Constitution be updated to reflect the changes that were made in the past year regarding the concert series;
Be it resolved, that Article VI, Section XII of the Constitution read:
Section XII: The Bryn Mawr Concert Series
Subsection A: The position of Bryn Mawr Concert Series Head may be held by up to two people, to be appointed by the Appointments Committee from the Association in the spring semester prior to their year of service.
Subsection B: The Appointments Committee shall, at their discretion, appoint up to three people to serve on the Bryn Mawr Concert Series Committee. Members of the Bryn Mawr Concert Series who are eligible to vote shall elect three other officers to serve on the Bryn Mawr Concert Series Committee. Eligibility to vote shall be determined by active membership for at least one semester. The duties of the Bryn Mawr Concert Series Committee shall be determined at the discretion of the Bryn Mawr Concert Series Head(s).
Subsection C: A Bryn Mawr Concert Series Event shall be defined as an event featuring a performing artist brought to campus at the desire of the Association to fill a gap in campus programming and funded by the Bryn Mawr Concert Series Fund as outlined in Article VI, Section XII, Subsection D.
Subsection D: The Bryn Mawr Concert Series Fund
1. At the end of every semester, the Bryn Mawr Concert Series Head(s) shall create a budget in consultation with the Treasurer, including a list of events with an estimated date, genre, and cost, to then be approved by the Representative Council. At the beginning of the next semester, the Bryn Mawr Concert Series Head(s) shall present a more finalized schedule to the Representative Council.
2. The source of funding for the Bryn Mawr Concert Series Fund can be derived from any SGA account at the discretion of the Treasurer, also at the approval of the Representative Council.
3. The Bryn Mawr Concert Series Head(s) shall be responsible for allocating the Bryn Mawr Concert Series Fund in accordance with their By-Laws to events on campus that fall under the definition of a Bryn Mawr Concert Series Event as defined in Article VI, Section XII, Subsection C.
4. The Bryn Mawr Concert Series Head(s) may co-sponsor Bryn Mawr Concert Series Events with other campus organizations but they will be held solely responsible for the allocation of the Bryn Mawr Concert Series Fund.
Changing the Board of Trustees Representative Position to an Appointed Position
Presented by Julia Fahl ’12 (Board of Trustees Representative)
Whereas, the Self Government Association (SGA) is a representative body of and for the Bryn Mawr community,
Whereas, student representation is of great concern to the Bryn Mawr Community and a vital aspect of Self-Governance,
Whereas, recent internal changes in SGA have occurred to increase effective representation across campus,
Whereas, the Board of Trustees Representative receives a vote in the Assembly, but represents no body of students,
Whereas, this position is an important part of student – administrative relations, but requires little input from community members,
Whereas, the primary job of the Board of Trustees Representative is to disseminate information to the student body rather than represent its needs,
Whereas, it is constitutionally mandated that the removing of a position from the general assembly be approved by the community at large,
Be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees position be changed to an appointed position; and the description of the position in Subsection L of the Self Government Association Constitution be removed, thereby changing all of the letters of the subsequent Subsections in Article IV Section I.
Creation of a Fund for the Residential Council
Presented by Lee McClenon ’14 and Blair Smith ’12 (Res-Co Co-Heads)
Whereas, the Residence Council strives to improve the in-residence experience of students while maintaining goals of equality, innovation, and community,
Whereas, the Residence Council hopes to improve collaboration between dorms to achieve the goals stated above,
Whereas, the Dorm Presidents, who serve on the Residence Council, oversee their individual Dorm Discretionary Funds for yearly events,
Whereas, these funds do not carry over year-to-year, cannot be used for long term planning or improvements and are insufficient for urgent projects in dorms,
Whereas, damage of dorm property, regardless of cause, currently falls to dorm residents, putting even greater financial strain on dorms that host open campus events,
Whereas, a fund to serve all dorms and would benefit the residential experience of students,
Whereas, the current head of Residential Life, Angie Sheets is in favor of this plan,
Be it resolved, that Article VI, Section IV of the Bryn Mawr Self Government Association Constitution be amended to include:
Subsection M: The Residence Council shall preside over the Residential Council Fund.
1. The Purpose of the fund shall be to cover lasting improvements, replacements or repairs to dorm common spaces beyond what Facilities is able to provide.
2. The Residence Council Head(s) shall communicate and work with Facilities on all appropriate projects.
3. Proposals for spending from the fund shall be brought forward to the residence council by students, Dorm Presidents or the Residential Council Head(s).
4. Approval for spending from the fund must be voted on by the Dorm Presidents, one vote per residence, and shall require a two-thirds majority of quorum.
5. The Residence Council Fund shall be allotted $1,000 each semester by the Student Finance Committee and be collective.
6. This Fund shall be capped at $8,000.
7. When money is expended from this fund, the Residence Council Head(s) must make an announcement about the decision at the next assembly meeting.