Meeting Minutes
April 2nd, 2012
- Location: Weitz 236
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Present: President McClellan, Vice President Dara, Treasurer Buss, Senators Goldberg, Gourevitch, Heavenrich, Hillis, Hussain, Jack, Jackson, Lane, Nordgaard, Persen, Tam, Ulbricht, and Ulman, and appointees John Cannon, Laura Henry, Matt Weinstein, and Andy Zweber
- Absent: Senator Singh
- Guests: Beserat Kelati, Dylan Gessner, Lily Scheiber and Advisor Clark
- Secretary: Edward Malnar
The meeting was called to order at 7:05.
The minutes were approved by unanimous consent.
Budget Committee Recommendations:
Amount Recommended: $250
Amount Approved: $250
Amount Recommended: $200
Amount Approved: $200
Men’s and Women’s Soccer Clubs
Amount Recommended: $2,073
Amount Recommended by Senate: $0
Amount Recommended: $2,150
Amount Approved: $2,150
Amount Recommended: $4,200
Amount Approved: $4,200
Amount Recommended: $3,500
Tabled by Senate
Amount Recommended: $1,500
Amount Approved: $1,500
Amount Recommended: $5,000
Amount Approved: $5,000
Amount Recommended: $1,200
Amount Approved: $1,200
The nature of each request was reviewed. See corresponding descriptions in the Budget Committee minutes of 29 March.
Senator Hillis asked that these recommendations be reviewed more carefully because of the Budget Committee’s decreased numbers.
Gymnastics Club’s and AFRISA’s requests were approved together unanimously.
Hillis: I don’t see the need “to spend so much money on something that Carleton already possesses;” there is no need to duplicate equipment. “I am very uncomfortable with this.”
Ulman: The club is not allowed to use varsity soccer goals. I think that they, as “a pretty successful club,” are being kept from potential by practice limitations.
Heavenrich: They should be providing some funding themselves, seeing as most clubs have dues and will do fundraisers.
Ulbricht: They are using Soccer Team goals already, so I don’t understand why they need new ones.
Senator Hillis motioned to overturn the recommendation with a $0 bid.
The motion passed with 12 votes, with only Vice President Dara, Treasurer Buss, and Senator Ulman opposed.
Hillis expressed concern for the loose handling of club sports and commented that this contributed to the Recreation Department’s decision to impose a moratorium on adding club sports.
Nordgaard: The people organizing it are very well organized and together on this. “I think we need to fund this immediately” because of the large interest and organization already shown in this.
Dara: “This is highly unusual” to give for period testing. It is a “large amount of money.”
McClellan: The students to be involved are contributing to the cost as they have asked students to contribute at least half of the transportation costs. “I think they are quite well prepared” as a new student group. This will be meeting all the diverse costs of a crew club.
Hillis: “We should be looking at cost efficiency” because this does not include very many students.
Senator Jack motioned to approve the bid.
The motion passed with 14 votes, with only Senator Ulman opposed.
Rotblatt
Senator Hillis motioned to approve Rotblatt’s request, passed with a majority. Treasurer Buss and Senators Hussain, Persen, and Tam voted against.
Lane: “I think [the When I Knew publication] is a really good representation of how we’re one of the best colleges in the nation” for accommodating LGBT interests.
McClellan: “Things like this are what attract students to Carleton.” This is also a great deal for 2,000 copies, with only a small increase in total printing costs.
Persen: “I think this is too many copies. We don’t have that many students on campus right now; this number makes me uncomfortable.”
Weinstein: The copies will not only be read once like regular publications. These will last four years and represent Carleton at college fairs.
Goldberg: I think 2000 make sense, especially if they are being used at college fairs. “I think this is a great thing to have at college fairs.”
Ulman: The GSC has said this is very important to them, but I don’t see that sentiment supported here. They contributed $500 and we are asked to provide the majority of the cost. I don’t support funding something that is to be used off-campus because that should be funded by Admissions, for example, and not by the student activity fees. Also, the total amount they would receive is more than their total cost.
McClellan: The vast majority of issues would be kept on campus and read by the Carleton community. It’s “a dangerous point of view” to deny anything leaving the campus because there are several contributors and it is “hard to say exactly where the money is coming from.”
Ulman: Since the numbers don’t add up and they are asking for more than they need, they should resubmit.
Senator Ulman motioned to overturn the recommendation with a $0 bid.
Ulbricht: “I support the cause, but agree it’s too much money.”
Senator Ulman motioned to overturn the recommendation with a $2,500 bid.
Treasurer Buss and Senators Heavenrich, Hillis, Persen, and Ulman voted for the $0 bid, with all the rest opposed. The motion failed.
Senators Ulbricht and Tam voted for the $2,500 bid, with all the rest opposed. The motion failed.
Goldberg: I think most of us are in favor of funding it, but not with a lot of money.
Senator Goldberg motioned to overturn the recommendation with a $1,000 bid.
Senators Goldberg, Lane, and Ulbricht voted for the $1,000 bid, with all the rest opposed. The motion failed.
Senator Ulman motioned to table the request. The request passed.
The Budget Committee’s $1,500 recommendation for SAPB passed unanimously.
Beserat Kelati spoke about the hip hop dance performance and clinics being hosted.
Gourevitch: I support this event, but I believe the Budget Committee needs to review its funding for annual events.
Senator Gourevitch motioned to approve the recommendation, receiving a majority of support. With Senators Hillis, Nordgaard, and Ulman opposing, the motion passed.
Rugcutters
Senator Nordgaard motioned to approve the $1,200 recommendation for Rugcutters. The motion passed, with Senators Ulman and Goldberg opposed.
The following candidates were chosen by the Appointments Committee to serve on Senate:
-ECC Liaison John Cannon
-CEDI Laura Henry
-GSC/OIIL/TRIO Liaison Matt Weinstein
-Sports Liaison Andy Zweber
The appointments were approved unanimously.
There are now 19 voting members on Senate.
Charters the Gender-Neutral Cheerboys and Carl’s Cards were approved unanimously.
Senator Heavenrich reported on the SRF and a request presented to the Senate for funding. The SRF is a fund provided by donors to be used for students’ environmentally friendly plans to make Carleton a greener campus, requiring that these efforts will have a definite fiscal payback. Senator Heavenrich presented a request for $1,600 for funding to provide drying racks as an alternative to using campus dryers. It would provide a quantity two drying racks for every dormitory floor on campus and have a payback period of 3 years. The racks would be stored in floor janitorial closets. Senator Persen commented that a test of this policy in Cassat Hall experienced issues with faulty equipment, but was assured that a different brand would be provided.
The request passed unanimously.
President reviewed the current newspaper subscription including delivery from USA Today. He reported that a less expensive alternative is to subscribe to the New York Times and receive delivery service with a small subscription to the Star Tribune, ideally meeting student demands at a lower cost. A representative from USA Today will appear before the Senate next week to review the current scubscription.
As there is a vacancy for a Senate liaison to Governance Committee, President McClellan asks for someone to volunteer. Senator Jackson volunteered to represent the Senate on the Governance Committee.
Senator Nordgaard asked for student interest in beginning an initiative to restore the location of student dances to Sayles. Senator Persen reminded him that the decision was made largely by the Deans of Students and before discussion continued, it was recommended that a separate working group be formed to investigate the matter.
Following a brief discussion of funding limitations, Treasurer Buss said that there are several large events still to receive funding for this term and money available in the Capital Reserves. Senator Hillis suggested that sometimes “we have to say ‘no’ to things” because we do not have unlimited money.
Senator Ulman motion to adjourn the meeting, receiving unanimous approval.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:05.