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Senate Meeting #20

Minutes / Senate · 111th session · dated February 20, 2024 · updated February 20, 2024

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This document is from a previous session and is kept for the record. It may have been amended or replaced since.

111th JHU Student Government

Senate Meeting #20

February 20, 2024 / 07:00 PM / Hackerman B17

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order and Attendance (1 min)

    1. Absentees:
      1. Excused:
      2. Unexcused:
    2. Present

  2. Convening Business (3 min)

  3. Amendment and Approval of the Agenda (1 min)

  4. Public Input (3 min)

  5. Reports (17 min)

    1. Cabinet Reports (4 min)

      1. Student Body President - President Ryan Chou
      2. Student Body Vice President - Vice President Jackson Morris
      3. Student Body Secretary - Secretary Amy Li
      4. Student Body Treasurer - Treasurer Jenny Chen
      5. Chair of Programming - Chair Shalala Leny
      6. Director of Communications - Director Connie Weng
      7. Director of Research - Director Jason Shumsky
      8. President of the Senate - President Nasreen Naqvi
      9. Advisor Report (2 min) - Dr. Charles Norman

  6. Non-Legislative Business (15 min)

    1. Major Fair Event Summary - Senator Tim Huang
    2. Making Connections Presentation- Senator Tyler Turner
    3. Board of Trustees Presentation- President Ryan Chou
      1. Presentation Slides
      2. Briefing Document
      3. Communications and MSE Closure survey
    4. Storytelling Event- President Ryan Chou
      1. Administrator Invitation List

  7. First Reading

    1. SGA Community Connections- Senator Tyler Turner
    2. SGA Storytelling Event Funding Bill - Google Docs - Chair Shalala Leny

  8. Second Reading

    1. Spring 2024 Bylaws Update- President Nasreen Naqvi *Tabled till IA meets
    2. SGA Closet Organization Funding Bill Spring 2024- Chair Shalala Leny

  9. Prospective Legislation & Announcements (5 min)

    1. Senator of the Week- President Nasreen Naqvi
    2. Attendance Check-Out - President Nasreen Naqvi

  10. Adjournment (Estimated 9:00 PM)

Time-length and adjournment estimates are provided for the benefit of guests at Senate meetings. However, SGA meetings are always slated to extend until 10:00 PM and SGA members are expected to remain in the Senate chamber until official adjournment by motion, whether before or after the adjournment estimate

MINUTES

  1. Call to Order and Attendance (1 min)

    1. Absentees:
      1. Excused:
      2. Unexcused:
    2. Present

  2. Convening Business (3 min)

  3. Amendment and Approval of the Agenda (1 min)

    1. Motion to add “Storytelling funding bill” to the meeting agenda. APPROVED

  4. Public Input (3 min)

    1. No members from the public

  5. Reports (17 min)

    1. Cabinet Reports (4 min)

      1. Student Body President - President Ryan Chou
        1. No updates — everything will be covered in the non legislative part
      2. Student Body Vice President - Vice President Jackson Morris
        1. No updates — everything will be covered in the non legislative part
      3. Student Body Secretary - Secretary Amy Li
        1. No significant updates
      4. Student Body Treasurer - Treasurer Jenny Chen
        1. No significant updates
        2. Talked about how many people are reaching out for sponsorships. Co-events with SGA should be open to the entire student body.
      5. Chair of Programming - Chair Shalala Leny
        1. No significant updates
        2. Will send more details about MICA
      6. Director of Communications - Director Connie Weng
        1. People in CMC are trying to compile senate introductions (read out loud names of people who have yet to fill out the form: Mufasa Cruz Moreno, Bobby Ni, Brandon Benjamin, Adithyan Neelamana, Shruti Tyagi, Arihant Singh, Jaden Williams, Jordyn Craig-Schwartz, Angela Xiong, Leon Ye, Arjun Modi, Danial Nabizadeh, Michael Phan, Zoe gaillard, Omar Gharib)
      7. Director of Research - Director Jason Shumsky
        1. Please fill out the SGA time form!
      8. President of the Senate - President Nasreen Naqvi
        1. No significant updates
        2. Acknowledged that the first wave of midterms is soon and talked about how communication is important.
        3. Day of GBM after 4pm, absence will no longer be excused.
      9. Advisor Report (2 min) - Dr. Charles Norman
        1. No updates

  6. Non-Legislative Business (15 min)

    1. Major Fair Event Summary - Senator Tim Huang
      1. 185 people checked in
      2. Event was a SUCCESS!
      3. Thanked volunteers for helping
      4. Will communicate to professors for feedback and improvements to possibly make it permanent.
    2. Making Connections Presentation- Senator Tyler Turner
      1. Thinking of ways to integrate SGA into student life
      2. Best way to make connections with JHU community: communication
      3. Idea: “Senator Chats”
      4. Explanation: 15 minute short conversations with students on possible improvements for campus issues. Simply: “We want to hear from students in a natural manner”
      5. No incentives would be given because it’s the senators job to hear and improve the community
      6. Funding: candy & flyer holders (transparent)
      7. 5 minute moderated caucus approved
        1. Senator Daniel: Great idea! How are we going to make sure that people will show up? Suggested partnering with “a place to talk”. Tyler replied: it’s not meant to be very structure
        2. Senator Tim: Can borrow sign holders from the major fair. What is the main distinction between tabling and senator chat? Tyler replied: Senator Chats isn’t meant to be structured like an event… it’s a more informal discussion (1:1)
        3. Senator Hailey: talked about how people go to places (like LDL) and wanted to lower Tyler’s expectations based on her experience with LDL. Thinks its a good idea
        4. Senator Mufasa: Is the QR anonymous? Tyler: yes, the QR is anonymous
        5. Senator Jenny: How are you planning on promoting these events? Thinks that social media is an important promotional medium…. have to get people a little excited about the event. If someone sees someone at Brody, they won’t go up because they don’t know what it is.
      8. Moderated caucus ended. Moved on…
    3. Board of Trustees Presentation- President Ryan Chou & VP Jackson
      1. It’s an important event because it’s a direct line of communication between student body and trustees who are most financially capable
      2. Meeting is on 7th of March
      3. Asked senate to go through presentation and possibly add to the presentation
      4. The presentation is accompanied by a briefing document (being drafted). Document will be posted in upcoming agendas. Senators can contribute/be authors on the document
      5. Communications and MSE survey will be sent to students today/tomorrow and results will be included in the presentation.
      6. Nasreen gave us 5 minutes of silent recess to preview the presentation. MOTION PASSED
      7. 10 minute moderated caucus:
        1. Senator Mufasa: will slides 46+ are template slides that will be deleted? Nasreen replied with the fact that this was a template from the internet.
        2. Senator Stone: What change has SGA x trustees caused? Jackson replied with several methods of how
        3. Senator Amani: For those who weren't at the retreat, she thought of sharing with everyone how they can compile all events on one list+ for religious and spiritual life, there was a point on religious accommodations and they’re very hard to reach.
        4. Senator Tyler: showed concern for the formatting of the presentation. Jackson said that if anyone has any formatting remarks to message them.
        5. I missed the question. Ryan replied that they chose 3 areas (religious and spiritual inclusion, student engagement, civic engagement) of SGA work and accompanied each with specific “asks”. The senator asked about free printing. Jackson said trustees will not be able to expedite the procedure, but keeping them informed is an important point.
        6. Senator Daniel: how are we going to keep ourselves relevant until they allocate a budget? Nasreen replied that the SGA has a reputation and it’s important to align visions with trustees. SGA wants to make sure that student visions aligns with their vision and the trustees can see SGA as an important point of contact.
        7. Motion to extend moderated caucus for 10 minutes PASSED.
        8. Senator Tim: For all the other intvaes that happened this year, where are the initiatives included? Jackson replied that they will in the briefing document + Jackson reiterated the importance of having each senator pitch in with ideas.
        9. Senator Tim: asked if they need survey results from the major fair? Where’s the briefing document? Jackson replied that yes, they will be included in the briefing document.
        10. Senator Haley: quantify or qualify students' religious discrimination? Many add student testimonials in order to humanise students and their issues? Jackson replied that, yes, this is a serious issue and they can use testimonials from previous events and caucuses.
        11. Senator Haley: suggested that can include bills and more specifics… gender neutral bathrooms.
        12. Senator Jennifer: Is this presentation doable in 10 minutes?
          1. Vice President Jackson: Yes, but if you have any advice, let us know.
        13. Senator Amani: The spreadsheet is on Microsoft Teams
        14. Senator Hailey: We brought up some issues (like their online system and visibility) but they didn’t take action. Can you remind them?
          1. Jackson: Yes.
        15. Jackson: If any one has any questions about the alumni related events, let us know because they will be there.
    4. Storytelling Event- President Ryan Chou
      1. Ryan: This is a fusion of two of the last events. We want to make school administrators share their stories with us. This will be combined with the admin networking event. It will be like a formal dinner (not quite, but like a round table event). This will be on March 26th. An RSVP form will be sent soon. This will be mandatory for senators, programming councils, etc but everyone can come. Formal wear is required. We will start the GBM after dinner. You can share your stories if you want by signing up. Shalala and Jenny will present a funding bill. We will curate a tentative admin invite list. You will see administrators from all around the campus. Obviously, not all of them will reply, but still.

  7. First Reading

    1. SGA Community Connections- Senator Tyler Turner
      1. Motion to move it to the finance committee. PASSED
    2. SGA Storytelling Event Funding Bill - Google Docs - Chair Shalala Leny
      1. Shahala introduced the bill
      2. Moved to finance committee.
      3. Approved.

  8. Second Reading

    1. SGA Closet Organization Funding Bill Spring 2024- Chair Shalala Leny
      1. It is for the organization of the SGA closet. We had a bill like this last administration but it was never processed.
      2. Motion for a 5 minute moderated caucus
        1. Senator Mufasa: Let’s check on the label makers. This is the 3rd time we pointed out an issue about the storage. This is the 2nd time we tried to pass a bill about this. We should get this done ASAP, so we should do it now while we can.
        2. Moderated caucus ended with a motion
      3. Passed.

  9. Prospective Legislation & Announcements (5 min)

    1. Senator of the Week- President Nasreen Naqvi
      1. Jaden Garcia was selected as the senator of the week.
    2. Attendance Check-Out - President Nasreen Naqvi

  10. Adjournment (Estimated 9:00 PM)

Time-length and adjournment estimates are provided for the benefit of guests at Senate meetings. However, SGA meetings are always slated to extend until 10:00 PM and SGA members are expected to remain in the Senate chamber until official adjournment by motion, whether before or after the adjournment estimate