JHU SGAThe 114th Session
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Senate General Body Meeting #13 — Minutes (11/04/25)

Minutes / Senate · minutes · 113th session · dated November 4, 2025 · updated November 4, 2025

Filed in Drive as “MINUTES of Senate GBM #13”

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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.

113th Johns Hopkins Student Government Association

Senate Meeting #13

November 4th, 2025 / 07:00 PM / Hackerman B17

MINUTES

  1. Call to Order and Attendance (1 min)

    1. Absentees:
      1. Excused: Vishnu Dontu, Isaac Zhang, Rebecca Wu
      2. Unexcused:
    2. Present

  2. Convening Business (30 min)

    1. Presentation and Discussion with transportation
      1. https://www.slido.com/
  3. Mr. Nelson introduced himself as the representative of the Homewood transportation team.
  4. The team is in charge of JHMI Route, East Baltimore Blue Jay Shuttle, LYFT, and Undergraduate Parking. There are no on campus parking permits.
  5. The transportation team has been tracking the ridership by service and observed the number of passengers has been increasing every year.
  6. Recent and upcoming projects consisted of transition from BSI to SP+/Metropolis for Blue Shuttle, new training routine for drivers, new camera system on BJS with safety scoring system. They recorded 1 or 2 percent of night ride usage from the student center, not as high as expected. EV buses were introduced. Their budget has been flat despite the demand continuously increasing. The operation will be moved from multiple locations to one location at Keswick.
  7. They ran one of the EV buses for 12 hours yesterday and recorded data monitored by software.
  8. Q&A first question asked what are the necessary steps to expand BJS radius. Camden Yards could be possibly considered but the expansion of routes is under the student affair and public safety. Transportation to Fells is covered by the East Baltimore ride.
  9. The second question asked if they are expanding the night ride shuttle hours on the weekends. However, multiple teams are in charge of the schedule and they are considering cutting down the time.
  10. The third question asked potential shuttle service to the BWI. There is a different team in charge of off season operation thus there will be additional conversation.
  11. Hamden circulator service hours expansion depends on the success of the program and funding cuts.
  12. Bayview shuttle expansion is still under consideration since two time slots have been successful overall.
  13. The JHMI app time lag has been a long lasting issue and the mechanics training is on-going.
  14. Information on transportation websites would be helpful.
  15. Tola asked about chartering buses for student organizations.
  16. The student organizations have sponsors who have budget code. There is a custom transportation form available on the website which your sponsor can submit.
  17. Jaden asked how the transportation will change as the Academy will be an underclassment housing.
  18. Mr. Nelson responded the team will come back to answer this.
  19. Tarini asked if the Remington shuttle can be advertised more with signs.
  20. Mr. Nelson responded there is the same issue at Mason Hall with lack of signs. The team will work on physical and digital signs.
  21. Ryan asked for more transparency on the Transloc app.
  22. Mr. Nelson answered the portable transporters they use is not the best technology thus despite many updates done over last fall it still needs more improvement.
  23. Tanisha asked if there could be more exterior signs on the buses.
  24. Mr. Nelson responded there could be magnet signs on the buses.
  25. Srigouri asked if there is a list of dispatch for each service on transloc for students.
  26. Mr. Nelson answered it is possible.
  27. Full roll up for EV is planned to be in January or February 2026.
  28. Jason asked if the combustion bus would be fazed out.
  29. Mr. Nelson answered it is on pause but they will be replaced by 2027.
  30. Tola asked if they are considering doing a presentation for incoming students.
  31. Mr. Nelson responded their orientation presentation was only available for parents so they will consider expanding it to students as well.

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

  33. Public Input (3 min)

  34. Reports (5 min)

    1. Cabinet Reports (4 min)
      1. Student Body President - Vishnu Dontu
      2. Student Body Vice President - Omotara Tiamiyu
      3. Secretary - Sumire Sumi
      4. Treasurer - Imad Ahmed
  35. Imad addressed senators to tell student organizations wanting more funding to submit SAC event requests. Imad is planning on sending mass emails regarding this matter.
    1. Chair of Programming - Tyler Turner
  36. Tyler and Tarini are working on the tabling event with GRO. He asked the senate to let him know by the end of this weekend if they have any ideas for the lighting of the quad on 12/2.
    1. President of the Senate - Srigouri Oruganty
  37. Srigouri addressed the senate to dress formally for the future GBMs with guest speakers. She asked the senate to be careful with the attire next week.
    1. Advisor Report (2 min)
  38. Non-Legislative Business (20 min)
    1. Committee Update Presentation - Google Slides - Committee Chairs
  39. AA chair Kevin reported their current and past initiatives including course manuals, additional textbooks in library and standardization of grading, and classroom maintenance. They also have regular monthly meetings with the dean of KSAS and dean of WSE. He invited other senators to attend these meetings as well.
  40. CE chair Kirsten reported that the national day of failure in cooperation with PC Tyler was not successful due to the rain, yet they captured some contents. They are also talking about printing J-cash initiative with the admin. They are also planning to sponsoring CSC event. They will have campus interview and JHMI interview, as well as Alumni interviews.
  41. SO chair reported that spotlight fridays will be worked on thai semester with focus on students oroganizations.
  42. Finance chair Amy reported they onboarded new senators. They are also implementing new system and enforcing their guidelines. Last year treasurer Branden wrote an amazing caps for funding but this year there are many exceptions made, so they are planning to enforce the caps. The finance committee is also looking into communication issues with students and LEED, an overwhelming amount of work and how to mitigate these issues next week. Amy asked SGA members to help them spread the word with the budgeting requests. They are also looking for feedback. Amy made a pie chart of distribution of SGA budget breakdown.
  43. HSS chair Tanisha reported their initiatives including health baskets, nighting near Shaffer, Disability advocacy, air quality in classrooms, and clothing drive at the ice rink events.
  44. IA chair Jaden reported they have been reviewing bills, working on removing unnecessary clauses from Bylaws.
  45. SS chair Jason reported they are working on world map, student suggestion feedback forms in SC, Brody. They are working on challenges such as transparency and communications.
  46. A motion for 5 minutes Q&A was passed.
  47. Kai asked Jazzlyn if the list of RSO can be accessed by all SGA members. He also asked Jason what the world map is.
  48. Jazzlyn responded it cannot be publicly shared on teams however it can be accessed upon request.
  49. Jason answered it is a map pinning event.
  50. Tyler asked if the liaison program for the admin relation is still going on.
  51. Jason answered the program has ceased since the past years has been not necessary.
  52. Kirsten addressed that under $4000 for the entire RSO is abnormal.
  53. Amy answered that the finance committee also had the same impression on the amount.
  54. Mamadou asked AA if the initiative for course manuals is intended to build standardized course expectations.
  55. Kevin answered the initiative is intended to make the course taught by different professors approximately the same difficulty level. He added anyone is welcome to join these meetings to work on the initiative.

  56. First Reading (15 min)

  57. Second Reading (10 min)

    1. November Tabling - Google Docs - Chair Tyler
  58. The bill was passed by the finance committee.
  59. Kirsten and Amy were appointed as sponsors for the bill.
  60. The bill was passed.
  61. Cohort Time (30 min)
    1. Brainstorming time to develop individual initiatives

Prospective Legislation & Announcements (5 min)

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 9:00 PM and SGA members are expected to remain in the Senate chamber until official adjournment by motion, whether before or after the adjournment estimate.