JHU SGAThe 114th Session
← All documents

Senate General Body Meeting #16 — Minutes (01/19/25)

Minutes / Senate · minutes · 113th session · dated January 19, 2025 · updated January 20, 2026

Filed in Drive as “MINUTES of Senate GBM #16”

Open the original in Google Docs ↗

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 #16

January 19th, 2025 / 07:00 PM / BSC 404

MINUTES

  1. Call to Order and Attendance (1 min)

    1. Absentees:
      1. Excused: Mamadou Thiam, Andrew Gao, Emin Soguktas, Avi Liu, Jaden Garcia, Sajiv Harikrishnan, Siddharth Dhadi, Srigouri Oruganty, Imad Ahmed
      2. Unexcused:
    2. Present

  2. Convening Business (30 min)

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

  4. Public Input (3 min)

  5. Reports (5 min)

    1. Cabinet Reports (4 min)
      1. Student Body President - Vishnu Dontu
      2. Student Body Vice President - Omotara Tiamiyu VP Omotara welcomed back SGA members. She reported on the executive meeting with the board of trustees. According to Omotara the Board of Trustees noted that SGA has been the best group so far. She mentioned that President Vishnu will be checking in on the initiative trackers.
      3. Secretary - Sumire Sumi

join.iClicker.com KTWZ

  1. Treasurer - Imad Ahmed Amy stated the spring budget was due last Thursday and the spring budget assignment has been appointed in the finance committee.
  2. Chair of Programming - Tyler Turner Tyler reported that freshman ice skating night will be on February 1st, sophomores on February 20th Ice skate night freshman February 13th Sophomore January 31st junior check with tyler** Speed dating night in glass pav.
  3. President of the Senate - Srigouri Oruganty
  1. Advisor Report (2 min) Jessica welcomed back all SGA members.
  1. Non-Legislative Business (20 min)
    1. SGA Appointments Inauguration - Justice Branch Inauguration was postponed.

  2. First Reading (10 min)

    1. Looking for a JayFriend Funding Bill - Chair Tyler
  3. Tyler presented the bill explaining there will be chickfila asking if we should do cheese pizza or fruit and brownies considering the dietary restrictions. A senate suggested cheese pizza. The total cost of the bill will be $420.50. He is still considering expanding the event scale including arts and crafts stations.
  4. Motion to have a 5 minute moderated caucus was passed.
  5. Jason suggested having more filler foods other than chicken nuggets such as pasta. He also questions why the event name is “Looking for Jay friends.” Tyler and Tanisha answered that the title is neutral for finding friends and partners for valentines day.
  6. Jason reported that last year’s success was due to the marketing near valentines day. He asked if Tyler is planning on any marketing strategy for this year.
  7. Tyler answered the logistics of the event are still under the consideration so he will be working on marketing as soon as these details are set.
  8. Veda asked how many people came to the event last year.
  9. Jason noted there were about 200 people coming in and out of the event last year.
  10. Tyler also agreed that the tables and chairs prepared were not enough.
  11. Jason suggested having rectangular sitting tables instead of round tables.
  12. Tanisha also stated that great hall capacity would be sufficient if the people are coming in and out.
  13. Kirsten asked for more logistical details provided to better prepare for the marketing.
    1. Office Hours Act - Senator Seán
  14. Sean presented the Office Hours Act with the purpose of visualizing SGA’s work to the student body. This act encourages the student body to participate in an office hour led by senators to ask questions about SGA committees, initiatives, and any resources they are seeking. Section V casework services indicate that senators are free to seek help and ask other senators to provide the resources.
  15. Jason wants to directly engage with the student body, what is the most pressing issue, how to represent the students best. Enhance transparency, better represent the students in general.
  16. Sean stated that the purpose of this act is to encourage senators to face students and provide help. Sean reported he held an office hours an hour before the GBM in bloomberg. He also stated there will be social media advertising these office hours. Sean stated their willingness to make this an official SGA services provided by and for the Hopkins students.
  17. Jason said that the name doesn’t have to be so formal. Wants to focus on building better communication with the student body and enhancing SGA’s presence in the student body and on campus.
  18. Motion to 10 minute moderated caucus was passed.
  19. The Zoom office hours option was questioned.
  20. Sean answered that it is accessible, but public-facing is more encouraged.
  21. Amy suggested renaming office hours to drop in hours.
  22. Sean indicated that the bill notes the office hour name can be modified.
  23. Jazz suggested the participation of office hours can be linked to the incentives or planning shifts.
  24. Sean answered that he wants the people who step up to this role to do the basic research to answer basic questions about SGA. But, he doesn’t want to force people to do extra research on this topic because whoever steps up to hold office hours will enhance the quality of the sessions, quality over quantity. Only a few people need to step up every week.
  25. Kirsten thinks that it would be helpful to have a little more structure, office hours based on committees or classes. How successful have your (sean) office hours been?
  26. Sean stated he recently made a website and putting up posters with QR code about his office hours. He indicated this service’s demand will increase with the high quality provided. That being said, he stated more senators participating would benefit the students the most.
  27. Kirsten asked if the complexity of this service would increase since its management is individual senator’s responsibility. Inadequate senators, not knowledgeable enough to answer questions.
  28. Sean responded saying there are only about 5 senators needed for the service. He emphasized that even if the senator is not a part of a specific committee they are encouraged to research, allocate the students to the committee, and the act of knowing what other senators are doing itself increases the engagement.
  29. Jason added on, saying this is a 2-way working relationship, the whole point is that SGA should work together and refer people to the right people and the right information.
  30. Paul asked who to reach out to for office hours.
  31. Sean explained that the bill will be modified to explicitly state that the senators will find the space that are usually accessible and unoccupied.
  32. Kevin said he liked the idea of it being senator-led. Pushing it onto exec risks the whole thing becoming too formal. He thinks it would be best if the office hours were hosted at the same time every week. Makes it easier to promote.
  33. Sean replied that the service is stated to be weekly in the bill so the exec does not need to advertise every time. He also noted that the incentive system might create unrecognized skipping and decrease in quality of the service.
  34. Motion to move the bill to the second reading was passed.

  35. Second Reading (5 min)

    1. JHU Suggestion & Feedback Funding Bill Fall 2025 - Chair Jason
  36. He reported the feedback and concerns he received from the finance committee. QR codes and response rate were concerned. He stated the cost will be one time payment. THe feedback form is published.
  37. Motion to approve the funding bill was passed.
  38. Cohort Time (15 min)
    1. Introduction
  39. Paul reported that the budget being delayed put a lot of weight on the finance committee.
  40. A member of the general public asked if SGA discussed getting involved in Orientation week.
  41. Omotara responded SGA is open to work on this matter and collaborate with the O week events.
  42. Veda stated that SGA could host tabling events during social events held in O-week ex. Making tumbler nights.
  43. Daynab said that there was a lot more bonding within SGA, which feels a lot less distant.
  44. Caraline indicated that there were times during our discussion repeating the same statement.
  45. Omotara responded that senators have the right to forfeit their speaking time.
  46. Kirsten said that she thought that there was a hinderance caused by admin. Does not need to have a guest speaker every single time.
  47. Jazz wants to see something like “action steps” when proposing new bills in order to see what will happen next, ways to follow up and track progress and hold each other accountable and support each other.
  48. Wing wants there to be audio recordings for the meetings.
  49. Usually a privacy thing so no audio recordings.
  50. Jason wants more transparency with exec board. Wants to be more in the loop with initiative and meetings tht exec is in charge of.
  51. Kirsten said that she thinks it would be helpful if the bills are standardized and more structured, to keep everyone on the same page.
    1. Icebreaker

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.