JHU SGAThe 114th Session
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Senate Meeting #9 - 10/10/23

Minutes / Senate · 111th session · dated October 10, 2023 · updated January 24, 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.

D111th JHU Student Government

Senate Meeting #9

October 10, 2023 / 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 Milton Diaz
      7. President of the Senate - President Dalhart Dobbs
      8. Director of Research - Director Jason Shumsky
      9. Committee and Caucus Chair Updates - President Dalhart Dobbs
    2. Advisor Report (2 min) - Dr. Charles Norman

  6. Non-Legislative Business (15 min)

    1. Sustainability Presentation - Director of Sustainability Julian Goresko
    2. Major Fair Discussion - President Resham Talwar
    3. 11 for 111 - Executive Liaison Program Discussion - President Ryan Chou
    4. Peabody Cross Campus Relations Presentation - Representative Jacquelyn Slade
    5. Sophomore Class Programming Council Confirmation - President Stone Meng

  7. First Reading

    1. Robert’s Rules of Order Clarification and Voting Bill - Parliamentarian Jaden Garcia
    2. Fall Retreat Funding Bill - Chair Shalala Leny and Senator Brandon Benjamin
    3. Halloween Tabling Funding Bill - Chair Shalala Leny and Senator Brandon Benjamin

  8. Second Reading

    1. SGA Bylaw Amendment Bill - President Stone Meng
    2. Haunted House Funding Bill & Presentation - Freshman Programming Council
    3. Joy on Wheels Funding Bill - President Resham Talwar

  9. Prospective Legislation & Announcements (5 min)

    1. Fall Retreat Availability Form - President Dalhart Dobbs & Chair Shalala Leny
    2. Attendance Check-Out - President Dalhart Dobbs

  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.

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
        1. Judiciary candidates review
        2. A lot of
      2. Student Body Vice President - Vice President Jackson Morris
        1. No major updates
      3. Student Body Secretary - Secretary Amy Li
        1. Attendance - hard deadline for committee and minutes of Saturday 11:59pm and press release by GBM
        2. Will compile and update bylaws by Fall Recess
      4. Student Body Treasurer - Treasurer Jenny Chen
        1. Have $17600 left for the year, $6000 used
        2. Before GBMs, please reach out to me and Shalala for funding bills. These bills should be a month ahead
      5. Chair of Programming - Chair Shalala Leny
        1. BATB was a success! Thank you for coming and junior class for
        2. Many programming bills
      6. Director of Communications - Director Milton Diaz
        1. Piloting weekly updates system - abbreviated versions on social media to make press releases more accessible
      7. President of the Senate - President Dalhart Dobbs
        1. Please submit your press releases
        2. Had good conversations for 1:1 with committee and caucus leaders
        3. Here as a resource if you have any questions/need guidance
      8. Director of Research - Jason Shumsky
        1. Campus wide happenings research - more next week
      9. Committee and Caucus Chair Updates - President Dalhart Dobbs
        1. Shout out to 3/13 caucus leaders
    2. Advisor Report (2 min) - Dr. Charles Norman
      1. Good job to the junior class and everyone who went to BATB!

  6. Non-Legislative Business (15 min)

    1. Sustainability Presentation - Director of Sustainability Julian Goresko
      1. Numerous opportunities to connect with the Office of Sustainability!
      2. Open Q&A:
        1. Senator Adi: Many people our age are excited about sustainability but I was wondering how these goals of sustainability affect the costs for the university and students’ tuition
          1. All the projects go through a rigorous financial examination. We look for the overlap for good for the economy and people
        2. Senator Resham: How do we look at fossil fuels and sustainability? How does this affect cost?
          1. Our office has no connection with animal testing and any animal research. If that is an issue in this area (animal ethics in research), there are other avenues in that
          2. How the university evaluates petitions depends on committees (activated by the Board of Trustees, history with fossil fuel investment). From previous years, we activated the PIDAC in 2017 for fossil fuel. If this is a concern, this is a perfect time to discuss this. The healthsystem and the university are separate.
        3. Representative Jacquelyn: How does this connect with the reconstruction of the library and other projects?
          1. In addition to macro-level plans, building standards for constructions are part of this plan—consists of 9 different groups for policy. Focus on adoption of high performance and healthy buildings.
          2. Hopkins Bloomberg Building is already operational, which serve in line with sustainability plans
        4. Senator Danial: (1) How are these plans truly effective, such as carbon output and neutrality? (2) How serious is the water facility (3)
          1. (1) Focus on long-term goals. Transforming energy infrastructure is significant. We’re going to prioritize reducing emissions on campus with engineering and financial systems. Plan on low Carbon future and invest in carbon oxides
          2. (2) Seriously analyzed, but investment and space for that level of infrastructure. Everything you read is written with the intent of doing this
        5. Senator Hailey: How are you going to enforce food insecurity issues on campus? How are you going to electrification of transportation for special events?
          1. Support existing and growing issues of food insecurity with food waste. If we are overcooking food in the Dining program instead of composing, how are we redirecting this? There already has been a texting mechanism for leftover food. A larger percentage of surrounding community being food insecure
          2. JHMI is going to be electric by 2026, which is our largest bus fleet, especially due to bus supply shortages. But this is an incremental process and will electrify our fleet for all our vehicles
          3. For contracts, we need to make clear what our objectives are. Academy buses are currently diesel fueled but hope to make our goals clear
        6. Treasurer Jenny: You have opportunities and education resources. Due to expense, are there ways for RSOs to support student life sustainability?
          1. Students can collaborate to carve some amounts of money to make a broad-scale event to support student life sustainability for incremental and transformative change. Engaging with students and advocating for students can bring numerous solutions, such as with student life offices
          2. President Dalhart: Edit SAC guidelines!
        7. Senator Tarini: Questions about using reusable containers
          1. Discussed this with Dining, but need more space for further analysis. There are pros and cons in regards to this issue, especially student accountability
        8. VP Jackson: When was the BOT considered a divestment with your office?
          1. I joined the university in 2019. Last time that BOT created the committee was in 2017. Uncertain what the board has done with the university. PIAC, as a committee, is specific to the board. Our office does not have a lot of interactions with the BOT, but they were very excited about this plan. I would be just speculating since we do not communicate on the regular basis
    2. Major Fair Discussion - President Resham Talwar
      1. Questions for discussion: Funding opportunities from SGA? How can SGA be more proactive about this event/help out more?
      2. Motion for 10 minute moderated caucus
      3. Senator Gabriel: Are you looking for SGA funding?
        1. As of now, we still need to find what needs to be funded, such as food and freebies, and looking at our opportunities
        2. Maybe we can make a Google Doc about what can be done, such as a merch and feedback table, and advertise SGA more
      4. Representative Jacquelyn: A lot of STEM majors have more focus than social sciences. What can be done? I can help as well.
        1. We have discussed this with the Deans and understand the importance of being equally represented.
      5. Senator Tarini: Especially with undecided majors, is there a way to reach out to these students? There are sampler courses for undecided engineering majors
        1. This definitely focused on the freshman since they have more flexibility in moving around classes
      6. President Dalhart: I have worked with the admissions for the majors event, so please reach out to me for this. Also focus on incentives, such as raffling and department merch
      7. Senator Danial: Maybe separate faculty and students conversations. Maybe also invite pre-professional advising
      8. Vice President Jackson: Do you have any plans for SGA tabling supplies bills?
        1. Chair Shalala: Added this for funding bill for tabling today
      9. Chair Shalala: What would be needed from SGA besides funding such as the scope of the event?
        1. This is a pilot, so this shouldn’t be a huge event. It is still far away so we are definitely having SGA involved for the booth
      10. Senator Brandon: For the future, should we have this for fall and spring semesters? Would we also open this for sophomores as well in addition to freshman?
        1. We plan on doing this in the late fall, but doing it twice depends on how financially feasible it is for us
        2. Open to everyone, especially for the freshman
      11. Senator Jenny: It might be helpful to have programs with maps of where every major there will be. At SIF, during COVID, we can have 30 minute time slots such that students can network and have conversations with professors and other students
        1. It might restrict students from showing up but we can also discuss this further
    3. 11 for 11 - Executive Liaison Program Discussion - President Ryan Chou
      1. Jackson and I have already presented the 11 for 11 goals. The second goal was to aim to get more representation in SGA in the student population who haven’t been represented in SGA. The idea that we are headed towards is connecting with other leaderships, such as FSL, student athletics, MLC, acapella, the Hop. We can therefore build up a network, share, and work together. This conversation is important such that we can get input from the Senate about the general concept (What are we looking for? Meeting regularly? Are there other groups that you would see represented?) We can also continue this conversation on Teams.
    4. Peabody Cross Campus Relations Presentation - Representative Jacquelyn Slade
      1. Action items: Instagram graphics, student body email, looking
      2. Vice President Jackson: CSAC has its meeting next Monday evenings, please contact if interested
    5. Sophomore Class Programming Council Confirmation - President Stone Meng
      1. Avishi Garg - confirmed

  7. First Reading

    1. Robert’s Rules of Order Clarification and Voting Bill - Parliamentarian Jaden Garcia
      1. Refer to Committee of Internal Affairs
    2. Fall Retreat Funding Bill - Chair Shalala Leny and Senator Brandon Benjamin
      1. Prices are currently tentative, has new ideas today that will amend to retreat activities
      2. Refer to Committee of Finance
    3. Halloween Tabling Funding Bill - Chair Shalala Leny and Senator Brandon Benjamin
      1. On-campus tabling event on Tues 10/31
      2. SGA banner and tablecloth are missing - need new banner and tablecloth that is reflective of the current structure
      3. Refer to Committee of Finance

  8. Second Reading

    1. SGA Bylaw Amendment Bill - President Stone Meng
      1. Changes: if RSO senator cannot join RSO/Finance committee, you get it waived by President of the Senate; reduce 5 to 8 excused absences
      2. Motion for 2 minute Q&A 1 min speaking time
      3. Senator Jordyn: If senators cannot join the finance committee, do they have to do the finance tasks?
        1. A lot of the tasks can be done asynchronously, so these tasks can be counted as attendance especially for RSO senators who have a verified time conflict
      4. Senator Danial: Can we have a graphic for these changes?
        1. Maybe we can contact Milton for this, as he has made instagram posts for the changes in SGA last semester (yay Milton!)
    2. Haunted House Funding Bill & Presentation - Freshman Programming Council
      1. Passed - 100% (congrats on first funding bill!)
      2. Treasurer Jenny: We should charge for $1-2 deposit to ensure that they can attend the event
    3. Joy on Wheels Funding Bill - President Resham Talwar
      1. Changing the venue - at the Brody Terrace
      2. Another concern is the accountability of returning items. We might just focus on the honor system
      3. Motion for 3 minute moderate caucus
      4. Senator Omatara: Maybe we shouldn’t use the honor system
        1. We can reconsider this
      5. President Dalhart: Maybe put this in the LEED office
      6. Senator Tahrini: Maybe put this in the inside of the cafe and add the signup sheet
      7. Senator Steven: Maybe switch out items that do not get lost that easily
      8. Vice President Morris: Maybe we can collaborate with the library and rec center to maintain and keep these resources
      9. Extend 5 minute moderated caucus
      10. Treasurer Jenny: Do we have Brody Terrace reservation? How does this seem more different from LEED, Levering, and Rec center?
        1. More flexibility for students to use. Definitely something to think about
      11. Senator Gabriel: Maybe get something that is pre existing items and keeping some items onto the cart
      12. Senator Danial: Interfaith Center has a lot of board games. A lot of these items are already on campus
      13. Senator Nas: Maybe relay more resources from around campus
      14. President Dalhart: Maybe we should reconsider these ideas to ensure that we are making use of our funding
      15. Senator Tyler: Maybe we can use this for a mental health day or something that we can bring these items outside
      16. Senator Omatara: Maybe instead of buying the items, we promote all the resources that are available on campus instead
      17. No - 80%
      18. For - 14%
      19. Abstain - 6%

  9. Prospective Legislation & Announcements (5 min)

    1. Attendance Check-Out - President Dalhart Dobbs
    2. VP Jackson: Meeting with Disability Caucus, Middle States presentation, please stay active on Teams for mental health
    3. Senator Raven: Feedback form for JHU Disability
    4. Senator Nas: Middle East Resolution that acknowledge the victims and the conflict in general in first reading
    5. Senator Tarini - testing environment changes, virtual program about research and presentation, please research if interested
    6. Senator Hailey - please contact me if you are interested in the Women and Gender cacus
    7. Senator Rachel: Sustainability Tabling on Friday 12-2pm - freebies!
    8. Senator Stone: Dining meeting on 10/17?
    9. Senator Mufasa: TIAA information; Shalala and I going to the Crown- if interested, join us!
    10. Senator Resham - 2 vacancies for Assistant Secretary and WSE Senator
    11. Senator Vishnu: maybe add black bean burger back to the menu, keep both options (Dining 10/17), creating infographic about how to contact Dining

  10. Adjournment (Estimated 9:00 PM)