JHU SGAThe 114th Session
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Senate Meeting #23

Minutes / Senate · 111th session · dated March 12, 2024 · updated April 2, 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 #23

March 12, 2024 / 07:00 PM / Hackerman 217

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order and Attendance (1 min)

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

  2. Convening Business (3 min)

A. Library Presentation Amendment and Approval of the Agenda (1 min)

  1. Public Input (3 min)

  2. 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

  3. Non-Legislative Business (15 min)

  4. First Reading

  5. AKPSI Fundraiser Bill- Senator Sun Moon
    1. Amir Modaressanavi Spikeball Fundraiser
  6. Earth Fest Funding Bill- President Rachel Huang
  7. Wellness Day Funding Bill- Senator Srigouri Oruganty
    1. Survey
  8. Spring 2024 Committee Bylaws Update Bill- Member of IA
  9. FIJI Islander Funding Bill Spring 2024- President Vishnu Dontu
  10. CCS Carnival Funding Bill- Senator Brandon Benjamin
    1. Presentation

  11. Second Reading

    1. MASA Funding Bill- Senator Cynthia Sanchez Hidalgo

  12. Prospective Legislation & Announcements (5 min)

  13. 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

  1. Adjournment (Estimated 9:00 PM)

111th JHU Student Government

Senate Meeting #23

March 12, 2024 / 07:00 PM / Hackerman 217

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order and Attendance (1 min)

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

  2. Convening Business (3 min)

A. Library Presentation

  • Eisenhower Modernization (Project Overview and Interim Planning)
  • They recognize the concern about the upcoming work regarding MSE.
  • The final design was shown. The entrance and connectivity of the library is aimed to be improved. Exterior walls are going to be removed.
  • They target approximately 1500 reader-seats, improved environment for special collections, and more building utilities.
  • The curated collections will be on-site and capacity will be created to process book deliveries from the Library Service Center.
  • The reading room will be improved and universal accessibility will be achieved.
  • The library’s design targets a transition from MSE’s “focused study” to Brody’s “collaborative study”.
  • They elaborated more on the new entrance into the library. Universally accessible, more welcoming, and softened entrance is targeted. Q and M levels will be connected to each other.
  • At Q level, there will be a flexible event space that can be used for lectures, seminars, and more.
  • A reading room will be built to C Level.
  • Senator Haley: Universal accessibility → To what extent does that include gender-neutral restrooms in the library?
    • They replied that that is a campus standard moving forward. All restrooms will be renovated. Some of them will be used by groups, while some of them will be for individual use.
  • Chair Shalala: Are there going to be changes to the food policy on Q level?
    • Food will be allowed on Q level, but that can be extended. Q level will definitely be included.
    • Shalala: Overhead lights are harsh. What will you do about that?
    • We are aware of the desire for flexibility. That is being considered for group study areas and the general areas. The lighting design itself has changed. Right now, we have harsh fluorescent lighting at the library. We are accounting for circadian rhythms in understanding what students need during the day and night.
    • Is there going to be work to have nature inside the library, too?
    • Not really as plants might attract bugs.
  • Senator Tarini: Capacity of the renovated library when compared to current?
    • Less books and more seats. An increase from 1442 to 1590 seats. It is important to consider that right now in this number seats that shouldn’t be counted are counted as they are reserved for the faculty.
  • Secretary Amy: We really appreciate the information sessions you are hosting. General question regarding student feedback: Will there be opportunity for the students to provide feedback regarding the policies that will be followed while the library is being renovated?
    • We focus so much on how to get feedback. We know that we are currently not at the point to organize this but we want to organize a furniture fair so the students can give us their thoughts. Tables, carrels… A question will be “What do we want to take with us?”. We will observe what is being used and what is not being used. We didn’t think about the policies yet. We want to implement a student library advisory group.
    • Secretary Amy: When will this advisory board start? A lot of students are scared about what is about to come in August.
    • We plan to have it in fall. We want to hear what is working well and what is not working well. A coalition of such would help.
    • Senator Daar: Are there going to be more reserved study places or will the number stay the same.
    • This is a good example of something we would like to get feedback on.
    • Senator Daar: Right now it is super hard to book one as they are always full.
    • For the interim, we didn’t think through this exactly.
    • Right now, a lot of graduate students use carrels, yet sometimes they need to share it with a different person and this causes them having to plan who uses the carrel at a certain time. We do not support this as it is not efficient.
    • President Nasreen: Vending machines and some other utilities have been added very recently. Will you be extending them or removing them?
    • We will decide as we see what fits and what doesn’t.
    • Chair Shalala: During senior week, there is a big party at MSE D-level. Will you be able to accommodate that?
    • This year, yes.
    • Chair Shalala: Did you think about alternative places for quiet places, etc.
    • There are places you can go to destress. Those will still be at BLC. Mediation room, reflection room, etc. The idea is to pursue a similar understanding, but we didn’t talk about this yet.
    • We are not adding anything to the footprint. The building stays the same. We are just increasing the accommodations.
    • We also did some tabling sessions to talk to you.
    • Chair Shalala: It is sometimes hard to find school supplies like paper.
    • We have vending machines but I don’t think they have paper in them. I know in BLC and around Eisenhower there are vending machines.
    • Abigail: I recently completed a project at the Microfilm Room. It was very accommodating. Are there going to be more rooms like that?
    • In the new building, there will be more.
  • Senator Danial: Have you thought about adding standing tables?
    • We want to think about what kind of seating we want. Some will be like that if the feedback aligns with having them.
    • Senator Danial: Suggestion. We can maybe have underdesk treadmills.
    • They are very expensive. Interesting ideas, but we have to think about the costs. I’m not saying no but there is a reality when it comes to prices.
    • Senator Danial: Can you please make the librarians more vi
    • There will be an entire suite for them at A level. They will also be trying to be more accessible.
  • Senator Cynthia: I also wanted to ask about white boards. Will there be in every room? Will they be moveable?
    • There are some that are open for group studies, some for individuals. Right now, our goal is to assume that whatever we have planned now is to make them as flexible as possible.
    • Senator Cynthia: I think there is some interest in rooms with green screens. Any work about that?
    • Not quite, but flexibility might resolve it.
    • We know as you get closer to Brody, it gets noisier. The lower you go, it becomes more quiet and less social. More space will be available for carrels towards MSE.
  • Senator Haley: Thank you for your points about the reflection rooms. For several religious groups, they can not use the reflection rooms as they do not accommodate the needs (separation of genders, no shoes, etc). Are you thinking about prayer rooms or rooms specialized for religious groups?
    • I know that the new campus standard does not really accommodate that. For sacred places, we understand that flexibility does not resolve it. We have to think about how we can resolve that.
    • Some religions need to pray at very specific times. We want to be able to accommodate that.
    • We would love to have a library advisory board.
  • Chair Shalala: Are there still going to be the special collections at Brody?
    • We don’t have the exact timeline for this. The challenge is we don’t want to shut special collections down. We have not yet exactly when we will do that.

Amendment and Approval of the Agenda (1 min)

  1. Public Input (3 min)

  2. Reports (17 min)

    1. Cabinet Reports (4 min)

      1. Student Body President - President Ryan Chou
        1. Not present
      2. Student Body Vice President - Vice President Jackson Morris
        1. Not present
      3. Student Body Secretary - Secretary Amy Li
        1. Thursday meeting with special collections
      4. Student Body Treasurer - Treasurer Jenny Chen
        1. SGA discretionary funds $900
        2. Waiting for updates regarding recall funds (from advisor)
      5. Chair of Programming - Chair Shalala Leny
        1. Working to figure out issues regarding march tabling
        2. Sophomores had garden party and it went really well
      6. Director of Communications - Director Connie Weng
      7. Director of Research - Director Jason Shumsky
        1. Election results coming out tonight
        2. More special elections coming soon
      8. President of the Senate - President Nasreen Naqvi
        1. Report on behalf of Ryan and Jackson
        2. Reminded us about storytelling event (March 26) & it’s a super important event (President, Provost & many admins)
      9. Advisor Report (2 min) - Dr. Charles Norman
        1. No report

  3. Non-Legislative Business (15 min)

  4. First Reading

  5. AKPSI Fundraiser Bill- Senator Sun Moon
    1. Amir Modaressanavi Spikeball Fundraiser
    2. Presented by Estelle and Anthony
    3. Went through the presentation slide by slide. All details are on slides
    4. Anthony asked a whether SGA is able to fund the event and Jenny said that they have to wait for recall funding
    5. All budget and pricing on presentation slides (Total: $2,318)
    6. Some nets will be borrowed from the frat and spike ball club
    7. Haley asked a point of information: encouraged selling pizza as a fundraising measure
    8. Jenny asked a few questions:
      1. Raised money? Yes, money has been raised for the event. AKpsi will be helping fund the event but the numbers on the presentation don’t reflect that
      2. Have you seen any other funding avenue? No, this is the first avenue
    9. Daniel: Since this event is in memory of Amir, have you reached out to student life? Not yet, but a great point!
  6. Earth Fest Funding Bill- President Rachel Huang
    1. Rachel presented
    2. Office of sustainability helps host the festival
    3. Upcycling tabling event (clothes, fabrics…)
    4. Moved to second reading
  7. Wellness Day Funding Bill- Senator Srigouri Oruganty
    1. Survey
    2. Talked with HSS in a meeting about introducing a “wellness day”
    3. Details: once a semester, no classes, no assignments, no exams
    4. Other unis (including Morgan State) have this tradition
    5. Survey is not yet complete (draft in the hyperlink above)
  8. Spring 2024 Committee Bylaws Update Bill- Member of IA
    1. Stone not here to present
    2. Mufasa volunteered to present
    3. Goal: enhancing policies for committee meetings
    4. Details in the attached document
    5. Rationale: better workflow and output
  9. FIJI Islander Funding Bill Spring 2024- President Vishnu Dontu
    1. SGA can help sponsor
    2. Philanthropic endeavor (not a party)
    3. Last year the event raised $5,000
    4. This year’s goal is related to cancer
    5. Requesting $2,400 from SGA
    6. Acknowledged budget constraints regarding SGA
    7. Shahala said maybe senior class can pay for tickets instead of being for free
  10. CCS Carnival Funding Bill- Senator Brandon Benjamin
    1. Abigail (P) and Gabeirl (VP) started the presentation
    2. All details are in the pptx. Any additional verbally mentioned details are below:
    3. Jenny asked: has CCS done any of its own fundraising? So far, no but they have been in touch with africana studies department and latin american studies department since they covered for food in last year’s event
    4. Jenny asked: how much will your org be contributing to the event? No contribution
    5. Shalala: submitted event request? Yes
    6. Shala: Is there a reason you’re getting a photographer? Can’t you hire Will? Maybe, they will study in.

  11. Second Reading

    1. OLÉ Funding Bill- Senator Cynthia Sanchez Hidalgo
      1. Voted on last week
    2. MASA Funding Bill- Senator Cynthia Sanchez Hidalgo
      1. No vote since not enough money
      2. Motion to table passed:

  12. Prospective Legislation & Announcements (5 min)

  13. 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

  1. Adjournment (Estimated 9:00 PM)