[In these minutes: Update on Senior Committee Delegates, Review of Fall
Semester, Planning for Spring Semester]
STUDENT SENATE CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE (SSCC) MINUTES
DECEMBER 9, 2004
[These
minutes reflect discussion and debate at a committee of the University of
Minnesota Senate or Twin Cities Campus Assembly; none of the comments,
conclusions, or actions reported in these minutes represent the views of, nor
are they binding on, the Senate or Assembly, the Administration, or the Board of
Regents.]
PRESENT: Nathan Wanderman (chair), Rubens Feroz, James
Kanten, Taqee Khaled, Jamie Larson, Seyon Nyanwleh, Tom Pielow, Cati Popp, Colin
Schwensohn.
1. CHAIR’S REPORT
Nathan Wanderman noted
the Stace Vonderhaar still intends to do the planning for the Student Leadership
Conference. If she does not have details to him by the end of the month, he
will ask Tom Pielow and another SSCC members to take over planning. At this
time, the conference will likely take place at the end of the spring semester,
so that both old and new members can attend.
He then said that he is
collaborating with an MSA committee regarding student evaluations. He will be
meeting with the One-Stop office, likely over the break, to talk about changes
to their website.
Lastly, lobbying work continues. A request is being
made to meet with the Governor. He will let the committee know when there is a
response.
2. UPDATE ON SENIOR COMMITTEE DELEGATES
Tom
Pielow said that he has created a Senior Committee Delegate (SCD) website to
automate the process of finding SCDs and submitting reports. He hopes to have
all positions assigned by the end of the semester so that reports can start in
the spring.
3. DISCUSSION OF HOW THE YEAR IS GOING
The
committee discussed how fall semester has been for SSCC and the Student
Senate:
- While SSCC is doing good work with the issues, there is frustration with the
apathy in the Student Senate
- Specific plans are needed on the Student Senate agendas
- There is a failure to represent the collegiate voice for the Twin Cities
undergraduate students
- Student senators need more contact with college boards
- Senators should be required to attend college board meetings and help fill
vacancies
- SSCC does most of the work, and that needs to continue next semester
- Duluth senators need to do something more than show up for a meeting, but
there is no easy way to require this
- Accomplishments have been seen at each SSCC and Student Senate meeting
- Both groups need to continue to work with the administration while
continuing to represent the students’ interests and goals
- Student Senate needs to focus on long-term issues
- Groups need more visibility to the average student and be able to better
explain the difference between the Senate and other types of student
government
4. ISSUES FOR SPRING SEMESTER
Members
mentioned the following potential issues for SSCC and the Student Senate for
spring semester:
- Develop a better relationship with the Minnesota Daily
- Keeping tuition low is the biggest student issue
- Students should be asked what they want the Senate to do
- Senators need to speak with other students in their colleges and
campuses
- Duluth issues include shortage of parking spots and overselling contracts,
campus alcohol policy, a book exchange, and auxiliary services monopoly
- Student Senate should pick small issues that do not require a huge time
commitment
- Resolution supporting stem cell research on campus
- More students involved in Lobby Day
- Change the flat fee parking for lots to a gradation system depending on how
close or far the lot is from campus
- Enhancing student services, such as UPass and flex-dine dollars
- Improve relations with private businesses
- Resolution asking for an open and transparent process when programs are
scheduled to be closed, including public hearings
- Student voice into the next biennial process, where state funding gets
spent, and what plans are curtailed if state funding falls short
- Establish relationships with state senators and representatives
- Have resolutions composed in advance to thank legislature for funding and
urge University to keep tuition low or resolution asking University to keep
tuition increase low if full funding is not received
- Create counter arguments for keeping tuition low when applications are not
decreasing, i.e. good students currently here are leaving
- Campus assembly resolutions should be forwarded to SSCC to see if Student
Senate can help on an issue, such as parking, that appears on several campuses;
Tom Pielow, Cati Popp, Jim Kanten, Colin Schwensohn, and Jamie Larson are
responsible for this task
- SSCC members passionate about a topic should write a resolution to come to
the Student Senate
- Resolutions should be sent to senators earlier so they can comment on
drafts
- Consider stipends for all SSCC members to increase motivation
- Create multiple vice chairs to handle different tasks
- Find a way to increase the Student Senate energy next
semester
5. OTHER BUSINESS
With no further
business, Nathan Wanderman thanked all members for attending and adjourned the
meeting.
Becky Hippert
University Senate