[In these minutes: Updates, Twin
Cities Smoking Ban, Bylaw amendment on attendance, Textbook resolution, Spring
semester items]
STUDENT
SENATE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (SSCC) MINUTES
DECEMBER
11, 2008
[These minutes reflect
discussion and debate at a committee of the University of Minnesota Senate; none
of the comments, conclusions, or actions reported in these minutes represent the
views of, nor are they binding on, the Senate the Administration, or the Board
of Regents.]
PRESENT:
Ryan Kennedy (chair), Jeffrey Anderson, Katie Best, Joao Boavida, Jason
Einertson, Marshall Johnson, Mariam Maiga, Kris Schwebler, Alicia Smith.
GUESTS:
Mark Lewandowski.
1.
STUDENT ASSOCIATION/ASSEMBLY UPDATES
Mariam Maiga reported that
Crookston had their Winter Wonderland event this past weekend.
Katie Best stated that
UMDSA’s better neighbors program has enrolled about 30 people per block.
UMDSA had an open house last night and is working on academic advising. Lastly,
the Bulldogs are playing in the national football final this Saturday.
Alicia Smith said that Support
the U Day will be February 25, 2009. MSA will hold a student concern forum in
March and a free tax preparation program spring semester. Study Day is this
Friday in Coffman.
Joao Boavida reported that the
Finance and Planning Committee (SCFP) has being discussing tuition and would
like a more transparent process for determining increases. Student committee
members have been brainstorming on this topic and are concerned about increases
to fees due to budget costs. He will be meeting with the Vice President for
Finance next week about students being more involved in the college-level budget
process. Last week the committee heard about the Academic Health Center (AHC)
campus expansion.
2.
DISCUSSION OF RESOLUTION ON THE TWIN CITIES SMOKING BAN
Ryan Kennedy presented a
resolution on a Twin Cities Smoking Ban that was authored by several senators
after last week’s meeting.
Members made the following
comments:
- If
the resolution just applies to the Twin Cities, then MSA and GAPSA should take
action instead of the Student Senate
- References
to Duluth environment are not evidential
- Enforcement
is an issue since the University decided that University Police will have no
authority to issue tickets
- University
charter does allow it to issue traffic violations, so why not smoking
violations
- A
ban was instituted at Century College. Student Senate should speak to
representatives to talk about implementation
- University’s
cessation program is under-utilized
- Advertising
and outreach programs are non-existent
- Survey
responses are biased since the questions were leading
- Second
and fourth ‘whereas’ clauses should be removed
- Report
is due by the end of the calendar year
- An
electronic vote would be needed to get Student Senate approval prior to the end
of the year
- Decision
should not be made without student consultation, even if this means delaying a
final decision
- Students
have concerns about the process for the survey and report
- Students
might support the ban if it was enforceable
The committee agreed
that today’s comments would be shared with the authors so revisions could
be made. A new version would then be emailed to SSCC on Monday for approval
before it is sent to the Twin Cities student senators for an electronic vote
with no amendments possible.
3.
DISCUSSION OF STUDENT SENATE/UNIVERSITY SENATE BYLAW AMENDMENT ON STUDENT SENATE
ATTENDANCE
The Bylaw amendment was approved
as amended.
4.
DISCUSSION OF TEXTBOOK RESOLUTION
Ryan Kennedy said that this
resolution did not make last week’s Student Senate agenda, but has been
approved by MSA. Members agreed to put the resolution on the next Student
Senate agenda.
5.
DISCUSSION OF REMOVAL OF ONE TWIN CITIES STUDENT SENATOR
Ryan Kennedy presented a
petition for reinstatement of a Twin Cities student senator who was being
removed after failing to attend two Student Senate meetings. Following a
discussion, members agreed to not reinstate the student senator.
6.
DISCUSSION OF SPRING SEMESTER BUSINESS
Members made the following list
of potential items for spring semester:
- Vice
Provost McMaster and the Twin Cities advanced placement credit changes
- Donna
Peterson to discuss Support the U Day and the February state budget
forecast
- Vice
President Pfutzenreuter and proposed tuition increases
- President
Bruininks
- Student
release questions and One-Stop
- Students
allowed to attend Support the U Day
7.
OTHER BUSINESS
With no further business, Ryan
Kennedy thanked all members for attending and adjourned the meeting.
Becky Hippert
University
Senate