The second meeting of the Student Senate for 2003-04 was convened in 25 Law School, Minneapolis campus, on Thursday, October 30, 2003, at 11:34 a.m. Coordinate campuses were linked by telephone. Checking or signing the roll as present were 32 voting student members. Chair Dan Weiske presided.

Dan Weiske reminded senators of the University Senate meeting today at 2:30 p.m.

MOTION:

To approve the Student Senate minutes, which are available on the Web at the following URLs. A simple majority is required for approval.

http://www1.umn.edu/usenate/ssen/031002stu.html

DISCUSSION:

With no discussion a vote was taken and the motion was approved.

Dan Weiske, Student Senate Chair, said that following the recent request for names to fill student committee positions, 470 applications were received and all student committees positions have been filled.

Scott LeBlanc, Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC) Chair, said that the committee has decided on its projects for the year, while sending a few items to other committees. SSCC has also spent time discussing the constitutional changes. In closing, he reminded senators that some colleges require senators to attend college board meetings, so every senator should fulfill this obligation.

Crookston – No report.

Duluth – Sean Bell said that a credit-based dining plan has been approved on campus. UMDSA is also working to encourage all faculty to use a standardized on-line syllabus, to increase student parking on campus, to increase funding for student groups, and to resolve some differences between the role of senators at the University Senate and within UMDSA. A concert was recently held on campus, for the first time in many years.

Morris – Reggie Davis stated that MCSA has been discussing the strike and its effect on campus. A resolution on this topic was passed, urging both sides to resolve the issue. Also, MCSA is discussing the academic progress of students.

Graduate and Professional Student Association – No report.

Minnesota Student Association – Eric Dyer said that MSA has approved principles regarding an on-campus stadium, finance, and parking. A packet of housing principles was also approved.

Adam VanWagner, Chair of the Student Affairs Committee (SCSA), said that the October 1 SCSA meeting was spent discussing the issue of student housing. Guests from housing, residential life, student legal services, and the city council participated in the discussion. While this discussion started because of the tragedy on the Twin Cities campus, the committee would like to generate discussion across the campuses as to what housing issues might be, what changes have been successful, and how the Senate might address concerns.

He stated that at the meeting, housing and residential life said that they will be changing its policy for listing landlords and will review its educational programs. MSA and student legal services will be creating a survey next month. Student legal services is also developing a database. The city is currently conducting inspections.

Q: Are there other issues besides the fire for the Twin Cities campus? Will the Senate be issuing a response to housing in general on all campuses?

A: SCSA would like to bring a document on housing for approval to the Student Senate. Besides the fire, other issues are affordability and safety, both on and off campus housing.

A senator said that Morris has been dealing with off-campus housing. MCSA was active in working with the city council to enact a housing inspection code. The inspection code has been rigorously followed by the city, but strongly opposed by landlords.

Q: Is there a University-wide policy on housing or are policies just campus-specific?

A: A University-wide policy for housing does not exist, but it might be needed. It could deal with general topics such as cost and meal plans. The Senate could also discuss city ordinances being considered to limit student housing around campuses.

A senator commented that another institution had let a hotel chain manage their student housing and it worked well. This might be an option to consider.

Q: Is all student housing full on the Twin Cities campus?

A: No.

A senator commented that it is cheaper to live off-campus at Crookston, rather than on-campus.

Another senator expressed concern about what the Student Senate can actually do to affect off-campus housing since each city has its own specific problems and own administration to work through.

A senator suggested that SCSA should ask its members about housing issues on each campus and then bring an idea or policy back to the Student Senate.

Dan Weiske noted that the purpose of the reorganization was to have all University voices, faculty, student, academic professionals, and civil service staff, together at one meeting. The process was a task force established last spring with representatives from each affected group. The faculty will see this proposal for the first time later today, but the proposal is still in the draft stage. The general theme of the proposal is a dispersal of powers among the four groups, with each still retaining direct reporting lines to the president. The number of senators for faculty and students will also be reduced to allocate seats to the academic professional and civil service members.

From the proposal, SSCC identified five major concerns: 1) student numbers on SCC have been reduced from nine to six - SSCC will be asking for a minimum of seven seats on SCC, with other SSCC members servings as ex officio members; 2) jurisdiction of each Senate – several committees will have secondary reporting lines to the University Senate; 3) composition of committees – the decision on committee membership would still be retained by the Senate Committee on Committees; 4) total number of senators from each group; and 5) allocation of Student Senate seats.

Q: Are the University Senate Bylaws finished yet?

A: No. The task force is still working on revisions to the Bylaws.

Q: Where are the representative numbers for GAPSA and COGS in the revision?

A: GAPSA only elects members to SSCC, while each college, including COGS, elects senators. The same constituent groups would still elect members, but this process is not represented on the diagram.

A senator stated that the issue of main concern is the total membership numbers for each group. Under the proposal, faculty will still maintain the majorities in nearly every committee and the University Senate. It is very important that students have seven seats on SCC, if not more. Students should have an equal say in University Senate business, and therefore push to retain the 59 Senate seats, if not ask for more.

Another senator said that faculty are worried about students seats being increased and these senators having poor attendance at meetings. For students, the cause of poor attendance might be that meetings are not interesting enough to attend. A goal of the reorganization should be to make meetings more engaging so that all senators want to attend. To increase student seats, and as a way to increase coordination of efforts, the Student Senate should consider making Student Representatives to the Regents voting members of the body.

A senator then commented that Morris students and faculty are not supportive of the restructuring proposal. Problems include the decrease in representatives from the campus and the role of the coordinate campuses in this body. Concern was also expressed about the decrease in the student voice with less seats.

Q: What group is rewriting the language?

A: A group of eight people, two representatives from each affected group, is working on a draft of the language changes.

Q: What is the rationale behind dissolution of the Twin Cities Campus Assembly (TCCA)?

A: While the proposal would dissolve the TCCA, it would not affect any of the student associations or assemblies on the other campuses. For Twin Cities issues brought before the University Senate, only the Twin Cities senators would vote.

A senator then commented that any concerns that senators have should be relayed to Dan Weiske and Scott LeBlanc, the two student representatives on the working group. In terms of the Senate membership, under the current system it is 75 percent faculty and 25 percent students. Under the proposed membership, it will be 55 percent faculty and 22 percent students, with the other two groups making up the rest. Also important to note is that this Senate has the more student participation than any other body at a peer institution.

Another senator responded that students need to push for everything. He questioned why senators would want to attend a meeting when they only represent one-fifth of the voice of the body. Attendance is not the root of the problem; it is that students are a near voiceless minority in the University Senate.

A senator then addressed a concern about TCCA business, noting that University Senate meetings will be scheduled so that all TCCA business takes place at the end so coordinate campus members can leave early. From a logistical standpoint, it is almost impossible to find another time for Twin Cities senators to meet.

Another senator then said coordinate campuses should have a greater presence on the working group.

Dan Weiske noted that any proposals will be brought back to SSCC and the Student Senate before being finalized, at which point coordinate campus members can participate.

A senator stated that the students’ power does not lie in the number of votes it holds, but instead it lies in the power to deal effectively with faculty and administrators.

Another senator then said that coordinate campuses are being treated like colleges rather than a University. To be fair, each division at Morris should be allocated a Senate seat, just as is done for each college on the Twin Cities campus.

Dan Weiske said that allocation of Student Senate seats will be dealt with by the Student Senate and SSCC.

Q: Why are collective bargaining employees not being included in the revised structure?

A: The collective bargaining agreement does not allow them to participate in the University Senate.

A senator then made a motion to have the student task force members report to the Student Senate at its December meeting. The motion was seconded.

A senator then made an amendment to the motion that each coordinate campus be allowed to have a physical presence at the task force meetings. The amendment was seconded.

A senator said that the two students on the task force do not represent a campus, but were elected by the Student Senate to represent the best interests of the body. Senators should take some responsibility to communicate needs and concerns to these representatives.

Another senator responded that coordinate campuses have serious concerns about the proposal and therefore need to be present at the task force meetings.

A senator then ask the chair to rule on whether the amendment is pertinent to the original motion, and whether it should be struck from the motion. The chair ruled that the amendment was not pertinent, should be struck from the motion, but can be introduced as a separate motion.

The decision of the chair was challenged, and a vote of the Student Senate was requested. A vote was taken and the count was 18 in favor of the chair’s decision and 11 opposed to the chair’s decision, therefore the decision is upheld.

A senator then proposed to amend the motion that a report be provided at the next SSCC meeting.

With time for debate expired, a motion was made to call the question on the proposed amendment to the motion. The motion was seconded and a vote was taken. The motion to call the question was approved with 19 in favor and 10 abstentions.

A vote was then taken on the proposed amendment and with a majority in favor it was approved.

A motion was then made and seconded to call the question on the main motion as amended. A vote was taken, and with 26 in favor and 4 opposed the motion to call the question was approved.

A vote was then taken on the main motion as amended, and with a majority in favor it was approved.

Q: When will the Student Senate Orientation and Workshop be held?

A: The orientation was held at the start of the October 2 meeting. A workshop was scheduled, but cancelled due to a poor response rate. SSCC was not in favor of identifying an alternate date for this activity without high attendance from senators.

A senator made a motion to introduce the following motion to the Student Senate for approval, with one change that Morris Campus Student Association be changed to Student Senate wherever it appears in the text:

Resolution on University of Minnesota AFSCME Local 3800 Clerical Workers Strike

Whereas, the state of Minnesota cut its support of the University of Minnesota by 15% which totaled $185 million, and

Whereas, the University of Minnesota in response to the largest decline in state support in its history dramatically increased student tuition and fees, made cuts to University programs and services, and

Whereas, University recommended and instituted several cuts and changes to its employee contracts including wage freezes and reductions to University assistance for employees health plans, and other items, and

Whereas, the University negotiated contract agreements with its bargaining units, and

Whereas, the AFSCME Local 3800, representing the University’s clerical workers rejected the University proposed contract and authorized a strike if no agreement was reached with the University, and

Whereas, the University and Local 3800 attempted to resolve their contractual disagreement, but no settlement was reached, and

Whereas, on October 21, 2003, the clerical workers commenced their strike, and

Whereas, the University and AFSCME have suspended negotiations, and

Whereas, the strike has negatively impacted University services system-wide, including the Morris Campus.

Be it Therefore resolved that the Morris Campus Student Association urges the University of Minnesota and AFSCME Local 3800 clerical workers to reconvene negotiations, and

Be it Further resolved that the Morris Campus Student Association urges the University of Minnesota and AFSCME Local 3800 to seek an immediate resolution to the current strike, and

Be it Further resolved that the University of Minnesota administration communicate with students on all four campuses on the status of the current strike and its affect on student services.

Be it Further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the University central administration, Morris Campus senior administration, AFSCME Local 3800, and the University of Minnesota Student Senate.

A motion was then made and seconded to suspend the rules to consider the motion. A vote was taken, and with 20 in favor and 9 opposed the rules were suspended to consider the motion.

The main motion was then seconded and the floor was opened for discussion.

A senator commented that this resolution does not support either side, but demonstrates that student services are being affected, and therefore both sides need to return to the bargaining table. The resolution also states that students need to be informed about what is taking place.

Another senator said that while he is in support of the resolution, there are many superfluous whereas clauses. He made a motion to strike the first six whereas clauses from the motion. The motion was seconded and the floor was opened for discussion.

A senator encouraged senators to support the resolution as it was originally presented since it details the impact that the state cut had on the strike.

A motion was then made and seconded to call the question. A vote was taken and with a 25 in favor and 4 opposed the motion to call the question was approved.

A vote was then taken on the amendment to the resolution, and with 19 in favor, 8 opposed, and 5 abstentions the motion to amend the resolution was approved.

A motion was then made and seconded to call the question. A vote was taken and with a 15 in favor, 10 opposed, and 2 abstentions the motion to call the question was not approved.

A friendly amendment was then made to the last resolved clause to strike ‘Morris Campus senior administration’ and ‘University of Minnesota Student Senate’ and replace it with ‘University Senate.’ This motion was accepted as friendly.

A vote was then taken on the main motion as amended, and with 22 in favor and 7 opposed the motion was approved.

Scott LeBlanc, SSCC Chair, asked that any items for discussion or action at the Student Senate should be sent to SSCC two weeks prior to a meeting.

A senator then challenged each senator to bring one discussion issue to the Student Senate for later this year.

Another senator commented that 15 students are currently sitting in Morrill Hall to protest the strike. They have been told that they need to leave by 6 pm, but there is a possibility that they will be arrested if they do not leave by that deadline. While he does not advocate for the strike, he felt that it was important to be present for the students, since he represents them as a senator.

A senator then commented that some Morris students are also protesting today.

Q: When will the Regents be voting on the constitutional change to merge the two student chair positions?

A: At their December meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:04 p.m.