Student Government Association

Order of Business

President’s Report:

Parking

Abbie and I met with Danny O’Connell, Director of Auxiliary Services a few times this summer. Among things we discussed were the parking deck, the construction of new lots, free parking at meters with a parking pass after 6pm, and the creation of a shuttle system. Danny and his staff were kind enough to line Elm Street by Cafaro House for parking with the city’s permission, thus the creation of more parking on campus. He is also in the process of having signs made for free parking with a parking pass at meters.

Alternative transportation

The alternative transportation committee has been formed to explore the creation of several different types of systems that would alleviate the strain of parking for students due to our ever-increasing enrollment, the destruction of the Lincoln deck, and our quickly-expanding campus. Look to hear more about these projects in the future.

Gmail

It was brought to our attention that we could obtain a college-tailored Gmail system free of charge that integrates with Banner. We are currently exploring this opportunity.

Ecohouse

This project was brought to us by a staff member at the Metro College, Melvin North. The Echouse is a project in which a house would be donated and used by students do research and development of sustainable sources of energy and other green activities. Students would also be permitted to use house live in while doing their research. Mr. North will be at one of our meetings soon to tell us more about this project.

Braille Signs

Donovan O’Neil brought to our attention that there were not enough Braille signs on campus. I presented this problem to the administration and they are currently looking into fixing it. I hope to have one of committees do an assessment this semester of exactly how disability-friendly our campus is in order to set out to fix simple – yet very important – problems like this one.

SGA Budget

Dr. Anderson, Abbie, and I are currently discussing how we could increase our appropriations budget. We are looking into a method that would include taxing in the full-time student demographic, as they are the students who participate in many of the activities which we fund. Although there are no solid plans in place for this project, we hope to continue this thought into fruition.

Resolutions

Abbie and I have created two resolutions, which came out of several conversations with different people about how there is not enough communication between Academic Senate, SGA, and the Board of Trustees. These resolutions would create ex officio seats on SGA for each Student Trustee during their tenure as well as an ex officio advisory role for the Chair of Academic Senate for the duration of their tenure.

Presidential Search Committee

I was appointed by the Board of Trustees this summer to the Presidential Search Committee for the Seventh President of YSU. I look forward to working with everyone on the committee and I know that I, along with everyone else, am committed to finding the best possible candidate that the market has to offer for Youngstown State University. We are at a critical time in our history and this selection could turn out to be one of the most important thus far.

Executive Vice-President’s Report:

Dining Services Resolution
Zach and I met with Tom Totterdale from Dining Services, along with Jack Fahey, and several other representatives from Housing, Dining Services, and the Kilcawley Staff to discuss the Dining Services Resolution we passed at the end of last spring. For those who don’t know about it, we outlined SGA’s recommendations to Dining Services concerning Late Night Grill hours, creating a variety of options in the meal plan, and finding more eco-friendly alternatives for different procedures and services. Unfortunately, they’re not able to meet many of our requests (at this time), but they have come up with some very creative eco-friendly ideas and are open to testing out later hours at least once a week.

Higher Learning Council/Career & Counseling Services
This summer, we also met with Brian Wells and Dr. Cheryl Bosley from Academic Advising about different ways of meeting the advising needs of students, and discussed ideas for an advising network. We also talked about what students need from Career and Counseling Services, as well as what it needs from YSU.

Continuing Projects
This year, we will be following up with the work last year’s Academic Affairs committee did on the YSU 101 project, and will be looking for more involvement from our Academic Senators, especially those who will be serving on the General Education Committee and other closely related committees.

New Projects
I look forward to keeping up the good work on the YSU 101 Project, wherever the path takes us on that. I am looking into working with Dr. Bosley on the Advising Network, and we are also considering exploring different options for technology in education.

SB F 2009-01 – Stafford, Brown, Twyford

A BILL

Making appropriations for the operation of

Student Government Association for the fiscal year 2010

Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the Youngstown State University Student Government Association assembled, That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Office Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, for Student Government Association Activities, and the same shall constitute the budget required pursuant section 2, Article IX of the Constitution, namely:

Section 1: Budget of the Student Government Association

Sec. 100. OFFICE/INTERNAL AFFAIRS. -For expenses incurred for the administration of the SGA office, for meetings, and for general expenses associated with operating SGA.

Item 100-01 includes OPERS fringe benefits for the student office assistants.

Sec. 200. OUTREACH. –For expenses incurred to promote the activities of SGA, or to otherwise connect with the student body.

Representatives may request, through the Vice President for Financial Affairs, to access funds that could be allotted for representative use.

Sec. 300. SPONSORSHIP. –For expenses incurred to sponsor or otherwise facilitate campus or community programs not initiated by SGA.

Questions of Student Government Associations sponsorship foregoing Item 300-01 shall be posed to the Legislative Assembly by the Executive Committee but shall not be subject to this amendment.

Sec. 400. EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. –For expenses incurred to travel for the purpose of External Affairs initiatives, including but not limited to trips to other Universities or lobbying trips.

Section 2. Administration of Funds. -Funds shall be administered by the President and the officials designated in this Act and the President, in accordance with this Act and section 3, Article IX of the Constitution.

Section 3. Reporting. -The Vice President for Financial Affairs shall report to the Legislative Assembly in writing on not less than a monthly basis on non-personnel-related expenditures by budgeted line-item.

Section 4. Amendments. –The President, through the Vice President for Financial Affairs, may propose amendments to the budget to the Legislative Assembly for its approval.  Amendments may be necessary when an Item’s purpose has expired and money still exists within that Item, or for other reasons.

Section 5. Effective Date. –This Act shall govern all transactions occurring immediately following its adoption and prior to the date of the last meeting of the Legislative Assembly in the academic year 2009.

Section 6. Repeals. –All prior temporary spending measures shall be incorporated into this Act into Items as appropriate.

SR F 2009-01 – Twyford, Brown

RESOLUTION

To amend Article VI, Section 2 of the Constitution, creating ex-officio seats for the student members of the Board of Trustees.

Resolved, that Article VI, Section 2, shall be amended to read as follows:

Section 2: Membership

SR F 2009-02 – Twyford, Brown

RESOLUTION

To amend Article V, Section 1 of the By-Laws, creating an ex-officio advisor seat for the Chair of the Academic Senate.

Resolved, that Article V, Section 1, shall be amended to read as follows:

Section 1: Number of Advisors

There shall be one faculty and at least one administrative advisor to the Student Government Association. The Chair of the Academic Senate shall also serve as an ex-officio advisor to the body. Each shall serve for a full year, including summer, from the time of their appointment.