SGAnews, Spring 2009

Academic Mentors

2009-04-14T14:41:00.000-07:00

Proposal from the A.M.-

Study bucks program. They are asking for $300 from SGA for this program. The program will run so that students who are 'caught' studying will receive study bucks. It is a rewards program. Students can turn in the bucks at the end of the semester/ year for raffle tickets to win prizes. The study bucks program has been going on for years. The A.M. said that they want to give the initiative to study, and they can get that extra push with positive reinforcement.

Senator Hamill praised the A.M.'s for how prepared they were... and said it was nice to actually have people come in with an itinerary of how the money will be spent. Most clubs do not organize themselves this way.

Motion was carried and the A.M.'s were granted $300.

Reports

2009-04-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

Senior Report- no report.

Junior Report-

students who do not have a zero dollar balance will not be able to register... also students will be charged an extra $50 for each month that they do not have a zero balance.

Quin was very concerned about this because he hadn't heard about this prior to it being brought up in this meeting.

Sophomore Report- no report.

Freshman Report- no report.

Rules Committee-

Talking about the change of the Constitution.

Chris, Randy

2009-04-14T14:33:00.000-07:00

Chris- this Thursday at 4 the last clubs and groups meeting.

The SGA scholarship will be given out on 11 o'clock on the 27th.

Randy- Nominations will be passed out to recognize people on SGA. Plaques will be handed out for the winners.

private institutions

2009-04-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

70% of funding goes to private institutions?! Lee told the SGA to look it up if they didn't believe him.

Kyle

2009-04-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

Potential increase of $400 for student fee's

Senator Hamill asked in the history of this school or any other school where a student fee increase has been decreased after a financial strain is over.

It isn't look good that a student decrease would ever take place... because the economic forecast is not good.

Senator Chamberland said he didn't think it was fair for a state school to be run on the backs of students, and that there is too much waste at this school as of right now. Lee said back that comparing us to other schools we really aren't considered "wasteful at all."

If the new budget isn't passed tomorrow, more cuts to services and layoff's may take place. The trustees will meet at 6:30 p.m. on South Campus.

Quin believes that fee hikes is the simple solution to keep funding up, but the simple fact is that our schools are underfunded already. "We need more education to fix the economy... not less"

Quin's report cont.

2009-04-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

47 people showed up for the Rally in Boston last Wednesday. Percentage-wise we had the most students there from any school in the state... only beat-out people-wise by UMass Boston, a school which is 4 times the size of Salem State.

As a result of last weeks rally Shawn Garbelli, a legislator from Arlington, to sponsor an amendment to increase the mass grant by 14.1 million dollars!

"We can speak out- we just need to be loud enough," Quin in reference to how Democracy works.

Quin's report

2009-04-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

Quin announced that they have almost a quarter of a million dollars in the reserve budget. Senators were concerned that only residential students would be helped but now commuter students could possibly be helped as well. The financial aid office is doing this as a favor to the SGA, so students will need to pay these funds back.

Next week is the last meeting, and Quin wants to have a small transition ceremony for Liz as the incoming president. Afterwords they plan to go to Vinny T's in celebration

Scott James

2009-04-14T13:53:00.000-07:00

Guest speaker Scott James came in to discuss moving the master schedules to the internet. Senators in SGA voiced their concerns about internet access, and if ANY master schedules would be printed at all. Also Students have been complaining about classes not being available for them to take. As of right now classes are being locked out for students in majors only, only when the freshman are done with registering will the classes open up to all other students on campus.

student life and academic affairs

2009-03-31T14:44:00.000-07:00

student life:
Lack of pre-registration

academic affairs-
started talking about the master schedule saying that the schedules will not be available in paper-form for the fall semester. We recomend that they only print 100 copies and keep them in the library for students to use as a reference tool. The first 100 is where the cost is anyways so why don't they just print some, that can be used throughout campus.

This suggestion was actually just brought up by some senators.

the new constitution

2009-03-31T14:36:00.000-07:00

a sophmore senator said that the students need to stop being irresponsible with their votes, and that senators should be able to read the new constitution before voting on it.

a senior senator then said that they felt the rules committee are the ones to look at it and that they should trust them.

Quin then said that he also believed that the rules committee should be trusted because it is their job to read over things like this for SGA, and senators shouldn't be too concerned because it is a constitution for PC and not SGA.

Everyone pledges to read the minutes but no one ever does. Randy basically said it is ok to not read the minutes.

SSC elections

2009-03-31T14:33:00.000-07:00

ELECTIONS OPEN TOMORROW AT 9 A.M. AND WILL CLOSE THURSDAY AT 7 P.M.

Get Out and Vote for SGA.

*Any write-in's must be first and last names, and if they have to really question it from horrible spelling then the vote will not count.

Masspirg

2009-03-31T14:28:00.000-07:00

Students must vote to keep Masspirg on campus. A member of SGA asked hypothetically if everyone were to waive their masspirg fee would they still be funded in a different way, where he was told no. If no one pays a fee, then Masspirg cannot stay on campus.

Junior, Sophmore, and Freshman report.

2009-03-31T14:22:00.000-07:00

Junior Report- Nothing to report
Sophmore Report- Nothing to report

Freshman-

a report about an issue that was already raised. The entrance and exit out of North Campus is being blocked and is dangerous for people who are trying to pull out. They are trying to prevent students from parking on the yellow lines which are right before the entrance and exit of north campus, which aren't supposed to be parked in anyways. However campus police cannot ticket or tow these cars and Salem Police aren't "taking it as seriously" as they should.

Students are unsure if they should stay with their advisors if they change their majors, before their majors are officially changed. Freshman are unsure of what to do in this situation and it was said that freshman should probably talk to their Academic Mentor to figure this problem out.

New Member to the Board of Trustees

2009-03-31T14:20:00.000-07:00

Roger Burkawitz, the CEO of legal seafoods, is the newest member of SSC board of trustees

Senior Report

2009-03-31T14:16:00.000-07:00

Students who want to walk this year at graduation, they have to sign a "golden" form with the registrar.

Registration-
Students are complaining about registration times which are during class times.
Also, all majors, except for criminal justice, are not allowed to pre-register into classes like they used to be able to do with their advisors.

*can't register *the times which students register *seniors advising starts on the 6th so hopefully these things can be attended to before registration.

Leno

2009-03-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

Quin went on to say that people cannot sell their tickets to Jay Leno. It is said there is going to be a raffle for the extra 16 tickets to the student body.

In the past students put their name on the list if they are interested... if 16 people are not interested then they won't bother to raffle the tickets, they will just hand them out.

It is said they are going to put an announcement out on facebook so that students can have a chance to get the tickets.

HAS

2009-03-31T14:10:00.001-07:00

Latino Conference. Bringng new england schools together to come up with ideas. $1,420 congress registration fee plus car rental to go down to CT for this conference. They also want $87.50 per night for two hotel rooms.

Finance recommends the $1,420. They asked if people in HAS should obstain, but it was said that it should only have to obstain if they are attending to conference.

Program Council

2009-03-31T14:08:00.000-07:00

PC is proposing for the annual spring carnival that they usually do. A member of PC is currently a SGA member.

$860 for their busses for the carnival, and to co-sponsor the event. The money is not coming out of SGA's finances.

groups and clubs mandatory meeting

2009-03-31T14:07:00.001-07:00

Meet the new SGA V.P.

11 a.m. in Vets Hall Student leadership luncheon

Financial

2009-03-31T14:04:00.000-07:00

Board of trustees meeting where they will discus the raise in Student fees Wednesday April 8, at 4:30 in the enterprise center.

They want the trustess to know that students might have trouble paying for school, and are hoping to find a personal experience to testify to that at the meeting.

As it is now, students are able to register for classes if they have a balance under $500 then they can register for classes. Next year this will not be the case. Students must have a zero balance to register for classes.

Jay Leno

2009-03-31T14:03:00.000-07:00

Jay Leno tickets were passed out to all of SGA when a member asked if they were getting free tickets.

The "big" Rally

2009-03-31T13:57:00.000-07:00

Two busses are confirmed for people to travel to

SGA members who are planning to attend can have an excused absense from class even though it is Financial aid week.

The presidential conference room 5/5:15 p.m. to figure out the plans for the rally.

They plan on making signs for the rally on the green (in front of the campus center) on Thursday 11-2, and Monday during community time... just two days before the Rally.

talent show

2009-03-31T13:55:00.000-07:00

The talent show which was supposed to take place this last monday will not be taking place because of budget cuts. Also Spring break stalled any advertising that could have been done, causing there to be not enough interest.

That's a wrap...

2009-03-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

Meeting ended at 5:33.

call-in successful

2009-03-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

Quinn learned from a Phenom meeting yesterday that over 1,000 calls went through to the Statehouse from all public higher eduction calls involved in the state-wide call in 2 weeks ago.

careful!

2009-03-10T14:10:00.000-07:00

One freshmen board member discussed the danger in exiting the Peabody Hall Driveway. Many accidents have happened there because people park on the yellow lines to closely to the exit, blocking visibility while pulling out onto Loring Ave.

The student was advised by Lee to contact the Public Saefety at the school, although it is an issue the City of Salem will likely deal with because the street (Loring Ave) is city property.

money awarded

2009-03-10T14:05:00.000-07:00

Alliance of Health, Physical Education & Recreation & Dance requested money from SGA to go on a National Convention.
Motion carried, $807 was awarded to the group.

Vice President Report

2009-03-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

Thursday 3/19 - Spring clean-up in campus areas that don't get so much attention, assembling care packages for troops in the Middle East. Also, work outside of SSC at at Ford Elementary school, boys&girls club and senior center.

Motion carried for SGA to purchase 10 tickets to MMRP show, same production team as the Vagina Monolouges.

celebration

2009-03-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

SGA is throwing a celebration party for themselves and the "inaugaration" for the new SGA body for academic yeat 2009-10. They have booked Vet's Hall for this celebration, but Quinn did not disclose the specific events.

Statehouse Day

2009-03-10T13:54:00.000-07:00

Students identify issues they think are important and speak in groups with elected officials. Students mostly share their own experiences they've had at Salem State. The event's main goal is to better public funded higher education and generate more funding money.

campaign trail

2009-03-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

Elections are April 1-2. Quinn says people running should be excited for it and he wants everyone to have to run for their position rather than being appointment, which happened often this year.
The deadline for being nominated is Thursday.
Quinn wants a nice, clean fight in running. "No spitting!" he joked.

new administration for 2009-10

2009-03-10T13:46:00.000-07:00

April 21st will be the last semester with this administration. Quinn said after spring break there will be much business to get done with little time. This is the 103rd SGA administration.
Quinn feels comfortable with the team he has assembled, saying they are competant and successful.

Date Auction Successful

2009-03-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

Although President Gonnell only went for $7.50, some students went for as much as $75. MassPIRG raised over $300 from this one event.

new sga secretary

2009-03-10T13:40:00.000-07:00

Evelyn will not be returning to the Exectituve Board as Secretary and Randy is the new appointee.

That's a wrap...

2009-03-03T15:17:00.000-08:00

Meeting ended at 6:28 p.m.

vote

2009-03-03T14:55:00.000-08:00

An anonymous vote took place, where students wrote
1. NO to keep the constitution the way it stands now, by which students running for excutive board must have attended a minimum of 12 SGA meetings,
2. YES to ammend the constitution to make the 12 meeting rule void, where the entire SSC body can run for executive board,
3. ABSTAIN if unsure.

2/3 of student body must vote YES for vote to pass -

MOTION FAILED!
10 No votes
9 Yes votes
1 abstain

SGA constitution breaks?

2009-03-03T14:34:00.000-08:00

This entire issue is about suspending the constitution. Who knows the SGA Constitution anyway? Admittidly, not many. It would not be effective this year in electing a new President, but rather next.

As the group shared their views, many opposing opinions surfaced. The main concern is that the 12 session rule contradicts the spirt of inclusion and community. Many denied that SGA was a closed group, including VP Chris Correnti, saying he feels SGA is open to the entire student body because every student has the chance and the right to represent the SGA body by being on the senate.

Are there leaders out there who could do a kick-butt job? The disagreement continues...

do you have what it takes for the sga executive board?

2009-03-03T14:15:00.000-08:00

Rules Committee proposed new guidelines for running for SGA executive board. He thinks a lot of people are qualified for SGA around the campus, and therefore wants to suspend the 12 meeting minimun to run.
The issue opened for discussion, where Chris Corrente, SGA VP, strongly disagreed but was interested in hearing what people were thinking.
President Gonnell was torn, and thought an open election was a good idea. He fears an "SGA cult." He also said there may not be enough people within SGA to want to step up to an executive position.

Who's a better candidate - Joe Schmo from the SSC campus or an SGA insider??

Senior Report

2009-03-03T14:11:00.000-08:00

Senior Report brought the hazardous O'Keefe computer lab to the facilities attention and they were granted money to fix it up - including painting and concealing all the hanging wires.

"Fighting the Power" rally at the Salem Power Plant last Sunday had a great turnout. Front page of the nexy day's newspaper.
"Burning the Future" movie showing at 8 p.m. tonight on campus about the use of coal in our enviornment.

xtra $1500, anyone?

2009-03-03T13:58:00.001-08:00

Gonnell attended a trustees meeting, where he discovered a fee increase of 15 percent and an additional $1500 for all UMASS schools. People critized the administration in rushing to decisions dealing with higher ed financial hikes for students.
Are we paying too much?

President Gonnell showed videos of the meeting.

groups and clubs awarded over $300,000

2009-03-03T13:45:00.000-08:00

Budget for groups & clubs will be $330,000 for the next academic year. Motion carrried on a vote.

Rally in Boston

2009-03-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

Last spring, a rally outside of the Boston State House resulted in increasing the higher public education budget by $2 million.
A rally will happen this year also, March 12, and absences will be excused for attending the rally. Gonnell hopes for a better turnout than the 12 students last year.

"Thanks!"

2009-03-03T13:37:00.000-08:00

Gonnell gave an honorable mention to everyone on the budget committee for all their hard work. Groups, clubs and senators are very thankful for their work.

Honorable mention to those who participated in the "call in table," where 80 calls went through to the state house in support of funding for higher public education. UMASS Boston had approximately 100 calls through.

Gonnell said calling is very effective in persuading politicans, possibly even more so than personal lobbying and letter-writing.

SGA 3/3/09

2009-03-03T13:31:00.000-08:00

Attendance taken, meeting started at 4:37. Gonell hoped everyone got enough sleep on the snow day off yesterday!

SGA 2/17 - LIVE

2009-02-17T13:49:00.000-08:00

Kristin Esterberg, Vice President of Academic Affairs spoke about easing the difficulties of transferring students. Her work will include allowing transfer credits to count as core classes of students arriving with a two-year Associate's Degree. She is also trying to create a second community time, since a short period Monday morning is the only existing time. She welcomed any questions or concerns from students. President Gonnell kindly welcomed her to the SGA community.

Sept. 25 and 26 all SGA members will go on a retreat to Mara Vista. A deposit of $1,100 is needed to reserve spots for trips; motion carried.

The treasurer made a reminder about budget packages due next Monday by 2 p.m.

The campus police will have to propose detail work finding to the SGA, hoping to cut back on funding from the SGA and rather dipping into their own budget pool.

Eileen McGivney spoke on behalf on MassPIRG. There is a petition drive is this week - they are collecting petition signatures to keep the MassPIRG on the campus bill. In order to pass, 15% of the student body must sign the petition to have a $10 waveable fee and keep the MassPIRG chapter in the campus community.

The Zero Waste campaign will be this Thursday during lunch hours (11-12 or 12-1). Students will write petition messages and put them into non-redeemable bottles under the recyclable bill. After, the bottles with petition messages will be delivered to the Commissioner of the DEP in Boston in hopes of getting them recyclable.

Student life reported many pothole complaints, especially at South Campus. They will be fixed later this week.

It costs SSC $25,000 to print the Master schedule and to aid with budget cuts, the school is seeking to go online only with the Master schedule. The Vice President of Enrollment agreed with the recommended second community time and will work to make that happen.

Meeting ended at 5:27 p.m.

Community Group awarded $3000

2009-02-17T06:31:00.000-08:00

The Community Service group requested a grant from SGA of $5,370 to find a yearly trip to New Orleans to aid in restoring the city after the Hurricane Katrina devastation. The budget has increased since last year because the group has increased by 8 students.
The group was awarded $3,000, the largest amount given to a group not "officially" recognized by the SGA.
One SGA executive board member was slightly opposed, pointing out problems in our own community where the money could be spent.
An awareness event will be held at the school to help find money. Jeremy Lions, a victim of Hurricane Katrina, will be sharing his experiences and performing music.

SGA 2/3

2009-02-17T06:15:00.000-08:00

Last Tuesday's meeting began with a common problem among students and the school community - the financial crisis. President Gonnell discussed near-future teacher layoffs and student fee increases of at least $500. Gonnell responded to many students’ concern about being unable to purchase book by creating a "book program."
The book program will give students a $250 voucher to buy book in the campus bookstore. The payment will not be in the form of check or cash to ensure the money would be spent here on the Salem State Campus. This means students can't use the Web to buy books cheaper online....hm.
To be eligible for the program, a student must live on campus, must be full time and not currently receiving financial aid.
For students ineligible but still unable to buy approximately $500 worth in book, Gonnell suggested the bookstore extend "loans" to student. If the loans were not paid back by the end of the semester, students would be unable to register for net semester's class.
The book buying solution is the result of student and teacher concerns for students not purchasing books for classes to save money.