Wartburg College Student Senate

Wartburg College Student Senate

Student Senate





November 11th, 2010

11:30 am

WBC 214 Buckmaster

1. Call to Order

 Meeting called to order by SBVP Benson at 11:31

2. Roll Call

3. Speaker – Institutional Advancement Office: Don Meyer and Kendra Merfeld

 We greatly appreciate the opportunity to talk with you today. We would like more students

to get involved with institutional advancement. The handout is a summary of what we do

now that relates to students. One of the more direct ways is Knight Callers; in that effort,

we raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. We want to build a culture of philanthropy on

campus from day one. That starts with a lot of education so that everyone is aware of the

importance of philanthropy to the college. Last February we held Philanthropy Week to raise

awareness. Another thing we do is the Seniors 4 a Cause campaign, which has been around

since 1992. Gifts are really what make a Wartburg education possible. We would really like

to see an increase in participation with the student philanthropy program. We would love to

hear your ideas either today or later in a smaller group.

 Senator Davidson: Are you talking about the senior class donating money or finding others

to donate?

 There’s an organized group of seniors donating, but we could consider going out into the

community also. Students talking about the programs that they’re a part of can be very

powerful.

4. Speaker – Dining Services: Margaret Empie

 I would like to give you an update on what we’re doing and have done. In the Mensa, we

have new Panini sandwiches, and we’ve put meat on the menu on seafood days. Webfood

is going well (except for when the internet has been down); remember that your meal

transfer will be there unless you cancel it. We will have regular gift cards coming soon

instead of coupons. We’ve been working with Student Center Council a lot this year. Soon

we’ll be requesting recipes from home. We’re looking for new soup recipes if you have any

good ones. In the Mensa, we’ve been inviting the community in once a month, and the

Konditorei is now open on Saturdays. We have finished the customer satisfaction survey,

but it will be open until November 24. We are participating with the Holiday Shoppe. In

February, we’re doing a project with Service trips involving Valentine’s Day cookies. We

have just under 300 student employees, about 30 student managers, 5 new full-time people

and about 15 high school student employees. I haven’t received very many specific

comment cards. We did some adding of vegetarian items, and that is something that we’ll

continue to work on.

 Chairperson Sopdie: I have heard a lot of complaints about the taste of the food in the

Mensa. During break, there isn’t a lot of variety.

 During breaks, we only serve about 70 people, so we have to condense the menu. I would

appreciate feedback that is more specific.

 Chairperson Sopdie: They should put more effort into making the food in the Mensa. Some

of my friends even want to move off campus.

 We need to visit more to work out some specifics.

 Senator Ayesiga: I think that this issue is more for international students because it’s

different from what they’re used to.

 Parliamentarian Steib: Why can’t we order food from the Zesty on Webfood?

 You can, but you can’t meal transfer.

 Senator Kleppe: There’s new barbeque sauce in the deli bar that’s really good.

 Senator Horrigan: Where is the Mensa office?

 Right behind the information desk

 Senator Kleppe: Can we set it up so that you can use your ID number instead of your card?

 No. We have to treat ID cards like credit cards because they have money on them.

 Senator Engelset: The vegetables are often very soft.

 They’re probably out there too long. We need to hear these complaints right away so that

we can pinpoint who isn’t cooking something correctly.

5. Devotion

 No devotion this week

 Next week’s devotion: Ombudsperson Albrecht and SBP Carolan

6. Approval of October 21st minutes

 Minutes stand approved

7. Approval of November 4th minutes

 Minutes stand approved

8. Old Business

a. Resolution #21 – Supplemental Request – Wartburg West

 Motion to consider by Treasurer Nelson; seconded by EAD Holmes

 Treasurer Nelson: This is a supplemental request from Wartburg West for a dinner for the

new students and their host families in Denver. Budget Review amended this to $0 because

we felt that we didn’t want to approve student fee dollars to a faculty department.

 Vote. Passed unanimously.

9. New Business

 Motion to suspend the rules by SBP Carolan; seconded by Ombudsperson Albrecht

a. Resolution #24 – Senate Appointments – Kleppe and McMullen

 Motion to consider by SBP Carolan; seconded by Parliamentarian Steib

 These are appointments to the two vacancies. John was a senator last year, and Anna is

new.

 Chairperson Sopdie: Could they stand up and say something?

 Senator McMullen: I wanted to be involved in Senate and thought it would be cool.

 Senator Kleppe: I really enjoyed Senate last year and wanted to be involved again.

 Vote. Abstaining: Senators Kleppe and McMullen. Motion passed.

 Motion to reinstate the rules by SBP Carolan; seconded by Ombudsperson Albrecht

b. Resolution #25 – Supplemental Request – V-day

 No discussion

 Resolution sent to the Budget Review Committee

c. Resolution #26 – Supplemental Request – Public Relations Student Society of

America (PRSSA)

 Senator Davidson: What is that?

 Anderson: It is an organization for Public Relations majors. We do several events

throughout the year including guest speakers.

 SBVP Benson: This is a request for their van travel to Cedar Falls.

 Resolution sent to the Budget Review Committee

d. Resolution #27 – Supplemental Request – Crop Walk

 No discussion

 Resolution sent to the Budget Review Committee

e. Resolution #28 – Supplemental Request – Iowa Bandmasters Association

 No discussion

 Resolution sent to the Budget Review Committee

f. Resolution #29 – Supplemental Request – Wartburg Student Music Therapy

Association (WSMTA)

 No discussion

 Resolution sent to the Budget Review Committee

10. Treasurer’s Report………………………………………….David Nelson

 First, I’d like to acknowledge that today is Veteran’s Day.

 Today was the first meeting of the President’s Budget Advisory Group. I talked to Gary

and Rich about the fringe tax benefits, so I can explain that more. With further federal

oversight, they’ve had auditors come in and now it’s a more active process.

11. President’s Report……………………………………….…Trevor Carolan

 John Meyers wanted me to reiterate to all of you to keep your belongings safe because

of recent thefts. Also, if you know anything about these thefts be sure to talk to

security.

 Chairperson Kovar: You can also go to mysafecampus.com if you wish to remain

anonymous.

 The Board of Regents halted the pay freeze on faculty raises.

 If anyone is really interested in recycling and sustainability, Jackie and I would like to sit

down with you to talk about those things. There isn’t a student group affiliated with

Senate that deals specifically with those things.

 Also, come to me if you’re interested in institutional advancement.

 Committee chairs, please send me a brief report of what has been going on the past

month.

 Chairperson Sopdie: Why is the internet down all the time? It’s also very slow.

 A lot of that was not Wartburg’s fault. Also, they’ve been doing updates to improve the

bandwidth.

 Dean Loers: It’s slow because the use has increased, mostly due to the uploading of

videos.

 During the daytime, more of the internet is dedicated to the academic halls and the

library. At night, it’s faster in the residence halls.

 Senator Engelset: The computers in the social sciences lab are really bad.

 If you’re interested in being involved with the Senate Technology Task Force, talk to

Njoroge or MacKenzie.

12. Administrative Ombudsperson’s Report………………Jackie Albrecht

 We’ve had a lot of complaints about maintenance in the Complex, so I’m going to meet

with the RHD, Wes, and someone in maintenance. Please email me before Monday with

other concerns you want me to bring up. Student organization emails will only be sent

out on Thursdays.

 They’re trying to get more students involved in EESI, so let me know if you’re

interested.

 Every organization has to do an annual report in order to continue to be an organization.

We want to get this information out sooner.

 We told the Nerf Club that it’s up to them to figure something out with Residence Life if

they wish to move forward. Friends of Sabeel will be speaking to SRC this week.

 SBP Carolan: They’re tabled indefinitely, so there’s no timeline as to when they need to

be brought back. They will need to be brought back with a 2/3 vote to discuss them.

13. Academic Ombudsperon’s Report………………………Derek Nash

 Thanks to everyone who helped with the elections this year.

 RICE (Research Internship Creative Endeavors Day) was approved by the faculty last

week, and an ad-hoc committee will move forward with this. It will be during Winter

term.

 APC will be having a survey go out about the library hours.

 I met with Dean Menzel about dead week, and we talked about how it is in the

handbook. The handbook already states that final exams must be given during finals

week, but we need to see if it needs to be enforced or updated.

 We are still looking into mid-term SRIs, and the responsibility for making sure that SRIs

are taken seriously is in the hands of the students.

 We will be doing a dodge ball tournament on January 25 to raise awareness about

childhood prostitution in the United States.

 Parliamentarian Steib: Can you explain what dead week is?

 There can be exams, but not final exams.

14. Recorder’s Report…………………………………………..Hollis Hanson-Pollock

 The Senate Leadership Scholarship is now on the website. If you’re a 2nd or 3rd year, you

may apply. Be sure to email your constituents about this opportunity.

 Be sure you’re checking out the blog each week!

15. Executive Assistant to Diversity’s Report…………….Chondraah Holmes

 The Diversity Committee is working on events for next year. I would like to reiterate the

fact that our meetings are Sundays at 8 and open to everyone in Senate.

16. Vice President’s Report……………………………………MacKenzie Benson

 I’ll be sending around a schedule for Senate one-on-ones. Everyone needs to sign up for

a time.

 I need to do a quick survey for IRC. The college is looking into online textbooks and

learning.

17. Committee Reports

18. Dr. Loers/Dr. Book

 At Loras, there was unsportsmanlike behavior by both sides. I want to point out to you

that you need to be leaders when you’re at these events and encourage others to be

respectful also.

19. Liaison Reports

a. Spiritual Life and Campus Ministry

b. BSC – Selling mugs for $5 (AWESOME stuff in it), t-shirts, $12, last years t-shirts

$5. Come to the office in the Hub or the Student Life Office (Krystal Madlock).

c. I-club

d. Student Center Council

e. ETK – There’s a sign-up sheet outside the Hub for open mic. knight. There will

be a hint on Facebook about the large event.

f. VAC – T-shirts for Haiti are being assembled. Email vac@wartburg.edu if you can

crochet or would be willing to help cut the t-shirts. Jackie has the sign-up binder.

g. Service Trips –

20. Open Senate/Reminders

 Senator Davidson: There are about 300 students who have yet to pay their balance, so

remind your constituents to check their emails and pay these balances.

 SBP Carolan: You need to talk to the Business Office, because if you have a balance

over $1,000 your Winter term classes will be cancelled.

 Ombudsperson Nash: Be sure to sign up for a one-on-one time if you didn’t get the

sheet.

21. Adjournment

 Motion to adjourn by SBP Carolan ;seconded by Ombudsperson Albrecht

 Opposed by Parliamentarian Steib

 Meeting adjourned at 12:42