Student Senate Minutes 4/30/09

Consent Agenda

President Wilson- Club Budget allocations. Either approval it as a whole or deny it as a whole. I asked Jen Snider about what will be in the discretionary fund next year. We don't know until about July because it's the last thing to be allocated.

Kopec- The committee met for almost 9 hours.

Senate applauds with slow clap and wooping noises!

We literally hand reviewed every application. Every club got looked at. Every club had things taken off. Lunches dinners and barbecues were cut down to a standard amount. Committee will deal with appeals next week.

Quirk- Why does the Fellowship of Christian Athletes get more than the entire Islamic Club.

Kunzak- What is the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Kopec- It deals with a group of Christian athletes.

Applause and a vibra slap!

Its a small group.

McDavid- Fellowship of Christian Athletes needs money for bringing in different speakers and for Christian music bands as well as doing events and going to events. It's not just open to athletes.

Leon- SASS has been one of the clubs that gets the maximum amount possible because it is so large and active on campus. I noticed this year it is noticeably lower than in previous years, especially winter term when they were only allotted $375!

Chaudry- With SASS one of the people they wanted to bring in another club also had on their budget proposal. We let the other club bring them. Also some of there food items were cut. They didn't have specific costs for events because some of the events weren't itemized.

Kozonis- Concerning procedures of visitors to the senate I'm passing around a handout prepared by the Records Chair.

Leon- Why would the itemization issue only affect winter term?

Kopec- I would direct your budget contact to appeal rather than complain to the senate.

Leon – I’m not complaining, Heather, I just would like to get clarification on how you made your decision before I vote on the budget. Do you know the duplicate speaker was, for instance?

Kopec – No. Again, instead of complaining to the Senate, I would encourage your treasurer to appeal.

Leon – Again, I am not complaining, just seeking clarification. You said you hand reviewed each application with an unprecedented level of scrutiny this year, so I was hoping you would be able to provide more insight as to why you made specific budgeting decisions.

Lovett- What was the maximum amount of money that could be given to a club?

Barrat- $1500

Ely- A bunch of numbers were normalized across the clubs. What were they?

Kopec- Barbecues 150 Dinners 200 Lunches 100 ice cream 50.

Anjali- What is the appeals process?

Kopec- if you have specific questions about your budget Jen has copies in her office. Have your treasurer go to Jen and appeals are due by 4 30 on Monday. Finance will review them on Tuesday and have recommendations by Thursday.

Myers- [long pause] Why does SASS have more than Islamic club?

Kopec- It's about how much they asked for.

Myers- That still doesn't seem right.

Giese- I support this budget. Motion to close the speakers list.

Motions Passes!

GQ!!!- Faculty advisor: Dr. Fred Hord. Staff Advisor: DeVone Eurales. 11 members in the colony. We formed this group on Nov. 5th, 2007. We asked what do we want to be? We started with 13 gentlemen. Our mission was to have a minimum  \of 2.5 with a goal of 3.3. We now have a 2.8 so we're making improvements. GQ we try to stress community service. We are involved with many organizations. We go to Lombard Elementary school and hang out with junior high kids. We help the Fish Food Pantry. We have co-sponsorships with other student organizations. We require at least 10 hours of community service. One of our goals are cultural awareness. We have already started becoming a multi cultural fraternity. There were misconceptions that we wanted to become a black fraternity. We started as multi-cultural and that's what we strive for. The goal of our Knox Experience event was to figure out events that we can all come together as a community. We wanted an event that brings together all of Knox's groups as a community. We have brotherhood events. Every Tuesday and Thursday we have study sessions. WE have fitness sessions where we have a leader that teaches us to lift weights or play basketball. Then we have retreats to teach us about leadership, how to be a gentleman, how to speak and get across to your audience. Now we're going to open up for questions.

?- one of your goals is multi-cultural events. I feel that maybe the Knox experience is the only event that really addressed multiculturalism.

Smith- We just got money. We're working on having more events. The cards event was a multi-cultural event. We had an event about the media and how they present gender, lgbtq issues and all around the board of what the media presents.

Carson- You're seeking national affiliation. Why is that important?

Maurice- it allows us to be part of something on a national stage. It would be something that we would really want to do that would give us a bit more opportunity to get outside of the campus with this same goal.

Russell- What kind of fraternity are you looking for?

Percy- We are looking at 5. 2 are not in the IFC. We have been advised that IFC organizations would be the way to go. We are aware of the conflicts going not IFC would bring.

Ely- Sometimes you lose some of your individuality when you join with a national. Do you feel you lose anything?

Smith- I don't think so. It depends on the chapter and who is in the chapter. We're all different and we don't look at each other negatively because we're different. We're trying to kill stereotypes.

Percy- We would not select a national that we would have to change our ideals. We would select somebody that fits us rather than trying to fit someone else.

Nordgren- I really support you guys and I'm impressed by your presentation.

Beadle- Can I motion to approve by unanimous consent?

Kozonis- No.

Mike Giese: Was that an objection to a unanimous consent?

Kozonis- Yes.

Lovett- I understand the goals of your group. Why is a fraternity the best means of getting these goals achieved?

Maurice- Is this going to take away from ABLE or Lo Nuestro. We're looking for something that is two ply here. That is building brotherhood through multiculturalism. We want to look at our differences and say this is something we can use to draw together.

Percy- Clubs usually have a short life expectancy. With a fraternity this is long term. We are expecting this to be 200 years down the line GQ is still here.

Barrat- Since 2007 your membership has shrunk. What do you plan on implementing to reduce further growth? Or  mean to grow more.

Maurice- From the original 13 we lost 7 because they weren't willing to put in the work. They decided going through the process wasn't for them. Some pledged already established organizations. I'm a firm believer that it's something people are interested in. Going through the process is holding people back. When we are approved or hoping to be, having a national affiliation will in fact interest other students. WE have other students come in but are simply getting acquainted with Knox that are going to join after learning some things.

Fawson- You guys want to address gender issues and how are you going to do that when you join a group that allows men to join your group. By joining a national you might impede your goal of multiculturalism.

Smith- We may join a national that do not let women in but that doesn't mean we're not multicultural. We can work with groups on campus that bring these issues to campus.

Robins- I fully support you guys. If a majority of minority students decide to join your organization but they like another organization. Is it possible that after you started the other fraternities become really white?

Maurice- I think that would be the responsibility of the greek community to say this is the greek system if you like these guys go there. At Knox that is definitely doable. I feel like it would be our responsibility to say there is no pressure that this is the minority student fraternity.

Smith- In our constitution it says we will work with greek life already in existence. No one should join an organization if you don't do your homework. If it's greek recruitment we need to encourage people to go to other houses. You don't want anyone in your group that is uncomfortable with that group.

President Wilson- Not all students of color will join able. Not all students will feel they have to join GQ.

Kratter- You said your minimum GPA is a 2.5. Is that for the group or for the individual.

Smith- It's only for the individual.

Maurice- We have a standards committee that handles these issues. If someone falls below we will make sure they are getting all the academic help they can get. They will be put on academic probation and then deactivated until the grades come up. National organizations have their own rules.

Firman- I support you guys and I think it's great to put something together. I was invited to join GQ and I'm white. I had my own reasons to not join, but they do ask all sorts of people. Why is creating a club not enough? Is the only way to create lasting ‘change’ to institutionalize a group and create a fraternity? At what point does creating a fraternity become excessive? Why is there a need for a fraternity for your issues?

Smith- We sat down and went over questions about this. What you are telling us? Not to say that any of the fraternities weren't doing their job but they weren't for us. We sought brotherhood first.

Ehrhard- What are the requirements for joining? What will be different with a national?

Smith- Most of the process would not be that different from what we do now. We can't contact them. We researched them. There are no rules about who you are to join.

Thornton- I am the president of IFC. I'm here to show my support for them. I've been very impressed with them. I can't officially endorse them as IFC but the sentiment is positive.

Quirk- Did you not feel connected to the other fraternities because they weren't multicultural?

Percy- We just felt it wasn't for us. Nothing against those houses, they just weren't for us.

Maurice- Our multiculturalism is in our bylaws and foundation and promotion of multiculturalism is not the main goals of the other fraternities. We are looking for that to be seen in what we do. It is our main goal in our brotherhood.

Firman- I'm not a member of a greek organization. You've used the word brotherhood. What's the difference between brotherhood and friends?

Smith- I have a brotherhood with my siblings. Its similar to a fraternity in the sense that we stick together and do things together. I'm not saying anything outside of a fraternity isn't a brotherhood. We chose to become a fraternity as a brotherhood.

Lawson- VIBRA SLAP!!!!!

6 Abstentions and 2 No votes

GQ PASSES SENATE APPROVAL!!!!

Green Fee Proposal:

Wire Rack for TKS

This is pretty simple. We want some wire racks and a plastic newspaper box that we could put on the Gizmo Patio. We know that not everyone reads it so rather than printing out a copy for everyone we could print however many people want.

Chaudry- How many will you print?

Rutherford- We will have to figure that out. It might take a few weeks.

Chaudry- Do you have any idea how much TKS would save by doing this?

Fawson- By printing less copies there will be less ad revenue.

Lovett- I think this is an awesome idea.

Beadle- This would replace stuffing mailboxes. Any way you could get a subscription.

Rutherford- we're going to put a rack in the mailroom also. We'll see if people want us to do that.

Carson- Unanimous consent.

Myers- object.

Quirk- Close the speakers list.

Lawson- VIBRA SLAP!

Myers- Do you guys have numbers on how many get recycled straight out of the box?

Rutherford- There is a box for that and It's hard to catch 'em all. (unintentional pokémon reference).

Malone- Isn't there a sustainable way of using cardboard boxes or something.

?- I feel the newspaper is less appealing when you get it out of a box that says bananas.

Deffenbaugh- Sustainability of this is not connected to revenue, but to the waste of resources involved. It does seem pricy but this is the cheapest green fee proposal.

President Wilson- Make it rain.

Kratter- Make sure you know how much is taken from each one. Some may become less popular.

President Wilson- Concerning the safety of these wire racks. Sometimes it's said Knox students can't have nice things. Are they going to be chained down.

Rutherford- They will be chained down. If people want to break it they're going to.

Miller- I like the idea, but there's no point in spending more money than we have to. If you put one in the mailroom people. I feel like there is someone out there who would do it for cheaper.

Pardick- I'm all for this. When do you plan on getting them because we had a bike proposal and it's still not happening.

Rutherford- I was waiting to see if it got approved before i scheduled installation.

Light rabble among the senate...

Ehrhard- Don't we have a lot of money left in the green fee?

Deffenbaugh- I think we have about $14,000 dollars.

Lovett- Do the wire racks have roofs incase it rains.

Rutherford- There are only wire ones inside. The outside one is plastic.

Motion Passes

Committee Reports-

Sorenson- We're working on a lot of stuff. Boxes came for condom machines. Getting ashtrays. Working on blow dryers.  Working on trivia in the library.

Leon- Working on looking at residential quality bylaws for housing.

Lazar- We decided to paint the Caf.

Myers- I'm still trying to nail down the Steves. We've settled on a website to get ready for the new wireless next year.

Deffenbaugh- Green fee word on the street is that there are more coming in.

Ad Hoc Prairie Plot- WE have a meeting planned for Monday.

Lund- Monday applications will be ready for executive committees next year.

Faculty Committees-

Ehrhard- Diversity committee met about student athletes. We're discussing what the diversity committee can do about the senate issue.

Community Business

Myers- I was thinking we could do a poll about peoples happiness concerning senate.

21 Thumbs up

7 middle thumbs

0 thumbs down

Barrat- Can we look into condensing lost and founds.

Kratter- Look into hand dryers called the x-elerator.

Ely- What is part of the elections?

Lund- Positions are everybody on exec and committee chairs.

Ehrhard- What happens at the executive committee meetings? People want minutes from those. Can the minute taker type them off of the tapes?

Bueche- I want to separate blinds in the caf.

Lawson- Did you look into Wheaties.

Lazar- WE expanded our cereal selection and there's no room for Wheaties.

Larson: Charge for dining services-  allow nalgene containers in the caf and oak room because we are allowed the styrofoam ones and the nalgene would be more sustainable.

Leon- Can we clear up the mirror thing.

Kunzak- French Toast Crunch

Kratter- Gizmo the plastic cups for water are number 6 and we started using a different one. I don't know where those one went.

Venigalla- Can we get guacamole?

Kunzak- The cups were wide and would spill on me.

Firman- I would like to see motion to mow the grass less.

Lovett- Part of the reason is a Galesburg city ordinance.

Announcements-

Lawson- Jazz night VIBRA SLAP

Lund- WVKC barbecue on Gizmo patio Friday night. 10-2 party in Wallace lounge.