Senate Meeting Minutes :: 2.14.19 :: Week 6

Minutes of the SCU Student Senate Meeting February 14th, 2019

Members Present:

Senate Chair Alex Perlman

Pro-Tempore Mary Balestreri

Parliamentarian Ricky Matthews

First Year Senators:

Allie Bare

Justin Chan

Hiwad Haider

Kate Padrnos

Luke Paulson

Sophomore Senators:

Kyle Andrews

Ciara Moezidis

Nicholas Niehaus

Robbie Nunes

Sahil Sagar

Junior Senators:

Avery James

Shivani Gohil

Vidya Pingali

Mika Philip

David Warne

Senior Senators:

Leif Allmeroth

Claire Hultquist

Eoin Lyons

Rachel Wiggins

Kayla Williams

At-Large Senators:

Nina Molanphy

Jim O’Brien

Raul Orellana

Rory Pannkuk

Eduard Ruano

Sophia Smith

Alejandro Sugerr

Amber Wang

Members Absent:

NONE

1. CALL TO ORDER

Senate Chair Alex Perlman called the February 14th, 2019 meeting of the Santa Clara

University Student Senate to order at 7:00 pm in the Benson Memorial Center Williman Room.

Senate Chair Alex Perlman invited Senior Senator Kayla Williams to recite the invocation.

2. ROLL CALL

Pro-Tempore Mary Balestreri took roll at 7:01 pm.

3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Senate Chair Alex Perlman asked the Senate to consider the agenda for the current meeting.

He requested questions and comments related to the agenda. Hearing none, he asked for a

motion to approve the agenda. At-Large Senator Amber Wang motioned to approved the

agenda and First-Year Senator Justin Chan seconded the motion.

4. APPROVAL OF THE PREVIOUS MINUTES

Senate Chair Alex Perlman asked the Senate to consider the previous meeting minutes and

requested questions and comments related to the minutes. Hearing none, he asked for a

motion to approve the minutes. First-year Senator Hiwad Haider motioned to approve the

minutes and First-year Senator Justin Chan seconded the motion .

5.SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS

Guest Speaker: Ed Ryan- Vice Provost for Planning and Institutional

Effectiveness

Senate Chair Alex Perlman invited Vice Provost for Planning and Institutional Effectiveness,

Ed Ryan to speak to the Senate. His presentation is summarized succinctly below:

- Speaking about the WASC Initiative; every institution must be accredited

- Purpose: 1. Improve the quality of SCU education, Assures stakeholders that SCU

has rigorous evaluations to meet standards 3. Complies with the US department

of Education and assures access to financial aid.

- Identify strengths and challenges for the institution

- 3 year process

- 10 working group members

- We are evaluated on 39 criteria

- Institutional Strengths and Challenges:

- Strengths: Excellence, Quality Assurance and Integration of Curricular and

Cocurricular in Support of Student Success

- Weaknesses: Diversity and Collaborativeness

- Continuous improvement in educational quality though support of teaching, learning

and research, and physical information

- Commitment to strengthening diversity.

- Institutional challenges: Diversity needs in addressing campus climate and improving

experiences of inclusivity and equity.

- Strengthening institutional support for student success: Allocation of staffing and

resources

- Compensation: housing and equity for tenured and tenure track faculty lectures adjunct.

Senate Chair Alex Perlman thanked Ed Ryan for his presentation and opened the floor for

questions.

First-year Senator Allie Bare : What would it look life if we didn’t receive a 10 year

accreditation and how would it affect our education?

A 10 year accreditation indicated that the university is in a good place. A 6 year

accreditation is for schools that need improvements, either financial or curriculum.

Sophomore Senator Sahil Sagar : Can you expand on your commitment to strengthening

diversity?

We have done good work, thus far, in adding more faculty of colors. In terms of

student, we have seen an increase in population, but we have work to do in the quality of

experience for students of color.

Sophomore Senator Ciara Moezidis : Are there any goals to increasing and establishing the

reputation of SCU? What were your reasonings behind not adding a student to your team?

Yes there is, but that is not the purpose of WASC. We have a strong focus on our

academics, but are still working to secure our spot in the top 100 universities. We are a top

west coast school, but aren’t known nationally because we do not have a reputable sports

program. We are working on strengthening the quality of experience.

We made a choice not to add a student to our team because it is hard to find students

who are willing to stay committed for this three year period.

At-large Senator Jim O’Brien : If we are trying to get to the level of a school like Notre Dame, in

our admissions and bringing in less Catholic students, how do you propose we are to retain

our Jesuit values and identity?

I am not speaking on behalf of the school, but to put this into context, Notre Dame has

two things that we do not have 1. They are a billion dollar business and they use there money

very effectively for marketing and 2. They have large PhD Programs that graduate hundreds of

students per year. Although the number of Jesuit priests are declining, we can still manage to

keep the values by enrolling students who share the values and the missions of Jesuit

education whether they are catholic or not.

Senior Senator Leif Allmeroth : Who is responsible for creating the benchmark on page 5?

This was set by the University.

First-year Senator Hiwad Haider : Are the sample sizes a fair size?

Yes, Generally you want 30% of the population. We have the right amount for

undergraduates. It was had to get enough from the graduate population. We can also look a

data trend because we have been doing this for 30 years.

First-year Senator Kate Padernos: I feel that the information provided is a fair representation

of our strengths and challenges as an institution.

At-large Senator Nina Molanphy : Will this report pose a plan of action how to include our

challenges?

We can’t fix all of this in just 6 months, but we will lay out that our initial campus

responses and let WASC decide if it is sufficient. We will show them what we have done to

address our issues and they use that information to make their conclusions.

+1000 RSO Presentations

Senate Chair Alex Perlman invited representatives from Hipnotik to present their request to the

Senate. Their presentation and corresponsponding questions and answers are listed below:

Hipnotik

Prelude Dance Competition

- Total Costs $4,286.96

- Total Requested: $1,667.90

Japanese Student Association

Matsuri Culture Show

- Total Requested: $3,499

Theta Tau

Western Regional Conference

- Total Costs $5750.00

- Total Requested: $2336.00

Sophomore Senator Sahil Sagar : Since you are in the colony state, how would going to this

conference help you become a chapter?

We have to petition to become a colony, and we must show involvement. The national

organization will be more inclined to grant us a chapter if they see that we are active.

Her life, His Glory

Spring retreat

- Total Cost: $2792

- Total Requested: $1,515.00

Senior Senator Kayla Williams : What is the Registration fee?

It’s how the retreat center breaks it down.

Lambda Pi Eta

Senior End of the Year Party

Total: $1,250

Senior Senator Kayla Williams : Is this on campus?

Usually in nobili so we are doing it outside to cut cost

Vietnamese Student Association

Culture Show 2019

Total Cost: $5399

Total Requested: $4249

Junior Senator David Warne : How do you plan to store the reusable materials?

The OML

Sophomore Senator Sahil Sagar : How many tech rehearsals will you have?

We normally run 5, but are having 3 this year to cut on costs.

Senior Senator Claire Hultquist : They Mayer Theater is your greatest costs, do you have an

alternative place to do your show?

No but the recital hall doesn't have the technology for the narrative that we are trying

to display.

6. NEW BUSINESS

No new business

7.OLD BUSINESS

Discussion & vote of RSO registration funding bylaw

VI.D.4.d.iv

Sophomore Senator Sahil Sagar : Straw Poll: All those in favor of $800 - yes or no

Junior Senator Vidya Pingali : Where did the number 800 come from?

Sophomore Senator Kyle Andrews : Past averages.

Senate Chair Alex Perlman called for a motion to vote on the Bylaw. At-large Senator Amber

Wang motioned to vote and Junior Senator Shivani Gohil seconded the vote. Pro-Tempore

Mary Balestreri took roll and the Bylaw passed.

Discussion & vote of new RSOs

Senate Chair Alex Perlman opened the floor to debate of the three RSOs in discussion:

Pokemon Club, Students Supporting Israel and Book Club.

Sophomore Senator Kyle Andrews: I think that Pokemon Club did a good job rebranding their

RSO.

First-year Senator Kate Padernos : At the State of the University Address, our student body

president Sam Perez said that she hoped everyone can find there space here at SCU. I saw the

members of Pokemon Club having fun and Casa, and it looked like they had found their space. I

think it is nice for them to get involved.

Sophomore Senator Ciara Moezidis : Is Students Supporting Israel okay to approve due to any

government relations?

Senate Chair Alex Perlman : Yes, they are okay to approve.

Sophomore Senator Sahil Sagar : Students Supporting Israel is showing promise with their

initiatives.

First-year Senator Allie Bare : In regards to Book Club, I don’t see the reason why they need to

be an RSO if they wanted to remain small.

Senior Senator Leif Allmeroth : They do have a purpose for becoming an RSO, they want to

have the capacity to request ASG funding.

Senate Chair Alex Perlman : The COMM Committee came to me with an idea for us to show

our support for an idea without having repetitive answers. We will be adopting a light knock on

the table to show support for an idea to keep discussions succinct. This is policy now, keep it

civil.

Senior Senator Kayla Williams : I had a lot of concerns with Book Club, but on the recent SCU

Alumni email, they introduced an Alumni book club, so they can use that as support.

Sophomore Senator Nick Niehaus : The SAC Committee has been working on creating

categories for RSOs in the near future. If this is passed, please keep it in mind that they would

be in a category that would not receive maximum funding.

Senior Senator Rachel Wiggins : They also want to become an RSO so they can have the

ability to book rooms.

At-Large Senator Alejandro Sugerr : How active will they be as a club, when we are trying to

reach out to RSOs they are not receptive. It seems like they have a temporary status.

Sophomore Senator Sahil Sagar : I see his concern. It's hard for new RSOs to establish

themselves so it is hard to monitor their activity. I don’t see much succession with Pokemon

Club.

Sophomore Senator Kyle Andrews: I think they are clubs where people will push for it, there

will always be a new generation pushing for it.

At-large Senator Rory Pannkuk: I don’t see why we should have a Harry Potter, but not

Pokemon Club.

At-Large Senator Eduardo Ruano : In regards to SSI, I was talking to some student groups on

campus, and some of the concerns that they have is that the status quo is geared towards

Israel. I did some research to educate myself on what they were talking about and there are

lots of current events geared towards this as the status quo. There is strong favoritism towards

israel, they see this growing influence would not be as strong.

Junior Senator David Warne : The Israel status debate is not settled, and I don’t think this is the

case on college campuses. I think that it is only fair that both sides are represented on our

campus.

At-Large Senator Eduardo Ruano: I understand your argument, but it is hard when the

argument is tilted to one side. Since I am a Senator At-large for being for diversity and

inclusion, I want to accurately represent the sentiments of my constituents.

At-large Senator Sophia Smith: I don’t know if there is a need for this club to be on campus

and I don’t know if there are people feeling oppressed.

At-Large Senator Rory Pannkuk: I think this more political, but when it comes to

representation on campus, I can’t speak for what it is like across the campus. There isn’t a lot of

activism from other groups on campus. I haven’t seen anything representing Israel. It sound

like that they either want to subdue the other side from having a voice.

Junior Senator Shivani Gohil: It is political. If we want to stay neutral then we should have the

side representing Israel have their club. But I do understand the other side and human rights

violations. Is this possible to push this into another senate to become more educated to

develop our own points of view?

Senate Chair Alex Perlman: Who is in favor of pushing this to next week. The idea is to do

more research to better understand the info, or if u feel satisfied. Not enough vote to push the

discussion.

Junior Senator David Warne: There is so much irony in saying that from a diversity and

inclusion stand point, we don't want to include the other side.

First-year Senator Allie Bare: During voices of the bronco community, I heard that there is a

lack of range of different ideologies representatives. Even if we did research it doesn't meant

that their voice shouldn't be heard on campus

Senior Senator Kayla Williams: RSO’s aren’t just about representation but about bridging

ideologies on our campus. We saw members of Students Supporting Israel and Social Justice

for Palestine having a conversation, although it may have been heated, they were still bridging

the gap.

Junior Senator Vidya Pingali: There are people on our campus with marginalized ideologies, it

is unfair to not allow both sides of the issue to be represented through RSOs.

Sophomore Senator Kyle Andrews: It’s important to remember that we are approving RSOs

not weighing political ideologies. We should not consider the political facts. We are

representing the Students.

First-year Senator Hiwad Haider : In regards to RSO constituency. There was lot of “I”

statement in the Students Supporting Israel presentation, giving off the ideas that this

assimilated with her own viewpoints. How long will is stick around, will they be able to

develop a constituency?

Sophomore Senator Sahil Sagar: If you are talking about the size, it is the same claim for book

club.

First-year Senator Justin Chan: the rule is 15 as long as they are above that threshold, they are

eligible to be an RSO.

Sophomore Senator Kyle Andrews: That argument can be made for a bunch of club; we can’t

really consider that. At least they have interest and maybe by being an RSO they can have

more interest.

Senate Chair Alex Perlman called for a motion to vote for Pokemon Club. Junior Senator

David Warne motioned to vote and First-year Senator Allie Bare seconded the motion.

Pro-tempore Mary Balestreri took role and club was approved.

Senate Chair Alex Perlman called for a motion to vote for Book Club. Junior Senator Mika

Philip motioned to vote and Sophomore Senator Sahil Sagar seconded the motion.

Pro-tempore Mary Balestreri took role and club was approved.

Senate Chair Alex Perlman called for a motion to vote for Students Supporting Israel.

Sophomore Senator Kyle Andrews motioned to vote and At-large Senator Nina Molanphy

seconded the motion. Pro-tempore Mary Balestreri took role, however, there was a

discrepancy over abstained votes.

Tedd Vanadilok: Every Senator that Abstained must state their reason. The Parliamentarian will

decide whether the reasons are valid. There must be a super majority to overturn ricky.

Senate Chair Alex Perlman asked each senator to state why the abstained. There reasons are

listed below:

Senior Senator Leif Allmeroth : I do not agree with this club, however, I do not want to hinder

people from having the opportunity to participate. I change my vote to yes.

At-large Senator Nina Molanphy: As a senator, I felt as if I did not have have enough

information to make an informed decisions, but I will move my vote to a yes as everyone

should be represented.

Sophomore Senator Ciara Moezidis: I abstained because it is correlated to my background and

understanding of the conflict. But, I didn’t want to say no because I don’t want to underepreant

people.

At-large Senator Raul Orellana : I agreed with Shivani, I would have liked to seen this moved

to another senate so I could have more time to inform myself on the issue at hand.

After hearing the reasonings, Senate Chair Alex Perlman called for a brief recess to discuss

the validity of each statement. Upon returning, Parliamentarian Ricky Matthews announced

that each member must place a yes or no vote as the reasons for abstaining were not

compliant with the bylaws. Senate Chair Alex Perlman asked the senators to abstain to vote.

Pro-Tempore Mary Balestreri took note of the change and the club was approved.

8. EXECUTIVE UPDATES

- Public Relations VP: New marketing chair, working on last lectures, senator pictures

- Community Development VP: Bronco friday

- Finance VP: Cracking down on reimbursements

- Chief Justice: Bonafide Bronco Pre Law Panel

- Senate Chair: No new updates

- Vice President: Unit increase project senior status up to 20.

- President: 1st interview went well, new project, blue lights on bellomy, Night Time ride

along w campus safety, asg formal

9.COMMITTEE UPDATES

- COMM: Tabling next thursday, 11-2 you can also table for Bronco Posi

- CUIC: red cup pick up this sunday

- FOC: Claire is on the art planning committee, thon, art on fences, and Vidya is helping

with difficult dialogue.

- SAC → NSBE received 41.5%

Senate Chair Alex Perlman called for a motion to vote on NSBE’s funding. Senior Senator

Kayla Williams motioned to vote. At-large Senator Raul Orellana second the motion.

Pro-Tempore Mary Balestreri took rool and the club was funded.

10. ANNOUNCEMENTS

- Gratitude for your feedback

- Presidential Search interview

- One-on-ones

- Mini golf & other bonding: week 8 on a friday!

- Please show up on time to Senate.

11. ADJOURNMENT

Senate Chair Alex Perlman called for a motion to adjourn. Sophomore Senator Kyle

Andrews motioned to vote. First-year Senator Allie Bare Seconded the Motion.

12. ROLL CALL

Pro-Tempore Mary Balestreri took roll at 9:08 pm