Student Senate

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

6:00pm, 111 Harrison Hall
AGENDA
I. Call to Order

II. Two Minutes of Silence

III. Roll Call

IV. Announcements and Remarks by the Chair

a. Senator Introductions
b. Senate Agenda
Mr.Hanna: Will we have a speaker from the student health center?
Chair: Yes, a week before finals.
V. Consent Calendar

VI. Student Concerns

Mr.Horvath: Business surcharge
Chair: For any business classes there is a $25 surcharge per credit hour
Mr.Bodner: Holds on registration that students were unaware of
Mr.Hoffman: this is something Mr.Sauter is working on, perhaps sending out an email
when a hold is placed if you would like to help please see me after
Mr.Hanna: My community council had an idea to alleviate study congestion by getting
cubicles in the study area in our basement
Ms.Bowyer: I think it would be an interesting thing to look into as far as residence halls,
and in the past we have looked into opening up dining halls during exam times
Chair: you may want to get in touch with physical facilities to see if they have extra
cubicles
Ms.Moore: in Dorsey hall the basement is entirely social and the room that was supposed
to be our study room is occupied by 7 boys right now
Ms.Bowyer: just to clarify, it might be beneficial to send out an email about all the
different libraries and spaces students don’t really know about
Mr.Herbst: Dead trees around campus

VII. Reports
a. President of the Student Body
-Brailsford and Dunlavey were in town and held a meeting regarding the survey
-No one came to Sunday conversation about the BSC, this week I will send a
signup sheet around
- I just want to remind you the images from the presentation are from an old
version and new images will be ready in January
Ms.Bowyer: When will we know more about where everything will go on the
inside?
 Mr.McNabb: The committee has been discussing what will be in Phase 1 and
what will be in Phase 2, we will know more next week when we get blue prints;
the majority of student org spaces will be in Phase 1
Mr.Frazier: Who would I talk to about student credit union and good real estate in
the student center?
Mr.McNabb: I think they are a priority and they have already contacted me

b. Vice President of the Student Body

-OSGA fall conference meeting at OU

c. Vice President of Campus Activities

- CAC meeting tomorrow, discussion with BSAA homecoming

d. Vice President of Student Organizations

- Debt relief committee elected chair, Paul Hanna

e. Secretary for Diversity Affairs

- DAC and AAC will be partnering on a few ideas like Sign language as a foreign
language and options for competency training for freshmen
- BSAA/DAC/CAC homecoming discussion, taking steps to make sure
homecoming is inclusive to everyone

f. Secretary for Off-Campus Affairs

-Successful off-campus forum, next one on parking November 15th
- Resolution to improve Rumpke contract, any questions or concerns?
Ms.Bahir: Expanding recycling options
Mr.Sinko: Is another company competing for contract
Mr.Ciccone: The resolution denies alternative bids
Mr.Hanna: find out if Rumpke needs us to separate recycling
Ms.Riddle: the educating of students
Ms.Keefer: in my hometown we have big dumpster sized recycling areas do we
have any here?
Mr.Ciccone: yes, Dittmer

g. Secretary for On Campus Affairs

- On campus lighting tour Monday

h. Secretary for Academic Affairs

-Latin honors changing starting graduates next spring

i. Secretary for Public Relations

- No com. Committee
- Sports marketing, showing support for Miami Sports
Mr.Sauter: what are we doing to push out good things Miami does nationally?
 Ms.Dolan: I have met with them and I know they have worked on this in the past
but I can keep working with them to make sure this is continued throughout this
year
Mr.Herbst: Issue of students not knowing about voting registration
Mr.McNabb: we got 4 candidates for 4 open spots so we did not spend as much
time on this issue
Mr.Jacobson: feedback on newsletters?
Ms.Dolan: I have heard in classes that people have been excited about bills

j. Secretary to the Executive Cabinet

-Exec council, B.O.T.

k. Treasurer
-Financial Education Forum

l. Tech Director
-Short message about goals or information for senator bib pages

m. Advisor

-Word of the week: equifinality; will ask for definitions next week

VIII. Special Business of the Day:

a. Legislative Brainstorming Recap

-Nighttime door to door

- Thanksgiving transportation

- Fall Break extra day

- Freshman forgiveness policy

-First year cultural competency program

-Museums affected by the budget cuts

- Emails for parking tickets

-On campus lighting tours timing

-Miami spirit ideas, ex. Spirit rock

- Library Holiday hours

-Mandatory on-campus walkabouts

IX. Old Business:

X. New Business:
a. SR010914: A Resolution to change the Elections Bylaws
Mr.Forrest: This keeps senate from having to change bylaws each year; I trust the future
student senates and elections committees to make good decisions about elections such as
not put transitions a week before finals
Mr.Zwayer: Elections packets would not be released until the first week in February, and
due before spring break in March, giving us enough time to solicit people to run for
office, avoiding uncontested elections
-Last year’s elections cycle was difficult because campaigning started first semester
-We hope this will allow senate to create their own rules for how to act in the future
without changing the bylaws every time
Mr.Forrest: If we did put the thirteen week rule in there, an elections committee could
change this later, so we are trying to cut down on the amount of internal banter. The
timeline does always have to approved by senate

b. SR010915: A Resolution Supporting an Amtrak Stop in Oxford, Ohio

Ms.DeNardi: Cardinal Line already passes through the city three times weekly
- Survey revealed significant interest in alternative transportation
-Student population shows concentration in Chicago and Ohio 3-C Metro counties

Mr.Forrest: Passing this resolution would say that we recognize a need for transportation in
Oxford, and the need for further work on the issue
Ms.DeNardi: They have told me that Oxford is not the main priority and will be removed from
the routes unless we keep pushing
Mr.Jacobson: Could you add me as a sponsor?
Mr.Frazier: Are there any downsides?
Ms.DeNardi: Of course there’s always a possibility. Currently the cardinal line goes through at 3
a.m. but since all the lines are changing this will change too
Mr.McNabb: What kind of investment would it require from the city?
Ms.DeNardi: It’s just getting the support, having the university put the support for it is crucial,
which won’t happen until the students show their support.
Mr.Harris: What are some of the barriers? Why would Amtrak not want to do this?
Ms.DeNardi: There is a stop 25 miles south in Indiana, but that is not helpful if we don’t have
cars. However the Connersville stop gets only 600 riders a year and I think Oxford could compete
with this
Mr.Cowles: What would a trip to Chicago cost?
Ms.DeNardi: I think it’s about $15 one way
Mr.Ciccone: I too would love to be added as a sponsor to this bill
Mr.Herbst: I know in previous years the city of Oxford has rejected similar movements because
they did not want Oxford to become a central hub? Would they be tearing up the existing track?
Ms.DeNardi: City council was for looking into this, Oxford would not become a main hub
realistically. There would be a new line, a different type of track, and if Oxford doesn’t act they
will make a new line and bypass Oxford.
Mr.Sinko: How much would it increase the flow of traffic through Oxford?
Mr.DeNardi: There’s no way to answer that because they will be changing the schedule
regardless
 Mr.Mac: Could I be added as a sponsor? Is there any way we could get the information and
powerpoint emailed to us?
Ms.DeNardi: Sure
Mr.Horvath: You mentioned it would be 5-10 years down the road, is there any chance we have
already missed the chance?
Ms.DeNardi: I don’t think we have missed it because last time I spoke to them they thought this
was a great idea and opportunity for the students. Is it a possibility? Of course, but I plan on
continuing pursuing this.

Standing rules suspended, resolution is moved into debate.

Ms.Bahir: I was at the Parking and Transportation Services meeting when it was first presented,
they seemed to really like this idea and I think this is a great idea.
Ms.Hrnjak: Just from working with international students, I know a lot of them come here
looking for internships, and I frequently receive emails asking to drive them to places like
Cincinnati and Chicago they are looking to work at.
Ms.Bowyer: I think this is a great, well researched bill, and I think this body is appropriate for
showing student and university support
Mr.Zwayer: This fits with what the environmental committee is trying to do this year and would
like to extend an invite to you to join the committee
Mr.Mac: not only would this bill help students travel to and from home but also open up
opportunities for students to travel to places like Chicago to take a class or participate in a
program
Mr.Cowles: Great bill, great for oxford, even if just to reduce traffic on move in days
Mr.Goodman: I like the bill a lot, because I stay here over fall break due to costs
Mr.McNabb: I also think it’s a great bill, I suggest you take this to University Senate as well
Mr.Bodner: We should try to get state and federal support for this from our state rep

Resolution is passed by unanimous consent.

XI. General Announcements

XII. Adjournment

Important Dates

-Financial Education Forum – Credit Cards

-Wednesday, November 4th – MacMillan Great Room @ 7PM
-Board of Trustees Interviews
-Wednesday and Thursday, November 11th and 12th

-BGSU Student Government Visit

-Thursday, November 12th

-OSGA Fall Conference

-Saturday and Sunday, November 14 and 15th @ Ohio University

-DAC Meeting
-Monday, November 16th – 322 McGuffey @ 7PM

-Off Campus Forum – Parking with Perry Gordon and Mayor Dana
-Wednesday, November 18th – Harrison 304 @6:30 PM

-DAC Global Holiday Party

-Tuesday, December 8th - Shriver

SR010914:
A Resolution to change the Elections Bylaws

Nathan Zwayer, Off-Campus Student Senator

ASG Elections Committee
Adam Harris, Student Body Vice-President
Authors

Sponsors
 Submitted to Student Senate on:
November 3, 2009

Whereas: Article I, Section 106.D of the Associated Student Government Bylaws states:
The Elections Committee shall establish rules governing election campaigns, subject to the
approval of Student Senate.

Whereas: Article VI, Section 602.A of the Associated Student Government Bylaws currently
states:
The election of the Executive Cabinet shall be held at a time recommended by the Elections
Committee, after the month of January, but no later than four weeks before the end of the second
semester, subject to the approval of Student Senate.

Whereas: The Associated Student Government Elections Committee (ASGEC) has found that
the current elections cycle is wanting,

Therefore be it Resolved: The Associated Student Government Elections Committee

recommends that the following bylaws changes be approved by Student Senate:

SECTION 104.G: Elect the President of the Student Senate for the following academic year.

SECTION 602.A: The election of the Executive Cabinet shall be held at a time recommended by
the Elections Committee, but no later than four weeks before the end of the second semester the
last week of classes; not including finals week, subject to the approval of the Student Senate.

Further be it Resolved: that the passage of this resolution will henceforth override all date
limitations as prescribed by the Standing Rules of the Associated Student Government,

Further be it Resolved: that subsequent to the passage of the this resolution, Administrative
Committee will review, at a time deemed proper by the Chair of the Administrative Committee,
the Standing Rules of the Associated Student Government to make sure that said Standing Rules
are properly aligned to the bylaws changes made by this resolution.

SR010915:
A Resolution Supporting an Amtrak Stop in Oxford, Ohio

Mia DeNardi, Miami University Senior Geography and Urban & Regional Planning
Matt Forrest, Off-Campus Senator
Authors

Prue Dana, Mayor, City of Oxford

Alan Kyger, Economic Developer for the City of Oxford
Sarah Woiteshek, Assistant Director, Wilks Leadership Institute
Heath Ingram, Student Trustee, Miami University Board of Trustees
 Nathan Zwayer, Off-Campus Senator
Meghan Wadsworth, Anderson Hall Senator
Bethany Bowyer, Heritage Commons Senator
Audree Riddle, Off-Campus Senator
Mike Solarz, DAC Outreach Director, Miami University Junior
Una Hrnjak, Secretary of Diversity Affairs
Nathaniel Kaelin, Miami Alum’09, OSU Graduate Student of City & Regional Planning
Sponsors

Submitted to Student Senate

November 3, 2009

Whereas: The Cardinal Line of Amtrak currently runs through the city of Oxford.

Whereas: Connectivity via rail line is an agenda of both the state and federal government.1

Whereas: A significant number of students live within close proximity of rail way stops
throughout the United States that would provide connection to Oxford, OH.

Whereas: There is currently a lack of transportation outside of Oxford for students without
access to a personal form of transportation (i.e. an automobile)

Whereas: Expressed student support is essential to the continued investigation of this

project.

Therefore be it resolved: Associated Student Government (ASG) recognizes the need for
increased transportation options for Oxford, OH and the students
of Miami University.

Further be it resolved: ASG supports further investigation of an Amtrak stop in Oxford,

OH

1
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Rail/Programs/passenger/3CisME/Pages/default.aspx;
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/04/16/a-vision-for-high-speed-rail/