GCSA Forum Minutes

2 September 2014
I. Call to Order and Invocation, Henry Hagen
II. Roll Call, Hannah Wardell
John Buckley, tardy
Ezra Tandela, tardy
Connor Wilson, tardy
Stephen Bouchie, absent
III. Reading and Approval of Minutes, Hannah Wardell
IV. Reports of Officers, Boards, and Standing Committees
i. Academic Affair Committee, Kristen Gandek
Building on Abigail Nashs (previous VPAA) work with Scientific Enterprise. Doing
research and looking at academic organizations in the area and how they
structure their systems..
ii. Communications Committee, John Buckley
They have been doing lots of work on elections. Abi Flynn is working as Design
Assistant. Working on refining GCSA branding in Social media.
iii. Elections and Appointments Committee, Hannah Wardell
i. Introduction of the new Director of Club Development, Gianna Scavo
iv. Financial Affairs Committee, Ryan Daly
working on comparisons with other colleges and how they handle change.
Starting with stipends.
VII. New Business,
i. Presentation of URC procedure changes, Ryan Daly
Presentation of new URC contract. Reimbursement situations.
Henry- would this be a bylaw change?
Ryan- nope, there isnt a need
Chris- Should the forum decide to pay the bill of the desperate student? How
much?
Ryan- roughly $760, we may pay it out of the executive account unless you want
to do it a different way.
Chelsea- so we can combine different accounts?
Ryan- Yes
Henry- is there a motion for what fund it should come out of?
Jamie- I think it should come out of the club contingency fund. But Will it apply
forever and always come from there is we decide this now?
Henry- it's a rare situation with conferences between fiscal year and academic
year, it would have to come before the new forum, they can say no.
Chelsea- nothing binding, hoping to clarify and make reimbursement process
clearer. Do we wait for the receipts?
Henry- We can wait for receipts or do it tonight.
Nathanael- Motion to table
Seconded by Kevin.
ii. Representative Initiatives

GCSA Forum Minutes

2 September 2014
Henry- think about what you want to do this year, what the campus needs, who
you want to work with. What do you want to accomplish this year?
iii. Reflections on the Summers Events
Henry- I think its important we think and talk about what we need to do based on
this summer events regarding the letter signed by Pres. Lindsey.
Kevin- We need to dialogue and find what page everyone is on before we move
forward.
Jamie- Its important that dialogue comes from students. We need to step it up
how were addressing this, we need a solid front.
Andrew Fiedler- Recall Gordon in Lynn, people play telephone with what you say
so Student government needs to take what they say carefully, especially in
relation to DML. What you say reflects on the student government--be respectful
and watch what you say.
Kevin- Words are important when representing students, we should unite
privately to decide how we want to approach this.
Henry- well, student government is public but I understand your sentiment
Kevin- can we approach this separately from admin, they seem to be addressing
issues addressed at administration. How can we reach in a way that is not
reactionary?
Henry- We can do things, events, in way that the administration cant. We can
also work through organizations that we have in the broader spectrum of GCSA
to foster dialogue
Kevin- so we should get a feel on student body
Nathanael- We got muddled in what GCSA is supposed to do, we need to take a
step back a realize we are the voice of the student not the controller, we need to
act as an intermediary and channel students voices to administration.
Chelsea- Channeling Abigail, that is one way to think about your position--you
are both a delegate and a trustee. Balance conveying their interests and doing
what is best for the school.
Jamie- talked to freshman on the floor after DML dorm talk, a lot of freshman
dont even understand that student dont feel safe here.
Kevin- Henry, your platform was on establishing spectrum type program
Henry- cant do it alone, discussed it with admin. Difference between welcoming
LGBT and institutionally recognize, but are worried about advocacy groups.
Kevin- I have ideas.
Kristen- Some students viewing summer separately than Lynn or how community
is responding and we need to address that, I just dont know how. Students care
more deeply now because these things affect them now. THese things are all
complicated, and we humanize the other more when we remember that.
Kevin- move to end discussion
Seconded Ezra
VIII. Presidents Notes, Henry Hagen
IX. Announcements

GCSA Forum Minutes

2 September 2014
i. Scottie Faire, Jamie Shore and Michael Santulli
X. Adjourn