The meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge of the Student Center.
Ms. West then gave her Program Council Report covering activities from March 1996 to the present. She highlighted the many successful programs during that period. She then reported on the elections of a number of individuals that were filling vacant Executive Board positions and Coordinatorships. She placed the entire group forward for ratification.
MOTION: (West/Kiernan) To ratify the following individuals for the leadership positions in the Program Council.
Tara Kiernan - President
Leslie Silva - Secretary
Douglas Kalwat - Treasurer
Melinda Shedd - Music Coordinator
Shari Lamont - Talks & Topics Coordinator
Olivia Bryson - Film/Video Coordinator
Sandy Santos Ribeiro - Recreation Coordinator
Motion Passed: 9 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstained SUBOG 96-10
Next Ms. Kiernan placed a request to allocate $3,000 to purchase a walk-through metal detector for use at concerts in Welte. She explained that the Student Center Operations & Event Services Department (SCOES) had purchased one last year and one this year and was budgeting for a third one next year, but could not afford to purchase the third one this year which is needed for the Spring Weekend Concerts. She indicated that it was appropriate for them to be contributing to this overall purchase as the PC Concerts were the primary user of the metal detectors.
MOTION: (Kiernan/Voli) To allocate $3,000 from the Program Council General Reserves Account to reimburse the SCOES Department for the purchase of a walk-through metal detector.
Motion Passed: 10 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstained SUBOG 96-11
Mr. Schneeweiss then gave a report on the activities of the Mosaic Committee. He announced that as part of a series of programs the committee is presenting a lecture by Edward James Olmos. That program is also being co-sponsored by LASO. Other programs include a Black Awareness Day with lectures, music, and poetry as well as three films on a variety of subcultures.
Mr. Lausier then gave the House Committee Report. He asked Mr. Orloske to update them on the addition to the Student Center. Mr. Orloske reported that he was very excited that the first phase of this project would be underway in the next 4-6 weeks. He indicated this phase would be initiated by having a Program Design Consultant take the current plan and work out more specifics as to space configuration, building footprints, and traffic patterns. He said that these would be concepts of what the building would look like and where various offices, lounges, and service spaces would be located. Once completed this work would be given to an architect who would design the construction drawings and specifications.
Mr. Orloske went on to say that he would be putting together a number of groups made up of students, faculty, and staff that would provide input on spaces that were of concern to their needs. This phase of the project is planned to be completed by the end of the summer. Overall the plan is to break ground on the project in late 1997 and complete it by the end of the spring of 1999. Mr. Orloske indicated he would be contacting people to serve on the groups soon and asked any interested Board members to see him directly.
Ms. Timpany indicated that there was no Budget Committee Report as there had not been any business. However, she did report that Program Council had completed their budget request for 1996-1997 and that a Budget Committee meeting was needed to review it. As there were many new members on the Board in recent months she ask who would be willing to serve on the committee to do this review. Mr. Lausier, Mr. Bula, and Ms. Kiernan volunteered to join the current committee to do the review. Ms. Timpany asked them to set a meeting prior to the May meeting so that they could report their recommendation.
Ms. Timpany then explained that there was a need to amend the current policy regarding the flag display and asked Mr. Orloske to explain. He indicated that there were a number of problems being worked out in order to manage the display not the least of which is getting an accurate list of which flags are current for the student body. He asked if it would make the management easier as well as support alumni interests if we left up flags that were added to the display event if there were no currently enrolled students from the country.
MOTION: (Moylan/Bula) That flags that were added to the International Flag Display would remain part of the display even if there is no currently enrolled student from that country.
Motion Passed: 10 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstained SUBOG 96-12
Ms. Timpany then placed two issues before the Board that the Association of College Unions International was requesting membership votes for. The first was concerning approval of the proposed revision of the Role of the College Union statement. She gave a brief history of the origins of the changes and a discussion that occurred last fall in the Board concerning another draft. She reported that, in part, due to the efforts of both Mr. Schneeweiss and Mr. Orloske the new draft now reflected many changes that addressed concerns raised at that meeting. Both Mr. Schneeweiss and Mr. Orloske indicated that they were pleased with the new draft.
Some discussion followed. Mr. Berry indicated though he was not part of the fall conversation he could not see why any change was needed at all. Mr. Moylan indicated that as a former student at Manchester Community College he understood why members from similar institutions would have problems with the older version as most of them did not have the traditional Union Building. He said the new statement was more inclusive and that is why he supported it.
MOTION: (Schneeweiss/Orloske) To approve the change of the ACUI revision of the Role of the College Union statement and submit an institutional vote of YES to so indicate that approval.
Motion Passed: 9 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstained SUBOG 96-13
The next ACUI issue was to approve a change in the fiscal year of the organization so that cash flow and expenses could be better managed and reported. There was little discussion.
MOTION: (Schneeweiss/Orloske) To approve the change of the ACUI fiscal year from July 1 - June 30 to January 1 - December 31 and submit an institutional vote of YES to so indicate that approval.
Motion Passed: 10 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstained SUBOG 96-14
Ms. Timpany then announced that the election of the next SUBOG Chair would be conducted at the May 8 meeting. Any student that has been on the Board for at least a year is eligible. She asked that if anyone was interested both she and Mr. Orloske would be available to explain the duties, demands, and opportunities of the position.
Ms. Timpany updated the Board on the Semesters Project to decorate the room with University Life artifacts. She indicated that an article in one of the University publications had produced a positive response with many photos and other items being donated by Alumni to the display. Current plans are to install the items over the summer.
Next, Ms. Timpany gave a report on the ACUI Conference. In addition to the Conference content, she reported that due to both staffing and logistical issues the Region 1 Conference in Cardiff Wales was canceled for this summer. She reported that Mr. Schneeweiss was very involved in helping the Regional Steering Committee work this issue out and felt that it was best for the Region though be it disappointing. There will, however, be a fall two day conference held at Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts.
Finally, Ms. Timpany asked Board members to think about possible ideas for Special Interest Seats to the Board for the May meeting. She asked that members think about which special interests were needed next year to be represented so that the Board would have the needed input.
During open floor Mr. Lausier announced an open meeting in the Nutmeg Room on Monday, April 24, from 4-6 p.m. to discuss the issue of student leader stipends.
Mr. Moylan announced that Mr. Ioannis (John) Pasparakis had won the Regional ACUI Billiard Tournament and would be representing the Region and the University in the International Tournament in Florida.
Next meeting was scheduled for May 8, 1996, at 6:30 p.m. in the Ballroom Annex.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Duane A. Orloske
Executive Secretary
/mdz
