Bates College Student Government

Representative Assembly

MEETING MINUTES

In accordance with the Bates College Student Government Bylaws

(Article I, Section 4)

Sunday, March 1st, 2015 7:00pm-8:30PM | Meeting Room: Pgill G52

 

1. Announcements
2. Ratification of Minutes
   1. Vote: For: All. Ratified
3. Committee Reports
   1. Treasurer Henry Finkelstein
      1. Model UN Club – Asked for $140 dollars for transportation to a conference, specifically for gas for their personal vehicles, as the club was unable to obtain van.
         1. Vote: For: All. Passes.
      2. Henry talked about budget allocation; only 90 clubs submitted budgets out of approximately 130. The Budget Committee will be reviewing these this weekend.
4. President’s Report
   1. Under 21 Parties – Berto spoke about a process that goes on at other NESCAC, in which college administrations fund and oversee under 21 parties, paying for everything but alcohol, including food, beverages and decorations.
   2. ConnCollege App – Berto also spoke about an app that Connecticut College uses (as described at the recent NESCAC student government conference), which would replace the overwhelming announce email system at Bates. Audrey Z spoke about the current process at Bates through which faculty and students are working to design and implement a similar app. Also available on the website, this app would provide event and organization information, the daily menu, shuttle information, and other important resources used by students everyday.
5. Old Business
   1. Referendum Amendment – Tomás presented the amendment introduced at the previous meeting, which would allow an amendment presented to the RA to be voted on by the entire student body. The amendment would need a two-third majority of all votes cast, with a turnout minimum of 300 students.
   2. Answering a question, Tomás spoke about how this amendment would allow positive change to at least be an option within student government, for example amending the position length of class year reps from four years to a shorter term.
   3. Members of the RA voiced and addressed concerns regarding this amendment and the lack of RA oversight. The RA would still be able to undo amendments, propose and pass their own, and, furthermore, implement their representative influence within their constituency, in theory preventing detrimental amendments from being passed.
   4. Alyssa asked to discuss more deeply the process of proposed amendments getting to the student body and being voted on. Bennett S suggested a way for amendments to be edited for clarity and cleanliness, as well as introducing a time limit between the introduction of the amendment and the voting. Jake asked for literature that clarified what a referendum is, as well as specify that the referendum can only take place during the fall or winter semester. This wording was added to the amendment. He also asked whether it had been considered that a petition be required to propose an amendment.
   5. Members voiced their support of the amendment, saying that it would heighten transparency and communication between the student body and BCSG, as well as with the administration.
   6. Returning to the discussion regarding the literature of time length, it was included in the amendment that the time period between proposition and the referendum would be a minimum of five days and maximum of twenty class days.
   7. The amendment was polished and proposed by Tomás.
6. New Business
   1. Audrey spoke about the presidents advisory committee’s work to implement a campus wide event involving President Spencer. Members voiced their belief that the committee wait to have the event.
7. Adjournment
   1. Motion to adjourn: For: All. Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Katharina Harling ‘17

Secretary