The Gettysburg College Student Senate provided the following minutes. Besides formatting, they have not been edited in any way.
Approval of Last Week’s Minutes
- Motion passed.
Guest Speaker – Jim Biesecker & Jennifer Coale
- Considering extending the contract with Caldwell Gregory and seeking feedback.
- Worked with Caldwell Gregory & SpeedQueen for a free week of laundry given issues around laundry this semester.
- Comments / Questions
- Are there options for negotiations surrounding future issues in the new contract negotiations?
- Yes. There is further consideration of the response to laundry issues that will be discussed in contract negotiations?
- Is the outage issue with the app a trend that we expect to continue?
- There is no way to know whether the issues will continue, but the College is focusing on the response.
- What would it look like for Gettysburg College to take over the laundry machines?
- It would be a very expensive endeavor.
- Is there a way for the school to negotiate the pricing per cycle?
- They will likely attempt to raise the price, and the college will attempt to keep the price constant.
- If laundry was included in tuition, would the app still be necessary?
- Yes.
- Is adding more machines, or upgrading, in the conversation of the contract?
- Yes, all equipment would be replaced in the first year, but it would be difficult to increase the number of machines because of the size of the laundry rooms. When buildings are renovated, the number of machines are increased.
- Is there a potential for the price of laundry to increase at the end of the contract?
- Yes, that is likely.
- Is there a way to pay for only the cost of one load at a time?
- Not at this point, but that can be looked into.
- Was the usage on the machines increased during the week of free laundry?
- The report is not yet in, but likely yes.
- The app no longer provides an alert that laundry is near done.
- Many students would be fine with paying for laundry if the machines were better, but the dryers do not perform well.
- Dryers do not fully dry clothes, and most students have to run full cycles.
- When drying bedding, the driers cause damage.
- Submit a report when that takes place.
- Are there options for negotiations surrounding future issues in the new contract negotiations?
Officer Reports
- President Roman Jordan
- Two remaining meetings this semester.
- RAC will bring a bylaws edit to the floor.
- Junior Councilwoman Prieto will report.
- Vice President Duquette
- No report.
- Parliamentarian DiLuzio
- Bylaws update will come to the floor.
- Treasurer Amer
- $55,000 remaining.
- Secretary Bumps
- Attendance reminder.
- No meeting next week.
- Inclusion Officer Delena
- No report.
- Junior Councilwoman Prieto
- Currently serves on the Gettysburg Borough Council as a Junior Council Member.
- Updates on the Borough
- The Borough is still searching for a new Police Chief.
- Proposed increase in maximum level of height.
- Proposed policy to prevent college students from cohabiting off campus, by preventing more than 4 individuals who are unrelated from living together.
Advisor Reports
- Jon Allen
- Enjoy Thanksgiving!
- Jeff Foster
- No Report.
Committee Reports
- Academic & Career Affairs Committee – McKenzie Huff
- No Report.
- Budget Management Committee – Treasurer Amer
- Board of Committee Chairs – Vice President Duquette
- Members should respond to messages.
- College Life Advisory Committee – Elle Brignati
- Met with Jim Duffy regarding Physics PLA wages.
- Inclusion Committee – Dejah Hill
- Absent.
- Opinions Committee – Alexandra Jurow
- Low attendance at meeting.
- Outreach Committee – Secretary Bumps
- Members stay after meeting to discuss scheduling.
- Rules & Administration Committee – Parliamentarian DiLuzio
- Discussions continue regarding increased accountability for BMC and policy prohibiting multiple request for one event, totaling more than $1,600.
- Wellness & Safety Committee – Ethan Acevedo
- Wellness Advisory Committee event will be taking place on January 28 on Financial Wellness at 4 PM.
Club Reports & Announcements
- YAF will be hosting Vince Everett Ellison in CUB 260 on 11/20 at 6:30 PM.
Student Concerns
- Concern Updates
- Paxton peepholes are within the correct regulations.
- Cutlery issues in Servo should be brought to the Dining Services Committee, once it is created.
- New Concerns
- Calories should be listed for drinks in Commons.
- Freshman dorms do not have water fountains on multiple floors. Upperclassman halls do not have any water fountains at all.
Budget Requests
- None
Old Business
- None.
New Business
- Revision of BMC Charter (Section 5)
- Remove:
- At the Conclusion of the Spring Academic Semester, The Treasurer of the Senate shall designate Events in accordance with BMC Charter Article Two (1)(C)(1)(a)
- The Treasurer shall be responsible for contacting the sponsoring organizations to ensure that the event is still anticipated to occur.
- The Treasurer of the Senate shall be responsible for reaching out to the sponsoring organization for likely budget estimates to perform a similar event in the upcoming Academic Year
- The designated estimates of Title Six (5)(B) shall be removed from the Student Senate New Initiatives Account to the Anchor Events Account
- The Treasurer of the Senate shall inform the Senate each time BMC hears a request from this account
- The Treasurer shall produce a report that includes previous years’ spending, requested amount, Treasurer recommended amount, and appropriate explanations as necessary that will be presented to the senate and approved by a majority vote
- Events whose costs exceed the estimates presented may not be funded in excess of the initial estimate. Requests, in addition, shall proceed through the appropriate BMC process
- Events are not guaranteed the funding requested, it shall fall at the discretion of the Senate
- By the three-fourths consent of Members, the balance of this account may be transferred into the New Initiatives Account
- Once the funds within the New Initiatives Account is completely emptied, the remaining balance of this account shall be transferred to the New Initiatives Account
- Add:
- At the Beginning of the Fall Academic Semester, The Treasurer of the Senate shall designate Events in accordance with BMC Charter Article Two (1)(C)(1)(a)
- The Treasurer shall be responsible for contacting the sponsoring organizations to ensure that the event is still anticipated to occur ●
- The designated estimates of Title Six (5)(B) shall be removed from the Student Senate New Initiatives Account to the Anchor Events Account.
- Anchor Events shall follow the standard BMC funding request process. Should the request then be recommended to the Senate, the Treasurer shall produce a report that includes previous years’ spending, requested amount, Treasurer recommended amount, and appropriate explanations as necessary that will be presented to the Senate.
- The Senate may approve the request by a majority vote.
- By the three-fourths consent of Members, the balance of this account may be transferred into the New Initiatives Account
- Once the funds within the New Initiatives Account is completely emptied, the remaining balance of this account shall be transferred to the New Initiatives Account
- Motion passed unanimously.
Adjourned at 7:54 PM EST.
