LIVE BLOGGING! 4/22/09 Student Council Meeting

Associated Students of Madison

Student Council, 15^th session

22 April 2009

Hearing Room, Student Activity Center

6:30 p.m.

1. Roll Call @ 6:32 PM (I am here!)
   
2. Announcements
1. State of the ASM address: Monday, April 27^th
2. Board of Regents meeting May 7 & 8, 2009
3. Swearing in of New Representatives
4. Open Forum

Psych. Major here--She wants us to not endorse the Undergraduate Initiative--she believes that families making over $80,000 but are impacted by the recession. Valid points about parents' jobs, two kids in school.

Sol G: Echoes previous speaker, saying we rushed in.

5. Removal or Impeachment of Representatives, Filling of Vacancies in the Student Council and Swearing In of New Representatives
6. Adoption of the Agenda APPROVED
7. Reading and Approval of the Minutes APPROVED
   
8. Special Orders
9. Old Business
   
1. SACGB Bylaws (passed once 8 April 2009) APPROVED by acclamation
2. SSFC Bylaws (passed once 8 April 2009)

Gosselin moves to remove all new amendments to Student Judiciary section, believes SC's deliberative sessions being recorded politicizes the body. APPROVED (I abstained)

Main motion to approve SSFC Amended by-laws APPROVED (I voted in favor)

1. External Affairs Bylaws (passed once 8 April 2009) APPROVED (I voted in favor)
5. New Business
1. Dissolution of the Constitutional Committee Brought to the floor by Rep. Wright. If next session wants to restructure, they can set their own course versus having committee. Committee members will be taking down the blog and codify the information there, then forward materials to archives. APPROVED (I voted in favor)
   
2. Shared Governance 2009-2010 Appointments APPROVED (I voted in favor)
   
3. Resolution 15-0422-01, “ASM Endorsement of the Madison Initiative”
   

TIME FOR THE SHOW!

Now going over the results from a student survey. Lots of numbers and questions.

Q7. In general, how supportive are you of the Madison Initiative?

Count	Percent
94	4.50%	Very supportive
305	14.61%	Moderately supportive
828	39.67%	Neither supportive nor opposed
473	22.66%	Moderately opposed
387	18.54%	Strongly opposed
2087	Respondents

We just viewed the language of the draft proposal to the Chancellor.

Rep. Tackett is encouraging each member to share how they reached out to students. He suggests that if we don't know what our constituents want, we delay the vote and have a special meeting. (note, we were suppose to spend the past two weeks talking to constituents) He has spoken to his reps--2-3 e-mails to Med. School folks. Dean of his school has talked about it to students. Feedback from students is extremely positive because it improves overall institution.

Bemis (Engineering): POLYGON (sp? Engineering Student Council) voted in support of the Initiative!!!! Support because of the financial aid, against it because they are already paying a differential tuition for just engineering. He believes that as folks get more info, the number of those in support will grow.

Chair Olikara: participated in and organized a few discussion groups. Generally been support for Initiative, but concerns about how it will impact out of state and international students.

Templeton: Outreach to Fraternity and Center for First-Year Experience. Both groups supported it in theory, but wanted to see the advisory committee to be there and review the Initiative a year or two down the road.

Chair Sheka: Looking at survey results online. If you look at them date specific, going from start to end, the support grows. Still not overwhelming, but support goes. For this reason he is nervous using survey data that is two weeks old. Has been speaking to a lot of folks. People who are informed about the Initiative are in support of it, those who are not informed are against it.

Coordinator Grosskopf: He can't vote on it. We have to be careful in how we are going to get the benefits of the Initiative--we are having some students who are paying out of their own pocket for it. Wonders about the role of alumni giving.

Rep. Wright: Taking a lot of time to build infrastructure to get funds from alum. The alumni giving part is not enough in the short-term to sustain this.

Kaiser: Held a townhall for transfer students living in University Housing. Large group of folks in his class wrote policy briefs against the Initiative--can't see measurable outcomes, hiring more profs is means to an end not measurable end. Wants us to force people to go back to the drawing board.

Rep. Tobelmann: Sent e-mail to grad students in his program. Questioned if grad students will have to pay increase, no. Overall were supportive. Heard lots of stories about losing lots of faculty in the past 5-6 years. Concludes that the Grad School is in support of it--Dean of Grad school sent letter in support of it. Had conversation with interim provost about if we could fundraise the money from the alum. She said the easiest thing for the university to raise funds for is scholarships, but the current form says you have to give large sum of money to give funds for scholarships. With the Initiatiave she said that it is easier for smaller donors to donate, so more fundraising.

Chair Fergus: (no voting rights) Reiterate that we all must speak on this before we go to a vote about how we outreached and how our constituents feel. He has been outreaching. Agrees with Sheka that the more folks know, the more they are in support of it. Those only looking at tuition increase are against it. Won't make things perfect, but will improve things.

Sommer: Freshmen living in Statesider. Talked to many out of state students and many seemed unconcerned about increase, even though they are paying the bulk of it. State schools are losing a lot of funding (NY Times) and cutting back. Negative press, so they would be willing to pay for quality.

Bemis (again): Personal opinion--Is there a need for this money? Yes. Is the magnitude justified? New info about who needs faculty makes sense. Allocation areas? High demand courses is the way to go. Way its been carried out? Way money is being allocated and oversight--not fully answered and appreciates Chancellor wanting to involve students, but no guarantee. Still has a few concerns: 1) only given to us six weeks ago, despite being in works since december, doesn't seem to line up with BOR requirements. Didn't go to student body before chancellor signs off on it. 2) College of Engineering differential tuition "paying double" on increased faculty. Concerned about redundancy if faculty not hired for L&S courses.

Vice Chair Karns: International Studies in support. Spoke to several Greeks. First thought that it unfairly targeted out-of-state students. Then asked by they came to Madison. 1) Came for excellent education and 2) get an experience that they couldn't get anywhere else. Initial reaction very negative, but after speaking to them about the Initiative and the holistic approach, then supported it.

Sec. Minor: Disappointed not more student involvement in crafting process. Spoke to constituents (school of education) in classes and attended their forum. Mixed results at first, lots of opposition at first. As time went on, opposition went on. be more explicit for shared gov. committee.

MORE DATA I WANT TO SHARE FROM SURVEY: (re: Tina in comments)

Count	Percent
202	8.84%	Very familiar
653	28.57%	Moderately familiar
733	32.06%	Slightly familiar
698	30.53%	Not at all familiar
2286	Respondents

Rep. Newman: Outreach in dorms to freshmen. They will be paying the most out of current students (here the longest). They are watching people graduate without job offers, so increasing the value of their degree matters to them. 90% of students plan on attending summer school or attending additional semesters here to fill requirements because they can't get in core classes and advising is not cohesive.

Olikara: Responding to the woman in Open Forum about making over $80,000. Chancellor defers to Finanicial Aid. Wants council to consider it.

Templeton: Only 19% of our budget comes from the state, even though we are a state university. In addition to that, ties into faculty retention and recruiting faculty. 33% of our faculty is retiring in the next 10 years.

Sheka: Brought this up at Shared Governance meeting. People said that 1) looking @ fundamental disagreement versus nit-picking (overall bad idea or people don't like something small?), 2) UW needs reform or will lose prestige, 3) we have programs (acadmic advising) that are broken or don't work, we need to address that. Regarding students not being consulted until six weeks ago--unfair, Chancellor was holding forums at the end of last semester asking students about what needs to change at UW. It goes beyond the money, it is a vehicle for reform. Understand that Financial Aid sucks and parents are making over $80,000. Personally in this boat, but he doesn't want his degree to not be worth as much at graduation as what he paid for it.

Rep. Tobelmann: There will be a certain pool of money being raised that will go to financial aid. Part going to offset increase for those making under $80,000, the rest is going to make up the $20 million deficit in financial aid.

Rep. Gosselin: Misconception about who is going to effected positively. People think if you make $81,000 you will be hurt by this, see what Tobelmann said. In theory realm: Policy maker makes decision to impact the most people postively as possible. This will maintain quality of our education and provide financial aid for those who need it.

Ewers: Her constituents (grad students) also wanted to know if they would be paying for it. Then conversation shifted to how grad students could benefit from it--could result in more grad student funding opportunities. Form that perspective she supports it, but she doesn't feel she has the right to support it because she is not an undergrad here.

Chair Tiernan: Last time spoke as chair of Academic Affairs, but now he will talk about interaction with constituents. Most interaction in class or in social situations. Most students didn't read beyond the tuition increase, so his role has been a lot of educating.

Rep. Haas: I have outreached through poll on my blog, facebook event, and commments on my blog. Read quote from Luke:

Increasingly, students who belong at UW are unable to afford the rising cost; world-class faculty are lured away to other institutions that can afford to pay them and provide them with better benefits; and the staff who often put in alot of work but go under appreciated are forced to take on more and more responsibility with fewer and fewer people as positions are cut and/or not replaced. This initiative represents a way to stop this disturbing trend and once again set UW on an upward bending course. As a Badger Herald Collumnist astutely pointed out, "Perfect should not be the enemy of good." In a perfect world, we don't need this initiative, but in the world we live in, this is a good and strong proposal. It is for these reasons, among others, that I personally support the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates.

Next, I'll address as a representative of CALS Students. I have spent some time talking to students in CALS and am currently trying to visit as many student groups as possible to get feedback. Generally, CALS students have been supportive of the Initiative. There have been some good and vibrant questions, but most have been about the nuts and bolts of the proposal and not philosophical opposition. From the students I have talked to thus far, I believe CALS students support this proposal. However, there was a very intersting point that was raised that I need to express. One student (who supported the proposal) asked if there was an underlying, systemic issue, particularly in L&S that was causing all of these faculty to be lost that isn't as common across campus. His concern was that this Intiative could act as a blanket to cover up a deeper issue. I don't know if Chancellor Martin will be at the ASM meeting tonight, but if you would express the desire to not only move forward with this Intiative to but evaluate closely what got us to the point of needing it so that we can take steps to avoid the same mistakes again I would appreciate it.

Additionally addressed student who spoke at begininng--financial aid will look at this case by case. The Initiative will raise money through fundraising to fill the $20 million of unmet need. I will post more later.

Coordinator Grosskopf: We have a skewed representation of campus. When a survey comes out with nearly 40% opposed of the program.

Rep. Wright: Echoed Coordinator Grosskopf. Spoke to students in classes and various orgs. We need to make sure that there is active student partiicpation on the student oversight board. Worries about the survey going out over the next couple days--we could do something counter to what students think. There could be a learning curve to the Initiative. This would make the university more accessible to a great number of people.

Rep. Ewers: Referring to e-mails of support from Chair Wiegand that were letters of support from students and faculty.

Rep. Tackett: Compares this vote to the vote on the Union project while he was an undergrad senior. This will increase diversity in the broad sense--diversity of ideas. It will take a long time to get the funding from alumni to be able to assist with instruction, we need to the tuition support for that.

CALL TO QUESTION: (i voted against it because someone opposed it, so someone wants to speak)

Rep. Stark arrived! Hi Jamie!

Chair Fergus: Objected calling to question because some people haven't spoken, so they should go on record and be accountable to their constituents.

Rep. Stark: Strongly in support of the Madison Initiative. Talked to a of the freshmen constituents and they are very much in favor of this. We understand that we need more professors and to protect the value of our degree.

Rep. Wallach: In support of the Initiative. We need to add sections, programs, and increase diversity.

Chair Vollrath: Spoken to alot of people on campus, include Schools of Engineering and Business who are paying their own differential for those schools. She is in school of Business and is paying differential. They understand that their tuition is going up, but they see the benefit of having increased faculty and courses. She is in economics and sees the need for improved quality and number of faculty there. Most students will understand, once it is explained to them, the benefit of this.

Chair Wiegand: Can't force anyone to talk. If people aren't comfortable, they don't have to.

Rep. Smith: Communicated to students in Engineering and they are hesitant. The way we are talking makes it seem like everyone we are talking to is in support of this. Even after talking to them, they still don't like the increase. Brings up survey data again.

Rep. Yang: Minimal outreach done, but invited UW friends to join Madison Initiative facebook group and fan the Chancellor (as she requested at forum). Spoke to members in RSOs he is a part of. They are supportive and he will be voting in favor of it.

Rep. Tackett: Move to add. "Be it further resolved that I have run out of speaking rights."---Non-sense motion to gain speaking rights. We are now debating the ridiculous motion... Basically we should agree to this so people who have almost exhausted their speaking rights can now speak. People tried to object to the second...not parliamentary procedure correct... Now he is speaking to the motion--------> Concerned that if we vote in favor of the Initiative, but then have students vote against it tomorrow, we are just like the last session of ASM and we have made no progress.

CALLED TO QUESTION: Voted against it because it was non-sense.

Chair Wiegand stepped down, Vice Chair Karns now chairing meeting.

Chair Wiegand: First survey sent out to 19,000 people, only 2,200 people responded. She sent reminders and results would spike. The original plan for the second survey was to put it out at the end of last week, but Chancellor Martin moved her final proposal out to after our meeting instead of the end of last week. She then moved the survey release until tomorrow. If having ASM on there is an issue, she will put her own name on it. There is no way that Chancellor Martin will put her own survey out, it is not in her best interest. She is trusting us as elected representatives of the students to vote on it. People are generally supportive, but they are not passionate about it. A lot of people are like, no we don't an increase in tuition, so survey would not necessarily be accurate. Last point--at last Council meeting people were almost ready to vote to support it and since then considerable amount of outreach has been done. If students vote against in a survey, would we all really change our minds? At last meeting we all thought it was a great policy.

Olikara: Why put Chair Wiegand's name on it?

Wiegand: To address Rep. Tackett's concern that having ASM's name on it would make us look bad if students voted against it. She would be willing to put her name on it.

Rep. Gosselin: What we are discussing tonight is if we as elected reps support the initiative or not. Based on what people have indicated with constituent contacts and we as an informed representative body it seems clear that our opinion is there. People can abstain if they really need the survey results. He will vote yes. CALL TO QUESTION, SECONDED BY WALLACH

VOTE ON THE INITIATIVE (roll call vote see below)
Bemis: yes
Ewers: abstain
Fung yes
Gosselin: yes
Haas: yes
Kaiser: no
Marnell:abstain
Minor: yes
Newman : yes
Sheka: yes
Smith: yes
Sommer: yes
Stark; yes
Tackett: yes
Templeton: yes
Tiernan: yes
Tobelman: yes
Wallach: yes
Wiegand: yes
Wright: yes (sorry for missing you Jeff!)
Yang: yes

XI. Reports of Special Committees and Campaigns

4. Bus Pass Advisory Board Seeking student input on how safe cab and bus programs have been run
   
5. Constitutional Committee No longer exists.
   

11. Reports of Standing Committees and Boards

1. Academic Affairs Committee Students can drop books off before they leave for the summer. Working with students in the Spanish Department to look at enrollment with program majors and those with retro credits. Just had Domestic Partner Benefits Town Hall meeting--highly attended by faculty and staff, with some students. Discussed issue and how to move forward.
   
2. Diversity Committee Had event with MCSC on Monday as part of Hip Hop Conference. Great event. Able to transition issue from one rooted in social justice movements to one concerned about education. Diversity is pat of 21st century world-class education. Involved in the MSC mission review process with ODOS, successful process. First focus group the other day, continue to help through next semester. Involved with SOAR and First Year Experience becuase they wanted feedback from Diversity Committee. L&S Diversity & Equity Committee had Steven work as a consultant about their fall retreats for student input. Now meeting with administrators to advance vision of diversity into future years.
   
3. Finance Committee They are done with all grant hearings for the year. Now they will be reviewing policy and procedures at the next meeting. Then Rep. Fung gave a kind of strange speech.
   
4. Legislative Affairs Committee No chair, so no update.
   
5. Nominations Board Chair Collins is absent. Tiernan steps in. Search and Screen for two ASM advisor positions. Candidates coming in for interviews tomorrow.
   
6. Shared Governance Committee Finished appointments and gave a shout out to his awesome, committed committee!
   
7. External Affairs Committee Last United Council event will send 22 Madison students to Building Unity! (YAY!)
   
8. Student Activity Center Governing Board All 63 office spaces are now full. We will start allocations again. Updated SACGB website, so minutes are online. Survey is going out to the tenants. Then general survey gauging interest for cafe space.
   

12. General Reports

1. Chair Press Conference on Monday will be where to hear general overview. May or may not be called the State of ASM Address...
   

B. Vice-Chair Disc[us]sion 2009 had positive feedback from students who went. Working on Move Out Night Initiative. Campus Area Housing has agreed to help supply food and staff for the event. Campus Safety and UWPD will work to provide safety. SAC is working with it. Other folks interested.

2. Student Judiciary Talked about sacred deliberations... Thanked for patience last week during the election. No election complaints filed and deadline has expired. Results are finalized.
   
3. Student Services Finance CommitteeWants SSFC and Student Council to maintain close relationship. Thinks new office will facilitate that. Wants those returning to 16th session to consider joining SSFC. You will get at $40 a week stipend to be on SSFC.
   

13. Reports of Liaisons

14. Viewpoint Neutrality Appeals
15. Roll Calls MOTION TO ADJOURN, WE DID IT, WE CLAPPED!