Thelomathesian Society
Minutes
September 13, 2005
I. Call to Order
This meeting of the Thelomathesian Society was called to order in the Hannon Room of the Student Center at 7:35pm by President Adam Casler.
II. Attendance
The following Senators were present, absent, or excused from the meeting on 13 September 2005:
Residence / Name / Present, Excused, UnexcusedSenior Townhouses / Mandie Barney / Present
62 Park
Dean Eaton / Jana Morgan /
Present
Erica Peterson / ExcusedPaul Congleton / Present
Emily Denham /
Excused
Kelly Sleight / PresentGaines / Tyler Hanson / Present
Hulett / Kaitlyn Bradley /
Present
Kaitlynn Reyell / PresentJenks / Drew Crawford / Present
Lee / Alicia Johnson /
Present
YiLun Wang / PresentCameron Bruns / Present
James Johnston III
/ PresentOff-Campus /
Priest / Meredith Kane / Present
Rebert / Ardelle Rivera / Present
Aubrey Fulton / Present
Hai-Yen Nguyen
/ PresentLaura Rabinow / Present
Reiff / Rolando Pintos / Present
Sykes / Kirk Donovan / Present
Simon Mawson / Excused
Karoline Chrzanowski / Present
Meghan Moore /
Excused
Emily-Anne Gullickson / PresentTheme Cottages / Nicole Collen / Present
Frank Izaguirre / Present
Present
Whitman / Andrew Long / Present
Ashley White / Excused
Derek Benavides / Present
Rachel Hall / Excused
On Campus Live in Greek / Caitlyn Carlson / Present
Kyle Davidson / Excused
Jon Solomon / Excused
FYC / Sara Garrett
Katie Spring
Sophomore Class /
Junior Class / Mike Wieneke / Present
Senior Class
Senator At Large / Sarah Callaway / Present
Kristen Bednar /
Present
Christine Akin / PresentCharles Okara / Excused
Kyle Darlow
/ PresentJustin Newcom
/ PresentAudrey Bouffard-Nesbitt
/ PresentBen Sears
/ PresentElizabeth Boyd
/ PresentChance Johnson
/ PresentBob Glover
/ PresentJon Cardinal
/ ExcusedJason Eisenhuth
/ ExcusedSarah Stalter
/ PresentHarold Sammis
III. Special Presentation
President Casler announced that this evening, the guest speakers would be the new members of the Student Life Staff. President Casler invited the guests to introduce themselves. Ms. Tara Loomis introduced herself as the new Director of Residential Learning Communities and encouraged students to contact her with any questions regarding housing or other residence life issues. Mr. Joshua Drake introduced himself as the new Assistant Director of Residential Learning Communities and stated that his primary role is to work on Community Development on campus, primarily through working with CA’s and with the Office of Co-Curricular Education and Programming. Mr. Dan Nilsson introduced himself as the new Residential Coordinator for Sykes and the Theme Cottages. Mr. Trung Nguyen introduced himself as the new Residential Coordinator for Priest, Reiff, Dean Eaton and the Greeks. Ms. Trelana Daniel introduced herself as the new Residential Coordinator for Whitman, Lee and the Townhouses. Ms. Meghan Owens introduced herself as the new Residential Coordinator for Hulett, Jencks, Rebert and Gaines. Mr. Benjamin Correia introduced himself as the new Assistant Director of Co-Curricular Education and Programming and stated that his main responsibility is working with the Association for Campus Entertainment (ACE). Ms. Lael Croteau introduced herself as the new Assistant Director of Career Services and Leadership Education and stated that she put together a little packet for Senators to share with their constituents about some of the services offered by Career Services to students in every class year. President Casler then introduced the new Vice President and Dean of Student Life and Co-Curricular Education and Programming, Dr. Margaret Kent Bass.
Dean Bass greeted the Senate and thanked them for inviting her to speak this evening. She stated that she didn’t have much to say other than she is always open to conversations with students, and that she’d like to get to know students not only in a “professional-student” way, but as “person-to-person” way as well. Dean Bass’ major announcement was that after consulting with the Council of 12, the representative body for the 120 students living in the Steiner Senior Townhouses, she has agreed to try something new in regards to policies and enforcement in the Townhouses. She stated that the Council of 12 will be drafting their own set of policies and procedures for the Townhouses, and that the Townhouses will become self-governing, pending her approval of the regulations. Dean Bass stated that this is a test-run with the seniors, and urged them to make the most of this opportunity. She concluded by saying that students should continue to write to her with thoughts on the alcohol policy, and that she and Thelmo would continue working together.
IV. Officer Reports
A. Vice President of University Relations – Mr. Simba Pasipanodya
B. Vice President of Senate Affairs – Mr. Randy Olivo
C. Secretary – Ms. Brigette C. Smith
Secretary Smith apologized that the minutes were so late; it was due to technical difficulties.
V. Student Delegate Report
Student Delegate to the Board of Trustees – Jason DeRosa
Student Delegate DeRosa used his time this week to report to the Senate on the May 2005 Board of Trustees meetings. He outlined the necessary outcomes and the actual results of the meetings. He stressed that the content of this report was a synopsis—there is multitudes of information to relay—and that he chose to include items that he felt held special significance for the student body. He included information concerning a new draft Salary Policy for the faculty and staff that could draw in especially desirable employee applicants at the University. Delegate DeRosa went through all of the pertinent resolutions that were passed at meeting, including the decision to allot designated green spaces on-campus as permanently off-limits for building, the granting of tenure to Erika Barthlemeiss, the designation of the Director of the Richard F. Brush art Gallery as a member of the Faculty, and many more. Delegate DeRosa also summarized the presentations given to the Board on academic affairs and advising, sexual violence, departmental and faculty work, and many more. Delegate DeRosa stressed the importance of this information in the committee work and assured everyone that he will relay everything he has to the correct projects. He went over his formal presentation he delivered to the board in May. This report is available to all students who request it at .
VI. Committee Chair Reports
A. SLUSAF Central Treasurer- Andy Cook
Treasurer Cook stated that he has organized a Treasurer Workshop for all Organization Treasurers on Monday, September 19th, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the John W. Hannon Jr. Room of the Student Center.
B. Academic Affairs Chair – John Gursky
Chairperson Gursky first welcomed everyone to the senate, and extended a welcome to returning Senator Hughes. Gursky then asked if his committee could meet after Thelmo to take care of some business: to set up a permanent weekly meeting time for the semester and talk briefly about some developing ideas. After that, he informed the senate that he would be attending a meeting on Friday with President Adam Casler, Assistant Chair Laura Rabinow, and Secretary Brigitte Smith to meet with Dean Grant Cornwell. Gursky explained that Dean Cornwell is the Vice President of the University, and the Dean of Academic Affairs. He further explained that he would be outlining the committee agenda, and ask some specific questions, and confirm the University Academic Affairs Committee schedule. After that, Chair Gursky stated that he was going to set up a meeting with Dr. Bob Thacker in the near future to discuss academic advising, which will be the committee’s first major project. Gursky stated he hoped to have a formal recommendation completed within a month or two concerning this. Lastly, Chair Gursky informed the senate that there are quite a few ideas in the works for more .5 credit courses. Gursky said that he would go into further detail on this after the meeting with the committee and report it to the Senate next week.
C. Student Life Chair – Guin Seaward
Assistant Chair Jon Cardinal stated that Chair Seaward regretted not being able to make the meeting this evening, but had a previous engagement as a member of the Greek Community. He added that he would like to meet with the Student Life Committee after the meeting.
D. Public Relations Chair – Katie McGinty
Chairperson McGinty asked to meet with the PR committee after the meeting.
E. Environmental Conservation Chair- Kira Krumhansl
Chairperson Krumhansl announced that the proposed meeting time for the Environmental Conservation Committee would be Monday nights at 9:30. She then explained that the committee would be moving into working on the Biodiesel project in the coming weeks. They would be reviewing research that had been done by a previous student, filling gaps that remained, and writing a proposal. She then yielded her remaining time to student delegate DeRosa who presented the resolution on campus greening and environmental commitment.
Proposal on Environmental Resolution- Student Delegate DeRosa read the proposal, as follows:
“Resolution on Campus Greening and Environmental Commitment
Thelomathesian Society, St. Lawrence University
September, 2005
Drafted by Jason DeRosa ‘06, Student Delegate to the Board of Trustees
& Kira Krumhansl ‘06, Environmental Conservation Committee Chair
Considering the vast amount of natural resources necessary for St. Lawrence University to carry out its mission while providing a comfortable living and learning space for its students and employees, and constantly improving its performance amongst peer institutions;
Considering that St. Lawrence’s ecological and economic impact is felt immediately in the North Country, and the University’s desire to maintain healthy relations with this local community;
Considering that global surface temperatures are expected to increase by 1-4.5°F in the next 50 years, attributed largely to the emission of C02 by human activities such as the combustion of fossil fuels;
Considering the opportunity to use Biodiesel instead of diesel, which would reduce the amount of harmful emissions generated at St. Lawrence University, diminish annual expenses, and promote human health in the local area and on a global scale;
Considering the increased energy costs from the building of our new Student Center and the prime opportunity to power this space with green energy;
Considering the current economic climate, both within St. Lawrence’s own finances and at large, and the drastic costs associated with continuing to utilize fossil fuels as a main energy source and the dramatic long-term cost-benefits of renewable energy and efficient design;
Considering the large amount of waste generated and resources spent on waste management at St. Lawrence University;
Considering the public acclaim and financial benefits of striving toward these environmentally friendly policies as well as the Green Building standards set by the US Green Building Council, and the prime example set by the Science Center design;
Whereas, the Students of St. Lawrence University recognize the need for immediate action to be taken in attempts to lessen the environmental impact of the University;
Whereas, today’s St. Lawrence students will enter a world in which environmental careers will be in high demand. St. Lawrence has the opportunity to prepare students for the serious consequences of being leaders on multiple fronts including research science, public policy and general citizenship in the face of resource depletion, irreversible pollution and environmental degradation from past centuries;
Whereas, St. Lawrence University desires to remain competitive among its peer institutions and has an opportunity to lead by example while instilling in its students and the surrounding community a sense of environmental stewardship and foresight:
The Thelomathesian Society hereby resolves to provide resources and human energy to guide the University toward a greener operating, procurement and building policy, and an enhanced relationship with the surrounding community. The Society will also provide support and guidance to achieve a fuller curriculum and programming across the disciplines to ensure we send forth students wholly prepared to take on this pending environmental / energy crisis. The Society hereby urges the University Board of Trustees to consider adopting a similar policy, for all the reason stated above, that will move St. Lawrence to the top of its class in the arena of environmental commitment and education while improving our financial situation over the long term.”
Questions:
Debate:
For: Senator Hughes said why not.
Against:
For: Senator Rabinow said that SLU is a community founded on values and that one of those values should be to create a sustainable community for the future.
Against:
For:
Call
Motion Passes, unanimous
VII. President’s Report – Adam Casler
President Casler greeted the Senate and announced that he had met with Dean Bass last Friday and that they talked about common goals for the semester, and highlighted the new plan for Policies in the Townhouses, and that this is an amazing opportunity to show that the students are capable of taking care of things on their own. He urged all seniors living in the townhouses to make the most of this opportunity. President Casler added that he will be joining Chair Gursky and Assistant Chair Rabinow on Friday to a meeting with Dean Cornwell to outline some of the main goals for the coming year that the Academic Affairs Committee will be working on.
VIII. Old Business
1. Approval of J Board Justices
Chief Justice Kathryn Courcy came for second approval of the new Justices.
Questions
Call
Motion Passes, unanimous
IX. New Business
1. SLU Film Club - Organizational Status Request
Sean Watkins presented as president of the film club. He said that the film club has been around for over a year, showing diverse movies. They have taken to Potsdam on Monday nights for $3.50 for independent and international film. They are trying to bring different films and analyzing them to see the underlying messages. Goal is to study film.
Questions
Student Delegate DeRosa said that he saw an ad for an independent film series, is this done by this organization?
Mr. Watkins said no, this was done by ACE, but we want to continue it.
Debate:
For: Senator Hughes said that he wanted to join this group, but he had scheduling conflicts. But he has attend their events. Even if you have seen a movie before, the analysis changes how you view the movie. These are community events and you get more from the films. The club should be an organization.