October 20, 2014
Minutes for 10/20 Barnard SGA Representative Council Weekly Meeting
Agenda for Monday 10/20 Rep Council
External:
8-8:05 Introductions and Approve Agenda
8:05-8:50 Administrative Guest: President Spar
8:50-9:00 External Committee Updates
9:00-9:10 JCCC and Provosts Fund Updated/Vote
9:10-9:15 Update on Founders Day
9:15-9:20 Update from the Committee on Inclusion and Equity
9:20 Internal
External:
8-8:05 Introductions and Approve Agenda
· Agenda approved
· Introduction of President Spar and representative council members
8:05-8:50 Administrative Guest: President Spar (Approved: Motion to extend session extended for 10 minutes)
· Things going on at Barnard—it’s a busy year!
o 125th anniversary: Empire State turned Barnard blue.
o Founder’s Day, October 26th. Mystery event: 10:30 with President Spar and Dean Hinkson at the Barnard gates.
o Convocation: first kick-off event. Feedback?
o Planning for the new building: plans are on target and on schedule. Programs for the new building are finalized: buildings in Lehman Hall, café, BCRW, and others. Thoughts on: a new library, kinds of study spaces we like and use, classroom spaces and their dimensions?
o Global symposium, held annually. This year, it will be held in New York this year. Student fellows will be sent outside of New York during Spring Break. Applications and information will be sent out in the future. Theme of intergenerational conversations.
o Columbia University Giving Day, Barnard joined just last year. University-wide effort to raise money online for 24 hours. Barnard raised $240,000 last year. Student participation is key!
· Feedback and questions answered by President Spar:
o Q: Aku: Can first-years apply to the Global symposium?
A: Yes, but they may be at a disadvantage. However, first-years have participated in the past.
o Question of sustainability.
A: Building will definitely be LEED certified, and there are architects dedicated to sustainability.
o Q: Food option of the new building?
A: Will have coffee. Grab-food options are the focus.
o Questions about CD’s in the library?
A: Still not sure, but will take note of the topic for discussion.
o Height of the library?
A: Still in progress. There are architects dedicated to maximizing the amount of sun on the lawn.
o Q: Will more students be able to participate in Barnard’s Global Symposium, as we will be sending students to 3 different places this year?
A: Yes, more will be able to participate in the Global symposium as we are going to send groups of 6 students to each location.
o Q: Michelle: In our celebration of Barnard’s 125th, would like to see the history of Barnard discussed more. Are discussions of Barnard’s history planned?
A: There will be opportunities involving Barnard’s history during Family Weekend and Founder’s Day. (Idea: perhaps invite the student government of other sister colleges in the future.) The website will also allow posts about what it was like to be at Barnard in the past. Barnard was never a wealthy person’s college; it was in some ways a very New York, immigrant’s college, which is very much in the college’s DNA.
o Q: Michelle: campus activism, how should we get heard?
A: This campus is naturally drawn to activism, which takes many different forms. There are generally 1-2 focal points for activism, and it’s always interesting to watch student government reps deal with it. Use your 4 years here as a testing ground-- learn how to deal with power, and how to get power.
o Q: Emily: Barnard’s status on trans issues?
A: Working on the issue. Read Padawer’s article on the New York Times: “When Women Become Men at Wellesley.”
o Q: Julia: How can students become involved in the topic Emily brought up about trans issues?
A: Ask for patience at the current time, and administration will turn to students for help if/when needed.
o Student life will be preserved as the new building is constructed, and how this will happen is currently being discussed.
o Positive response to Convocation. Administrators are working on convocations for every year!
o Challenges for Columbia Giving Day—one of the challenges of this year is for the senior class to beat last year’s 72% participation rate.
o We are currently raising money for Barnard, and more than ever before. Showing our participation rate is very important.
o Q: What are we raising money for?
A: 3 main things. (1) Is financial aid , endowed scholarships, scholarships for undocumented and international students. (2) Endowed faculty chairs. (3) The new building.
o Schedule/timeline for the building is still in progress.
o President Spar has a very small role on curriculum design.
8:50-9:00 External Committee Updates
· Homecoming spirit week kicked off last Saturday. Thursday, October 23rd: Field Day: fun sporting events.
· Committee on Arts. Event on November 25th, Barnard bi-weekly spotlight.
· Student Health Advisory: flu shots at PHCS. Next flu shot fair Monday, November 24th, 3:00-6:00 p.m.
· Masha, First-Year VP: First year council will have a photo station at Family Weekend.
· Tuesday Oct 28th: curriculum review. Focus on GER’s. Invitation will be sent out to the council.
· Michelle, Committee on Inclusion and Equity: poster campaign to address microaggressions. Share experiences on Postrack.tumblr.com.
· Shivani: looking for co-chair for Glass House Rocks. Info and applications will be sent out.
· Awarded money to First-Year Class Councils.
9:00-9:10 JCCC and Provosts Fund Updated/Vote
Motion: To provide $557.32 for the First-Year Councils’ event.
Vote: All in favor, unanimous agreement.
Resolved: Motion approved: to provide $557.32 for the First-Year Council’s event.
9:10-9:15 Update on Founders Day
· Events management looking for volunteers for Founder’s Day.
· Sarah: Go to the mystery event at 10:30 at the Barnard Gates on Founder’s Day
9:15-9:20 Update from the Committee on Inclusion and Equity
9:20 Internal:
10:04 Meeting Adjourned
Minutes taker: Felicia How