University of North Florida Student Senate

University of North Florida Student Senate

1. Call to Order

2. 
   Pledge of Allegiance – Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Britt Stromquist
   

3. 
   Invocation – Senate Chaplain Star Caudio
   

4. 
   Roll Call – Senate President Pro-Tempore Anthony Stevens (sgaspt@unf.edu)
   

5. 
   Approval of Minutes
   

6. 
   Approval of Agenda
   

7. 
   Recognition of Students Seeking Appointment
   

8. 
   Student Remarks
   

9. 
   Guest Speakers
   
   1. 
      Director of Athletics and Wellness – Tony Hendricks
      

14. 
    New Business
    
    1. 
       Constitution and Statutory Changes on 1^st Reading
       
       1. 
          SB-13S-2686: Title X Revisions – Senator Thomas Lundy
          
    2. 
       Senate and Joint Resolutions on 1^st Reading
       
    3. 
       Legislation considered for ^2nd Reading
       

Sen. Amira- this SB is to validate the election.

Motion from Sen. Brady to add the results of the approved CR of 187 to 21 to tonight’s bill. Second. No objections. No discussion.

Motion from Sen. Brady for unanimous consent. Second. No objections. Moved.

Motion from Sen. Brady to approve SB-13S-2685 as amended. Second. No objections. Discussion- Sen. Anderson: so 208 votes total, correct? Sen. Amira- 3 students logged in but did not vote, so yes 208 cast votes.

Electronic vote.

Passes 39-0-0.

Advisor Delaney- Point of information, anyone running in the election may not vote and must abstain.

Sen. Pres. Varshovi- Correct, we will revote and please abstain if you are running.

Passes 28-10-1.

d. Senate and Joint Resolutions on 2^nd Reading

10. 
    State of the Student Body Address
    
    1. 
       Introductory Remarks - Senate President Zak Varshovi (sgasp@unf.edu)
       

2. 
   Student Body President Carlo Fassi (sgapres@unf.edu)
   

To the students who entrusted in us with their votes, I would like to discuss what we have worked on. In fall, we worked on a deal to bring Chick-fil-a to campus. Thousands of you requested this new food option. We have worked with UNF to increase longer hours for food venues on campus. Therefore, our students and faculty do not have to venture to other options and can stay on campus. Another resource that has been brought is an online grade database with a grade breakdown and the reviews from other students. Think of it as a rate my professor but for only Ospreys. We also worked on a proposed college scheduler project. This is a program to input students mandatory extra curricular activities to rid the class that they cannot take from being an option. Also, students requested more banking options on campus. We brought both Bank of America and SunTrust ATMS to campus. We put a large emphasis on our campus’s activities. This includes the new bleachers and equipment for our intramurals as well as, the new ropes course.

My administration has worked with President Delaney and President Moon and we have invested into our athletic department. As opposed to raising fees for students, we have looked into donations and seasons ticket sales for funds. Set aside resources for tailgating in future, our attendance and passion for athletics is at an all time high. Last night FGCU, represented our own Atlantic Sun conference. They beat San Diego University to make it into the sweet sixteen. This has increased FGCU’s number of applicants tremendously. We lost to FGCU by 2 points in Ft. Myers and we are just as good. UNF is getting into the spotlight. Moon submitted a cost assessment of a football program. A consistent question at orientation is “why not football?” First, the budget for athletics would double. Money is already tight across the state. Right now, neither the state of Florida nor UNF is ready to bring football to the campus. It will come, but now is not the time.

We are moving towards a smoke free campus to move more and more towards being a healthy campus. This initiative will be discussed further because a lot of different opinions will be had on this idea. We have looked into sorority and fraternity housing. Greek organizations have until this Friday at 5pm to submit their proposals. Our new gym involvement has increased. This gym includes the only Jamba Juice in north Florida, and indoor track, and rock wall- all receiving rave reviews.

Investments such as these are all part of what responsible student representatives look like. If students are smart enough to get degrees from institutions, we are smart enough to shape UNF as well. With the financial burdens, it is expected that our money be spent effectively and effectively. Our rope course was spent from the fund balance that had been just sitting there. We were able to not raise a single penny for this fee. We give more to the students with no additional cost. By acting fiscally responsible, we are moving forward. One fee we had was for a one-time increase for a health fee for the deaf and hard of hearing students. Our population of deaf students is a lot larger because of our location being so close to the school of deaf and blind. Believe students should be able to attend this university, regardless of anything they face.

I would like to differentiate between tuition and fees. Tuition, the revenue is used by UNF and used for a variety of needs to keep the institution running. Fees are 36% but the tuition has continued to rise. This is happening statewide due to significant budget cuts by the state. Today the state gives less to a student’s education. The reason we advocate for higher education is not just because we do not want to pay more. This is about our future, our friends’ futures, our university, and on day our kids’ future. We will fight today and continue fighting for tomorrow. We have made it a priority from our previous SG candidacy. This cooperative effort has been a success. With enforcing Aim Higher all year, there is a large hint to a 0% tuition increase for next year. We were the first institution to deliver over 1000 post cards and messages to lawmakers in Tallahassee. As I watched our previous president make his speech about the tuition increase, I knew that this year could be the time that we stop this. We are almost there and I am committed to seeing this outcome.

14. 
    Announcements
    
    1. 
       Next Committee Meetings will be April 8^th, 2013
       
    2. 
       Next Senate Meeting will be April 1^st, 2013
       

11. 
    Final Roll Call - Senate President Pro-Tempore Anthony Stevens – sgaspt@unf.edu
    

14. 
    Adjournment