Meeting Minutes
Associated Students | San Diego State University

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

NOVEMBER 19, 2014 – COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CONRAD PREBYS AZTEC STUDENT UNION – 3:30 PM

I. CALL TO ORDER:

Vice President of University Affairs Corey Polant called the meeting to order at 3:33 PM.

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. ROLL CALL:

A. Voting Members Present: Corey Polant, Jordan Mishlove, Dustin Pina, Dominic Bilotti, Austin Dean, Emmanuel Uwakwe, Nick Wright, Kristina Brown, Keeler Johnston, Jose Muguerza, Lance Brooks, Megan Sealy, Jason Taresh, Kelsey Moss, Kalani Perez, Ahmad Sanatyar, Osama Alkhawaja, Owen Burton, Josh Drayer, Jane Kwon, Jaynie Lee, Shawn Tenny, Maneet Deol, Marc Hess, Alexandria Johnstone, Jonathan Cole, Kevin Hancock, Jacqueline Karczewski, Alex Padua.

B. Voting Members Absent: Maxwell Louie.

C. Ex-Officios (non-voting) Present: Christy Samarkos, Dr. Cezar Ornatowski, Clarice Mendoza, Christina Brown.

D. Ex-Officios (non-voting) Absent: None.

E. Visitors Present: Sierra Marcelius, Alexander James, Nadir Bouhmouch, A.T. Furuya, Camille Tiberghien, Jordan Busse, Hassan Abdinur, Kiana Caton.

IV. MODIFICATIONS TO AGENDA:

It was moved and seconded to approve the agenda of November 19, 2014.

HANCOCK/PINA CARRIED

V. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES:

It was moved and seconded to approve the previous minutes of November 5, 2014 and November 12, 2014.

BROOKS/JOHNSTONE CARRIED

VI. PUBLIC COMMENT:

A. Sierra Marcelius, Student, reported:

  1. Sierra urges SDSU to change its mascot. It is discriminatory and racist. Ultimately, keeping the Aztec as our mascot will hurt our reputation as a school.

B. Alexander James, Students for Justice in Palestine Representative, reported:

  1. A reminder was given to the University Council members about the importance of their role as representatives of their college’s constituents.
  2. Our mascot is an infringement of the Aztec culture and likens animals to Native Americans.

C. Nadir Bouhmouch reported:

  1. The decision to keep the Aztec mascot is racist. Nadir gave the University Council members a reminder on the history of American land.

Corey Polant called for a five-minute recess starting at 3:46 PM. It was moved and seconded to begin recess.

SEALY/DRAYER CARRIED

The A.S. University Council meeting resumed at 3:51 PM.

D. Camille Tiberghien, Student, reported:

  1. Camille believes that SDSU should keep its Aztec mascot. The intention of a mascot is not to humiliate; it is to increase pride.

E. Jordan Busse, Student, reported:

  1. Having an Aztec mascot is not honoring the Aztec culture. People who can trace their ancestry to Aztec/Mexica culture and do not appreciate the portrayal of their ancestors.

F. A. T. Furuya, Queer People of Color Collective Representative, reported:

  1. As co-author of the Resolution to Change the Mascot, A. T. urges the representatives sitting on University Council to look for different ways to be aware of racism, because our mascot being an Aztec warrior is mutated form of racism.
  2. As leaders, it’s important to be better and above education. Keeping our Aztec warrior as SDSU’s mascot only justified racism. Aztec people are more than a character.

G. Hassan Abdinur, Student, reported:

  1. The usage of the Aztec culture here at SDSU is disrespectful to those who identify as an Aztec.
  2. UCLA voted to divest from Israeli occupation yesterday, only justifying how important it is for SDSU to divest from companies profiting from human rights abuses in Israel.

VII. UNIVERSITY REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS

A. University Senate Designee, Dr. Cezar Ornatowski:

None.

B. University Vice President for Student Affairs Designee, Christy Samarkos:

  1. This week is International Education Week. Check out the "Be International" mobile kiosk between the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union and Manchester Hall. Programming throughout the week can be found at http://studentaffairs.sdsu.edu/ISC/iew/. Be sure to stop by the Peace Village in Montezuma Hall tomorrow.

C. Judicial Affairs Council – Kiana Caton, Chief Justice, reported:

  1. Friday is the deadline for several A.S. leader duties including the attendance of a cultural event and a meeting of a college council or an organization you are not a member of is on November 21. For University Council members, the study abroad scholarship packets are due this Friday as well.
  2. Please do not forget to complete and submit excused absence forms three days for an occurrence.

VII. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION:

A. General Consent Agenda: (Action)

It was moved and seconded to approve the General Consent Agenda, as attached.

BROOKS/JOHNSTONE CARRIED

B. General Consent Report: (Information)

The General Consent Report was reviewed via electronic copy. For further reference please request a full agenda copy from the Government Secretary.

VII. INTRODUCTION OF NEW LEGISLATIVE MATTERS:

A. Resolution to Change the Mascot: (Action)

It was moved and seconded to approve the Resolution to Change the Mascot, as attached.

Dr. Cezar Ornatowski made a friendly amendment to line 36, changing "cease" to "ceases," making it so "A.S. immediately ceases to use the "Aztec" name." Dr. Cezar Ornatowski made a friendly amendment to line 39, changing "call" to "calls," making it so "A.S. called upon our university and all affiliated organization." Dr. Cezar Ornatowski made a friendly amendment to line 42, adding "that" before should, making it read, "Let it be further resolved, that should and/or when SDSU chooses a new mascot."

Jason Taresh called to question.

As a point of privilege, Osama Alkhawaja called for a roll call vote.

Voting Results:

Jordan Mishlov: Abstain

Dustin Pina: No

Dominic Bilotti: No

Austin Dean: No

Emmanuel Uwakwe: No

Nick Wright: No

Kristina Brown: No

Keeler Johnston: No

Jose Muguerza: No

Lance Brooks: No

Megan Sealy: No

Jason Taresh: No

Kelsey Moss: No

Kalani Perez: No

Ahmad Sanatyar: Abstain

Osama Alkhawaja: Yes

Owen Burton: No

Josh Drayer: No

Jane Kwon: No

Jaynie Lee: No

Shawn Tenny: No

Maneet Deol: Abstain

Marc Hess: No

Alexandria Johnstone: No

Jonathan Cole: No

Kevin Hancock: No

Jacqueline Karczewski: No

Alex Padua: No

The Resolution to Change the Mascot, with all approved amendments, failed, (24-1-3) as attached.

IX. REPORTS OF UNIVERSITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:

None.

X. ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded to adjourn the meeting.

TENNY/BILOTTI CARRIED

Vice President of University Affairs Corey Polant adjourned the meeting at 5:05 PM.