Meeting Minutes
Associated Students | San Diego State University

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

CONRAD PREBYS AZTEC STUDENT UNION – 3:30 PM
A.S. UNIVERSITY COUNCIL MINUTES

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, Maxwell Louie, Dustin Pina, Dominic Bilotti, Austin Dean, Emmanuel Uwakwe, Nick Wright, Keeler Johnston, Jose Muguerza, Megan Sealy, Jason Taresh, Kelsey Moss, Kalani Perez, Ahmad Sanatyar, Osama Alkhawaja, Owen Burton, Josh Drayer, Jane Kwon, Jaynie Lee, Shawn Tenny, Marc Hess, Alexandria Johnstone, Jonathan Cole, Kevin Hancock, Alex Padua.

B. Voting Members Absent: Kristina Brown, Lance Brooks, Maneet Deol, Jacqueline Karczewski.

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

D. Ex-Officios (non-voting) Absent: Christy Samarkos,

E. Visitors Present: James Byrd, Randy Timm, Hassan Abdinur.

IV. MODIFICATIONS TO AGENDA:

It was moved and seconded to approve the agenda of February 25, 2015.

BILOTTI/TENNY CARRIED

V. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES:

It was moved and seconded to approve the previous minutes of February 11, 2015.

JOHNSTONE/HESS CARRIED

VI. PUBLIC COMMENT:

A. Student, Hassan Abdinur, reported:

  1. The Students for Justice in Palestine collected 2,500 signatures from SDSU students that support the university divesting from companies that contribute to the violation of human rights in Palestine. There is an event tonight in Montezuma Hall at 5 PM, discussing divestment.

VII. UNIVERSITY REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS

A. University Senate Designee, Dr. Cezar Ornatowski, reported:

  1. Throughout the proposed 4-year programs at community colleges in California, 14-15 programs were found to overlap with current programs at several universities.
  2. $560 million has been raised by the Campanile Foundation, which is 22% of California’s state allocation to the California State University system. A majority of the money funding the university comes from donations.

B. University Vice President for Student Affairs Designee: None.

C. Judicial Affairs Council Update – Brenna Culliton, Justice, reported:

  1. The remaining requirements and bylaw amendments for approval are due on Friday, 3/27. The timeline for the study abroad packets is still being determined.
  2. If you wish to have your bylaw amendments reviewed prior to being sent to the Judicial Affairs Council, Alex and Keagan would like to receive your minutes by Sunday, 3/15.
  3. Write-in candidate applications are due Friday, 3/13 at noon. Appointed seat applications are due Monday, 4/6. Each commission must elected their own commissioner and report that individual’s name to Jennifer Esquivel-Parker by Thursday, 4/23. Please review Judicial Affairs Interviews for Board of Directors Student-at-Large members and Judicial Affairs Council justices will be conducted the week of 4/13. The swearing-in ceremony for next year’s leaders will be on Wednesday, 4/29.

D. Commuter Student Success Presentation – Randy Timm, Director of the Office for Student Life and Leadership, reported:

  1. After a brief overview of challenges that commuter students face and SDSU’s efforts in engaging them in its culture, Randy went through a PowerPoint presentation that shows the academic growth over the past four years. SDSU will be requiring all commuting freshmen to be involved in a learning committee.

IX. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION:

A. General Consent Agenda: (Action)

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

BURTON/ALKHAWAJA 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.

X. INTRODUCTION OF NEW LEGISLATIVE MATTERS:

None.

XI. REPORTS OF UNIVERSITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:

A. Corey Polant, Vice President of University Affairs:

  1. College council forums will be happening all throughout March. The schedule is as follows:
    • Professional Students and Fine Arts Council: Wednesday, 3/11 from 1-2 PM in Metzli.
    • College of Health and Human Services Student Council: Wednesday, 3/11 at 9 AM in Council Chambers
    • Associated Business Student Council: Monday, 3/16 at 1 PM in the Legacy Suite
    • Associated Engineering Student Council: Monday, 3/23 at 9:45 AM in the Pride Suite
    • College of Arts and Letters Council: Monday, 3/23 from 10-11 AM in Park Blvd
    • College of Sciences Student Council: Friday, 3/25 from 11-2 PM in the Lee & Frank Goldberg Courtyard
    • The forums for the Graduate Student Association and the Undeclared Student Council are to be determined.
  2. The next Sexual Violence Task Force meeting is on Friday 3/6 at 1 PM in the Legacy Suite.

B. J. Cole, President:

  1. First meeting to discuss the Aztec Culture Project was today. J. Cole spoke to David Camper and Seth Mallios, two individuals at SDSU who would help out this initiative immensely. Outreach and involvement of SDSU students will happen as soon as this project’s plan is solidified.
  2. The Join Us Campaign last week could not have been as successful as it was without the incredible engagement and participation from students, faculty, and staff.
  3. A follow-up e-mail will be sent out soon from J. Cole with a campus update on the university’s efforts and support against sexual violence at SDSU. A list of events will be included, inviting the university to participate.

C. Kevin Hancock, Executive Vice President:

  1. Awards Committee’s goal is to get 150 nominations for the Aztec Achievement Awards this year. The event will be held on the evening of Thursday, 4/23. Doors will open on 4:30 PM and the program will run from 5-6:30 PM. The Board of Directors has been challenged to nominate at least two people for the many awards available. Nominations can be made at http://as.sdsu.edu/aaa/ and are originally due by March 2nd. Kevin promises that there will be no extension of the nomination deadline.
  2. Sam Adams is the opener for the GreenFest concert this year! Buy your tickets at Viejas for the concert on the evening of Thursday, 3/5. Attend all the GreenFest events throughout the week too and support ASUB.
  3. Join the Aztec Proud Society and donate $10 to any area on campus you’re passionate about.
  4. Yevy Kopeleva’s last day with Associated Students is this Friday, 3/6. The process for filling her position will ensue this summer.

D. Alex Padua, Vice President of Financial Affairs:

  1. A.S.’ Quarter 2 Financial Report has been approved by the Financial Affairs Committee and shall be included at the next Board of Directors’ meeting.
  2. Meetings with the college council presidents and treasurers to discuss college council budgets are ongoing.

E. Marc Hess, Board of Directors Student-at-Large:

  1. Thank you to everyone who participated in the Join Us programming all last week! It was a great success. Marc invited the ASUC members to provide their feedback on the series, in order to improve future Join Us campaigns.
  2. The kick-off event for the A.S. Mentorship Program is planned for Friday, 3/6.

F. Alexandria Johnstone, Board of Directors Student-at-Large:

  1. CEOs Talk Dirty: Tuesday, March 3 from 6-8 PM at Scripps Cottage.
  2. UCREW Ultimate Experience: Saturday, March 7 from 9 AM-1 PM at Qualcomm Pacific Center Campus.

G. Shawn Tenny, College of Education Representative:

  1. The Graduate Student Association currently has a current board and is meeting at 2 PM on Wednesdays in the Graduate Student Association office, but will be moving to a larger room soon. Send me your grad students!

H. Christina Brown, Executive Director:

  1. A referendum with more than 2,000 signatures has been submitted to A.S. advocating for SDSU to divest from companies that allegedly contribute to the violation of human rights in Palestine. The Judicial Affairs Council justices are working on verifying the collected signatures. For this referendum to be included with the A.S. elections ballot, everything must be finalized and published within the next two weeks. Two-thirds of the total votes cast must be in favor of the referendum, given that at least 10% of the student body votes.
  2. The CSU’s Auxiliary Organization Association met two weeks ago. Attendees were able to see Chancellor White and meet his two Vice Chancellors, Fram Virjee and Larry Mandell. This new, fresh, open approach to leadership in the CSU has made room for more collaboration.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded to adjourn the meeting.

COLE/HESS CARRIED

Vice President of University Affairs Corey Polant adjourned the meeting at 4:57 PM.