Bemidji State University
Student Senate Minutes
September 12, 2001
I.
The
meeting was called to order at 3:10pm in the Ozawindib Room
II.
Roll
Call:
President Shannon Anderson , Jim Miller,Tony
Tengwall
Nicole Bunting, Pat Crosby, Ann Gassert, Nick Heisserer, Heather
Wuollet, Rebecca Robb, John Maxwell, Patrick Waletzko *QUORUM is not present*
III.
Approval
of Agenda
IV.
Approval
of Minutes
V.
Guest
Speakers
A.
Jackie
Ryder
1.
MAPE
and AFSCME have decided to postpone their strike date two weeks (October 1)
2.
The
two unions and the State of Minnesota are negotiating
3.
Mediation
is scheduled for September 28, 29, 30
4.
Intent
of mediation => successful/tentative agreement would be reached. The best case scenario: an agreement would
be reached and no interruption of services would take place.
5.
Council
6 is the State of Minnesota employees.
Council 65 is county workers.
6.
If
attempts at mediation are not successful, picket lines will be set up at all
state agencies.
a.
To
make the labor dispute visible
b.
To
prevent other people within the union from getting to their jobs
7.
Rules/Cautionary
Issues
a.
MAPE
and AFSCME are not trying to prevent people from going to classes
b.
If
you must cross the picket lines with a vehicle, make a complete stop in front
of the line for 3 seconds and then proceed slowly.
c.
Do
not touch the picketers. And they are
not to touch you.
d.
Numerous
people, such as secretaries and GMWs will not be on the job. Therefore, things will take longer to get
done and some things will be done by other people
e.
The
power plant and boiler will be running on low pressure. Hot water will run out if used for extensive
periods of time. Scatter showers within
the dorms throughout the day.
f.
Low
pressure does not keep buildings heated.
A class A license is required to operate it, and it must be under
supervision 24 hours a day. No school
in MN provides training for the license.
g.
Other
unions, such as the Teamsters and UPS do not cross picket lines
h.
Picket
lines will be formed on sidewalks along Birchmont Drive.
8.
Grievances
a.
2-year
contract => from July 1999 to June 2001
b.
The
legislature failed to pass a budget in the regular session, forcing them into a
special session. If the session had
ended in the regular session, negotiations could have easily been over by now.
c.
The
unions had suggested the changes they would like to see over a year ago.
d.
Insurance
premiums are going up and the state is not going to pay for the changes in
inflation. This will result in a $300
to $400 per person increase that workers would have to pick up.
e.
Workers
have not had a pay raise since 1993.
9.
135
to 150 BSU workers will strike; approximately 400 throughout Bemidji will
strike.
a.
There
are no essential AFSCME workers at BSU.
B.
Administration
(Baer, Larkin, et al)
1.
AFSCME
and BSU are not enemies
2.
BSU
not involved in bargaining units in anyway
3.
Administration’s
duty is to keep university open and everything running.
4.
AFSCME
and MAPE have right to strike
5.
Unions’
regulations are mainly self-imposed.
6.
If
the unions go on strike, their jobs will be waiting and will be coming back.
7.
DNR/DOT
may not be as accommodating and understanding as BSU union members.
8.
Work-Study
cannot fill union positions, but are expected to continue working
9.
Students
cannot strike; they may carry a sign, but not any with the word STRIKE on it.
10.
Students
can support by buying groceries, donating money, etc.
11.
Contact
Human resources office if you have an altercation with the picket line.
12.
Office
hours for many offices will be shortened.
13.
Arrangements
have been made to maintain high pressure at power plant and boiler.
14.
Food
services have a no strike line in their contracts, so they will not strike.
15.
Picketers
plan to continue attending classes at BSU, so they will be crossing their own
picket lines. Students strongly
encouraged to do the same.
VI.
President’s
Report
A.
Shannon
has met with President Quistgard three times concerning topics that she will
discuss with committee chairs at a later date.
B.
Met
with Mayor Lehmann concerning calendar parking and redistricting lines
C.
As
Jon Sauve will not be returning to Bemidji State and committee chairs have not
yet been appointed, a recommendation for vice-president must be made by the
president and approved with a 2/3 vote from the full senate
1.
President
Anderson recommends that Patrick Waletzko be appointed as vice-president. When a quorum is present, approval will take
place.
VII.
No
Vice-President’s Report
VIII.
No
Treasurer’s Report
A.
Some
money was spent on summer conference and organization fair.
IX.
Committee
Reports/Recommendations (approval will take place when a quorum is present)
A.
Standing
Committee Recommendations
1.
Legislative
Affairs – Heather Wuollet
2.
Academic
Affairs – Nick Heisserer
3.
Student
Affairs – As Jim Sprafka is hospitalized, none was appointed
4.
Public
Relations – Patrick Waletzko will continue work with PR until a suitable
replacement is found.
5.
Cultural
Diversity – one applicant (Sheila Northbird).
However, she resigned.
B.
Ad
Hoc Committee Recommendations
1.
Elections
Committee – Nick Heisserer
C.
MSUSA
Representative Recommendations – Nicole Bunting
D.
University
Committees
X.
Old
Business
A.
Print
Shop
1. University decided to keep
printing services “in house” and not hire outside contractor.
XI.
New
Business
A.
Elections
– Nick Heisserer
1.
Signs
are good, but don’t do the full job.
-
Goal:
for every senator to get at least one person to run for senate
2.
Elections
are tentatively set for October 9 & 10
3.
Application
deadline will be September 25
4.
Chair
will need as much as possible
B.
Attack
on America Drive
1.
People
are needed to work at an information/donation table down in the union tomorrow,
Friday, and possibly Monday.
2.
Money
will go to the Red Cross for victims of the NYC and Pentagon disasters.
C.
Brian
Allen
1.
New
senate advisor – promises to give us the whole story and the “straight up”
about everything.
2.
Trying
to create new policy on the way that university computers are distributed and
replaced around campus, instead of going back to the state and on to another
state agency.
a.
Currently,
computers are on a 2-3 year cycle and then rotated out.
b.
Re-utilizing
computers saves students money.
c.
CRI
=> Tech fees used to fund that lab.
Previously, students didn’t have access to those computers. They want to replace 50 machines, but
returning them to the state is simply not fair to the students.
d.
Brian
plans to write a policy to deal with these issues
3.
New
Decker lab will be open at noon tomorrow.
It’s hours will be 8:00am to 8:00 pm M-F
4.
Brian
briefly broke down his technology budget and how he spends it.
5.
Very
few students know about the computer store.
a.
Across
from the Super Lab
b.
Sell
Mac and Gateway
6.
Vax
is outdated and license has expired
7.
Computer
Services is exploring the possibilities of Kevin Drexel’s plan to store online
portfolio’s on a server.
a.
Student
Senators may be first to store documents, projects, and information.
b.
Server
will be able to hold up to 100mb per person.
D.
Yearly
goals for Student Senate
1.
Get
students involved in clubs and organizations
2.
Keep
students aware of the issues that face them
3.
Increase
Student Senate visibility
4.
Encourage
better relations among faculty, staff, administration, and students.
5.
Enhance
student senator knowledge of senate activities and practices.
E.
Meeting
Time
1.
Is
it convenient? (Response was: Yes)
2.
Meeting
Time: Wednesdays at 3:00pm
F.
Moment
of Silence for those involved in the NYC and Pentagon tragedies.
XII.
Adjournment
1.
Tony
Tenwall moved to adjourn at 4:50
2.
Seconded
by Ann Gassert
3.
Carried
unanimously.