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Meeting Minutes

Tuesday November 15, 2005

Minutes

  1. Call to Order

 

  1. Roll Call
    1. Absent: Philip Davolos, Michael Herrick, Kristen Iriarte, Benjamin Malbasa
  1. Accepting or Amending of the Agenda
    1. Motion to place representatives from the Weatherheadless Ball before the VPs report.
      1. Passed.
    2. Motion to remove (a) from old business.
      1. Rejected.
    3. Motion to add Sports to Committee Reports
      1. Passed
    4. Motion to add JLSA under Budget Requests
    5.                Passed.
    6. Motion to add Honor Committee under Committee Reports
      1. Passed.
    7. Motion to add Building and Grounds under Committee Reports
      1. Passed
    8. Motion to accept minutes as amended
      1. Passed.

 

  1. Accepting or Amending of the Minutes
    1. Motion to accept the minutes
      1. Passed
  1. Officers Reports
    1. President’s Report
      1. Commencement speaker chosen is Nicholas E. Calio, Senior Vice President for Global Government Affairs at Citigroup.  Mr. Calio graduated from Case Law school in 1978.  Served as Assistant to eh President for Legislative Affairs under the first President Bush and under current President Bush.  He is a dynamic Speaker
      2. Business Cards: Mr. Mortenson spoke with Beth Klusas about having a networking package which would include a form students could fill out to order business cards.  In addition, the package would
        include information on networking and interviewing.  What he thinks would be helpful, and what he’s instructed the CSO committee to do, is discuss with CSO the possibility of identifying a couple of cities/areas where they're interested in practicing so that CSO could print out a listing of law firms and alumni.
      3.  If offered to every student as previously promised, student activities fee will have to be increased.  The problem then becomes how students will opt-in or out of having a business card. 
      4. There has been no progress on ATM situation, primarily because of the undergrad administration.  Mr. Mortenson is looking into approaching the Charter One Bank across Euclid.  The reason is that Key Bank and National City refuse to discuss further the possibility, at least with Mr. Mortenson, of placing an ATM in the law school.
        1. The security issue will have to be discussed with Alice Hunt of Building and Grounds.  She agreed to placing the ATM across from the security guard’s desk. The major issue will be having a high speed network line, as well as satisfying volume requirements.
        2. Mr. Mortenson has spoken with Scott from Shtick’s wife about taking credit cards.  They contend that they take the CaseOne Card. 
        3. Mr. Ryan says that he hasn’t bought food from Shtick’s in over a year and a half and thinks that the competition from the new Starbucks may add even more pressure on them a little.
        4. Mr. Mortenson says he will approach them again about the credit cards. 
        5. Mr. Samtoy doesn’t understand why the ATM is an issue.  Mr. Mortenson says people want cash and don’t want to walk to Thwing to buy their pita and hummus. 
        6. Mr. Mortenson thinks we can get a private ATM.  But economically it doesn’t make sense because it would be too expensive to maintain. 
      5. Mr. Mortenson commends Mr. Carey for his work on the Flag Football event against CSU. 
      6. Mr. Mortenson yields the chair to Vice President Choy because he has to leave for a prior commitment.
    2. Sam Harpold from social and cultural affairs committee at the business school and matt evans is a first year social representative report on the Weatherheadless Ball, and to encourage future events to keep professional schools collaborating.
      1. Weatherheadless was a charity event that donated 850 lbs of food.  Recognition will be given to the various schools.
      2. Law school gave $1000.  Business school provided $3500 of the budget. 
      3. A few changes made from last year: not permitted to have canned beer anymore because students took cans outside the building last year, and empty cans found around the building. It was difficult to find volunteers to man the kegs, and only had one law school volunteer, JD/MBA candidate (Abigail Philips).The remaining kegs were sold to Wackadoo’s to recover some money, amounted to $80.
      4. Would like to keep the med school and law school involved with this event in the future.
      5. Mr. Arnold asked why there weren’t cans: he was duff man.  He says that he would have run the kegs with his buddies if he had known they needed volunteers.  Mr. Harpold answers that it was a learning experience.  Next year they will have more tappers.
      6. Ms. Levy adds that the important point is that there weren’t enough taps.  If we had known that volunteers were needed, more taps would have been open. 
      7. Ms. Swaine points out that there’s a professional council that could participate in producing the event. 
      8. Weatherheadless had 20 left over pizzas because they have rules for how much food has to be provided per attendee.
      9. Confident that next year will be more successful.
      10. The money from the remaining kegs was $80, which they didn’t think was worth doling out to the professional schools.  May invite the law school to their business social to repay the money
      11. Mr. Reid says that his costume was the best ever and is disappointed that there wasn’t a costume contest.
      12. Mr. McLaughlin asked whether $4000 was enough.  Mr. Harpold says it was fine.  There are regulations for how much security is necessary, the number of kegs, the food, etc., which all costs money.
      13. Mr. Tsai asks whether they are thinking of moving or renaming the event.  Mr. Haropld answers that no other building will host the party because of the liability, and they don’t want to move it off campus because the overhead cost too much.
      14. Weatherhead Dean was upset that he wasn’t invited. 
      15. Wants continued support from the Law School.  Gets an ovation.
    3. Vice-President’s Report
      1. Lexis-Faculty teatime on Thursday at 3:45.  there should be no excuses for not attending
    4. Secretary’s Report
      1. Asks SBA to send in agenda items in to be put on the agenda in advance.
    5. Treasurer’s Report
      1. Treasurer has had average requests for reimbursements. 
      2. Mr. McLaughlin wants to clarify rules for the funding reimbursement forms.  If anyone needs money for their event, or speakers, they have to follow the proper procedures.  The reimbursement form is extremely simple.  Fill out the form that’s located in the office after the event and attach all the receipts.  It may take some time to get the check back.  A photocopy of the receipt is adequate.  If someone is complaining about not having received their check, they should be referred to Mr. McLaughlin. 
      3. The speaker fund request form stipulates that it must be approved a specific number of days in advance of the event. 
      4. Another thing is the tax exempt form, which can be found in the office next to Mr. Ruffner’s. 
    6. Senate Counsel’s Report
      1. “A Recommended Winter Break Reading List”
      2.     After a reading of Judge Kozinsky’s presentation to Fordham Law University in which he tells a story in Suess-esque style, the Senate Counsel presented Holiday Blues: A Recommended Winter Reading List
      3. Robert’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
        1. In which the hero meets with some Liliputians who do not have enough time to debate the important topics of their day.  Robert teaches them of the Motion to Extend Debate.
        2. Our hero then travels to the land of the Brobdingnaggians who find that their discussions tend to last so long that they forget what it is they were originally discussing.  Robert teaches these poor souls about the Motion to Limit Debate.
      4. A Portrait of the Parliamentarian as A Young Man by James Joyce
        1. In which our hero re-discovers various methods of voting, such as:
          1. by roll call
          2. by yays and nays
          3. by a show of hands.
      5. The Three Divine Motions by Dante
        1. Our hero begins his journey in the Underworld and Moves to Consider.
        2. Our hero continues his travels, finding himself in Purgatory and Moves to Amend.
        3. Finally, our hero finds himself in the Afterlife and Moves to Call the Ultimate Question.
      6.  Robert’s Code by Dan Brown
        1. Through the cryptic and inspirational use of language and art, the author teaches millions that they should:
        2.  address all remarks through the chair, and
        3. impress upon his readers that they should never use first names or the colloquial “you” pronoun while in session.
      7. The Scarlet Beatstick by Nathaniel Hawthorne
        1. In which an innocent assembly member is beset upon all sides by haters and his motives and person come under attack while he has the floor.
        2. Our hero, acting as Chair of the Assembly, addresses the uncouth members by stating: “Mr. J!  The chair has repearedly directed you to refrain from offensive personal references when speaking in this meeting.  Three times the chair has ordered you to be seated, and you have nevertheless attempted to continue speaking.”
        3. Then the case was dropped by the offending members withdrawing their statements and re-taking their seats.  Further infractions would have resulted in ejection from the assembly.

 

  1. Committee Reports
    1. Student Life 
      1. Bar review: don’t have the location for this week yet. Won’t being having one next week due to the holiday.  First bar review of next semester will be at Club Corbo.  Everyone drank like a fish there. 
    2. Sports
      1. Mr. Cary thanks everyone that played football that $167 under the predicted cost for bowling.  $20 under the predicted cost for football.
    3. Honor committee
      1. Focus committee last Tuesday.  Report posted on SBA website.
      2. SBA faculty committee and Prof. McMunigal are moving towards an appellate process rather than a trial format.  They are currently drafting and there will be changes. They hope to have it approved next spring. 
    4. Building and Grounds
      1. School fills the brick on the walkways every spring, apparently.  Women with heels dispute this assertion.
      2. The broken smartboard is fixed.
      3. Committee will walk around the school to find things get fixed.
      4. Mr. Arnold requests to have the smokers moved back their old side to block the wind in the winter.
      5. Committee will work on consistently making the parking lot at the CMA open in the evening starting spring semester. 
        1. Mr. Arnold says that he tried working with them but it only lasted for the first week.  He’s not afraid because he is a boy with a gun, but understands that girls and girly-men might be.
      6. There is smoke in one of the classrooms on the ground floor because the intake is connected from the smoking side of the building.
      7. Mr. Arnold also noticed that all the Little Buddies had to walk through a gauntlet of smokers. 
        1. Fix it and go to laugh, giggle and eat all the cookies.
      8. Ms. Choy points out that the clock in the SBA office needs to be fixed.
  1. Old Business
    1. By-law Amendment: James Tsai and Lisa Levy
      1. The second version of the bylaw change proposed is on the table. Mr. Tsai reports that he spoke to a number of people outside SBA who are pretty surprised that this didn’t pass. 
      2. Mr. Tsai presents the list posted on a semester-basis, by President Hundert.  It the faculty’s expression of respecting religious holidays.  Dean Chodosh explained that events that can’t be replicated should not be scheduled on a holiday, because some individuals will be excluded. Classes are different because they can be videotaped.
      3. Ms. Levy feels that a person shouldn’t have to choose between their religious beliefs and an SBA meeting.
      4. Mr. Tsai explains that there are two camps: feel the amendment is either too exclusive or too inclusive (and shouldn’t have to officially recognize them all).  By trying to please everyone, we’re offending everyone.
      5. Ms. Levy addresses the belief that the list is arbitrary by asserting that this voting process allows SBA to decide which holidays should be added.
      6. Mr. Tsai says the bylaws are soft-law and will not tie the hands of the SBA.
      7. Mr. Ryan says that several emergency meetings were called last year, and that on occasion the SBA has a short time frame to work with.  He understands that the bylaws can be suspended, but there needs to be an easier way get around the restriction. The language should be like: “the Senate will make every reasonable effort to comply with the holiday schedule”
      8. Mr. Arnold says that in his 2 years of classes the only time a professor cancels is when he wants to observe his own holiday.  Why aren’t the holidays just scheduled in the meeting calendar at the beginning of the year?  Ms. Levy answers it’s probably because not all senators are present at the first meeting.
      9. Mr. Zink doesn’t understand why there has to be a bylaw if we can simply officially exclude certain days from meetings at the beginning of the school year. 
      10. Ms. Levy explains that the budget meeting was not an emergency, and concedes that this bylaw amendment is a reaction to that.  The recognition of specific days needs to be formal, because any senator that mentions that a particular day is a holiday for them, it should not be at the discretion of someone else to decide that quorum can still be met and therefore the meeting can still be scheduled on that day.
      11. Mr. Tsai explains that the amendment is for the bylaws, which are like principles.  It has more teeth than a resolution, which would just be an explicit list that doesn’t solve the problem since it needs to be enforced.
      12. Mr. Samoty: first, where do you draw the line in appointing holidays?  Does this mean that we don’t meet the whole month of Ramadan? Ms. Levy answers that people still go to work during this week.  We are talking about holidays that require a certain amount of observation.
      13. Mr. Samtoy asks about a holiday of the Shinto religion and many other globally observed holidays, in essence making the slippery slope point.  Mr. Tsai is trying to get the assembly to entertain this proposition. He feels that the slippery slope is really not that precarious.
      14. Motion to end questioning and move to consideration of the amendment
        1. Passed.
      15. Mr. Lefton, as a 3L, feels that the interest of Senators in the SBA is waning.  She understands the arguments, but she feels that we shouldn’t get in the way of people trying to be involved and be present at meetings.
      16. Mr. Ryan motions to amend Line 28 by changing “not” schedule, to “make a reasonable effort in scheduling”. 
      17. Mr. Ryan thinks we have to find a middle ground.  The bylaw change would recognize people’s beliefs but we have to accommodate those who don’t feel we need legislation.
      18. Mr. Zink feels we’ll run into a sloppy problem to determine what “reasonable effort” means.  At least an amendment means what it means.  And no one here is arguing against making a reasonable effort.  Ms. Levy responds that he impetus for this amendment proposal is that certain senators felt that the senate didn’t make a reasonable effort this semester. Mr. Zink asks whether, aside from what happened this semester, such a bylaw demanding a reasonable effort would make a difference to the meeting schedule? 
      19. Mr. McLaughlin, as treasurer, says that if every senator is representing their classes the way they should, then this is a moot point.  The student body is made up of varying religions; therefore each senator should bring these concerns to the table when scheduling meetings.  Therefore a bylaw should not be necessary.
      20. Mr. Levy motions to extend debate by 3 minutes.
        1. Rejected.
      21. Mr. Ryan motions to call to question after his comment.
        1. Rejected.
      22. Mr. Tsai motions to amend the amendment by changing Line 28 to “Shall not schedule regular meetings on holidays.” 
      23. Mr. Ryan accepts as a friendly amendment.
      24. Ms. Lefton calls to question on Mr. Ryan’s amendment, and then whole issue as a whole.
        1. Passed.
      25. Vote on amendment to line 28: “the senate shall not schedule regular meetings…”
        1. Division. Vote by roll call
          1. 14 in Favor:  Jennifer Choy, Annamarie Holmes, Colin McLaughlin, Kevin Neely, Lauren Lefton, Lisa Levy, Brent Ryan, Kristin Cook, Chris Kringel, Ngozi Nwaesei, Rebecca Slazinski, James Tsai, Christopher Schmitt, William Chiang
          2. 9 opposed: Ried Arnold, Devlin Cary, Laura Falcone, Laura Ball, James Zink, Wendy Brickell, Tyler Davidson, Andrew Samtoy, Newt Schaefer.
          3. 1 Abstention: James Kurnik. 
        2. Amendment passes 14-9
      26. Vote on the entire bylaw. 
        1. Division. Vote by roll call.
          1. 8 in favor:  Jennifer Choy, Kevin Neely, Lauren Lefton, Lisa Levy, Brent Ryan, Kelly Swaine, Chris Kringel, James Tsai.
          2. 14 opposed:  Annamarie Holmes, Ried Arnold, Devlin Cary, Laura Falcone, Laura, Ball, James Kurnik, Rebecca Slazinski, James Zink, Wendy Brickell, Tyler Davidson, Andrew Samtoy, Newt Schaefer, Christopher Schmitt, William Chiang. 
          3. 3 abstentions: Ngozi Nwaesei, Kristin Cook, Colin McLaughlin. 
        2. Motion Fails.
    2. NSLS: Annamarie Holmes
      1. Ms. Holmes spoke with Dean Andelman about reimbursement for the national leadership conference; and after following proper procedure, she will be reimbursed for partial cost of conference.  She will report back to SBA when she has the exact figures. 

 

  1. New Business
    1. Budget Requests
      1. Student Health Law Association requests $400 for World AIDS Day weeklong events, in coordination with WLA, Law Students for Choice, and SILS.  Presented by Amanda Perkett and Chris Sabol. 
        1. This is not the same as the FLAG event in the spring. World AIDS Day is during finals.  The six groups are working together to host event and when planning the event they did not know that FLAG would co-host.
        2. Each organization will prepare an event for one day of the week.  They will send their own message and then everyone chips in for the world AIDS day.  SHL, WHL, Law Students for Choice did not budget for this earlier. 
        3. Mr. Arnold asks if its true that FLAG put it on application funding for $700 towards the Chinese buffet.  Now that everyone is chipping in, where is the money going?
        4. Ms. Perkett can’t speak on their behalf, but this is a brainchild of Ms. Perkett and others.  It’s this semester, a week long event, etc. It’s different from the Chinese buffet She doesn’t want the message to be lost.  What is left over from FLAG after this, will be used to hold their spring event.
        5. Mr. McLaughlin says they requested $930 total and $700 for this event.  Budget committee suggested cutting by $30. It’s a similar event but not the same.  FLAG is not asking for money (either is SPILF). If SHLA doesn’t get the $400, then they will have to get more money from FLAG.  The $400 is to feed the whole law school.
        6. Mr. McLaughlin says that this is a good idea because SHLA is not dealing with FLAGs problems.  If FLAG wants to reneg, Health Law Association should not be penalized for this.  This is a perfect example of why we need to have a midyear review of org budgets. 
        7. Mr. Arnold suggests that all that will happen is that FLAG will have another AIDS awareness day in the spring and blow another $700.
        8. Mr. Ryan thinks that there will be an AIDS day no matter what, and this is better put together than FLAG’s events in the past. 
        9. Mr. Carey addressed the comment about $250 for flag football by clarifying that it went to starving people….and one AIDS awareness day the year is enough.
        10. Ms. Lefton says this is a positive event for the school. 
        11. Mr. Zink thinks that we only need one event a year, and therefore, SBA should transfer FLAGs funding to the other organizations.
        12. Mr. Mortenson asks Treasurer McLaughlin whether we can move funding around between organizations.  Mr. McLaughlin answers that unless orgs can defend themselves at a meeting it would be tough manage. 
        13. Ms. Levy asks how much involvement is coming from FLAG or SILS.  Ms. Perkett answers that every organization is hosting an event that week.  FLAG is hosting a movie night.
        14. Motion to extend debate.
          1. Passes.
        15. Mr. Ryan agrees there should only be one AIDS awareness day. To withdraw FLAG’s funding, we should request their presence at the next meeting and question them about their plans for the money.
        16. Motion to give $0 to the Health law and transfer FLAGs funds is not seconded.
        17. Ms. Nwaesei thinks AIDS awareness is a good cause, and although last year FLAGS event wasn’t that effective, she is hard-pressed to think that FLAG would be opposed to transferring money to AIDS awareness.
        18. Motion to allocate $400.
          1. Passed.  Mr. McLaughlin abstains.
      2. Budget Request made by Mr. McLaughlin on behalf of JLSA
        1. Mr. McLaughlin was made aware of an interesting situation that conflicted with the speaker fund request form requirement the submission be made 30 days before the event if requesting over $250.  JLSA requested $392.58, but didn’t submit the request until after the event.  He had extensive discussions today with JLSA’s president and treasurer (who is a 1L).  Advises that 1L’s not be put in this position without guidance. 
        2. Mr. McLaughlin suggested to them that they request money from SBA.  If they don’t, then they’ll have to eat the money from their allocated amount and not put towards other events, or the members of JLSA will have to eat it, which he doesn’t think anyone really wants to happen.
        3. Event was at Issy’s place.  $351.45 on pizza and $41.13 on groceries from Heinen’s.  As is typical, JLSA went through Hillel. 
        4. There is a cap on what you can pay speakers: $50 for a gift.  The rest of the money goes to food, advertisement, and everything else. 
        5. Mr. Arnold points out that the speaker is a Marine that graduated from Case 2 years ago. 
        6. JLSA treasurer couldn’t make it because he had CORE today. 
        7. Ms. Lefton asks whether we can give $250 without any more discussion through the speaker fund.  Mr. Mclaughlin says they would have eat the rest.
        8. Mr. Cary likes these ideas and that it doesn’t totally screw them over but reprimands them a little.
        9. Mr. Ryan thinks that we should give them what they are requesting, bc if they followed the correct procedures they would have gotten it.
        10. The speaker fund is $5000 at the beginning of the year last year, and $2000 was carried over because it was not used.  Mr. McLaughlin says it is being heavily utilized this year though.
        11. Mr. Zink moves to give them $0, but there’s no second.
        12. Ms. Lefton motions that Colin gives them the $250 under his authority as treasurer.  We vote on remaining $142 separately. 
        13. Mr. Schmitt asks about how we actively distribute information about speaker fund procedures to the student organizations.  Mr. McLaughlin concedes that is wasn’t forced on them as it should have been, although they should have known.  It needs to be more explicit. 
        14. Mr. Ryan says that we shouldn’t punish them for doing this improperly by making them eat the money. 
        15. Mr. Zink reiterates that they spent $350 on pizza, which is more than most organizations ever do.  They need to know how much they’re going to spend in advance.
          1. POI: 50 people attended the event.  Got 31 pizzas. 
        16. Mr. Ryan says that we should not take away from other good events that they host.
        17. Mr. Arnold says that SBA is a bunch of liberal hippies and that the money is going to be given to JLSA.  He wants money for his future trip to Hawaii to participate in illicit activities. 
        18. Vote on the amendment that Colin give the authorized $250 and separately vote on $149. 
          1. Passed. 4 abstentions.
        19. Motion to allocate $148 to JLSA, and give them a $0.50 bill
          1. Rejected. 8-10-2
        20. Mr. Neely motions to move on to announcements. 
        21. Mr. McLaughlin points out that the SBA still has a problem, bc we don’t know where the $148.58 is going to come from. Are they taking it from the funds we’ve budgeted them, or are they going to eat it?
        22. Motion to move on to announcements.
          1. Fails. 
        23. Motion to move the $148.58 from JLSA’s fund to reimburse Hillel. 
        24. Mr. Zink points out that they can still use money from their account but will be flagged for misappropriating funds if we don’t pass this motion. 
        25. Mr. Ryan says that it’s not a big deal to move this money because they already have the money.
        26. Ms. Levy points out that the President of JLSA is graduating and that SBA should take into consideration how JLSA has been treated in the past and how it should be treated in the future.  Mr. McLaughlin, as treasurer, explains that how an organization has operated in the past is a guiding line but not definitive guide. 
        27. Mr. Schmitt points out that 1/3 of their budget will go to this because of the mistake we made in not educating them on the procedure.
        28. Motion to allocate the money from the general fund. 
          1. Passed. 2 abstentions. 9 nays.*
  1. Announcements
    1. Ms. Levy says that toy drive isn’t getting the response that they were hoping for.  More people need to sit out from 12-1.  She emailed the president from Big Buddies to get them to encourage donations.

 

  1. Cheers & Jeers
    1. Cheers:
      1. Kevin for the poem
      2. Kevin for being fun
      3. SBA retreat committee
      4. Flag football
      5. Annamarie for smoking fingers.
    2. Jeers:
      1. Reid Arnold for his behavior at the meeting
      2. The long meeting
  1. Adjournment

 

*  Due to a procedural defect, another vote will have to be conducted on this issue.  The vote did not command a majority, however the President passed it.