Stetson's Student Government Association met on Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. in LBC room 108 Rinker Auditorium.
An update on the two previous resolutions: the Green Fund Bill's data is being finalized. Any data that did not come from financial aid has been confirmed to be true by financial aid. Report it
Elections for next year's SGA Senators are progressing. Candidates had until February 10th to declare they were running. Elections will be on Wednesday, February 22nd, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. all across campus. For any questions, please visit Elizabeth room 112 to speak with SGA Senators or visit Senate on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m..
SGA is still working on its identity. The SGA communications model is nearing its completion. This will determine how SGA acts toward certain topics and whether or not we align with the school faculty on certain subjects (for example, we agree that students are safe at campus, but we disagree with the school's financial transparency).
SAFAC is reallocating money. Budgets for the reallocation are due on Monday, February 13th. Reallocation will take place on Friday, February 17th. SAFAC is located in Elizabeth room 112.
The main event of the evening was the Campus Climate survey. Dr. Lua Handcock and Dr. Bruce Chong spoke with SGA about how Stetson plans to address the Campus Climate survey and take action. They provided plans for organization and leadership to implement campus goals to make the campus more inclusive and diverse. SALSA and a faculty retreat left them with the following recommendations:
1. Focus: make the climate front and center.
2. Policy: changes will be done in existing bodies (such as SGA).
3. Curriculum: building, changing, and expanding a campus climate curriculum through faculty and existing structures.
4. Knowledge building: share the curriculum with everyone and train people (such as HR, Campus Life & Student Success, SGA)
The outline for the plan is the initiative, the person with primary accountability (whoever is mainly implementing the initiative), the steps to achieve the initiative, and the outcome after the initiative is achieved. Stetson's President, the Vice President, and Provost will be held accountable for every initiative. Should an initiative fail, these three will strive to fix it.
Dr. Handcock and SGA are willing to hold open forums with students on the matter, but it will take time to organize. Feel free to email Dr. Handcock and Dr. Chong.
There was a Quorum at this Senate. A Quorum happens when Senate is less than 2/3s full. Throughout the night, 64% of Senate seats were filled (this is mainly due to students graduating in December). This means that resolutions and bills brought to Senate cannot necessarily be voted on. Voting, in this case, comes to a verbal vote of yea or nay. The S.7 Tuition Lock resolution that was tabled last week was voted on this way. The majority of Senate voted for the Tuition Lock resolution. It has been sent to Dr. Libby for her to look over.
S.8 A Resolution to Hire a Chief Diversity Officer was introduced to Senate. It is as follows:
"The Committee of Diversity and Inclusion introduces the following resolution, presented by Senator Luke.
Resolution: For Stetson University to hire a Chief Diversity Officer (CDO).
Whereas a CDO would be Stetson University’s executive level diversity and inclusion strategist
Whereas a CDO would be responsible for the following: raising the visibility of the institution's diversity efforts; clarifying goals and assessing progress; providing expertise on issues of access, equity, diversity, and inclusion; conducting surveys of the campus climate; developing cultural events for the campus and the surrounding community; increasing the number and improving the success of students, faculty, and staff members from underrepresented groups; participating in the search for administrators and faculty members; and establishing campus-wide sessions on diversity training and leadership development.
Whereas the Director of Diversity and Inclusion is expected to do all of the above plus manage the Cross Cultural Center, the Multicultural Student Council and the organizations under the MSC, oversee the SU First Generation program, oversee the Assistant Director of Interfaith Initiatives, and “Provide success coaching to students; provide support and resources to develop effective self-determination”
Whereas the Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion will not offer enough support to the Director of Diversity and Inclusion to make the position one that a single person can do.
Whereas higher level administration need more accountability which would be provided by a Chief Diversity Officer.
Whereas 4 of our 10 peer institutions have some form of a CDO or an advisory committee made up of faculty, staff, and students who are in charge of the same tasks as a CDO.
Whereas several student activism groups have called for Stetson to hire a CDO, faculty members have encouraged Stetson to hire a CDO, and staff members have encouraged Stetson to hire a CDO.
Be it Resolved Stetson University:
1. Stetson will begin search for a Chief Diversity Officer by January 1st, 2018
2. Stetson will hire a Chief Diversity Officer by January 1st 2019
3. The CDO should be a permanent position on the President’s Cabinet"
This resolution's purpose is to increase stability in the Diversity part of Stetson University and to let people do their jobs more effectively. Right now, Stetson has a Director of Diversity and is looking for a Coordinator of Diversity. Please note that these are three different positions that require vastly different levels of experience. The CDO is the highest position and would report directly to the President's Cabinet as it is an administrative role. The Director of Diversity is the second highest position. The current DoD is doing far more than their job description originally said. DoDs are supposed to interact with the students, but Stetson's DoD is unable to because they are working three different jobs at once. By hiring a Coordinator of Diversity (the lowest level position), Stetson is attempting to alleviate the DoD's work load, but it will not be enough for the DoD to return to their original job description.
The role of students in the MSC is to have them involved in the hiring process. Students are paying for their positions through their tuition, ergo, students should have a voice. In this case, it needs to be more of a voice than SGA can provide.
As the rules dictate, this bill has been tabled for next Senate where it will be discussed and voted upon.
The Diversity and Inclusion Committee met with the new Title IX coordinator and discussed the Report It Link resolution with her. Currently, it's still being discussed. They will be meeting with Jess Varga.
To all Stetson transgender students, Dr. Charlene T. Robertson has agreed to see Stetson students seeking hormone replacement therapy. When you call to make an appointment, identify yourself as a Stetson student so that you may receive a more timely appointment. Most new patients have a three-month wait, but Dr. Roberson has agreed to moving Stetson students up on her schedule. Ask for her Office Manager, Ketsy Roche, for assistance in scheduling your appointment. Check with your insurance company to make sure that Dr. Robertson is covered under your plan. The office address is 2885 Wellness Ave., Orange City, Florida, 32763. The phone number is (386) 917-7627.
The Academic Committee is meeting with the Library Dean Dr. Ryan to discuss more study spaces on campus.
The Policy and Finance Committee is working on building a path between Sampson and the Hand Arts Center.
The Campus Life Committee is working on providing tampons, condoms, umbrella bags, and better WiFi to the students. There will be a monthly open door policy for students who run clubs.
For any questions or suggestions for SGA, please stop by the new SGA office in Elizabeth 112. It is on the first floor of Elizabeth Hall next to the side stairs. If you would like to sit in on Senate and hear everything in person, Senate takes place in LBC 108 every Wednesday night at 7:30.
