Unofficial Minutes of the

Held in the Lower Wedge

I. Meeting called to order at 6:05pm.

II. Roll Call

Executive Board: Cathleen A. Connelly, President; Kirsty E. Reidy, Vice-President; Amy L. Plack, Secretary; Gregory R. Snow, Treasurer.

Senate: Alfred Andrade, James Armitage, Jonathan Chaillet, Matthew Defronzo, Matthew Freimuth, Marni Hall, Mickey Lacroix, Chris Mello, James (Ben) Petro, Sundeep Reddy, Derek Sickman, Justin Sprague, Kristen Stagg, Cindy Vollaro, Kenneth Volock, Jason Willey, Adam Woodbury.

Absent: Shawn Ayube, Tara Carrie, Tanya Corrado, Jason Mickey, Jeremy Olszewski (excused), Tim Tully.

Parliamentarian: Jennifer Yambert

Needed for quorum were sixteen (16), nineteen (19) were present at the start of the meeting.

III. Approval of the minutes for March 26, 1996

The minutes of March 26, 1996 were approved without changes.

IV. President's Report

No Report

V. Committee Reports

SGA Committees

Committee on Academic Issues (CAI)

Chair Hall reminded the Senate that CAI meetings are Wednesdays at 11am in Riley Commons.

Committee on Appropriations

Chair Snow informed the Senate that budget breakdowns will be available for organizations soon.

Committee on Student Life Issues (CSLI)

Senator Woodbury told the Senate that CSLI will be meeting Wednesday at 7pm in the SGA office.

Elections Committee

No report.

Policies and Procedures (P&P)

Chair Senator Sickman reported that P&P will meet Monday at 6pm.

Public Relations (PR)

Chair Stagg reported that the committee had put together a bulletin board about the upcoming Campus Hearing Board election. She also asked that Senators take and post flyers to advertise the election.

Institute Committees

Committee on Academic Operations (CAO)

Senator Petro reported that the committee approves new versions of the biology lab modules last week.

Committee on Student Advising (CSA)

No report

Educational Development Council (EDC)

No report

Web Committee

Representative Plack informed the Senate that this would be her last report because she has been given a permanent position on the WPI staff. She recommended that Senator Sprague be appointed to take the place of SGA representative on the committee. Representative Plack went on to say that there had been twenty-nine entries for the Web Design Contest. She told the Senate that comments on the entries are welcome, and that the entries can be found at http://www.wpi.edu/Contest.

Faculty Awards Committee

Kristen Greene informed the Senate that an award recipient has been chosen, but that it will not be officially announced until April 23, 1996.

Provost Search Committee

No report.

VI. Old Business

There was no old business to discuss.

VII. Special Orders

Ceremonial Transfer of Power

President Connelly initiated the passing of the gavel, so that the Senate and Executives could make final comments on the Executive's term of office. Most of the Senators said that they had enjoyed working with the Executives, and said they were looking forward to the upcoming term with the new Executives.

The outgoing Executives were then given the gavel, in turn, so they could deliver their final remarks to the Senate:

Treasurer Snow reflected on the past year, saying, "It's been a lot of work, but it's been a lot of fun, too." He told the Senate to continue working for the good of the students, and wished the new Executives luck.

Secretary Plack took a few moments to personally thank several members of the Senate for their help and support during her term of office. She also thanked the Executives, telling them that she was proud to be able to call each of them a friend.

Vice-President Reidy said that she was happy to have made it through the term, and that she felt good about the work she had accomplished. She encouraged the incoming Executives with the words, "It's a tough road, but I have faith in you."

President Connelly told the Senate that she had run for the office hoping to make a difference, and that she hopes she has succeeded. She said, "I put my heart and soul into SGA, and into WPI," but that all the work was worth it if she had been able to help one person. She thanked the Senate for their support.

President Connelly passed the gavel to Parliamentarian Yambert, and the Executives relinquished their offices.

Parliamentarian Yambert conducted the swearing in of President elect Freimuth to the office of President and passed the gavel to him.

President Freimuth conducted the swearing in of the other officers. Vice-President Vollaro, Treasurer Lacroix, and Secretary Yambert took their seats at the Executive's table.

The elected Senators at Large took office, and were added to the roll.

Roll Call

Executive Board: Matthew Freimuth, President; Cindy Vollaro, Vice-President; Jennx Yambert, Secretary; Mickey Lacroix, Treasurer. Senate: Alfred Andrade, James Armitage, Tara Carrie, Jonathan Chaillet, Heather Cleary, Matthew Defronzo, Terry Fay, Marni Hall, Ed Hallissey, Jennifer Johnson, Seth Kintigh, Chris Mello, James (Ben) Petro, Sundeep Reddy, Jennifer Reese, Michael Scott, Derek Sickman, Justin Sprague, Kristen Stagg, Kenneth Volock, Jason Willey, Adam Woodbury. Absent: Shawn Ayube, Tanya Corrado, Jeremy Olszewski (excused), Tim Tully.

Appointment of Parliamentarian President Freimuth entertained a motion to appoint Amy Plack as Parliamentarian. Senator Woodbury moved the appointment, and was seconded by Senator Stagg. The motion carried.

VIII. New Business

S.35 Wireless Association Special Funding Request Senator Woodbury moved the motion, and was seconded by Senator Volock. The motion consisted of a request for funds by the Wireless Association for the purchase of e new computer. The Wireless Association feels that the only working computer they have is not adequate because it is old and becoming dysfunctional.

Senator Sickman proposed an amendment to the bill that would change the amount of funding from $4,075.00 to $2,500.00, stating the concern that the Wireless Association had not fully explored the most cost effective means of purchasing a computer. The amendment was seconded by Senator Defronzo. When put to a vote, the amendment failed.

Senator Woodbury proposed that the bill be sent back to the Appropriations committee and OCFC for two weeks to look into the question of how much money should be funded. The proposal was seconded. Senator Sprague called the question, and debate was ended. The proposal was voted upon, and the bill was sent back to committee.

S.36 Approval of SGA Statement to the WPI Community Regarding the Tenure Process Senator Hallissey moved the bill, and was seconded by Senator Hall. The letter originated in the SGA cabinet due to the overwhelming response of the student body to the recent tenure decisions. The letter expresses concern that the tenure process is not successfully fully addressing the needs of the students. The motion was passed.

IX. Treasurer's Remarks

No remarks.

X. Secretary's Remarks

Secretary Yambert reminded Senators to call in during their office hours.

XI. Vice-President's Remarks

Vice-President Vollaro asked Senators to let her know if they do not yet have a Handbook.

XII. President's Remarks

President Freimuth told the Senate that there are currently open Senate positions.

President Freimuth entertained a motion to appoint Greg Snow as a Senator. The appointment was moved by Senator Hallissey and seconded by Senator Stagg. The appointment was approved.

President Freimuth entertained a motion to approve the committee chairs he had appointed:

CAI: Senator Hall

CSLI: Senator Woodbury

P&P: Senator Olszewski

Elections: Senator Reese

PR: Senator Snow

The approval was moved by Senator Defronzo and seconded by Senator Stagg. The question was called and the appointments were approved.

XIII. Announcements

Senator Reese reminded those present to spread the word about the Campus Hearing Board election.

XIV. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:16pm.