Call to Order: 7:52

Attendance: Barnes, Gall, Howard, Kohl, McWeeney, Nelson, Sardinha, Straube, Taylor, Wilding (Committee); Senators Blanchflower and Houtz (Non-committee)

Absent: Blewitt, Evers, Morabito

Stuff from the President (Topic):

Wilding: I have received complaints about behavior in the office. It is turning into a hostile work environment.

Nelson: Have you discussed this with those complained against?

Wilding: Not yet, I wanted to talk large-scale first. That’s the way I roll, though office stuff is technically the VP’s job. VP Percy gave a spectacular speech about inclusivity in the office, and I was going to read it to the floor. Those upset range from new senators to the older, executive members, so it’s not an Us V. Them scenario. I remove myself from the office regularly to avoid being seen as aggressive.

Taylor: Though I’m not qualified to define it, I think that a hostile work environment is when people within the environment feel uncomfortable or threatened, or when words are used to suggest a threat is present regardless of comfort.

The conversation expands to include such topics as the Swear Jar (and its possible expansion to an offense jar), what the Rules and Ethics Committee can do, and that chairs should bring this up in their committees.

Nelson: We need to bring this discussion to the floor, and have smaller discussions in committee.

Howard: I will discuss this in my next report to the Senate.

Committee Attendance (Topic):

Howard: Chairs, you are responsible for notifying individuals when they miss committee meetings. Please make sure that this is happening.

Taylor: Do the Vice President and Reference Officer have access to the attendance sheet for Finance?

McWeeney and Howard: If it is shared with us, then yes.

Taylor: Google sheets has an attendance function preprogrammed. It’s useful.

New Government (Topic):

Howard: I took Monday night and little bit of today and Tuesday to completely rewrite our Constitution. The revisions expand our government into three distinct branches and is written in such a way that one can understand a matter reading only the five-page constitution, rather than our current 39-page Constitution and Bylaws (which I have reread numerous times and still do not thoroughly understand). I will be sharing this proposal with you all shortly and hope to begin discussing it seriously in committee next week.

Taylor: Fun fact: the original constitution was 11 pages in 1942.

Nelson moves to add Appointments of Vice Chairpersons and a Report from the Rules and Ethics Committee to the agenda. The motion is seconded by Wilding and passes (8-0-0).

Appointments of Vice Chairpersons (topic):

Howard: is there currently a vice for External?

Straube: I’m not entirely sure.

Discussion ensues, during which Straube contacts the most recent vice chair of the External Affairs Committee, who resigns the position officially.

The conversation becomes momentarily chaotic, eventually resolving into order.

Kohl appoints Senator Ndayishime to the Vice Chair of the Cultural Affairs Committee. Nelson supports. McWeeney supports (“he’s very polite”). Wilding supports (“A true angel above us”). The appointment is confirmed (7-0-1).

Wilding appoints Blewitt to the Vice Chair of the Executive Committee.

Taylor: I suggest McWeeney instead, as Blewitt has not be informed or asked.

Wilding agrees, and appoints McWeeney instead. The appointment is confirmed (7-0-1).

Straube appoints Senator Houtz to the Vice Chair of the External Affairs Committee. The appointment is confirmed (7-0-1).

Report of the Rules and Ethics Committee (Topic):

Nelson: Several complaints in the works, including one requesting censure. Also, an amendment for Bylaws to be handed to Exec regarding V.B.1.a, which is funky regarding the positions of chairs as representatives.

Howard: Was this submitted as a request for interpretation or a “do something because it’s bad?”

Nelson: The latter.

McWeeney: So you’re asking for a bill from the Executive Committee?

Nelson: That is correct.

Taylor: Is it outside the purpose of the Rules and Ethics Committee to order Exec to make changes?

Howard: Yes.

Discussion continues, numerous members and non-members speak.

Nelson: I’ll give a bill for the change to McWeeney and we’ll discuss it in general next week.

Other stuff (Topic):

Howard requests that a list of vacant liaison positions be sent out. Wilding agrees.

8:41 Taylor moves to adjourn, seconded by Wilding. The motion passes (5-2-1).