Student Government of Seattle University

Representative Assembly Meeting

Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2014 Casey Commons at 6:00 p.m.
I.

Call to Order
Raquel calls the meeting to order at 6:02 PM

II.

Roll Call (initial on the line)

Eric Sype, President _absent___
Raquel Davalos, Executive Vice President _________
Matthew Kelly, Vice President of Finance _________
Meggie Green, Vice President of University Affairs _________
Luke Larsen, Senior Representative _________
Palmyra Jackson, Sophomore Representative_________
Owen Goetze, At-Large Representative _________
Robert Gavino, At-Large Representative _________
Sarah Coluccio, Athletic Representative
Monica Chan, Multicultural Representative _________
Lynn Doan, Commuter Representative _________
Jordan Murakami, Transfer Representative _________
Jaden Phan, International Representative __ ___
Braden Wild, Students with Disabilities Representative _________
Jarrod Gallagher, Nontraditional Representative _________
Isheeta Tewari, Freshman Representative _________
Tanish Bojwani, Freshman Representative _________
Nicole Robison, Advisor _________

III.

Approval of the Minutes

Motion passes to approve the minutes unanimously

IV.

Public Comment - None

V.

Guest Speakers Father Sundborg, Seattle University President

- Introductions
- Fr. Steve: Ask whatever questions you like. Thank you for inviting me here. Its great
to be here! This last Monday I had 45 minutes with the pope and one of our trustees
mothers who wanted to meet with the pope. We had a 45 minute conversation. I
explained to Pope Francis about the Youth Initiative at Seattle U and he was
impressed by that because its very important to him to reach out to them. He asked
me, what touches the heart of your students? I said the value of service and a
commitment to justice. What blocks that? Cultural relativeness. Theres a sort of
whatever-ness about things. Words are no good for your students. They need you to
witness to them. The only thing that counts is what you do. Can you enter into the
concreteness of the lives of your students? Can you feel what its like to be them? He

explained that we live in a world that is a warzone and were like a field-hospital. He
explained the importance of actually doing things and not just talking about the
details behind things. This was the high-point of my life. Ive been reflecting on what
it is that stops us from doing things. Its ideologies and political platforms and I think
we need to all go around that and physically reach out to them. We need to do things.
It caused me to reflect on my position as president of Seattle U and Im still working
on that.
This fall has been unusual because of the budget shortfall. Were 299 students shorter
than what we had expected. Thats $6.25 million dollars that we dont have. Were
cutting 4% across budgets to make ends meet. Weve been able to balance the budget
and were trying to be more transparent about things. Ive been meeting with people
across the university and this has given me the opportunity to be very transparent
about our finances with them. This is a unique opportunity that I havent had in the
past 18 years. Its had some consequences Some of the cutbacks have directly
impacted the students.
We havent been able to increase the faculty and staff at CAPS, the Student Health
Center, or the Center for Disability Services (were one person short), same with the
office of Multicultural Affairs. Theres a total of 16 positions that weve left open
across campus. The 4% budget cuts are going to need to be increased and while thats
not sustainable, were looking into more strategic ways for the budget for 2016.
Were creating a continuing education program for adult learners. Its a bachelors
completion program and it will service a different kind of student.
Our transfer student retention rate has been quite shocking. Were trying to figure that
out still Were looking into why the continuation rate is so unfortunate and all parts
of the university are looking into how to bring this level up. Maybe SGSU has some
views regarding this, and if youd like to share, then Id very much like to hear about
that.
Ive been told youve got some issues on your minds, particularly the issue of Fair
Trade. A student came to me regarding this issue and I told them to go through SGSU
because youre the voice of the student body. There are a lot of details regarding the
Fair Trade Association of Colleges and Universities. Once yall make that decision,
let me know if you want to do more through a resolution. My recommendation would
be to join the Fair Trade Association and I would be very receptive to an SGSU
resolution about doing more on campus.
Ive met recently with #ReignitetheMission club leaders and they brought forward a
list of 20 demands. They thought students civil rights are being violated regarding
the universitys following of the federal mandate to report cases of sexual assault.
Thats one of the parts of their manifesto.
Another issue theyre concerned with is Divestment. Im meeting with the investment
committee tomorrow to discuss how far we can go with Divestment. Explains how
investing the universitys funds works. This money that we invest goes into funds that
benefit you and your fellow students and it generates $7-9 million to do things that
better the university.
The third issue is that of the juvenile detention center. I understand this societal
challenge. I know there was a referendum passed regarding this center, but I do not
know much more regarding this issue.

My only ask of you is to apply your education to these issues. Take the very best of
your education and apply it to these kinds of issues. These are complicated issues that
do not have snap-answers. Ive said too much. Any questions?
Izzy: Could you speak to where adjunct unionization is?
Fr. Steve: We contested the NLRBs claim that we are not a religious institution. They
dont see us as substantively see us as following a religious mission/operative. Weve
therefore appealed their determination that were not a religious institution. There was
a vote of the non-tenured and non-tenure-track faculty except for those in the College
of Nursing and the School of Law. However, because of the appeal, the votes were
impounded and they have not been counted. We assume that we, the university, has
lost that vote. When the NLRB makes a decision, well go from there. We have not
determined what we will do following that. If we have to count the votes, then we
will. We do not know if we will go along with the unionization if thats what the
faculty voted for. We do not feel as though the union will fill out our mission as a
university. We could hear from the NLRB by Christmas.
Sarah: How does the faculty unionization issue impact the budget crisis?
Fr. Steve: We probably spend $600,000 on legal fees annually. We spent about
$200,000 last spring on labor specialized legal counsel.
Luke: How should we explain to students that they cant demand more services while
demanding that the price stay the same?
Fr. Steve: Prioritization. This is tough, but our entire university will have to be doing
that more and more in the coming years. Its hard, were in a bit of an arms race with
other universities regarding the quality of services that we provide.
Monica: Could you better explain the delineation between tenured, tenure-track, and
unionized faculty?
Fr. Steve: You would have one category of faculty that is evaluated by traditional
university protocol. The unionized staff would then deal with the university through a
union rep. We have six different unions on campus and we have no problem dealing
with them, but thats different. We feel like faculty carry out the mission of the
university in a way that an electrician, per say, wouldnt.
Myra: Could you tell me more about the universitys involvement with the Youth
Detention Center?
Fr. Steve: We did not have any involvement. People have come from to us and asked
us to sign on to things and perhaps purchase land, but we havent agreed to anything.
Myra: Are you aware that students are saying the SU is in favor of the YDC?
Fr. Steve: I was not. I dont know that we have supported anything in particular, or at
least not through my office.
Myra: Is that referendum available online?
Fr. Steve: I dont know. If you find out SU signed onto this, then please let me know.
I think I, personally, voted for the redevelopment.
Matthew: Do you want SGSU to do anything this year?
Fr. Steve: I want to be involved in the Its On Us campaign. This year were doing a
campus climate survey and were going to learn a lot about what people feel about
things, sexual assault in particular. SGSU could be proactive to engage as many
student as possible regarding an atmosphere where sexual assault doesnt occur. The
Tobacco-Free issue is interesting as well. This was brought to us in May, about two

VI.

years ago, by SGSU and we, as a cabinet, informed the students that we supported
them. UW is a smoke-free campus. There are strong faculty voices that say this
infringes on individual freedoms. I am concerned that the international students
would have a hard time adjusting to this policy. International rep, what do you think?
Jaden: We understand this, but we try to enforce the existing rules and weve been
talking about this a great deal.
Fr. Steve: We currently have 700 international students. We have 46 from Saudi
Arabia and I would hate to lose those students because they cant smoke.
Meg: Clarifies information regarding steps being taken.
Izzy: Further clarifies.
Owen: Do you think theres a place for students to be more directly involved in the
determination of the budget?
Fr. Steve: We have a student and a faculty person on every committee. Theyre nonvoting members who share their thoughts. Were looking for ways overall for students
to have some role in the budgets. We dont know what, exactly, would be the best way
to go about this process.
Raquel: I think were at time.
Fr. Steve: Thank you for inviting me.

Old Business
- Monica: I move to add an old business item.
- Robert: I second.
- Raquel: Votes. Motion passes.
REPA 20141022 Statement on King Co. Youth Detention Center (Owen Goetze) Discussion
- Isheeta: We met today regarding the YDC and were trying to schedule a meeting
with EPIC and we heard that the Law School is involved and were trying to get
undergrads involved as well. Were trying to set up a food festival to better portray
the area the YDC is located.
- Matthew: Point of information, where are you with regarding the statement?
- Owen: Were not going to draft a statement because that would be redundant.
REPA 20141105 Student Body Outreach (Steering Committee) Discussion
- Raquel: I seek a motion to table this until the retreat.
- Jarrod: So moved.
- Owen: I second.
- Raquel: Votes. The motion passes unanimously.
REPA 20141112 Swearing in the Athletic Rep. Action
- Raquel: Swears in representative.
- Sarah: Repeats. Is inducted. Way happy.

VII.

New Business
REPA 20141112 Improving Transfer Student Life (Jordan Murakami) Discussion
- Jordan: Ive met with people to solve the issue of transfer student retention. I want to
create an event to connect my constituents with on-campus resources as well. I want
to have a conversation to get idea about what we can do to encourage transfer
students to seek leadership roles on campus. Should other representatives be
involved?
- Luke: Im a transfer student. I think Laurie Prince and the OAs are the people to get
involved because they ignore transfer students pretty blatantly.
- Jordan: Right now they have a transfer success leader.
- Sarah: Its hard to integrate people you cant see. The student body cant reach out to
people that they cant see as needing guidance. There needs to be a stronger
community within transfer students. A ground-up approach.
- Jordan: Describes personal experience.
- Matthew: How can we as SGSU move your event forward?
- Jordan: I dont know of a lot of campus resources, but SGSU has a lot of connections
so Id like to make use of those.
- Matthew: Are you asking us to make use of SGSU connections or our connections
within the student body.
- Jordan: At the end of the day, both.
- Owen: Is there anything like an immersion for transfer students?
- Jordan: No.
- Luke: Theyre advertised to all new students, but its hard to reach out to people who
arent near campus. Things are very last minute with transfers.
- Monica: These all sound like structural issues. An additional issue, theres no advisor
to help transfers formulate a four year plan.
- Jordan: Describes personal experience.
- Matthew: What do you ask of SGSU?
- Jordan: Moving forward, I would like to propose an event for early winter quarter.
Work group? Robert, Sarah, Luke, Jaden, Jarrod, Tanish, and Lynn.
REPA 20141112 Junior Rep. Appointment (Steering Committee) Action
- Myra: Explains process and what they look for.
- Robert: We chose Manuel Siguenza who has worked with us before.
- Owen: Point of information, why didnt he seek office to begin with?
- Robert: His employment didnt allot him the time commitment. Hes no longer
involved in that program.
- Matthew: Point of information, what is Manuel excited to work on?
- Robert: Hes interested in creating an online feedback forum regarding things for
SGSU.
- Owen: Could you speak to what the other candidates may have brought to the group?
- Myra: Aaron and Nicole were are other candidates. They are already very involved in
things on campus. Manuel is capable of jumping right into SGSU things.
- Raquel: Eric Sype was very involved in this.
- Matthew: Is that in the bylaws?
- Raquel: Not necessarily. Were adapting.

Jarrod: I seek a motion to appoint Manuel Siguenza as junior representative.

Luke: I second the motion.
Raquel: All in favor? All opposed? Motion passes unanimously.

REPA 20141112 SGSU Forum (Tanish Bojwani) Discussion

- Tanish: I want to involve my constituents in issues on campus.
- Myra: Monica, Robert, and I are doing a forum on student engagement. If youd like
to learn more, I can email you.
- Tanish: I move to table this for next week.
- Jarrod: I second.
- Raquel: The motion passes unanimously.
VIII.

Officer Reports:
A) Eric Sype-President:
a. Absent: El Salvador
B) Raquel Davalos- Executive Vice President
a. Exec Update:
i. Exec meetings are now from 5-6pm. We can be available on Tuesdays
during the lunch hour if needed.
ii. Fair trade, see Erics email.
iii. The Its on Us Campaign is coming to our campus
iv. Meg is speaking at preview day on Saturday!
b. Junior Rep process
c. Project Chart
C) Matthew Kelly- Vice President of Finance
a. Meeting with Connie Kanter on Friday
b. Work Groups: budget proposal and gift fund
D) Meg Green- Vice President of University Affairs
a. Committees, need to fill Campus Store Advisor
E) Representatives
a. Luke Larsen, Senior Representative:
i. Soft launch of text-in #fixitSGSU
b. Palmyra Jackson, Sophomore Representative:
i. Setting up an event
ii. Spoke with Monica and Robert regarding
c. Owen Goetze, At-Large Representative:
i. Committees: YDC and crosswalk
d. Robert Gavino, At-Large Representative:
i. Ask regarding the Larry Cushnie situation
ii. Ask regarding SGSUs inclusivity
iii. Reaching out to communities
e. Monica Chan, Multicultural Representative:
i. Vigil! Tuesday!
f. Lynn Doan, Commuter Representative:
i. Nothing to report.

IX.

X.

XI.

g. Jordan Murakami, Transfer Representative:

i. Working on event.
h. Jarrod Gallagher, Non-traditional Rep:
i. Its on Us Campaign commercial
i. Jaden Phan, International Representative:
i. Tomorrow we have another US Bank seminar!
j. Braden Wild, Students with Disabilities Representative:
i. Left early.
k. Sarah Coluccio, Athletic Representative:
i. Nothing to report.
l. Isheeta Tewari, Freshman Representative:
i. YDC committee
m. Tanish Bojwani, Freshman Representative:
i. Madison St. Crosswalk
ii. Sent email to constituents
n. Kristen Wieliczka, Civic Engagement Director:
i. Sexual Assault Committee doodle, well be meeting next week.
o. Izzy Gardon, External Chief of Staff:
i. Graphics
ii. Working on Cabinet presentation
p. Margaret Quartararo, Internal Chief of Staff:
i. Nothing to report.
F) Advisors
a. Nichole Robison:
i. Working on STAC retreat
b. Kayla Zobel:
i. Nothing to report
Committee Reports
A. PAB:
a. This is Seattle U campaign updates
B. Steering:
a. Junior Rep. Appointment
b. Tuesdays at 6pm
c. Retreat discussion
d. Winter retreat: Jan 23-24th
C. Finance:
a. Appropriations will be this Saturday at 9am!
D. University Affairs:
a. #fixitSGSU page
Announcements
- Raquel: MBB this Friday. Buses leave at 5:30pm. Dont ask questions during officer
reports. Roberts Rules clarification.
- Meg: If anyone is looking for a project, bike shelters needs a person
- Matthew: Reiteration of Jadens report.
Adjournment at 7:58 PM