ASNAU SENATE MEETING #6

TWENTY-EIGTH SESSION

OFFICIAL MINUTES

Date: October 22, 2015 Number on council: 14

Date of Senate Meeting: October 8, 2015 Number present: 14

Prepared by Kyra Johnson

Amanda Dietlin, Vice President of Academic Affairs, called the Senate meeting of the 2015-2016 Associated Students of Northern Arizona University Senate to order at 4:08pm in the Havasupai Room A & B of the University Union.

Roll Call

All Present

Approval of Minutes

Motion: Senator Moore moves to approve last weeks’ minutes.

Second: Senator Ridge

Vote: Unanimous, last weeks’ minutes have been approved.

Call to the Audience:

Chair Dietlin: So I see our audience is far larger than its normally is today, I am assuming it has to do with the discussion that we are going to be having and I want to thank you all for being here. I really appreciate you all showing the student voice. If you have comments that you have prepared or like to speak during our senate meeting, I would like to ask you to please sign up on sheet on the podium, where you can get the agenda for tonight’s meeting. All speakers do need to sign in that why we do get a chance to call your name and that way you do get a chance to speak and we don’t skip over anybody. You do have three minutes to speak and I guess give your opinion or your voice and you will have warnings at your one-minute mark. This senate meeting isn’t obviously a normal senate meeting we do have a specific agenda for today and we do have one matter that is very focused tonight so its going to be a little bit different, but I hope you all bear with me. We do have a presentation before we move into the discussion about the diversity director position from NAU visioning’s’. So if NAU visioning would like to come forward and present to us tonight, I would really appreciate it.

NAU Visioning’s: So thank you senators for having me. I don’t necessary have a presentation but I do want to brief you about the process we are engaging in and hopefully you already are participating in and if not I hope after this you will. Every

two, three years the university up dates and review and revises its strategic plan and goals. As you may or may not know we have six strategic goals and a mission statement which essential says what is the purpose for the university. What we have done in the past is, the first time we are doing under the leadership of president Cheng; you are fully going to be part of this. It is articulating a vision for the institution so instead of having six goals and not exactly knowing what is that big idea that all these goals should be giving us too. We should be engaging in the process of the people and be asking what external and internal forces. Let us know what you think NAU be in ten years. If you have been paying attention to your email box you know this probably that you got an email yesterday saying final survey reminder what do you envision NAU to be like in ten years and that’s one why for the students to be involved, it went out to ever single student and you are asked to reflect on your ideas for the future of NAU. There are other ways to get involved as well, we are going to set up a discussion forum so hopefully all of you are going to receive an invitation and their will an attachment from the ASNAU leadership to set this up and that’s where we are going to talk about NAU’s future. You may have noticed this poster that are displayed across the campus and you jotted down what you NAU to be and if you have not done so if you see those posters still out please post your voice. What we are trying to really get to is something that because inspiring, for those of you who might not be familiar with the concept of vision, a vision is essential is our way to a better future. Vision implies the institutions values; a vision is different and distinctive about an institution. The most important thing is it something the institution is not yet. It is just the idea and grand goal we would all like to get to and a vision is not everlasting, it changes every five-ten years. When the environment changes, the leadership the institutions organization creates a new vision. So that what we are trying to create and we want students to be part of this process; your voice is important, you are all living the NAU experience and it is time to reflect what is great about NAU and what could be better. If you had a magic wand what would you do, what would you like to see in ten years if you had younger siblings, what kind of institution would you want them to attend. So I will be in touch with ASNAU leadership to set up a conversation table essentially to provide the impute person, since I don’t think this is quite the format for all the things going on in your agenda. Thank you for letting me speak to you please responded to the email if you put it in the spam folder dig it out, it is not spam, but your in put is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Chair Dietlin: President Buchta. One last call; make sure you have signed up to speak if you have a statement.

President Buchta: While that starts getting sent around, I just want to thank you all for being here today; after we hear from the audience we will move into senate discussion. I just to preface our discussion and to our speakers I want to read some statements. The first statement is from the higher learning commission, they are our re-accreditation body for NAU, and we will be re-accredited in 2017. So this is one of their main goals: the institution understands the relationship between its vision and the diversity of society, the institution addresses its role as a multi-cultural society,

the institution processes and activities reflect attention to human diversity and appropriate within its mission to the constituents it serves. That’s from our re-accreditation board and that’s one of the goals NAU must fulfill to maintain a state university and receive federal funding. This is NAU’s definition of diversity: NAU defines diversity as the whole of the human experience; the human experience is marked by its complexity shaped by historical, social, economic and political phenomena that is characterized by differences. We hope you will visit this site often and take advantage of many opportunities… that’s from our diversity site if you were wondering, it is there if you have any further questions. I know all senators do have a copy and if you picked up one of the bylaw change packets it is the very last page NAU’s mission, vision and values if you know on our fourth value it says, Diversity: Achieve multicultural understanding as a priority of educational and civic life and our fourth strategic goal is diversity, civic engagement, and community building. All that I have to say about this is I hope you all recognize diversity is a priority to the higher learning commission/ NAU and I certainly hope after today that diversity comes a priority for ASNAU. Now we will move into our speakers list. Thank you.

Chair Dietlin: Allison Kelley

Allison: So for those who don’t know me, I am Allison Kelley and I just wanted to start by saying as the VPSA I support all of senate as you guys are representatives the student body and what ever your decision is today I will do everything in the best of my abilities to fulfill your expectations and make sure this is a successful year. I just wanted to thank all you guys for your dedication and consideration on this matter and I look forward to continuing to work with each and every one of you guys to best serve the student body.

Chair Dietlin: So now we will be moving into our speakers list, again just as a reminder you have three minutes to speak and you will have warnings at one minute; so Associated Students for Women’s Issues (ASWI), Hannah.

Hannah: I am going to be focusing on the issues of adding a diversity director to ASNAU. My name is Hannah Bashaw; I am the president of the Associated Students for Women’s Issues. We strive to empower students through collaboration, education and action to further the presence of gender equality on campus. Our mission for inclusivity equality doesn’t stand alone, students organization like I am that girl, queer allies, as well as student campus wide share this vision. Our student government needs to reflect the social attitude of its constituents by bringing back the position of diversity director to ASNAU. We have to realize that NAU has become so diverse but there are so many students that are at the periphery and are being marginalized. Addressing issues of diversity, inclusion and representation is a crucial facet in creating a safe, progressive, and equal environment for students. ASNAU is a leadership body and has the resources and ability to make change on our campus. The most recent campus climate report unfortunately illuminates the importance of such change. A diversity director would be a good start in addressing,

why such groups or individual’s students feel such underrepresented on our communally college campus and how to create a safe and inclusive community. I am representing ASWI executive board and general member’s views, after discussion our mutually support for a diversity director position. We then questioned why the addition of this particular position would even be challenged. The betterment of the students should be the only concern that ASNAU and acting in our best interest should be top priority. A diversity director is acting in the best interest of what is needed to protect support and empower those who are being silenced, marginalized, and ignored. Thank you.

Chair Dietlin: Next is PRISM with Cassandra.

Cassandra: I don’t have anything as beautifully written as you. I am from PRISM if you have ever been to one of our meetings we have a pretty large membership from first and second years who don’t feel represented within their student government which is a same. We got very fortunate by have Stefan and Gabby in ASNAU and it’s a same that their voices are trying to be silenced. I am personal aware that some of you on the exec board do support this director position. It’s a same there is not one already in place when you have so many students that benefit from it. We should be reflected within our student government aside from a few senators who vocalized their support for this. I definitely agree there shouldn’t be any, I don’t understand why there would be opposition to it. I have a few members that come to PRISM meetings that showed their support unfortunately a few doesn’t overpower the entire student body government and my students miss out on really cool experiences because it is not safe, we are not invited. We are asked why don’t we tailgate; we don’t we participate; why would we? I didn’t see anyone reach out aside from our senator, aside from the few exec board members that I have made friends with but would that be there if I wasn’t friends with them? I don’t know. I don’t think so. I know that some support us but I know that some don’t and I am not going to bring my students to a place where they don’t feel safe, where they don’t feel welcome and I think that a diversity director not only would do think but is necessary to make that happen. When there is backlash for safe zone training there is no excuse, its unacceptable. There shouldn’t be any push back because you don’t feel comfortable if you are not an underrepresented person, because we feel uncomfortable every day and until you feel that way there should be no opposition. That’s all I’m saying.

Chair Dietlin: Gamma Alpha Omega with Vanessa.

Vanessa: I am from Gamma Alpha Omega; I am the president of my sorority. We are a multi- cultural sorority on campus. I don’t if any of you really even know us. I am talking more from a fraternity, sorority life aspect because I am apart of sorority and fraternity life; although many of you may not believe that, but I am. I am a huge representative of sorority and fraternity life, just as much as any of you are in this room. I think that it is important to understand my sisters couldn’t even come here tonight because they don’t even feel comfortable, they don’t feel comfortable around

you all and that’s an issue. I feel that to better connect the students with, I am speaking from a fraternity and sorority life, to better connect the multi-cultural sororities and fraternities with you, all I think it is important to have a diversity chair. I feel like it is important to understand that, correct me if I am wrong, diversity civic engagement community building. In order to have those community builders you need to have a position like this, in order to show that you want to have diversity you need to have a position like this. Alexandria diversity is a part of NAU and as you all know our student population is growing they are growing. We have a black sorority and fraternities coming on campus as we speak, so that needs to be recognized and you all need to recognize that. There should never ever be a push back, that minutes I heard a push back or what ever you all may call it, I read your minutes, I was really confused because from what I understand the sorority and fraternity life especially along with the senators seem very supportive in a way. They don’t even know my name, but I could probably name a few of you, I have heard a few say Gamma Alpha Omega is that even a real sorority? I have heard that from some senators and that’s not okay with me. I think that if we were to have a diversity director they stand up for us and they would make sure that wouldn’t happen. At the end of the day, it is what it is but it is something that needs to happen, because of you want to feel more connected to the students them why not give the students what they want? If they want diversity director give them that, maybe our relationship with them will be a lot different, maybe you won’t have this many people in here upset with you right now. I get it, I know that it is not values of everyone in this room and I would never say that but you’re a collective group so in my eyes you all have the same opinion of it. I just want to say that it is important, I couldn’t even get any of my sisters to come and that in my eyes scares me; I can’t even get them to come in front of people who are apart of fraternity and sorority life without feeling like they are disrespected. You don’t really represent a lot of people in ASNAU because we are scared to even come and be a part of it because we don’t even feel comfortable like the slurs and this and this and that; even tailgating. We tailgate one time a year, homecoming, because it is the only time we feel comfortable. We want to tailgate everything but can’t, we don’t even show up to the carnival because we don’t feel represented.

Chair Dietlin: If you could finish up your statement.

Vanessa: So that’s all I have to really say. Thank you. Chair Dietlin: Student State Affairs director, John Bower with ASNAU.

John: Good Afternoon everybody, I am obviously here to speak about the new position. I would like to extend my support fro the passing of this potion; I recognized there are feelings of blame and exclusively proposed by the position as anyone would feel when phrases like non-hegemony are used, but this position has clear parameters to represent all groups on campus. This position has an implied degree of non bias like my own in their duties such, such things and such issues they come up with the theoretically corrected as soon as they are presented. So I feel a

sense of shame in such contestation-taking place with the talks of this position mostly because it is clearly defined what in front of you what this job is to do and if they stray away from that, if they put one group above another, if they show any bias much like what happened to me, that position can be eliminated. So there is a necessity as you can see from the many people that have spoken here today for this position and I urge you to see that necessity and put it into practice. Thank you.

Chair Dietlin: LTBGQIA Commission, Matthew.

Matthew: Hi I am Matthew and I am the Chair of the LTBG QIT commission, there are five commissions on campus: Commission on the Native Americans, Commission on Ethnic Diversity, Commission on the Status of Women, Commissions on Disability Access and Design and LGBTQIA Commission. When we talk about diversity at NAU these five groups are typically are the ones we look to talk about it. For us as a commission we represent the students as well as faculty. SO I am here on behalf of our students, this is one of those things that as a staff member I can’t necessarily take a formal position on but I know students and what I would say is in looking at our discussion with the campus climate survey we know there are needs on campus and a position like this would be very helpful in our efforts. When NAU talks about diversity, there is a question about what is diversity, typically according to our policy this is regards to race, color religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and genetic information. Diversity is a broad, broad category it is topic that is relative and there is a need. I appreciate your decision.

Chair Dietlin: Thank you. Are there any others that wish to speak that have not spoken? Can you please state what, who you are representing and your name please.

Taran: My name is Taran McZee and I am the director of inclusion and multicultural services here at NAU. First and foremost, all I want to say is I think you all hear the frustration in your peer’s voice. I want to address the duties of this student, diversity director; they do more than I do. I think this is a huge responsibility for this person as well as a huge step for you as ASNAU on this campus. ASNAU student government should be viewed as the way the student body looks like. I think what is very, very important is was as that I am not sure on how much research you all have done there are student governments at other institutions that, but ASNAU is a decade or two behind in something like this so, as some research for schools here as well as sister schools in California I would like to look back to my alma mater the make up of their student government and we are asking, students are asking for one position typically at other schools right now you have international representative, LGBTQIA representative, disability representative, multi-cultural affairs, African American, women and so forth. So they have multiple positions on the ASNAU board when all I think the students are asking for at this time is one position that is going to cover a lot but I think this is very, very important in your growth as a student government, as well as both the institution and student body.

Chair Dietlin: is there any one else who wishes to speak that hasn’t spoken yet? No? Okay so before we go into I am going to read ASNAU’s mission statement The goals and mission of the Associated Students of Northern Arizona University are as follows: The primary purpose of ASNAU is to serve NAU as the representative student voice at the campus, local, state and national levels. We are to become informed on every issue concerning Northern Arizona University and communicate that knowledge and information to the students. In order to accomplish this, we must provide every opportunity for students to have their opinions heard by creating an atmosphere that seeks student input and student involvement.As the representative student body, we seek to promote NAU and its activities including but not limited to: Academics, Athletics, Special Events, Community relations, and Student Activities. Our goal is to provide every student with information about current legislation and various opportunities to be represented.We see a primary responsibility of ASNAU as serving as the liaison between NAU students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni. In those efforts we seek to create a relationship of open communication and respect among all divisions in the University. As we move forward into new action business I would like to preface this conversation with senators you do represent our student body here, there are over 20,000 students here at this Northern Arizona campus in Flagstaff. Each of you represents approximately 1500 students and that is how your voice is going to be heard tonight. These 20,00 students that are on our flagstaff main campus don’t include all of the campus individuals who are on our online campus or extended campuses in the valley. I just want you to be aware of the fact that each of you represents approximately 1500 other voices. Can I get a senator to motion to vote on the bylaw change of diversity director?

Unfinished Business

New Action Business

Item A- Bylaw Change: Diversity Director

Chair Dietlin: Senator Anderson.

Senator Anderson: First of all, I wanted to say that it breaks my heart hearing that students don’t feel comfortable coming to ASNAU events let alone an ASNAU senate meeting. Since I have heard about this position I have done a lot of research on other campuses as well regarding diversity and Ali did a great job of defining it early but I found another definition that I would like to bring to the table. The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies.  It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing

and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual. I think that this something we should take into account with this diversity director. I believe that the groups that have spoken here today have given us lot to think about and I think that this diversity position wouldn’t be a bad thing for NAU, I think it would be a very, very good thing.

Cahir Dietlin: Senator Moore-Sharp

Senator Moore-Sharp: Okay well first of all I would like to thank everyone for coming here today. When we first started discussing this position it wasn’t anything to me, but the more we started exchanging things, I just for what ever reason something was wrong. I have done a lot of research as well, my degree is in political science and women and gender studies, I was on Facebook yesterday and I actually read the new stories on the side and at the University of Manchester there was an event about free speech and censorship. Apparently one of the people, two of the people who were suppose to speak were banned because they violated, you can see right here they said focuses on creating a safe and inclusive environment and apparently the speakers what ever their content was violated the safe space rule I believe it was. I have done a little research on what they did; I mean I didn’t see anything too crazy. The guy who is writer for a right winged website, I mean I am sure there are a lot of us in the room that may not agree with that, but it didn’t seem like anything unsafe and so you heard their was contention , you heard there was a lot of discussion and one of the biggest things I had a problem with when we started talking about this was the fact that image people being uncomfortable there were a lot of the people in the body as well that felt uncomfortable as well for even saying anything. There was a lot of people feeling scared, people feeling like what they said wasn’t going to be received in the right way because the demographic they belong to. The discourse has been very, a lot of tension and a lot of things being implied that I fundamentally have a problem with. I just, you guys say that there are other universities that do stuff like this , in my issues is the is apart of the larger problem as a whole going on across the country this environment of, where everything is tense and people don’t want to say certain things and I think that we can say that it creates things that are safe and I think to a degree does but I also to a degree think it can stifle things because when people can’t have open exchanging and open relationship without fear of implying things about social relationships and that can stifle things and that can be a problem as well. I don’t want, I do want to see this position go through I just want to talk about the elephant in the room you know I have a lot of students come to me and the only reason why they felt like that they could even say anything to me and wanted to talk because I am the only black male on the board and I think that is a problem. I don’t want to see this get struck down but I think that we need to talk about that because that the big elephant in the room that no one wants to say.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Sowerwine

Senator Sowerwine: Thank you again for coming. So my biggest concern is that once

we started hearing about this I went on the NAU website and looked at the different diversity clubs and different service that we offer and after seeing the duties of what this diversity director will be, I don’t see any where on the bill that it really talks about any sort of religious clubs that NAU, because religion is classified under diversity and I don’t see anything about that on the duties of the diversity director and I believe if we are going to have a position it needs to be all inclusive. So does anyone have any clarifications?

Chair Dietlin: Senator Ridge

Senator Ridge: It is my understanding that as a public university we have to be careful on how we represent religious organizations because we are suppose to remain secular.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Rosic

Senator Rosic: In building off of that, thank you all for coming, going off of drake’s answer it is my understanding also that we can’t advocate for or against religion but we can advocate for anti-discrimination practices. So if there is discrimination against a religious group that might be something that the student diversity director looks at and works on.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Moore-Sharp

Senator Moore-Sharp: Well I think that is a good point, I just heard a few things we prefaced the discussion with a statement from the commission from the official university administration about the university is doing I hear a lot of that being throw around a lot. If we are going to mention what the university is doing I think that an example from the university that is from the website talking about what the university is doing and be consistent and do it all the way. If not, I think that might be a testament to what worried about is you know diversity but in a sense that they way everyone else thinks and in only a certain sense. I just wanted to put that out there. Chair Dietlin: I saw a hand in the audience do you still wish to speak? Please stand and say your name so that way we have it for our official minutes.

Caesar Aguilar: I just wanted to ask a question, I was wondering how many organizations on campus that are religious.

Senator Sowerwine: Yeah so, I can read you the diversity clubs at NAU that are religious it the Catholic Newman Fellowship, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, LaFe-Latino Christian Fellowship of Intervarsity Christian fellowship, Latter-Day Saints Student Association, Lutheran Campus Ministry, Muslim Students’ Association, Neo Pagan Alliance, and Vintage Christina Fellowship.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Carr

Senator Carr: There is also an NAU Chabad which is a Jewish organization on campus and I don’t see that on the list, it is an organization on campus and I also just wanted to my understanding as well with the religious topics is that because our funds like come through student fee which is like state funding technically that we can’t pay for things supporting them. So its not like that this position wouldn’t advocate, like they are saying if there are issues against like a negative act against any religious groups this person would obviously be able to speak for them. If like, if we clarify there are so many different religions that if, it would be like they said kind of favoring a certain group or promoting, not like we wouldn’t be supporting anything it would just be funding for anything.

Chair Dietlin: I have a clarification of our by-laws in article ten

Parker: Under article ten, number five b it says ASNAU will fund politically oriented or religious organizations solely for the administration, execution, or maintenance of non-political/ non-religious programs, services or special events deemed beneficial to the student body by the ASNAU Appropriations Committee and the ASNAU Senate.

Chair Dietlin: President Buchta

President Buchta: How it falls under five, is we are not allowed to fund for federal state and local law.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Roos

Senator Roos: So I wanted to go back to senator Moore-Sharp’s comment before I do that I want to thank you all for coming and sharing your concerns and voices, its really important to us that you are here. Back to what you were saying the way that I interpreted the diversity position is so that the voice of 40% of our students that do identify as diverse have a person to come to that is on ASNAU with their concerns but also for someone that ASNAU can come to. It is almost a mediation type thing that I see so in your concern I think that position would be really important for all aspects, everyone can come to this person. You know their completely unbiased, you know and the way I see the diversity position benefiting our student body is just by having someone that is an extra set of hands, an extra set of eyes that, vice president of student affairs is doing a great job, but she is only one person so you know we need that extra person to put in their input you know and to have voices being heard.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Ridge

Senator Ridge: I would just like to add, to senator Roos’s statement and just how far reaching this position really is. For example, this position will work with disability resources, my younger brother who is also a straight white male utilized disability

resources today because he is planning on attending this university and in order to do that because of his severe allergies he had to meet with disability resources and find out how he can find a meal plan on campus that will fit his needs. This is a person you wouldn’t necessarily look at and think this person is going to need this position well this position would help people like my brother immensely help him. Not only 40% of our students but the entire population.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Moore-Sharp

Senator Moore-Sharp: What I, the point that I was trying to make, first of all I want to say that I think this is a good position, I don’t think that there is anything wrong with it 40% of the student population absolutely this is the biggest audience I have seen and I think that is a good thing the general point I wanted to make though is the discourse around the issue. I feel like that with an issue like this what is a stake for what you say and what that means about you I feel like we need to, that needs to be talked about, that’s the elephant in the room. I feel like if we do, do something like this that discourse needs to be kept in mind, because I feel like it can be very easy for an issue like this to become sort of echo chamber. Where everyone says you hear same things multiple times like where I don’t understand why this would even be questioned, right not even pre-dis-apposing someone could have a legitimate concern. Stuff like that is what makes people not want to talk and I keep hearing this theme over and over feel safe, feel included, feel welcomed that’s exactly been the problem a lot of the time and I just don’t want that to become something that’s apart of it. I want to see it done I just think that had I not said anything that to be perfectly honest with you the reason that I feel like I can say this is because I am a black male and no one is going to look at me a certain way and so I just think that needs to be said because I am going to be quite honest if I was not here probably it would have not been said. So that’s just the reason I was saying.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Carr

Senator Carr: I just want to say that I am assuming the issue you are talking about would be dealt with differently, like having a position, like this because they would be maintaining that all the employees of ASNAU would be respectful. So like let’s say that what ever happen, we haven’t had something like this in place so we haven’t been necessarily as educated or as informed on how to talk these issues as a collective and so I think that by having a position that would be within our organization maintaining not only for the students but within our office that these issues are a safe place to talk about it on both sides on any topic. That this would help to fix the issue that your talking about in the future.

Chair Dietlin: There was a hand in the audience can I have that person stand up and then state the name please.

Jonathan: Hi my name is Jonathan. I just kind of wanted to go off of what, first I wanted to say thank you all for taking into consideration of this position, I just

wanted to say whoever is taking this role that it is going to be a big role and an important role and hopefully you guys can compensate them for that because it is also important. I just wanted to say that from personal testimony it is great that we are doing something like this because I mean when I first came here in 2012 I was a first generation college student of color; it was it is dishearten when you see around the world right now a lot of colleges are doing college initiatives for first generation college students, predominately first generation college students are people of color and everyone else and I feel like this position would be a great form for people of colors as well as of anyone else because right now being in college is very disheartening because the same people I was with my freshman year I no longer see them anymore. Its my senior year and it is just disheartening and this would help immensely for those students who just needed someone to kind of, someone to reach out to them and because even if you have the role that would work hard for these students its almost like you have to do more than what expected. There is an organization here of color, there is a fraternity here you have to try more than that. You have to go out to them and say, talk to them because its just I don’t know how to explain it but it is just difficult to reach out and do other things people so.

Chair Dietlin: Thank you. I want to make one more clarification as far as religious groups although as student body government funded organization we can’t advocate for a certain religion or political stance. We can’t directly support religious or political groups on campus but we can educate and advocate for no hate and educate students as much as possible so we are an inclusive environment for everybody. Senator Moore-Sharp and then Senator Graham.

Senator Moore-Sharp: It is actually nice to see you; I really appreciate you coming man. I just want to ask some people in the audience about what Jonathan just shared experience if I could just make for myself, I rushed a fraternity, a social fraternity I am not going to mention the name when I was a sophomore. One of my best friend is a white guy and during our entire experience there I remember telling him, I remember saying I can’t tell you what it is but there is something in the air it is the way people look at me, it’s the way people talk to me, it’s the way people orient themselves around me and it just feels wrong. I understand the notion that everyone is saying I have experienced it, if anyone else feels brave enough I would just like to hear more of other people that have felt the same way as him. We have had people who have spoken on behalf of certain organizations but I mean I would just love to hear everyone else experience on something that they went through, if anyone would be willing to share.

Chair Dietlin: Yes, the advocate for ASWI.

ASWI: I just wanted talk about just what you were asking reflect speaking for some of my member and my organization that some members don’t feel completely supported by other organizations that are for them so I think that this kind of position would be able to give them that support because they have not felt support and they have been marginalized by these like these resources and supports that are

within certain departments of campus so I think that having a diversity chair would like really address that and give them that support.

Chair Dietlin: Senator L’Ecuyer

Senator L’Ecuyer: Do you guys have an idea of especially how those kind of things would be addressed through this diversity chair.

Chair Dietlin: Yes, audience.

Jonathan: Jonathan again. So I think, I have a friend in Michigan state and he does this organization where it is kind of an open space to talk about specific things and I feel like if we had and I know the word safe space or you know open environment we have discussions like this about how to address them with the students would be great. For example, let me say something another one is I don’t want anyone to think that we are trying to push away white people because of this diversity group because that doesn’t matter like you all said diversity is not just race or color is is everyone, it embodies everybody. That’s, I feel like having an open discussion on it where anyone can understand diversity then I think it will create an idea to implement.

Chair Dietlin: Cassandra from PRISM please.

Cassandra: We just like, I just want to triangulate, we are starting a united diversity council where Gabby comes from BSU and I come from PRISM and we invite all the diversity organizations to come and kind of discuss these issues that have been brought up about feeling like we don’t always get along or feeling like, it is no secret that there is a divide within diversity. There is division within my community that is all over the spot light right now which I am sure that you all have heard, there is division within other diversity groups. It would be foolish to try like you are all, the majority are on one side and all the diverse are on another side; we have our own up hill battles there are some of us that are trying and we are not perfect but trying to have a space where all the diverse groups can come together along with the united diversity council advisors who are over seeing it and making sure that these very important and really sensitive topics like Mark was saying there are a lot of time where not everyone feels comfortable speaking and many times that is the majority. We would like for them to come to this and to speak so this position could be coming to this, it meets twice a month and they could come and interact with our diversity council and our organizations all in one room with advisors that are well trained in diverse to assist them so I just wanted to put that out there that is some thing that is going on that ASNAU senator already coming could participate in.

Chair Dietlin: Just as a clarification for you, the diversity director position would be in contact with bias education support team. That’s a really important resource that has started here on campus this year and a lot of issues and situations do go unreported and that what this, the acromion is BEST is designed for, it is designed

for the students that don’t feel comfortable and it is designed as an organization to help rectify those situations which help students feeling uncomfortable. That is a really important aspect to this position that was added. Senator Nunnally.

Senator Nunnally: Thank you all for coming. I would also like to apologize for the lack of inclusive language that has been used, if anyone does feel uncomfortable we do want this to be a safe and inclusive space to have this very important conversation. So I just wanted to personally apologize for that if anyone is uncomfortable. Also as you can see in the duties of this position they will be working with various commissions and unbiased education support team, also we can use this position to get awareness spread about our legal aid that we have in our office because a lot of people don’t know about that very important resource so if students do feel targeted or discriminated against they can go to that legal aid for advice and to put things into action. Also I would like to emphasize number three in the article promote cultural understanding and be committed to advocate for anti-discrimination, anti-racism, anti-classism, and anti- hate to better serve all students at Northern Arizona University. That includes people of color, people that do receive discrimination religiously, that is for people that receive discrimination on class bases and everything in that sense and they can work with the diversity director in order to get the resources that they need and the support that they need as well. I think it is extremely important to remember that there are some many resources on campus and I, Senator Rosic and I have stated that this list is not exhausted and there are other resources on campus. There are other alternatives, we could start our own anonymous box in the offices about things that students are worried about and maybe pull them out every senate meeting and read them and see what is really going on our campus if we do want to promote a safe space. We are also taking the steps necessary by getting safe jacks training and safe zone trained as requirement of being associated with ASNAU so we have taken steps to work towards a safe an inclusive environment and with this position that environment will be even more emphasized and recognized.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Rosic

Senator Rosic: Additionally, in reference to senator L’Ecuyer question on how will they respond or how well will the format be on figuring out these issues. If everyone could look at number five it says create one diversity center forum with higher administration, so that obviously the president, the deans, etc. at least once a semester. This forum would be a direct forum with students and higher administration to sort of address, can proved a venue to address these issues that people don’t feel safe addressing on their own so there is some forum of accountability when a lot of students are there and can be, addressing these issues because some departments can push you away and use everything in their power to silence you so that’s one way the position would help address these issues. I am also working with the IT person on creating an online forum, some type of external website that can be accessed through the ASNAU website where someone could submit a question or a comment or concern online whether they want to use their

identity or submit it anonymously.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Davis

Senator Davis: First of all I would like to thank all of you for coming here and I just really appreciate it that you have come here to voice your opinions and concerns. My one concern for the senate is that with this position will it create a precedence so that in the future we have to create another position to accommodate for different groups such as an example an environmental director or something along those lines.

Chair Dietlin: President Buchta

President Buchta: Just to address that question I am currently working with the I can’t remember the acromion right now but I am working on sustainability and environmental issues across campus underneath my position so that’s being covered currently.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Mathew

Senator Mathew: I know this position seems like something obvious, since you are all here; I don’t want you to feel like the senate is against diversity but there are some concerns in previous meetings where duties of the position where alienating Caucasians or other minors were concerned, I don’t think anyone else here is racist we have other concerns as for why we questioned the necessity of the position.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Graham

Senator Graham: Kind of going off of the that and what senator Moore-Sharp was saying about not feeling safe personally I can identify with at least three of these things on here but by looking at me you can’t see that so I think that is kind of what Mark was saying that obviously this meeting is going better than last week and we talk about the elephant in the room I think you are refereeing to last week how things kind of got out of hand even now when senator Davis mentioned another position there where side chatter of like how against he is feeling and I just feel like even though this is going better people don’t feel safe because of comments that are being made back.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Carr

Senator Carr: There are a few things that I wanted to address and first going back to Lauren’s or senator L’Ecuyer’s comment about how this would be put into action I think that with any new position there is uncertainties and I know a lot of you have concerns of how this is actually going to play out and the honest answer is we are not going to know until we test it and so I think that without giving them to many strict responsibilities like each person that comes into this role will have the

flexibility and creativity to put forth like whatever best fits events or like ways to deal with these issues that may arise and so I think that is something important to keep in mind. We can’t list out everything that they have to do because then we would be doing their job for them and I think that is something important. To go back to what senator Davis was saying with setting a precedent I think that every time an issues arises whether it is in our senate or future years senate that those issues need to be addressed as they come and maybe what we do today will make an impact in the future so that when other big issues come up that does set a precedence to act on them but I understand your concern that we can’t be meeting every little thing that comes up but I think that you comment about a sustainability position like I am working on creating an intern within our office because that is not something that is currently focused on within our senate but that is a goal with the school and several other groups on campus so it is an issues concerning the students so I think as different issues arise we are going to respond differently and that we shouldn’t be afraid of what might come in the future stopping us from what we need to do today.

Chair Dietlin: President Buchta

President Buchta: I would like to echo what Stella said and just a reminder that Vanessa’s position this is only the seconded year of this position existing and I think you have all seen the great work that is already come out of her department six weeks into this school year with an entire It’s On Us week planned down to the the tee in six weeks. So sometimes the logistical matters take a bit of time to figure out but that why you have the whole executive team to be here to support to creation of new positions and to help you build another up.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Roos

Senator Roos: So going off thank you Alexandria that was awesome I was just going to say that, if there is ever opportunity for voice to be heard in ASNAU to grow I think we should jump on that you know growing and making us stronger is always going to benefit the student body. I just wanted to say sorry I am going to be reading off my notes a bit, that I don’t want it o be divided into diverse and not diverse there is something different and diverse about every single person in this room and we all bring something unique to the table and if we have an opportunity to expand that and grow as ASNAU why wouldn’t we.

Chair Dietlin: Senator L’Ecuyer

Senator L’Ecuyer: I have a little issue about a paid diversity chair and an unpaid internship for sustainability where sustainability is such a huge par of NSU’s campus just as the diversity portion of NAU’s campus is as well. So not taking anything away form that just I don’t think that it is fair and if we called all the environmental and sustainable clubs to this meeting as well I think they would voice their opinions I can’t speak for them but I think that might be a topic that could be discussed as to

why this is paid but that couldn’t be as well as other positions with interns.

Chair Dietlin: If I could pause discussion for a just a moment and if I could ask everyone who identifies as one of these groups to please stand and this list is not exhausted but it includes Women’s and Gender Studies Department, Ethnic Studies, Disability Studies, Disability Resources, Inclusion and Multicultural Services, LGBTQIA Resources and Support, Native American Cultural Center, First Generations Programs and Initiatives, The Blavin Scholars, Veteran’s Affairs, Transfer Commuter Connections, any religious groups on campus or nay other diversity representation in society as a whole. If you will look around, I believe everyone is standing in this room and I hope that speaks some sort of volume to the discussion we are having here today. Please sit. Senator Moore Sharp.

Senator Moore-Sharp: Alright this has been a very, it has been a very in depth discussion and you know I think the display you just had would definitely say that but not to but, but also I am going off of what senator Graham said I will vote yes but what I want say as someone that identifies as a, what I learned from my class a member a marginalized group I think the testament to when senator Davis makes a comment and snickering and condescending and applying things about people I just want us to all understand that inclusion is not a one way street. I think that there is this attitude and I see it in my classes, there is this something seeping under where you know whatever the concern is for you as a member of a group that you feel as marginalized as being done to you becomes something that you do to everyone else. I think that we need to keep that in mind because no one wants to talk about that so when ever this does happen I want to make that a very solid point inclusion is not a one-way street and it should be apparent in would certain remarks and stuff like that I think that is a testament to attitudes and beliefs and things you feel. I understand you can feel the way you want to feel but just be mindful of that because I feel like it is very easy to fall into that, no one should feel like they should check you for that because they don’t want to seem like a bigot or whatever. I just want to make that.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Rosic and then then we will move toward our audience members.

Senator Rosic: I just wanted to say the reason why we thought that this needed to be a paid position and I would also ask for a paid environmental position as well because I think that is very important but I think it should be a paid position because diversity as a NAU employee and as a representative we should all be representing every single student on campus and that is not happening right now. If you pull demographic data, social data, or organization data you will see there are groups in this organizations that are severally over represented and because of that of that some senators and because we are not all working collectively to address it we all share the blame here but this is why it should be a paid position because we are asking a lot of them and they should be compensated in my opinion. This position is going to be doing more than any senator on this board and every single

other position in ASNAU is paid, so that why I think that we should pay for this position.

Chair Dietlin: If I can move to the gentleman on my right side of the audience please, state your name.

Kevon Mckinnely: I am Kevon Mckinnely and I am a diversity peer educator with D-Mecca program that’s out of the LEADS center, so going off of what you said I do agree that inclusion doesn’t go one way and its not just a one-way street and that’s what we are seeing here today as a student body. I feel that it is also super important for you to understand how a lot of the feed back and non verbal’s that you are getting is that there is a lot of speech that has happened from senators that have spoken today that is very rude and not inclusive of different groups represented here today. The idea of correlating the sustainability to an issue of racism or other issues of that or other things like that it ridiculous. I don’t that that it is something should ever happen and as a diversity peer educator that is my personal job on this campus and that why we were shut out of our center but I feel like that is why it is very important for this to be here because were the snickering comes from it is apparent from all of us and not to certain people that are sitting here on this senate thank you.

Chair Dietlin: Amy Edgerton, special events, from ASNAU.

Amy: Hi I am Amy and I am from special events from ASNAU. I just want to say thanks to everyone so much for participating in this progressive conversation and the student representation in this room today is so awesome so thanks for coming. I just kind of want to hear from everyone that came on a little bit more about you think of what you have heard so far and how you feel will help the groups that you represent particularly everyone coming say that they represent a student that feels unsafe and underrepresented particularly at the events. I am person that helps put on the events and so I don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable coming to anything that we put on or any meetings that we have; so I just kind of want hear a little bit about do you think any language that needs to be changed within what senator Rosic and what everyone has out forward for the position. Do you think that these things will help change by this position?

Chair Dietlin: Cassandra with PRISM, please.

Cassandra: First I want to apologize if anyone that didn’t identify with the groups or felt attacked because they said that we said we don’t feel safe, we don’t feel safe talking senators. My personally, my students we are used to being on the defense, I don’t know how else to say that inclusion your right is a two-way street but sometimes depression is not and I don’t always feel safe talking to people, yes I a white passing I am Hispanic I am straight passing I try to make it abundantly clear that I am not. I would have a lot of the privileges that a lot of people here who are not on this side of things have but also I want to remind you if you want this to be a

voluntary position who is going to volunteer for that? Being completely honest I am in that PRISM office 40 hours a week I don’t get paid to do that and I do it because I do it for my students and I love what I do. Am I going to do it for government that doesn’t want to pay me, no I am going to do it for my students that I am already doing it for. All of your diverse student leaders are already doing it, they are in this room, they are out there doing it and they are not going to come here and volunteer for it. I am not saying that other positions shouldn’t be paid, all I am saying is that if you want someone to work as hard for your student government that doesn’t want to compensate them for it they are not going to, they are already working for their students they are already working for their organizations. They are not going to come here and do it for a place where they don’t feel appreciated, where they don’t feel welcome and if they are sitting in this room right now listening to how they shouldn’t be paid I am not going to come to your office and apply for it. So just keep that in mind.

Chair Dietlin: The individual next to Cassandra, please.

Kelsey: Hi, my name is Kelsey and I am a first year student here. I transferred from Mohave county. The last two years I actually worked in law enforcement before I came here. I am a white passing person of color, I am a first generation college student both me and my sister attend here. I want to emphasize especially with my background in law enforcement I have never felt more unsafe then I do on this campus. My sister and I attended the football game I think it was just this last family football game and my sister is not white passing she is straight sis gender and we both felt extremely uncomfortable; we both wound up leaving early. I think, I just want to emphasize to you I know there are apprehension on this position and the doors it may open, the problems it may create but I want to emphasize that this isn’t going to change if this position is not implemented. This position is going to open those doors to create this inclusivity; I mean I was apprehensive about coming here today. This is my first meeting I have ever attended and I honestly didn’t know how I would be welcomed and that what I feel walking into almost any building here on this campus. So I just wanted to let you guys to keep that in mind, even though you have your reservation and apprehensions about what doors this may open you also have to keep in mind the potential that this has to change the life’s of your students here. Thank you.

Chair Dietlin: If the individual in the back on my right side, please. Please state your name.

Cameron: Hi everyone my name is Cameron and I am a public relations representative for black student union so I don’t really want to tell my own story, I want to talk about some of the things my members have talked to me about. So I have had members first year, second year, third year, fourth year that come talk to me about how they feel uncomfortable in the dorms, on their way to class on the bus, any class, in the union, so on and so forth. I just had a conversation about how a student’s in another room feel uncomfortable and don’t feel safe and leave. So I feel

like essentially they are getting ran out of town, because this space they don’t feel comfortable or at least providing the resources that they need to succeed. So I think this diversity chair position is very important because it is a stepping stone to having the students stay just a start of having student actually enjoy their time here.

Chair Dietlin: The individual, second row, please.

Ondriah: Hi I am Ondriah Gullory and I am the vice president for Sigma Gamma Rho. We are the newest historically black sorority on campus. I not going to speak for s-g-row, I am going to speak for me. As a black female there are some places on campus after certain times of night I don’t go because I don’t feel safe. I currently don’t feel safe even in my own home because I am having issues with one of my roommates who I am not going to go into the, anyways I am having some issue with my roommates that the situation has escalated to the point where I now have to talk to the dean of students and I have to talk to because I live at Hilltop, the manager and supervisor because me and my roommate don’t feel safe in our own apartment. I feel as though that this position will help take care of this. There are many students on this campus that don’t feel safe and that is not okay; we pay money to be here, to learn, to live, to make friends, to grow as people and we can’t feel safe on where we spend most of our time then that’s an issue. This position would help take care of this they will address these issue and we will have someone that we can go talk to and that will in turn talk to you all. To address the issue of how other people don’t feel safe, as Cassandra said, we are oppressed every day of our life’s we don’t feel safe. I wake up in a very different world then most of you all do, I have to watch where I go, what I say and what I do this position will help address these issues not only to the those fall under diversity but also those who don’t because if they don’t feel safe that is also an issue; everyone should feel safe to say how they feel if they don’t this position will address that. This position will not be biased against diversity students they will be a neutral person to address everyone’s issues.

Chair Dietlin: Thank you. I appreciate all of the comments and advocation that has come from the audience. I would like to bring it back to comments from the senate and then hopefully move into our voting time. Senator Carr.

Senator Carr: Just to touch on a few things that I was thinking about as some of you were speaking I know a lot, not a lot but some senators might have felt that this position could better be suited through other organizations on campus but the students speaking to us today comes from those other organizations on this campus and if they feel that those organizations together aren’t completing the job then it just speaks wonders that we are trying to create this to united the issues. If we think all these organizations on our campus are accomplishing their goals but we can see that there is still more work to be done and I think we have heard a lot on how this position can accomplish that for anyone that fits under any type of diversity because even if you are white, you are under some diverse group and so I just wanted to say that. Then I know we have touched on the religious aspect and how its is not necessarily laid out out in this but as a Jewish women I have felt unsafe on this

campus at times because that is an underrepresented population on our campus and although we can’t address it specifically in a religious statement in this position and I think that educating on anti-hate and anti-discrimination of any person will just help alleviate any type of oppression to any people’s because if you learn to respect each other based on your gender, your color, no matter what then it will help alleviate all those issues without having to necessarily state them blatantly.

Chair Dietlin: Senator L’Ecuyer

Senator L’Ecuyer: Two statements number one I must have miscommunicated I wanted to know why the sustainability chair was unpaid, I completely understand that what you guys want from this chair needs to be paid, I completely think that they should be paid for the work they are going to be doing. Second statement, when Amanda had us all stand up for being diverse I know I personally didn’t stand up until the very last statement about religion. I know that a lot of this campus would do the same thing and I think that while we are all representing NAU’s population the diverse people on this list make up a lot of of it but there are some that are still not on this list, that are not covered, which includes religion. Although we can’t, it can’t technically something in here needs to change so that some how that included because I know I personally can’t vote on this unless that is a thing in this position.

Chair Dietlin: Parliamentarian, Parker Schrandt, do you have a clarification?

Parker: Just into reference previous statements that people are saying, under article ten, number five of our bylaws it does say we can’t fund specific things and there are reasons for that they are set in place because people of organizations so see that provide a service or program more appropriately and effectively performed by an ASNAU or University department. There are funds for other things that ASNAU has their strict rules that have been set for a reason. So we are doing the best we can, I do want to throw this out for senators as well, this is an option we just need a motion for it but just in light of every body and all of the conversation possibly not feeling comfortable releasing the vote we can do a ballot vote; it is an option.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Sowerwine

Senator Sowerwine: So I understand that we can’t have religion as a specific part as the commission of ethic diversity would be, my concern is that even though in the number three it does say will work on anti-hate, I am concern that without the exact line for it, it will be less of a priority than the rest of the things that have their own line. So I think we should consider if there is anyway we can work around this and try and see if we can do whatever we can to work within our bylaws to make sure it is represented as seen in the list of diversity clubs that it does make up a big portion them. I just think it is important that everyone is represented equally; one more thing I have to say is that I keep hearing that we need that everyone would feel more safe coming into a senator than to other stuff already provided but I feel like the school has done a decent job of providing opportunities and resources for the

students that do consider themselves diverse like the LEADS center and like all of the peer mentors and I don’t see how having a specific person to come to would be different than going to the LEADS center.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Nunnally

Senator Nunnally: To clarify your concern, I work in the LEADS center as a peer mentor but the unfortunate thing about the resource of the the LEAD center is that t is very much under funded, we have 1.2 million dollar budget so the LEADS center is also over populated because there are so many diverse students and we are working on get a multi-cultural center but that is not enough just because administrators are peer mentors, which by the way our budget is so low that half of my staff half of my co-workers got cut from their job because that is how much money we have. The printing in the LEADS center use to be free but now it can’t be because once again there is no budget for that and also all the multi-cultural clubs already talk in that space, we already utilize that space and we already network in that space and that space is great, its been doing a great job but it is simply not enough for the amount of students and the amount of duties there are that they also work on. I would also like to point out that Cassandra’s comment about being in the PRISM office 40 hours a week, I also take on that responsibility for black student union, I do things for black student union at three in the morning and I don’t get paid for any of it. I hold study hours for my members every other week when we don’t have meetings and we do all kind of things as an organization but it is simply not enough for everyone to be equally represented and also for the religion clause my only fear about adding a specific line about that is the fact that we can’t fund anything and this position needs to be paid because as we all said there is a lot of responsibility that goes into this position and a lot of work that goes into it.

Chair Dietlin: I am going to pause you for a minute, we do have someone in the room that does have a hearing disability so if we could keep the side chatter to a minimum that would be appreciated. Thank you. Continue.

Senator Nunnally: Like I was saying that is my only real concern about not having a specific line about religion is because this position does need to be funded by ASNAU.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Moore-Sharp

Senator Moore-Sharp: First things first, because I haven’t already said this I think we should motion for ballot vote because I feel like…Chair Dietlin: If I could pause you there has already been an executive order, we will be will be doing a ballot vote. President Buchta.

President Buchta: I just want to say that on behalf of our organization I have decided that it is important to do a ballot vote because there are senators that are uncomfortable and I do not want them to be discriminated against in the

organization or across the university.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Roos

Senator Roos: I…

Chair Dietlin: I am sorry, pause, Senator Moore-Sharp

Senator Moore-Sharp: Just going back to what Cassandra said, you said about inclusion is a two-way street but depression is not, I can definitely understand that and I can obviously confirm it but for those who may not know my minor is women and gender studies I have been with the department for three and a half years now and I can tell you personally what it is like being in a space like that and being someone that doesn’t occupy the said group who the safe space belongs to and I can absolutely tell you that the effect that I am talking about is real. I am in social science classes and I am in the WGS classes, they give people safe zone training where they have dealt with those issues for years now I am on the ground with the stuff and I am jot saying this from some general intellectual concern I am saying this because I have seen it. I think you make a good point with the depression being a one way street but I want to reiterate one more time that don’t let that become a reason to not keep inclusion as a two way street in minded because I can already tell you from personal experience in the WGS department that the notion that oppression is not a one way street absolutely breaks the beliefs inclusion is a one way street than its on you to include them and I just want to make sure we won’t do that because if when I say something like I heard snaps and things like it just goes to show what I am saying is right and that it is exactly something that goes on and so I just don’t want to let that happen and I want to make sure that I address that before we have to vote on it so that’s all I have to say.

Chair Dietlin: As we move forward we are going finish the statements from the senators that have had their hands raised and after that I would ask you to move into voting because I believe we have very much exhausted the subject and I belief that everyone is as informed as we could potentially be especially with these few closing statements. Moving on to Senator Roos.

Senator Roos: Si I just wanted to address senator Sowerwine’s concern of why can’t this position can’t be fulfilled in a different organization. I wanted to explain the importance, ASNAU is our student government, every single population, every single person s voice should be heard through their student government and that’s why I think its important this position is in ASNAU because it embodies our student body as a whole.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Rosic.

Senator Rosic: This is a question about the ballot procedure. Is there a way we can move to vote against the ballot because this completely disregards any sense of

accountability we should have as senators representing the student population?

Chair Dietlin: President Buchta would you like reply to that statement.

President Buchta: The reason why I am moving for a ballot vote is because it is to protect the safety of the other members of senate here and so they don’t feel like they are being belittled or being forced into say something that they do not think is best represented of the student body regardless of what your opinion might be or anyone else in the audience opinion is they are entitled to represent the student body how they feel.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Davis

Senator Davis: As a technicality that we in leg kind of work this out, I don’t know why it hasn’t been changed on this draft on number two on work with the vice president of student affairs and in legislation we changed it to work under the vice president because it is a position under the vice president of student affairs.

Chair Dietlin: Can I get a senator to motion to amend if that is what we wish. Senator Rosic.

Senator Rosic: This isn’t the updated version

Chair Dietlin: Yes, this is the same version from leg. So an updated version will be added.

Senator Rosic: I sent the updated version to everyone this morning to their personal email accounts, so if we motion to vote on that version or…

Chair Dietlin: The version that will be applied is the most updated version which is not reflected here but is reflected in the email that was sent out by Stefan and Gabby. It will be in the meeting minutes, the most updated version. It can’t be voted on to change just like any other bylaw as you see fit. Senator Graham.

Senator Graham: I just want to make a comment on something that senator Davis said earlier about the sustainability verses this, I don’t know who it was but someone in the audience said we are comparing sustainability to racism and that is not what we are doing; this is for diversity as a whole and not just racism as a whole so I hope you didn’t take that in the wrong context.

Chair Dietlin: Senator L’Ecuyer

Senator L’Ecuyer: Just one last thought I know that we represent NAU as a whole and there are other people at NAU that aren’t in the audience right now and those people might not fundamentally agree with the list here. They might have religious beliefs, they might not have any religious beliefs and still not agree with it there is

other people that as we are representing NAU as a whole we need to keep those people in mind.

Chair Dietlin: Senator Ridge, final comment.

Senator Ridge: …

Chair Dietlin: Your done. Is there any very necessary comment from any senator sitting here today? Final comments from the audience if you wish to have a one last final comment please raise your hand and you do have a two-minute limit as our meeting is coming to a close. John Bower.

John: I know I spoke on behalf of my position early but now I am speaking on behalf of the club on campus called best buddies. I serve as the fundraising coordinator for this group and I can’t tell you first hand, for those who don’t know best buddies seeks to link the special needs people into the community at large. I can’t stress enough the difficultly it is to bring these people to campus and have them feel included as a part of our community. I hope that as the senate you do the valued measures its takes to take into account as well as the accounts you have seen today in the vote. Thank you.

Chair Dietlin: Hali Wetzel

Hali: Hi, I am Hali Wetzel and I am an advisor for the new student government at ASNAU. I think it is important to keep in mind that while I am sure there are a lot of people who belong to different groups that who might not identify with this diversity chair but that’s going to be very organic because they will be able to support other groups but I don’t think we should take away the sense of security that a lot of people who are diverse groups just because there might be somebody who might not like it.

Chair Dietlin: Gentleman on the third row on my left side.

Where in the bylaws can the executive board make a decision to do a ballot vote?

Chair Dietlin: Why he is looking that up, Cindy if you would like to make your comment.

Cindy: I do want to make one comment and that is crafted language that is takes a long time and needs to be knowledgeable about diversity perspectives and multi-cultural of all students. Everything that is in the preamble to the particular duties has a very board outlook case of definition, I think there are particular languages in there that I think to assume but the beginning talks about being knowledgeable about its not limited to the knowledge based. So I would say the function is what isn’t represented in the table but with each year that is going to change with your elections so I think I would not get to caught up on particular names because you go

above there and doesn’t only say is satisfied through those things that the floor and not the ceiling.

Chair Dietlin: Parker are you prepared with your clarification? One more second. Cassandra with PRISM, please.

Cassandra: I kind of just wanted to piggyback off of what Gabby was saying about the LEADS center also because I want to confirm for my population we kind of have a big trust thing with admin right now not everybody but some in this under-represented populations do and it would be really nice to have a student in their student government that they can go to that doesn’t necessarily have to be admin. I am aware admin is above ASNAU as well but it would be really nice to keep that in mind instead of putting more students in the LEADS center where there is already a lot going on having a student here that can represent the student body.

Chair Dietlin: Individual next to Cassandra.

Kelsey: My name is Kelsey. I wanted to play off something a senator had said about the students aren’t here today I would just urge you that you all that the students who are feeling their needs are not being meet are the students that are most going to effected are the students that take the time out of their day and face the immense fear to be here and speak in front of such a larger group. So I would urge you to keep that in mind that this is important and essential to these students so as I said I don’t want to bring a sense of non inclusiveness when I say this is the people its most going to effect are the people standing in this room speaking to you today.

Chair Dietlin: Parker are you prepared with your clarification?

Parker: So under article two under president’s duties she is to serve as the chief spokesperson of ASNAU and to protect her senators the validity ASNAU and senate. So we are refereeing to Roberts rule of order, Roberts rule is allowed to vote on a ballot vote. That’s it.

Can I ask a question? Which version of Roberts rule of order are you using?

Chair Dietlin: The most recent version. Senator Ridge.

Senator Ridge: I move to vote on the by-law change.

Chair Dietlin: We are already in motion so this is our final discussion comment. If everyone on senate would please write your vote. Please do represent as you feel fit by writing yes or no or abstention. Fold it and please pass it. Point of Order. Just so I can clarify for everyone in our audience and everyone sitting here as a member of ASNAU what needs to occur is there needs to be 2/3’s vote for approval and which consist of 9.33 senators obviously we can’t get .33 of a person so we have chosen to round it down as natural rounding laws in mathematics so if you have an issue with

the point .33 being rounded down you can take that up with personally with me but at this time I am going to read the votes and then I will present the voting. If I can have Parker, Parliamentarian re-read the votes. If I can have president Buchta be the third and final count of the votes. With the counting of votes there has been 1 abstention, 4 noes’’, and 9 approvals. This motion is passed. Again I appreciate every student voice that has come here to our meeting I know it has meant so much to me personally and its meant a lot to the senators here that represent you and meant an immense amount to the executive team that works every hard to build bridges and communication with the students we represent. I want to congratulate the two senators that have worked tirelessly on this position Stefan Rosic and Gabriella Nunnally. At this time, we are going to move into our reports for senators but if you could all stay a moment for Vanessa’s presentation on It’s On Us week.

Executive Reports

a. President- Alexandria Buchta- no report

b. Vice President of Student Affairs- Allison Kelley - no report

C. Vice President of Academic Affairs - Amanda Dietlin- no report

D. Vice President of Government Affairs – Vanessa Pomeroy- Its On Us week is next week, its here. I have a brief explanation of each event. Monday Coffee and Consent; health promotions have provided us with the information we need and it is going to be next to the university union info desk. Tuesday, College Girl book reading and signing; the author Laura Gray-Rosendale wrote a book on her own experience in college. Wednesday Hunting Ground will be showing in Prochnow and we have panel of NAU administrators to talk with us on on how NAU deals with it. Thursday is Know Your Rights and our our legal aid Mat will be presenting on that and any other issues you have. Friday a slice of safety, it is a presentation by health promotions and pizza is provided. Reed.

Reed: Hi I am Reed and I am a PR person and the list of events is probably go to be posted on Sunday. We would love if you just share it and all the events on our Facebook page.

Vanessa: I have a list I can give you, we have specific events going on everyday, #itsonusnau so everyone can see over the country can see what we are up to. Also have a PR video including people from all over campus also we have a video sent in from Ann Kirk Patrick. I am excited about that. We will be having a mandatory bystanders training for everyone in

the office. We will be putting up flags in front of the union, if I could get some ASNAU members to help around 2:30pm on Sunday. Senator Roos, Beghtol, Mathew, and we will post about it on the Facebook page. It could take us over an hour so we need more people to help out. You need to share the events and the weekly ads and individual events. Also its is a national campaign, so I only need a few slots of people to cover tabling and having pledges be signed. You will see the campaign all around campus and there will be a big board so everyone can see what is happening. I would love to see you guys on the events.

Chair Dietlin: I would like to thank everyone who wanted to voice their opinions and you are more then welcome to leave. Thank you. Okay, Okay everyone just take a deep breath, we did it, we made it through. We are almost out of time so please only report on what is necessary.

e. Chief of Staff- Lauren Stebbins- no report

Staff Reports

a. Student State Affairs - Heaven Pollock, John Bower-no report

b. Public Relations - Reed Emerson, Connor Wandersee, Korrin Snow- I will send out an email

c. Special Events - Amy Edgerton, Taylor Wesner-no report

d. Information Technologist- Chantz Spears-no report

e. NSG- Savannah Scott, Darrin Brown - We elected our board and worked on float for homecoming. We will have steamer thing and we will be dressed up super weird. I am going to wear a tutu and I am here to help out too.

Committee ReportsA. Appropriations : Senator L’Ecuyer- no report

B. Legislative : Senator Carr- Success

Senator Reports

College of Arts and Lettersa. Abbey Matthew- no reportb. Stefan Rosic- no report

College of Social and Behavioral Sciencesa. Brooke Graham- no reportb. Gabriella Nunnally- no reportc. Drake Ridge-no report

College of Health and Human Servicesa. Alex Roos- no reportb. Ashley Beghtol- no report

College of Educationa. Alyssa Anderson- no reportb. Kyle Davis- no report

College of Businessa. Amanda Copeland- no reportb. Lauren L’Ecuyer- no report

College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciencesa. Madi Sowerwine- no reportb. Stella Carr- no report

University Collegea. Marc Moore-Sharp- I would like to talk to Gabby and Stefan

after meeting

Advisor Reports (Cindy Anderson and Kristine Heflin)

Cindy Anderson— no report

Kristine Heflin— If you want to see the new fabric, see me after meeting

Discussion Items

Announcements

Important Dates

Adjournment

Motion: Senator Graham move to adjourn meeting at 5:59pm

Second: Senator Beghtol

Vote: Unanimous, meeting has been adjourned.