bill packet 18th congress 8/2/2010

8/9/2019 Bill Packet 18th Congress 8/2/2010

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF GRADUATE STUDENTSEIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF GRADUATE STUDENTS

Regular Assembly MeetingCOGS Assembly Room

Room, 250 Student Life BuildingAugust 10, 2010

6:30 p.m.

Agenda

Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

Swearing-in of New Members and Members not at Inauguration

Dominick J. Ardis- College of Social Sciences Seat 3

Messages from Student Government

Student Comments

The Report of the Speaker

Volunteers needed for New Graduate Student Orientation on Tuesday August 17, 2010

Event for Graduate Students with Families at the REZ on October 5, 2010

Thesis/Dissertation formatting center concept- joint project with COGS, FSU Libraries/Tutoring Center, and theGraduate School

The Report of the Deputy Speaker for Finance

Committee ReportCSAC Report

Ways & Means

Academics & Student Life Internal Affairs

Funding Requests

World Affairs Program (WAP)- Bill 41 heard on petition: an allocation of $6,514 from COGS Unallocated to fundtravel and associated fees for competitions

Old Business

Bill33- Sponsored by Representative Straub: Revision of Apportionment of Representatives to the Congress

New Business

Bill 39- Sponsored by Representative Arispe:Amendment Preserving Representation Bill 40- Sponsored by Representative Grimes: Reforming the COGS Non-Discrimination Policies

Final Roll Call

Adjournment

Next Meeting

Monday August 16th 2010 at 6:30PM in the COGS Chambers


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Report of the Deputy Speaker for Finance18th Congress of Graduate Students

August 2, 2010

COGS Administrative $112,064.00

COGS Unallocated $37,366.00

COGS Presentation Grants Left for year - $29,499.82o Carry Forward $ 0.00

o July-October $ 0.00

o Nov-Feb - $0.00

o Mar-Jun - $0.00

COGS Conference Travel Left for year - $7,500.00o Carry Forward $ 0.00

o July-October $ 0.00

o Nov-Feb - $0.00

o Mar-Jun - $0.00

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF GRADUATE STUDENTSEIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF GRADUATE STUDENTS

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSIONCOGS Assembly Room

Room, 250 Student Life BuildingJuly 12, 2010

6:36 p.m.

REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT: Adams, Blair, Englehardt, Glazier, Grimes, Johnson, Lieberwirth, Myers,Weber

QUORUM: No.

PETITIONING IN:

Alex Mekta (College of Business) International Advocacy Seat for duration of Rep. Koziseks leave

Jeffery Fluegel Business Seat 2

QUORUM: Yes.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Amanda Blair

REPRESENTATIVES LEFT EARLY, EXCUSED:

REPRESENTATIVES LEFT EARLY, UNEXCUSED: None

REPRESENTATIVES ABSENT, EXCUSED:

REPRESENATIVES ABSENT, UNEXCUSED:

REPRESENTATIVES LATE, EXCUSED: Taylor, Worrall

MINUTES APPROVED:

June 7, 2010 May 6, 2010 (attendance)

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Jennifer Feltmano Coordinator of the New Graduate Student Orientation (August 17)o Changes

More events for grad students COGS is helping with funding for tables and tents Two Orientation sessions in the morning, one for brand-new students and one for

FSU undergrads

Insights with current graduate students Need one more student from the STEM fields as a panelist.

Seminole Dining is providing a free lunch for all of the graduate students inattendance

BBQ lunch on the Union Green. Afternoon sessions on grants and funding.

o Need volunteers to help run the orientation

Need greeters to help out Also need a panelist from STEM

o Also responsible for the Professional Development Workshop series

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If COGS reps have any requests for particular types of workshops, get your requestsin now; they are being planned now.

SPEAKERS REPORT:

Bill 30 Vetoo Was the bill we set up to establish internal sweepingso Asked that it be vetoed by VP for Student Affairs because Student Body President was

adamantly opposed to ito Will be conferencing with them in about two weeks to go over that bill again. Senate

President is now happy with it; SBP still not sure FSU Non-Discrimination Policy

o Amended two weeks ago and COGS was part of that amendment processo COGS has advocated for this change for years.o Added sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to the Non-Discrimination

Policy.

Supreme Court case CLS v. Martinezo CLS was an RSO that didnt want to follow a nondiscrimination policy, but the Court said

they had to in order to continue to receive school funding.o Working on trying to get our internal COGS policy in line with that the Court has said they

agree to and proposal will be at next meeting. Thagard Discussion

o Asked W&M committee to look at potential relocation to Thagardo Administration would like us to move, though there are concerns express by COGS

members about whether we will get what we want in an old building.o Want this resolution ready for first meeting in fall semester.

DEPUTY SPEAKER FOR FINANCES REPORT:

COGS Administrative: COGS Unallocated: COGS Organizational Support:

COGS Presentation Grants: Left for year - $o Carry Forward $2.43o July-October $0.00o November-February $0.00o March-June $

COGS Conference Travel: Left for year - $o Carry Forward $300.32o July-October $0.00o November-February $0.00o March-June $

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Ways & Means Committeeo Had a meeting last week to discuss a few ideas from Representative Arispe.

o Committee voted to not support all three of his ideas; had some good ideas and identifiedproblems but we felt that his ideas for solving issues were not quite the right way to do it.

Academics & Student Lifeo Meeting tomorrow at 6:15pm in the basement of Strozier.

Internal Affairso Did not meet

C-SACo Did not meet because we have received no requests within our responsibilities.

ELECTIONS:

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Deputy Speaker for Judicial Affairs: Amanda Blair nominated, unopposed.

OLD BUSINESS:

Bill 33 delayed because both sponsors are not here. Bill 34 Adjusting the Duties of Deputy Speaker for Judicial Affairs

o Purpose

The problem that W&M Committee was trying to address is the fact that some

members are not sure what our responsibilities are. Inform petitioners of what the new responsibilities are before they come into the

Assembly. Questions were good tonight but we dont usually ask these kinds of questions.

More often we get What is your favorite color? This could shine some light on something new about the petitioners.

o Questions

Weber The way Im reading C, were swearing people in before informing them oftheir duties?

No objections to amending the wording.o Pro

Noneo Con

Glazier No real way to enforce this. Seems arbitrary and vague. Questions seemlike they could become rote and repetitive if theyre mandated. Taking people out inthe hall before the meeting does very little.

o Pro

Taylor Something that this bill addresses is that we keep on putting duties off toother people. This formalizes the process. It addresses the problem of peoplecoming and getting a seat and never seeing them again.

o Con

Noneo Leiberwirth moved to amend Section F to read Assemble an extensive list of pertinent

questions to be asked in consideration of petitions of new members and to disseminate thislist to the Assembly. Second. No objection. Amendment passes.

o Glazier called the question. Second. No objection.o Closing

Even though this may not help enormously, it doesnt hurt to spend a few extraminutes with our petitioners and make sure they know whats up. If it becomes arote reading of questions, then the section should be struck.

o Bill 34 passes as amended.

Bill 33o Blair moved to table Bill 33 indefinitely. Second. No objection.o If someone would like us to revisit Bill 33 they must make a motion to do so, otherwise it will

expire at the end of the Congress. Bill 35

o Purpose

This bill creates a new section in the COGS Code to put in writing exactly what a

leave of absence is. This just takes the questions out of it. Also adds an approval mechanism. Dont want people asking for a LOA for an

entire year and simply vanishing.o Questions

Taylor Could you please explain temporary vacancy? Wanted to make it clear that your seat will be held for a specified period of

time but that you wont go towards the quorum count. Glazier Why the IA Committee and not, say Executive Committee?

IA presides over the affairs for the members anyways Glazier So this would eliminate the leaving and temporary filling of a seat?

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Leiberwirth introduced several technical amendments. Second. No objection.Amended.

Glazier moved for a 10-minute recess. Second. No objection. Meeting reconvened at 7:45pm.

o Glazier moved to amend the bill to add 118.1(a): The representatives seat may be

temporarily filled by another student with similar qualifications; the representative on a leaveof absence shall resume his or her seat upon the end of the leave. Second. Objection.

Purpose This will alleviate the current uncertainty about whether a representative will

resume his or her seat and what happens to the person filling that seat (theyare only filling the seat temporarily, to be specific).

Taylor moves to amend the amendment and add 118.1(b): The student temporarilyfilling the vacant seat shall be informed by the Deputy Speaker for Judicial Affairsprior to accepting the position of the length of his or her seat. Second. Objection.

Purposeo Not actually creating something about the Deputy Speaker here; it

reinforces an existing objection to the membership.o This is more clear than the first way.

Questionso

Englehardt: Unclear on what B actually means. If youre going on aLOA and youre going to ask someone to fill your seat, wouldnt yoube the one telling that person?

Had never known about the leaves of absence and fillingtemporary vacancies.

This just further codifies what is talked about in 104.3,where Deputy Speaker for Judicial Affairs is the one whoprovides this information.

o Englehardt: Why do we need more language saying somethingthats already in the code?

This is to take the guesswork out of temporary vacancies. When were formalizing this process, theres no reason to

leave things out.

o Englehardt: So what information is the Deputy Speaker actuallyconveying?

The length of his or her service. Pro

o None

Cono Glazier: Not necessary; its already in the Deputy Speakers job.

Lieberwirth moved to strike by the Deputy Speaker for Judicial Affairs.Second. No objection. Language stricken.

Blair moved to call the question. Second. No objection. Closing.

o Yield.

Amendment to add Section B as amended passes. Glazier moved to call the question. Second. No objection. Closing

Yield. Amendment to add 118.1(a) and (b) passes as amended.

o Questions

Weber What are the grounds for approving a leave? Some guidelines are given in 118.3.

o Pro

Blair The way it is now, the leaves more or less automatically get approved. Thecommittee was concerned with members who simply disappeared for an entire year.

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o Con

Weber Doesnt like this going to a committee, because theres really nothing tooutline what sort of things are approved and what are not. If were approvingeverything automatically now, then we need to make guidelines for what is allowableand what is not.

o Pro

Taylor Doesnt think theres anything now actually requiring someone to give a

reason for a leave of absence. If we give reasons for approving or denying a leaveof absence, then we may be prying too much into peoples personal lives.

o Con

Weber If we dont want to provide a reason, then why are we even taking the stepof forcing it to go to IA?

Worrall If theres no reason being asked for, then not sure if the considerationmakes any sense.

o Glazier moved to strike Section 118.3 and language in 118.2 referring to the chairperson ofInternal Affairs. Second. Objection.

Purpose This fixes the big problems with a leave of absence being unclear now and

we can fix the guidelines later. Questions

Taylor Given that W&Ms idea with this bill was to provide some guidelineshow does this help?

o Go back to committees and get guidelines.

Taylor So who approves this now?o Grimes Basically the person asking for the LOA.

Worrall Your issue is the inclusion of the committee?o Would rather strike the whole approval process and start over.

Taylor Would you be amenable to retaining some semblance of what theW&M committee talked about, with giving an idea of things that we want in aLOA?

o No. Several people have issues with these guidelines specifically.

Taylor withdrew her objection. Amendment adopted.

o Glazier moved to call the question. Second. No objection.o Closing

Thank you for your consideration.o Bill 35 passes as amended.

Resolution 8o Purpose

Our meetings have become much longer, as we have more procedures to discussand more funding requests to decide. Going to meetings twice a month would makeit possible to retain the vigorous debate while keeping the meetings shorter. If a billis tabled, it would could to a committee who could address the bill betweenmeetings.

o Questions

Worrall Would this change the number of required committee meetings? No.

Blair If this bill passes, would it take effect immediately? Yes, but a meeting could be waived if there is no business to discuss.

Lieberwirth Doesnt address the length of the meeting? More meetings a month should result in shorter meetings.

o Pro

Blair I think this will be a good thing and move more quickly and efficiently. I knowI forgot some of the things discussed in the bills last month and this shouldalleviated.

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Taylor We are sometimes rushed to make a decision because the meeting isrunning so late and this will let us do due diligence.

o Con

Taylor Play devils advocate we might have more absences Weber We seem to be spending a lot of time regulating ourselves, not helping the

graduate community.o Pro

Worrall We can always pass this and move to amend it later as necessary. Blair Sometimes if we know we dont have the agenda to have 2 meetings a

month, the Speaker can cancel the meetings. New petitioners would probably ratherhear about w meetings per month that end at 9:30 than 1 that ends at midnight.

o The question was called. Second. No objection.o Closing

If we have issues that run on, we can suspend Rule 5 and cancel the extra meeting.o Amendment 8 passes.

Worrall moved to waive Rule 5 as it pertains to next week. Second. No objection. Rule waived.

ELECTIONS:

C-SAC: Katie Taylor, Raul Arispe, Elisa Weber nominated. No objection.

NEW BUSINESS:

World Affairs Program could not make it tonight; their request will be held next week.

ROUNDTABLE:

Taylor: We got the new committee assignments last week, and were apparently still having aproblem with committees. Doesnt understand why thats still happening.

o Grimes: Weve been working at this for three years; would encourage people to take theircommittee responsibility seriously.

o Blair: Thinking about introducing new legislation about committees but its not an issue in theCode. Can we get people serving on more than one committee?

o Grimes: Its a little irregular and no other SGA entities do it, but am perfectly okay with it.

Glazier: If Rosario were here she would want to congratulate Spain on winning the World Cup.

Lieberwirth: Raising money for American Cancer Society; just ran first triathalon on Saturday insupport of it in honor of a three-time cancer survivor. If you want to donate to ACS please let herknow.

FINAL ROLL CALL: Adams, Blair, Englehardt, Glazier, Grimes, Johnson, Lieberwirth, Myers, Taylor, Weber,Worrall, Metka, Fluegel

ADJOURNMENT:

NEXT MEETING: August 10

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244 Student Life Building Tallahassee, FL 32306-4177 Phone: (850) 644-7166 Fax: (850) 644-1950

The 18th Congress of Graduate Students

BILL 33

Sponsored by Representative Straub

Revision of Apportionment of Representatives to the Congress

On June 7th, 2010, the body voted to amend Chapter 111 of the COGS Code governing allocation of

seats within the Congress of Graduate Students . The purpose of this bill is to increase the size of the

body and increase representation in underrepresented colleges.

Be it enacted by the Congress:

111.2 Seats shall be allocated to each college and school according to its graduate studentenrollment as published in the most recent FSU Fact Book. One seat shall be allocated to a

college or school for every 299 199 graduate students, or portion thereof, enrolled, thoughno college or school shall have less than two seats in the Assembly. In addition, one seatwill be allocated for each 299 199 graduate students, or portion thereof, enrolled forclassified by the University registrar as "post - baccalaureate/special," and for studentsenrolled at the FSU Panama City Campus; any graduate student may fill seats of thisclassification as an Advocate.

Strikethrough indicates deletions, underlined items are additions.

___________________ __________________________________David Grimes Joyce HowardSpeaker of the House Director of Student Affairs

___________________ _____________________________Quinn Straub Mary Coburn

Deputy Speaker for Finance Vice President for Student Affairs

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7 June 2010


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BILL 39

Sponsored by Representative Arispe

Amendment Preserving Representation

On July , 2010, the body voted to add Chapter 104 of the COGS Code to allow the seat occupied by the

Cogs Speaker to be made available for another eligible FSU Graduate Student.

Purpose: When a COGS representative is elected to the position of Speaker, that person loses the

ability vote, except in the event of a tie. This results in a diminished level of representation for the

school or group that the speaker elect formerly represented. This amendment will restore this

representation, and maintain the original seat apportionment.

Strikethrough indicates deletions, underlined items are additions.

Section 104.2

H) When a COGS representative is elected Speaker, their seat shall become vacant; this

seat shall then be filled in accordance with chapter 112 of this code.




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July 2010


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BILL 40

Sponsored by Representative Grimes

Reforming the COGS Non-Discrimination Policies

On August 8, 2010, the body voted to add Chapter 121, and amend Chapters 200 and 201 of the COGS

Code to reform the non-discrimination policies of the Congress in accordance with the attached document.

The purpose of this act is to best adapt policies of the Congress to effectively protect each students interest

in not being discriminated against by an organization they have no choice but to financially support. The

Congress determines that this purpose is best served by creating a non-discrimination policy with

enumerated bases to be applied against COGS itself, and to create an Equal Opportunity, Equal Access

Policy to be applied against RSOs wishing to receive funding. The latter policy is intended to require all

RSOs to admit all interested students as members, and allow all interested students seek election into theleadership of all RSOs. It is the belief of the Congress that this system, which is viewpoint neutral in nature

and makes no inquiry into the reasons for which an RSO seeks to exclude an individual best protects the

interests of the students and the RSOs and will lead to greater efficiency in enforcement. It is the intention

of the Congress that this act be understood as synonymous with the policy adopted by UC Hastings Law

School in Christian Legal Society v. Martinez(http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-1371.pdf).

It is the intention of the Congress that this Act become effective nine weeks from the signature of the Vice-

President for Student Affairs, and that it be immediately enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law

upon its effective date.




Chapter 121 Non-Discrimination Policy

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August 2010
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-1371.pdfhttp://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-1371.pdf


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121.1 The Congress of Graduate Students, its employees, officers, and sub-allocation authoritiesshall not practice de facto or de jure discrimination against any of the individuals or classesprotected in the Student Body Non-Discrimination Statement as determined by the StudentSenate, or against any individual or group on the basis of race, creed, religion, sex, sexualorientation, gender identity or expression, family status, socio-economic status, or any other

characteristic of individual identity not rationally and reasonably related to the nature of thecircumstances at hand.

A) This chapter shall not infringe upon the legislative immunity enjoyed byrepresentatives on the floor of the Assembly.

B) This chapter shall not limit the ability of the Congress to allocate monies to or onbehalf of departments or entities of the University, so long as such departments orentities are compliant with the FSU Equal Opportunity/Non-DiscriminationStatement.

Chapter 200 Provisions for Recognized Student Organizations

200.7 Upon recognition of a student organization, and prior to any A&S expenditure by such astudent organization, the Financial Officer and the President shall countersign the followingStatement of Understanding:

Chapter 201 General Restrictions on Spending

History: Amended by the 18th Congress, Bill 7

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Statement of Understanding

The undersigned authorized representatives of herein designated as

(Name of Office held, (name of Organization) fully understands the COGS Code,which applies to all funds allocated from the COGS budget. Furthermore, theundersigned agrees on behalf of the organization for which they are officers to allprocedures for expending funds allocated from the COGS budget. Additionally,the organization accepts the terms of the Equal Access, Equal Opportunityprovisions of the COGS Code. Finally, the undersigned understands that anyviolations of the Code will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Signature, Financial Officer

Signature, President


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201.3 No organization which receives funding from COGS will practice de facto or de jurediscrimination against any of the individuals or classes protected in the Student Body Non-Discrimination Statement as determined by the Senate. Additionally, no entity whichreceives funding from COGS will engage in de facto or de jure differential treatment inmembership or otherwise on the basis of race, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, genderidentity or expression, family status, socio-economic status.

Equal Opportunity, Equal Access Provision

A) The Congress finds that funding programs by RSOs leads to expanded personal,professional, and academic opportunities which would otherwise go unrealized. TheCongress further finds that A&S fees which are mandatory in nature should never beexpended by an organization which would not have all students as members. TheCongress additionally finds that free, fair, and open elections are a sufficientmechanism to safeguard the philosophical perspective and heritage of RSOs. Assuch the Congress adopts the Equal Opportunity, Equal Access policy containedwithin this section.

B) No RSO may receive any funding if membership in the RSO and/or leadership in theRSO are not open to all students. Any requirements for membership or leadershipnot expressly authorized in this section shall be deemed incompatible with the termsof this policy, and shall make such an RSO ineligible to receive or expend fundsfrom COGS or any of its sub-allocation authorities.

1) No exemption or similar dispensation shall cure incompatibility with thispolicy whether contained in State or Federal Law, or if originated by theUniversity though the Division of Student Affairs or any other entity.

2) Membership may be limited to currently enrolled students at the Florida StateUniversity. Leadership may be conditioned on attendance requirements, orprior service to the RSO. The terms of this policy admit of the ability byRSOs to condition or limit specific privileges of membership, such asplacement on a competitive team, selection for attendance at a conference, orother similar situation, so long as the conditions or limitations are directly,reasonably, and rationally related to the circumstances of the situation.

C) All currently enrolled students shall have the direct right to seek enforcement of thissection, 201.3, in the Student Supreme Court without the burden of any standingrequirements. Prior notice or authorization by the Congress or any other entity shall

not be required to initiate suit to enforce this section.

D) The COGS Executive Board under the direction of the Speaker shall compile acompliance guide for use by RSOs in fulfilling the requirements of this section, andshall update such a guide no less than once per year.

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bill packet 18th congress 8/2/2010

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