Thursday, January 18, 2024, 4:30 PM-6:30 PM

Microsoft Teams| Truax: C2402

Chairperson: Senate President Jovhany Michaud

Order of Business

I. Call to Order – President Michaud called the meeting to order at 4:32 PM Central Time

II. Roll Call – VP Brito completed the roll call. Refer to the attendance document in SharePoint.

III. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes – President Michaud

Motion made to approve the previous meeting minutes, properly followed by a necessary second. Motion passed unanimously.

IV. Reading & Approval of Meeting Agenda – President Michaud

Motion made to approve the meeting agenda, properly followed by a necessary second. Motion passed unanimously.

Meeting recording began.

V. Public Comments

My name is Kennedy Washington, and I am in the Liberal Arts Program but will eventually enter the nursing program. VP Crowder wanted to note that this is Kennedy’s second meeting. She attended the last one before the semester ended.

a. Reflection & Thanks (10 min) – Ellie Rome, Director of Student Life

Ellie Rome who is Director of Student Life at Madison College had her start in student government for three years as Vice President. For the last 5 ½ years it has been a really big part of my life and I think it is really important that this work and that I mean especially the college gives students the voice and I have appreciated being a part of that. I have worked with so many amazing students and am genuinely sad to be leaving this group behind.

She specified that as soon as we had vacancies, the fact that there are four interested people right now and maybe even more that are not here tonight, that is huge. That speaks to the work that you all have done. Ellie wanted to acknowledge Sean Green, who said this week he is stepping into big shoes. He was the Student Senate President for two 2 years.

Senator Willis wanted to say again congratulations Director Rome. Will you maintain your open-door policy that if we need you, we could stop by and check in or make an appointment at the front desk to see you? Her door is always open and come to see me and if it is directly related to Senate start with Sean.

If we reached out to you and made requests for like letters of recommendation, is that something that’s doable for you or who should they go through Sean? Ellie Rome will always be a reference for the students that she has worked with.

President Michaud wanted to know what we can bring to you as the Director of Student Life. Ellie hopes to continue to find ways to more formally get feedback from students when she has the opportunity to make decisions. It would pertain to anything that is Student & Activities Board (SAB) related to student activity fees and how the Student Activities Board (SAB) works. She would like to hear our ideas on how to make the student experience better and what can we try to change moving forward.

VP Joof wanted to know who is in your position now? Ellie heard that the Student Senate Advisor position was approved to be posted. It should be posted next week, and the position looks a little bit different from what I was doing. Her job was working with the students at the leadership programs, which includes the NSLS, the Student Life Leadership Certificate, and the WTCS Ambassador program. The process moving forward is that the job needs to be posted for three weeks.

b. Advisor Report – Advisor Green

Advisor Green wanted to thank Ellie for the amazing compliment. It does not really bum me out that you are moving out of the advisor role because I already thought you should be the next director and I have always talked very highly of you.

The only thing that I wanted to say is that the WSG registration email out to everyone a couple days ago and found out on Tuesday that we have to have that done and submitted tomorrow. It is Feb. 18-20.

VI. Unfinished Business

a. Official Nomination Call for Vice President of Public Relations (5 min) – President Michaud

VP Brito will nominate Senator Kodiak Koessl for Vice President of Public Relations. Senator Koessl accepts the nomination.

Senator Malone will make a motion to suspend Robert’s Rules, seconded by VP Crowder.

VP Crowder proposed a friendly amendment to suspend Robert’s Rules of order for discussion for 5 minutes, accepted by Senator Malone.

Motion passed unanimously.

VII. New Business

a, Appointment of new senator (10 min) – President Michaud

Angel Avila was born and raised in Puerto Rico. The first time he actually came to the United States was Georgia where he spent some time in the military because he could not afford college. He had a Bachelor in Science. In addition, he has an Associate Degree in Engineering and is currently working in Information Technolgy (IT) where he is trying to do two more years which will focus on Cloud and Cyber Security.

VP Joof stated that you were in the school. Where did you graduate from, here or somewhere else? Angel actually graduated from somewhere else but is trying to do two majors here.

Senator Malone wanted to know what would you like to accomplish if you were elected to the Senate?  Angel stated that every time he goes to a company or institution, he wants to add some sort of value.

President Michaud asked what are your strengths and weaknesses?  Angle stated that his weakness is that he is really competitive and sometimes can be overwhelmed.  His strength would be that he is a good listener.

Angel Avila was elected as a General Senator to the Madison College Student Senate with 10 votes, a unanimous decision.

VIII. Non-Business | Housekeeping

IX. Announcements

a. President Michaud stated that you are going to see a new President. Last summer was the time for us to be trained, fall was the time for us to be trial and error, and spring is going to be the time to get it right. We will follow Robert’s Rules; everybody who has a report will have to send a written report, like the highlights, after you give the report the next day to our Communications Coordinator. Finally, he would like to congratulate everybody who came back, and we did a great job in the fall.

b. VP Crowder stated that there is going to be a play on February 10th. The showings will be at 2pm and 7pm. It is called The Meeting by Jeff Stetson. There is also a gallery opening held by the Women’s Affinity group here at the college on Thursday, February 1st.

c. President Michaud stated that for the meeting on February 8th that he will not be here. VP Brito will take over in President Michaud’s absence.

d. Our next meeting will be Thursday, January 24th, 2024, at 4:30pm in room C2402

X. Adjournment

Motion made by VP Crowder to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Senator Koessl. The motion was carried out unanimously, and the meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m. Central Time.