The General Body Meeting saw more varied business this week.  

Student Body Vice President and BHA senior Andrea Hamilton gave a report on the executives' projects, which include: creating benchmarks for a potential rental car system (similar to zip cars); setting up a student Green Task Force to improve "green" business and classroom practices; finding funding for Academic Development's increasingly popular Peer Tutoring program; and, overseeing a pilot program for gender-neutral housing. In the pilot study, students could opt not to disclose their gender, and/or have a preference for roommates of either gender, or no preference either way.

Associate Vice President Michael Murphy introduced the latest version of the new Controversial Speakers policy, which has been renamed the Freedom of Expression policy because it covers more than speakers. The policy guarantees free speech as long as it does not interfere with normal University operations, and does not infringe upon the rights and privileges of other students or pose a credible threat to those students. Hosts of controversial speakers or presenters will also be held accountable for the actions of the guests they bring to campus. The undergraduate Student Senate will vote on approving this policy on Thursday, November 9.

The Senate elected HSS sophomore Phil Croul to the Campus Conversations advisory board to help choose new topics and give general student perspective, and also elected HSS first-year Brian Wade to fill an HSS vacancy created last week after a resignation.

Senate would like to hold a mid-term referendum before the semester comes to an end.  The referendum will ask students how they feel about a raise in the Activities Fee, and potentially other topics that senators will brainstorm in the meantime.
    
Academic Affairs:Evan Osheroff
Business Affairs:Jared Itkowitz
Campus Life:Kelly Duncan
Development and Communications:Justin Berka, Gerrit Betz (co-chairs)
Funding:Joel Bergstein
Senate Chair:Emily Leathers
senate.web.cmu.edu

Upcoming Meetings:

General Body: 5:00 p.m. Thursday, DH 2210
Executive Committee: 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, UC 318G
Academic Affairs: 6:00 p.m. Monday, UC 320
Business Affairs: 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, UC 320
Campus Life: 9:00 p.m. Monday, UC 320
Development and Communications: 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, UC 320
Finance: 4:30 p.m. Tuesday UC 306

$600 to the School of Drama for The Rocky Horror Show Live!

Date: December 9, 2006

Request: The School of Drama sophomores and juniors are putting on a production of The Rocky Horror Show Live. The production will be a collaborative effort with participants from different academic colleges. The show will be free and open to the public. There will be a donation box to raise money for the School of Drama Senior Showcase. The event will be held in the Philip Chosky Theatre, which has seating for 450 people.

Committee Decision: The committee decided to give money for the needed supplies as requested by the representative. Many of the items on the list the representative noted could be made or sought out from the performers. The committee discussed how the optional donations that aid the seniors affects whether it should be funded. Ultimately, because the donation is optional, it is the same as if it was an optional donation to charity. Finally, the committee liked this event seeing as the school is not having its yearly showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show on Halloween.

General Body Decision: The General Body felt that this event encouraged cross-collaboration between CFA and other schools, a chronic problem, and voted to fund it overwhelmingly.

$500 to Pi Delta Psi Fraternity for Iron Chef Competition

Date: November 13, 2006

Request: Pi Delta Psi is looking to host its annual Iron Chef Competition as part of Asian Heritage Month. The event is a chance for students of different backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities to interact with one another and share their culture through the different dishes that they prepare. The team will host several three-person teams, who are given an hour and a half to cook a dish to be judged by faculty and students.

Committee Decision: Student Senate has funded this event in the past and it is an excellent social event that fosters interaction and cultural learning. Additionally, the gas burners can be used in the future, and can benefit other student organizations.

General Body Decision: Senators questioned the merits of funding gas burners for a group that received funding the previous year for electric burners, but narrowly funded the allocation anyway. This group buys extra burners so that they can allow groups without their own to participate. The reason for the request for gas instead of electric burners was twofold: electric burnersallegedly do not heat up as quickly as gas burners, and last time Pi Delta Psi held the Iron Chef competition in Rangos, the high number of electric burners in use combined with other electronics in the room shorted out the power, and delayed the event for about three hours.

Senators opposing the motion noted that the group could still use some electric burners, as long as they didn't short out Rangos, and Senate could fund a smaller number of gas burners to alleviate the problem. Senators supporting the motion believed that the need was great enough, since many groups attend the competition without the benefit of owning any of their own burners.

$282 to Carnegie Clan for Carnegie Clan Bonfire

Date: November 15, 2006

Request: Since the Tartans are undefeated so far, they are guaranteed a game on November 18, whether it be a national or regional tournament. The Carnegie Clan wants to have a bonfire to promote school spirit on the Wednesday before the game. They need money for supplies for the bonfire and a to hire a plumber as a mandatory safety precaution.

Committee Decision: The committee decided to fund the entire cost of the event. This is an excellent for school spirit, and a great way to celebrate our football team's success.

General Body Decision:  The General Body overwhelmingly agreed with the committee decision. 

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