04.01.10 Meeting Minutes

8 Lang students in attendance as well as Firenze faculty advisor. 
Chair and Minute Taker: Erin Strasen

AGENDA

1. Proposal for Photography Lecture
2. Proposal for Skybridge Art and Sound Space "bartender" for upcoming opening
3. Proposal for Optical Printing 16mm Film
4. Proposal to purchase French texts for translations

Photography Lecture

• Presented by Adam Schleimer (schla276@newschool.edu).
• Proposal to use The New School facilities to host a night of lectures by photographer Clayton Patterson and another photographer (he is in the process of talking to a couple at the moment to see who can do it).
• The lecture by the photographers will relate to Urban Studies issues.
• The event will be open to The New School community and hopefully to public (details remain to be seen).
• Adam will work with the LSU to find a space to have the lecture, tenative date being May 5th.
• Possible spaces: Kellan, Tischman, Wollman, 510 on 12th Street.
• Break down of proposed event: 6:30 doors open, 7:00 first lecturer, 15 minute intermission, 8:15 lecture begins for second speaker, 9:00 Q&A, 9:30 - reception afterwards.
• The proposal asked for
• $250 - Speaker one
• $250 - Speaker two
• $100 - Publicity 
• $200 - Reception amenities
• $100 - Miscellaneous
• (He has also secured a donation from Joe's Coffee to be served during the intermission and reception.
• As a group we agreed to fund the two speakers for a total of $500. At a later date when Adam has specific information of the cost breakdown for reception amenities, publicity etc. then he can return to the group to propose funding for the remaining costs of the lecture series.
• Approved $500 towards the payment of two speakers to come to The New School to host a night of lectures on photography and urban issues.
• In favor 7
• Opposed 0
• Abstentions 1

Skybridge Art and Sound Space "bartender" for upcoming opening

• Contacts information: Erin Strasen (strae215@newschool.edu), Molly Osbery (osbem352@newschool.edu) and Simonetta Moro (Moros@newschool.edu
• The Skybridge Art and Sound Space will be having an opening reception for it's upcoming exhibition of The Cardew Object April 15th from 5:00 - 7:00.
• The shows often don't draw as many Lang student as they would like
• They would like to being serving wine at  receptions in the hopes of drawing more students in and raising awareness of the space.
• Because of the expenses associated with serving alcohol on school grounds they have been unable to do so.
• The Lang Arts budget gives a minimal amount of money towards drinks and refreshments but $200 would be neeed to hire the school's mandated outside official to serve alcohol on school grounds. 
• Approved $200 to go towards hiring the school's outside official to serve alcohol on school grounds to students and faculty 21 and older for the upcoming opening of The Cardew Object.
• In favor 7
• Opposed 0
• Abstentions 1

Proposal for Optical Printing 16mm Film

• Contact: Nathaniel Cummings-Lambert (cummn686@newschool.edu)
• Currently enrolled in an independent study with Joel Schlemowitz, an experimental filmmaker and professor at NSGS.
• Working on an experimental short film to demonstrate his abilities to utilize traditional and experimental photography techniques.
• Creating a short film is beyond his financial abilities because of the cost of the film and processing.
• Once the film is finished Nate will host a screening for LSU and another other students interested in seeing the final project.
• This project will work to give the community a glimpse into an area of the cinematic arts that is rarely seen or acknowledges by the public at large.
• Proposed costs
• Price of film: $27.68 +tax
• Processing fee $11.70 +tax
• Work print $34.56 +tax
• Total per 100ft $73.94
• Proposed film duration 15 minutes.
• 100ft of film – 3 minutes.
• Needs 700ft of film (a little extra for rough cuts, edits, etc.
• Total price for processing 700 ft of film - $517.58.
• Final print cost: $0.29 per foot for 500 ft (15 mins) = $145
• Total funds - $662.58.
• He has already spent over $200 of his own money to practice and cannot continue at this point because of the price
• Approved $662.58 to fund the price of film and processing.
• In favor 7
• Opposed 0
• Abstentions 1

Purchase of French Texts for Translation

• Contact: Matt Whitley (whitm504@newschool.edu)
• Three French language texts are being prepared for translation and potential English language publication.
• First two texts are produced by the Encyclopedia of Nuisances a publishing group primarily concerned with radical critiques of industrial society, biotechnology, scientific obscurantism, state, and commodity colonization of life.
• The third text is by Anselm Jappe, a highly recognized philosopher. It is a contemporary work and critical to the worlds of economics, political science, sociology and radical theory. It is a highly praised economic text.
• All texts and rights are free. They will be made available via internet.  
• Break down of costs:
• Aveux complets des véritables mobiles du crime commis au cirad le 5 juin 1999 by René Riesel $35.99 + $3.99 s/h.
• Déclarations sur agriculture transgénique by René Riesel. $27.97
• Les Aventures de la marchandise : Pour une nouvelle critique de la valeur by Anselm Jappe. $66.67 + $3.99 s/h.
• TOTAL: $138.61 (subject to slight change because of exchange rates).
• This is an urgent funding request because a minimal amount of these texts are available and they could be purchased by someone else very soon.
• Approved $138.61 (keeping in mind that there may be a slight change because of exchange rates) to go towards purchasing 3 French texts to be translated (see information about translation in attached proposal).
• In favor 7
• Opposed 0
• Abstentions 1
  
  

Summary and Attendance

·       Approved four proposals totaling $1501.19.

·       STAY TUNED FOR AN UPDATE ON THE REMAINING AMOUNT IN THE LSU ACCOUNT.

 Meeting notes can also be viewed here.

03.04.10 Meeting Minutes

Chair: Venus Soto

Minute Taker: Erin Strasen
Stack Taker: Akeema Anthony

AGENDA

1. Proposal for Free Press reporters to be banned from meetings
2. Proposal to postpone Occupation Fund voting due to National Day of action. 
3. Proposal to make changes to the constitution regarding the use of a proxy.
4. Miami Conference Proposal

Free Press

• LSU does not have the authority to ban any student or organization. It is unconstitutional and we are an organization that promotes transparency.
• Further complaints about errors or misquotes in the Free Press should be directed to editor-in-chief Kate Hanselman at hanksek45@gmail.com.

Occupation Fund

• Agreed to postpone the vote due to unclear facts in the proposal.
• The final destination of the money needs to be made very clear. 
• Where will the money be going exactly? 
• Lang students? Or the Occupation Fund in general?

Proxy Costitnution Changes

• 1:1
• Verify that they are full time Lang students
• The proxy can be used for one meeting at a time.
• Clarify the definition of extenuation circumstances.
• How can we make it so that people who regularly attend meetings have do not become outnumbered by proxies in terms of the ability to vote.
• Must inform the LSU of the proxy in advance.
• Extenuating circumstances include work and class.

Miami Conference Proposal

·      $3,000 includes round trip airfare, housing and transportation.

·      3 people

·      April 16^th to 18^th

·      New School University is recognized

·      Vote will be postponed until next meeting

·      We need a more specific break down of funds.

General Meeting Notes

• $16,045 remain in the account. 
• Spread the word that we need proposals.
• Proposals should be sent 2 days before the meeting.
• Adjustments to proposal guidelines need to be made.
• Differentiate between large funding proposals and less significant proposals.

CONSTITUTION CHANGES

Amendment to Article IV, Section 2, line b
One member of the Lang student body can only proxy for one other full time matriculated Lang student. 
In Favor 14
Opposed 0
Abstentions 3

Amendment to Article IV, Section 2, line b
Any student sending a proxy in their stead must send an email at least 24 hours in advance from their New School account stating their intent and proxy name.  The proxy vote is only effective for one meeting.  Extenuating circumstances extends to class and work schedule conflicts only. 
In Favor 13
Opposed 0
Abstentions 4


Amendment to Article IV, Section 2, line a
3/4 majority process vote is required any funding, constitutional and political proposals.  2/3 majority process vote is required for operational, non-political and non-funding proposals. 
In Favor 14
Opposed 0
Abstentions 3

Meeting notes can also be viewed here.


UPDATED CONSTITUTION

LSU Meeting: Occupation, Constitution, Proposals, CHANGE

After 3 weeks of postponing the vote on the contentious issue of::: funding the remaining legal defense fund for students involved in the occupation $2200, we will finally be voting on the issue.  We have included information about the occupation to debunk any myths that may exist regarding the event and to invite new students to educate themselves on the topic.

We invite all Lang College Students to attend this meeting and participate in the decision making project.  If you cannot attend tomorrow's meeting you may not vote electronically on the issue, but you may send a proxy in your place.  (See LAST WEEKS MEETING MINUTES or the CONSTITUTION for details).

We have enclosed the constitution and guidelines for all students to keep and review when necessary.

Meeting Agenda

Legal Defense Fund for Occupiers $2200

Clinton Global Initiative University conference fees $3000

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LAST MEETING MINUTES

Attendance

14 Lang Students

Amendments to the Constitution

Currently, unanimous vote passes all proposals.  This amendment proposes that the current unanimous vote be changed to include a minimum 10 minute open dialogue, where parties For and Against  and Abstention is given 5 minutes to present their arguments.  Whenever a unanimous vote cannot be reached this open dialogue will preceed a 2/3 majority vote of students voting for or against.  Abstentions are not counted towards the 2/3 majority vote.

Vote

For: 10

Against: 0

Abstentions: 1

Currently there is no clause that addresses physical/digital presence for vote.  Regarding physical presence for vote, attendance is required.  If a person desires a vote and cannot attend for extentuating circumstances they may send a proxy in their stead.

Vote

For:10

Against: 0

Abstentions: 0

Currently the constitution implies that students who attend Union meetings are responsible for allocating the budget based on votes on behalf of the entire student body.  We propose that a clause be added that explicitly gives Lang students in attendance at Union meetings all jurisdiction over the budget allocations.

Vote

For: 9

Against: 0

Abstentions: 2

Memo to JS from Ad Hoc Committee 

Park Jensen Report to Ad Hoc Committee