Feb 4, 1997 General Council Minutes

[Residence Hall Student Association]

RHSA General Council Meeting Minutes

4 February 1997



Attendance:

Matt Kaser, Amy German, Vance Neill, Jon Sternoff, Dale Lee, Karen
Gaudette, Shelly Slate, Lauren Cockrell, Dawn Michelle Hewett, Deanna
Halsrud, Beckett Senter, Duc Le, Kent Singleton, Kim Aked, Brad Benner,
Heather Bettinger, Mike Davis, Sonja Schneider, Sandy Buffaloe, Troy Hill,
Dawn Mott, Scott Halleman, Erika Lease, Amy Lucas, Andre King.

Meeting was called to order by Matt Kaser, RHSA President, at 3:29 pm.

Guest Speaker Shelley Slate spoke before the General Council as a
representative of the Services and Activities Fee:

The Services and Activities Fee is an $85 fee that is paid by every
full-time-equivalent student of the University of Washington for every
quarter they are enrolled.  Annually, $7.25 million dollars are collected
for this fee.  It is, "... for the express purpose of funding student
services and programs." (RCW 28B.15.045).  The expenditures of this fee is
regulated by SAFC, the Services and Activities Fee Committee, composed of
student members nominated by the ASUW or GPSS, and appointed by the
President of the University.  The members of SAFC then propose a budget
for the monies to be ultimately approved by the Board of Regents.

Hall Health is the most heavily funded by the Student and Activities Fee,
receiving approximately 46.8% of the total funds acquired.  This funding
helps the University to provide a valuable resource to students at a very
low cost.  Major funding also is directed towards the IMA, 16.1%, the
University's Childcare Program, 6.9%, the ASUW, 5.1%, and GPSS, 5.0%.
Another large commitment of the SAF budget is used to repay long-term
loans, 14.9%, that were acquired in the past through renovations made to
the HUB, Schmitz Hall, etc.  In addition to the $85 collected quarterly, 
the SAFC has a $5 million reserve fund set aside for special projects
which may be used in a number of ways.  

Some key questions that were raised by Shelly: 
Should a new IMA building be built with SAF funds?
Should there be user fees instead of direct SAF funding for any programs?
Should funding for any programs be cut?
Should different programs be funded that presently are not?

A final question is whether or not the Student and Activities Fee should be
raised.  The $85 charge was set three years ago, and since that time, the
cost for a lot of the funding done by the SAF Committee has increased.
The dilemma dances around tuition and cost of living expenses as well as a
desire to maintain the current quality of programs.  

In closing, Shelly was very interested in finding out how the services
sponsored by the SAF benefited residence hall students.  Questions,
comments and concerns about the Services and Activities Fee should be
directed to Brian Bridges, bbridges at u.washington.edu.  Comments will be
forwarded to the committee members.


Old Business:

Bill 97-1: Proposed amendment to Article IV, Section 3 of the RHSA Bylaws;
Proposed addition of Section 4 of Article IV of the RHSA Bylaws.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE RESIDENCE HALL STUDENT
ASSOCIATION THAT:

Article IV, Section 3 of the Bylaws be amended to read:

ARTICLE IV: PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES SECTION 3: HALL VOTE

A: Any voting member of RHSA with the opinion that there has been a gross
misrepresentation of hall councils in any official vote of general council
may call for a hall vote.

C: A vote tabulated by the head representative, calculated into hall votes
with each hall having the same number of votes as currently elected
representatives.

Article IV, Section 4 be added as follows:

SECTION IV: HALL VOTE

A: Any voting member of RHSA with the opinion that there has been a gross
misrepresentation of hall councils in any official vote of the general
council may call for a council vote.

B: A Council Vote consists of:

1. An open floor for discussions and questions.
2. A caucus of representatives from each council meeting for such time as
the General Council deems necessary.
3: A vote tabulated by the head representative, calculated into hall votes
with each hall having the same number of votes as currently elected
representatives announced at the end of the caucus.

Sections 4-6 to be renumbered 5-7.

Bill 97-1 was presented at the 1/28 General Council Meeting with
instruction that hall representatives take them back to the Hall Councils
for discussion and to propose any amendments to the Bill.  In General
Council for 2/4, the Bill was further discussed, mostly inquiries of
clarification on the changes the Bill would effect.  After discussion, the
Bill was voted upon.  Yes 16, No 0, Abstaining 2.  Bill passed as
presented above, 2/4/97.


Officer Reports:

Matt Kaser, RHSA President, announced:

In the previous week he held a Presidential Round Table at which the Hall
Council Presidents discussed a range of issues concerning them.
Discussion was primarily focused upon up-coming plans for Winterfest
festivities, clarification of Bill 97-1, Parliamentary Procedure
etiquette, and the possibility of Multicouncil Executive Board Meetings.

An RHSA representative of the Crime Prevention Committee is needed.  The
committee looks at issues concerning safety on the University of
Washington Campus, (such as improving lighting, etc.).  Meetings are at
2:30 pm on Thursdays.  If you are interested in serving as a member of
this committee, please contact Matt Kaser at friday at u.washington.edu.

Troy Hill, RHSA Vice President, announced:

Mike Greene, nationally known speaker on substance abuse, met in the
Ethnic Cultural Theater on 2/4 at 8 pm, (previously he was scheduled for
7 pm, but had to begin at a later time due to a flight delay).

On Wednesday, 2/5, at 5 pm in Terry Hall's Jade Room, Food Services is
hosting a Chicken Strip taste testing session to try to gain perspective
on alternate brands of chicken strips to be used in the cafeterias.
Currently the highest quality of strips are used, but at a correspondingly
high cost.  This taste test session is designed to look at the possibility
of substituting cost for quality.

2/5, 1:30 -  2:30, the Resident's Rights Committee meets in Lander 108.
2/5, 2:30 - 3:30, the Community Development Committee meets in Lander 108.

Other general comments included the Cuisine Action Committee's effort to
bring bulk cereal into Food Service.  This move would primarily serve to
reduce the amount of waste, (those small boxes of cereal do create a lot
of packaging to throw away), but would not show a significant change in
the cost of the cereal itself.  Also, Troy is interested in bringing in
representatives from student organizations on campus to speak in greater
detail on the Domestic Partnership issues currently of concern.  Dawn
Hewett announced that she was, in addition to the RHSA liaison, a liaison
to GBLC, and could provide both information and sources for further
inquiry on Domestic Partnership.

Dawn Mott, the National Communications Coordinator, announced:

Of the Month Awards for the month of January are due on February 10.  If
there is anyone in the residence halls who has earned recognition for
outstanding contribution, please nominate them for this most prestigious
award.  For further information, please contact Dawn Mott at
dmott at u.washington.edu.

Deanna Halsrud, RHSA Programming Director, announced:

Winterfest preparations were well underway.  Volunteers to host the event
are still heavily needed.  Special menus were confirmed in Haggett Dining
celebrating the Mardi Gras theme of Winterfest.  Special aluminum coins
were being made available that could be redeemed at Casino Night for
playing money.

Volunteer opportunities:
Friday, 2/7, meeting at 2 pm and lasting for the duration of the event.
Saturday, 2/8, meting at 1 pm and lasting for the duration of the event.

Duc Le, RHSA Treasurer, announced:

Current RHSA budget stands at $4,502

No quorum was reached at the 2/4 General Council meeting.  

One proposal from the ASUW Women's Commission for $500 was submitted.
Because the amount exceeded $250, the proposal had to be taken back to the
Hall Councils for a vote.  The results will be discussed at the 2/11
General Council meeting as Old Business.  Erika Lease, a representative
for the Women's Commission, spoke on the proposal explaining the money was
to be used to fund the 25th Anniversary celebration for the passing of
Title IX legislation which banned sex discrimination in public higher
education institutions.  The event is planned for May 7, at 8 pm
(tentative), costing $1 for University of Washington students and $5 for
the general public.  The total cost for he event is $6380, most used to
fund the guest speaker's airfare and hotel accommodations, ($3400).  Guest
speaker Bernice Sandler was one of the original proponents of Title IX and
was instrumental in its passing.  Other major expenses include room
reservations and  advertising.  Erika plans on receiving funds from the
Vice President of Student Affairs and the Greek Councils.

The Budget Review Committee should receive the 1997 budget from Housing
and Food Services two weeks from 1/30.  If you are interested in becoming
a part of this very important process, please contact Duc Le,
teppy at u.washington.edu or 543-5251, with your scheduling information so an
appropriate meeting time can be made.  

Proposed community improvements upcoming include: towel dispensers to
compliment the new soap dispensers, opening Mercer Hall for the entire
year, increases funding specifically targeted for the special interest
houses in the Halls, (ie. Outdoor, Frosh, International, Safe Houses to
gain funds so that Hall Councils are not so heavily burdened with the
monetary needs of these houses), permanent telephone hookups in the rooms,
(which would decrease the cost of the services), and board optional plans
in Hansee Hall.  These items are tentative and will be discussed to
definition and resolution at the Budget Review Committee meetings.

Sherry Steinway, RHSA Advisor, announced:

Student HANDS meets on Wednesday, 2/5, at 7:30 pm in Haggett's Southeast
Dining.  They will be making Valentine's Day cards for members of a Senior
Citizens center.  In addition, the HANDS blood drive was a great success,
collecting 100 pints of blood on North campus, (Haggett Grey lounge), and
71 pints on South campus, (Terry's Jade Room).

The 1600 panels of the AIDS Quilt are coming May 14-18.  Volunteers are
needed to help host this four day event.  Opportunities to help follow a
great range, from set up to informing and presenting.  For more
information please contact Sherry, sherry at u.washington.edu.


ASUW Liaison Report

Dawn Michelle Hewett, ASUW Liaison, announced:

The Experimental College has been shut down for the next two quarters,
reopening in Autumn 1997.

Next week, February 10 - 15, will be Safer Sex Week at the University of
Washington.  Volunteers are needed to distribute condoms and informational
flyers across the campus for this event.  If interested in helping to
distribute, email andreki at u.washington.edu.

Dawn encourages Hall Council Presidents to contact her,
dmhewett at u.washington.edu, for a time when the current Board of Control
members may attend and speak at the Council meetings.  

Three spots are currently open on the ASUW Judicial Committee.  Contact
Dawn for more information.

Student Senate meetings are every Tuesday at 5 pm in Gowen 308.

The Board of Control will be the guest speakers at the next General
Council meeting, 2/11 at 3:30 pm in Lander 134.


Announcements:

Jon Sternoff's award winning presentation of Romance 101 will be in
McMahon's Sadd Cafe on 2/11 at 8 pm, and on 2/12 in  Lander 132 at 8:30
pm.


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	University of Washington Residence Hall Student Association
				(206)543-5251
E-Mail: rhsa at u.washington.edu			Box 355606
WWW: http://weber.u.washington.edu/~rhsaweb/ 	Seattle, Wa 98105