Agenda 계획

• Discuss what we want from STHSA this semester and for our future
  이번 학기와 미래에 STHSA에게 바라는 점 나누기
• PR presentation from Brian
  Brain의 학교 홍보 프리젠테이션

What do we want this semester? 우린 이번 학기에 무엇을 원하냐면요?

• Better streamlined communication, integration, and participation of
  간결한 커뮤니케이션, 통합, 참여를 원합니다.
  • Korean students, in particular, and international students at a larger scale
    특별히 국제학생들을 포함한 한국 학생들
  • Doctoral students 박사과정생들
  • Elected representatives and those members of groups that don’t have elected representatives; ensure the latter in particular feels STHSA’s support
    선출된 학생모임 대표들과 대표가 없는 모임들; 특히 대표가 없는 모임을 향해 학생회가 지원하는 것을 잊지 않기
  • Those that cannot be physically present at STH, either for meetings or in general (ex: long-distance commuters)
    물리적으로 학교와 모임에 참여할 수 없는 학생들(장거리 통학하는 사람들을 비롯한) 의 참여를 원합니다.
  • Ensure diverse perspectives voiced and heard
    다양한 시각과 목소리가 들릴 수 있도록 노력하기
  • Refine our vision and be able to articulate for what we work
    우리의 비전과 우리가 어떤 일을 하는지 명확하게 하기
  • Communication outside of STH and BU
    BU와 신과대학 밖의 대학과 커뮤니케이션 강화
    • President’s reply: Possibly go through ANTS (Joseph has a contact who is interested in building BTI relationships). Linwood Blizzard is also currently in charge of forming a student advisory board that will in part work to plan and promote events across the BTI.
      학생회장의 답변: ANTS를 통한 가능성 타진중. (BTI 관계 강화에 관심 있는 사람과 연락 중) Linwood Blizzard가 BTI에 관련한 이벤트를 계획하고 홍보하고 있고, BTI관련 계획과 홍보를 담당하기 위한 학생 자문위원을 구성 계획 중
    • Not lose sight of the unfinished business from last semester
      저번 학기부터 계획되던 일에 대한 관심을 잃지 않기
    • STRONG desire to have a meeting time that doesn’t conflict with STH courses or AHSC brown bag lunches 강력한 요청- 다른 수업이나 쇼센터 모임과 겹치지 않는 회의 시간
      • President’s reply: Meeting time has always been an issue.  We’re supposed to have 1-2 on Thursdays but the Shaw Center voiced concern at us taking students away from their talks and we wanted to support the long-lasting program of the Shaw Center, so we decided to not conflict with them.
        회장의 답변: 회의 시간은 언제나 문제였음. 목요일 오후 1-2시에 회의를 잡으려고 했으나 쇼 센터에서 학생들이 일찍 자리를 먼저 일어나야 하는 것은 좋지 않다고 이야기함. 오랜 전통을 가진 쇼 센터를 지원하고 갈등을 피하고자 회의 시간을 옮김.

What we did well in Fall 2013 지난 가을학기에 무엇을 했냐면요.

• Professionally handled issues such as advertising space and stipend concerns with deans, including continued collegiality
  광고 공간이나, 학생 장학금(stipend) 문제를 학장님과 학생들과의 협조로 전문적으로 처리함
• Successful student organization and interest group fair at Community Lunch
  학생자치 단체와 이익단체 박람회를 공동점심(community lunch)에서 성공적으로 치뤄 냄
• Offered a unified face to the student body 학생회에 단일한 대표얼굴을 제공
• Improved communication within and outside STHSA 학생회 내외간의 커뮤니케이션 향상

Additional comments or concerns for this semester 이번 학기를 위한 부가적인 발언과 걱정들

• KSA is excited about their events at the end of February and hope for high attendance and participation from inside and outside of BU.
  2월 마지막주에 있을 KSA의 행사를 기대하고 있음. 신대뿐만이 아닌 학교 전체의 많은 참석을 기대.
• Use the power given to us as student leaders to improve life for the STH and surrounding communities 학생대표로서 정치적 힘을 잘 사용하여 신대 학생들의 삶과 주변을 향상시키기
• Need to follow up on anti-oppression training concerns lifted up at last semester’s Town hall 신대 Town hall 모임에서 제기된 Anti-oppression 훈련에 대한 지속적인 체크가 필요
• Potentially expand elected representatives’ responsibilities to expand influence and benefit community선출된 대표들의 의무를 확대해서 공동체에 더욱 많은 이익이 돌아가도록 하기

Brian’s PR Presentation Brian의 홍보에 관한 프리젠테이션

• Utilizing social media because we need better communication between STHSA and STH student body, faculty, and staff and almost everyone is on some form of social media
  이미 거의 모든 이들이 사용하고 있는 소셜 미디어를 활용하기. 우리는 학생자치회와 학생들, 교수진, 교직원간의 더 향상된 커뮤니케이션이 필요함.
  • Social media also provides a digital record and space for dialogue, as well as better visibility and accessibility of minutes and topics of upcoming meetings
    소셜 미디어는 대화를 위한 디지털 기록과 공간을 또한 제공. 회의록 열람과 다가올 회의에 대한 더 나은 가시성과 접근성을 제공함.
  • Social media should provide ability to disseminate STHSA announcements better than current process
    소셜 미디어는 학생회의 공지사항을 퍼뜨리는데 현재보다 더 유리할 것임
  • Social media should provide access to procedural information (i.e. upcoming springboard deadlines) 소셜 미디어는 행정적인 정보를 제공하여야만 할 것임 (봄학기 장학금 마감일등)
  • Social media should help cultivate our STH ethos 소셜미디어는 신대만의 특징을 만드는데 기여할 수 있을 것
    • A cover photo and/or logo contest 커버 사진/ 로고 콘테스트
    • Community principles posts (different students writing a 100 word or less posting about life at STH) 공동체 규범들을 포스팅 (많은 다른 학생들이 100자 이내의 신과대 삶에 대해 포스팅하기)
    • Photo sharing of STHSA events 학생회 이벤트 사진 공유
    • “One thing I like about BU…” tweets/posts 내가 보스턴대학에 대해 좋아하는 이유는요… 트위터나 포스팅
• Social media is interest-based, though, so a challenge is that people’s Facebooks are already inundated and Twitter is less easy to look back through.
  소셜 미디어는 흥미 위주라 넘쳐나는 포스팅과 트위터로 집중시키기에 어려운 점은 있음.
• Plan is to post minutes, upcoming subjects and events, deadlines, etc.  Student groups will be contacted asking for their scheduled events and to notify STHSA when they have things to publicize
  계획은 이렇습니다. 회의록, 다가오는 이벤트, 데드라인 등을 포스팅하고 학생 그룹은 스케줄 된 이벤트를 학생회에 전달해서 광고하는 것임.
• We can make this happen by 우리는 이렇게 함으로서 이 일을 해낼 수 있습니다.
  • Use #busth on Twitter 트위터에서 #busth 해쉬태크 사용하기
  • Possibly posting videos on YouTube that prospective students might watch
    입학희망자를 위해 YouTube에 포스팅 하기
  • Twitter conversations across the UMC seminaries (possibly in the fall) and with students and faculty (possibly in the spring)
    모든 UMC신학교에게 트위터로 (가능하다면 가을에) 대화하기 학생들과 교수진들도 함께 (가능하다면 봄에)

Miscellaneous 기타

• Every first meeting of a month will still be administrative.  Representatives from all student organizations will be expected to attend and financial matters will be discussed. 매달 첫째 주 모임은 단체 대표들의 모임으로. 모든 학생회의 대표들은 필참하여 예산관련 대화를 할 것이 요구됨
• Every last meeting of the month will be an executive officer’s-only meeting.
  매달 마지막 주 모임은 집행위원회만의 모임으로
• We will vote on changing the meeting time for this semester at the next meeting.
  학생회 회의 시간 조정관련은 다음주 모임에 투표하기로
• Very favorable feedback about emails in Korean
  한국어로 번역된 이메일에 대한 반응이 좋았음
• The Variety Show date is still in the works, but will likely be the week of April 23 or 30 in the evening.
  The Variety Show의 날짜는 아직 미정이나 4월 23일이나 4월 30일 저녁 예정

Opening Mediation

AGENDA: Talk about flat screen TV & flyer policy, international student concerns, hoodie update, mug holders for next week, next week talking about Thanksgiving and Christmas party

TV: Dean Lightsey wants to know where students want the flatscreen TV.  This is the class gift from last year, it’s been purchased, just have to figure out where to put it.  It will have announcements about STH events, possibly managed through Dean Lightsey’s office likely through Valentina.  General consensus for basement placement.

Flyer policy: Ability to advertise is limited.  Dean Lightsey’s office offered easels on floors 1-3 in the meantime.  Already bulletin boards on floors 1 & 2 but they’re locked and STHSA body would like a more democratic way /less red rape way of having student organizations advertise.  Discussion:

• Some students prefer email; may not pay attention to a bulletin board.  Though other students articulate that they get so many emails they often don’t read them all and would appreciate other physical reminders in the STH building.
• Physical boards allow people outside the STH bubble to advertise to us
• Is a screen really green?  Is the carbon footprint actually smaller with a TV screen?
• If concerned about how much paper is around, having designated space cuts down on the amount of flyers.  Also get a lot of emails per day and often ignore so personally likes flyers to catch your eye.
• Also proposed an optional comprehensive Google calendar for the school you can be a part of if you want to.  A calendar does currently exist but only about 5 people in the school can edit it.
  • Ashley had tried to get organization presidents to send their events to make a master calendar but no one got back to her
  • A desire to use Facebook/social media in addition, not in place of a place to post hard copy flyers.
  • Desire for regulation over how flyers get posted AND taken down after events end.

Yun Jeong – international student concerns.

Writing works is a great, free resource, but international students have particular issue with the policy surrounding editing of take-home exams or final papers:

• STH prohibits assistance with exams.  Know school has limitations on making writing center works, but there are only 3 employees and they’re often booked and international students get frustrated that there isn’t an international student only source.  Can there be a priority for international student use?
  • Existing tension with domestic students that Writing Works is heavily booked by international students in the past
  • Professors can say writing works can be used for take-home exams or papers for grammatical help only if they email the Writing Works Center.
  • Proposed idea of more workshops for international students throughout the year, utilization of ESL writing skills appointments at the Education Resource Center (university-wide writing resource) in addition to the Writing Works Center at STH.
    • Supposedly there’s a handbook for international students in Boston, though Yun Jeong never received it.  Could be helpful to have introductory course or time connected to orientation.  Would likely be more helpful if the handbook were offered before orientation and in multiple languages.
    • Jospeh, Yun Jeong, and Jason will work together to draft the email and send it off for consideration at the next AAPF meeting.  Will include the deans in the email.
    • Proposed idea to have students be proofreaders for 1 or 2 credits per semester.
    • Proposed idea to expanding new student orientation to have time before the first year orientation for international students only.
      • Housing could be an obstacle; maybe reach out to current students that wouldn’t mind housing international students temporarily
      • We will also reach out to the international chaplain at Marsh, Brittany, to see what she already has going or how she might be able to help.
      • Proposed idea to expand the mentorship to have a specific focus on international students
        • Maybe get KSA involved and have people who have been here longer be mentors
        • Ashley has tried in the past and couldn’t get much response but willing to try again

Kristen - Hoodie Competition

On the basis that we did not have a quorum of students voting and that all possible designs were not included, we will revote Monday-Wednesday of next week AND have a paper vote at Community Lunch next Wednesday.

• On design went to Kristen’s spam folder and wasn’t found until after voting had ended.
• A design from a few years ago was brought to the officers’ attentions
• General consensus is a desire to reopen voting, as some had discussed doing their own separate hoodie and this was viewed as divisive by some and there is an overall desire to have unity with this design.

MUGS FOR THE NEW COMMUNITY SPACE

Approximately 20 people have signed up to paint mugs for the new community space. If we budget approximately $500 for each event, that should cover both events.  We will have a more accurate budget once the final count has been determined (next Wednesday is the last day to sign up).  We can vote at the next STHSA meeting on the actual amount.  Also, the Spiritual Life Office’s contribution is at least $100 but might be able to be more.  We will tell Jennifer Mihok this space doesn’t need her old mugs but that Theo House could use them if she wants to donate them somewhere with STH.  The logistics for the day of is to meet at 5pm at STH and take the T to The Clayroom or for people to go directly to Clayroom between 6-6:30.

HOODIE UPDATE

The winner was Melody Sanford’s design – the black and white handwritten design.  We are still waiting to hear about if the image can be printed over zipper as well as if the manufacturer we’ve contacted uses sustainable practices (i.e. no sweatshops).  Joseph should have an update on this at the next meeting.

-- Katie Cole and Kathryn House have both used American Apparel before, so if this current manufacturer is not viable, American Apparel could be an option.

--We will be circulating a sign-up sheet to get a sense of the number of people interested in a hoodie.  We will need a minimum number to order them though that number is still TBD.  People interested in hoodies will need to pay up front.

BUDGET

Desi wants to open the floor for any issues to be listed all at once then Haley will answer what she can.  Then if there are still questions, list them all and return first to Haley for further clarification.  Ky raises two concerns:

• Ky wants to reassess percentages of the budget in lieu of the allotted amount we’ve been given by SAO. (“budget in relation to allotted amount of money – percentages and prioritization”)
• Ky wants a budgeting review at the end of the year (“zero line budgeting”)

Haley explains how the budget works now and to address the previously mentioned concerns:

• When we say a student organization can have up to $800 that meant they can spend it in any way they want to as long as they don’t go over $800.  Thus the transferred funds puts the student organizations in charge of how they spend that money and SAO is now responsible for monitoring how student organizations spend their money and reimbursing student organizations, not STHSA.  It’s the role of the president and treasurer of STHSA to review how that money is being spent and this does occur at the end of each school year.  Regarding the need to submit an itemization of expenses with a budget request (the existing policy), this process means student organizations actually have a conversation about what’s happening in the forthcoming year and demonstrate to STHSA that these conversations occurred by giving us ideas of how they plan to spend the money they are requesting.  Organizations are not restricted to the line-items for how you spend your budget, though (i.e. things come up and sometimes the events you want to do fall through).
• We now have a standardized budget request form which we didn’t have in years prior before.
• Haley voices concern with auditing money spent by student organizations because it takes away a sense of agency student organizations have when we give them money.  She does acknowledge that it’s originally STHSA’s money, and thus understanding the desire to hold organizations accountable, but emphasizes this is a balance and trusting relationship.
• Regarding the budget percentages:
  • Priority one was Community Lunch. Officers just met with Ashley Anderson about the Community Life Partnership that will help Community Lunch be cheaper than it was in the past.  Thus STHSA will fund the five remaining Community Lunches by transferring money to this new group.
  • Student organizations was priority 2 and they have been funded already.
  • Student travel is the third priority and will be discussed at the next administrative meeting in November.
  • Any STH student can look at Haley’s spreadsheet on every transaction STHSA makes, we just have to ask.  Joseph suggests figuring out a way to somehow publicize snapshots of the budget throughout the semester as Haley reconciles it each month.
  • Kourtni voices concern about not wanting to put too much strain on Haley/this position.
  • Ky states that if student organizations are not spending their full $800 (or requested amount) and those funds go back into STH at the end of the year, they’re funds we could have put toward one of the other budget priorities but didn’t know we were going to have the money to fund them.  He suggests that STHSA can follow over the next few years how much money student organizations request from STHSA in comparison with how much they have spent.  His thought is to develop a system for us to manage our funds in a way that allow us to maximize the disbursement of funds and reduce money becoming untouchable after it’s transferred to student organizations.
  • Haley asks for clarification on what Ky’s new budget request process would look like. Ky responds feels zero-line budgeting would establish a rapport for how student orgs tend to spend their money.  Kourtni voices that student organization activities that occur are based on governing bodies of each org.  Desi questions Ky’s ultimate goal.  She wants to know if Ky wants STHSA to tell a new exec board of a student organization that because the previous exec board didn’t spend the full amount they requested this new exec board can no longer request the full amount possible in the future?
  • Haley asks if Ky imagines student organizations in the fall requesting a set amount of money for a particular event?  A flat amount?  A case by case basis?
  • Kourtni suggests a provision in the bylaws on student organization funding that very large organizations have the ability to request above the amount typically listed as the max for student organizations.  This idea will be discussed at the bylaws meeting later this year.
  • Desi explains how approval for travel funding used to be approved and how it’s going to be handled now.
  • Desi lifts up that we operate with a budget because “money is what makes the world goes round”, but believes that as theologians, we work on a different system than a business, so we work with grace.  She’ll have a very hard time saying to a given organization with a large membership that they can have more money because of their size while smaller organizations or starting organizations get less because of their size or bad leadership of the previous year.

Ky moves to end the discussion on the budget now.  Laura seconds.  Vote: 12-0-0

Desi request people bring concrete ideas for changes to policy to the bylaw discussion.

NEW BUSINESS

Josh Niforatos is interested in a group order of BU STH Fleeces, preferably Patagonia fleeces.  Contact him or Kristen for more information.

Next week is a town hall meeting with the deans in place of the regular STHSA meeting.  It will still be 1-2 on Thursday in the community space unless you hear otherwise.

Agenda

• Jason’s proposal of statement to BU currently written for the whole school
• Resuming conversation about the budget process

Student Stipend Resolution

Jason explains the basic issue: The change in stipend process that came into effect this year has caused substantial problems.  Previously, stipends were applied directly to student account which you then got the remainder after your student account was paid.  Now, stipends are not disbursed until the fourth Friday of September and that’s a long time for grad students to go without stipends because many depend on stipends for upfront fall costs.  This was an institution-wide change, not STH.  STH has said they’re on our side and have done everything they can for us.  We genuinely and whole-heartedly want to acknowledge and express appreciation for Robyn Kinch in particular for having the STH students’ backs.  We believe the university made these changes in part to streamline the process as staff and faculty are also paid the fourth Friday of the month, so for tax/accounting purposes it makes it better for the university as a whole.

**NOTE: A copy of the adopted resolution can be found on the STHSA blog under Forms and Docs**

Discussion

• STHSA should pursue the idea of working with other student organizations.  We have connections at Public Health, Social Work, SMG, CAS already; Ashley is going to contact other school’s student association’s presidents.
• Between the long and shorter version, Ian wants to include all of the shorter version and add from the longer version an acknowledgement of the complexity of the situation, as well as a call to other students to join STH in voicing and supporting this concern.
• In a cover letter of the resolution, we will make sure to thank/acknowledge the work of Robyn Kinch so this resolution doesn’t seem like we don’t appreciate what she’s done for us.
• Do we want to also include information about how the money is disbursed or only about the timing of the money?  Jason – however we receive our money is irrelevant as long as it gets to us in time.  Ky – if the university policy is to pay on the 24^th (fourth Friday of the month), this is easier for the university.  Ian and Kourtni – the issue is that this streamlined purpose is exponentially hurting the student body.
• Ashley – need to clarify the point of the article
• Jason – it’s coming into a middle of an existing conversation that’s been going on at the university level; we’re coming in mid-way asking other people to join us in acknowledging this problem before it gets worse.
• A note about how the disbursement process was changed in both timing and form was included.
• Ky - Active v. passive voice – wants the language more active overall
• Ky moves to make the voice in the resolution active.  Ashley seconds.  Ky – with an active voice, we show how we were at the reciprocation of an action and this is an issue we need to have everybody be behind from the student body.  Ashley – makes sense in some places and not in others.  If Jason has the time he can go through and change as he feels it should happen.  Ian – more interested in getting it out than deliberating on the language which would likely mean tabling it another week.
• Resolved section – should we put the “unjust” language into this section?
• Will upload this to Forms and Documents page of blog – please review it for a week and ponder today’s discussion then return next week and hopefully vote to send it out.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Taking snack requests for celebration of new basement community space party.  Ashley will be emailing student groups to help with décor and food.  From 1-4pm that Wednesday Oct 23.

Opening ritual reminds us about those who have come before us and about those whose will come after us that are impacted by our actions today.

AGENDA

Elections

Fliers at STHSA

Student stipend issue

Thanks to those that made the student organization modified fair such a great success!

ELECTIONS

Library Faculty Committee – The masters candidate for this committee was re-voted on because of an oversight by the president and secretary last week that left off one of the candidate’s names.  After the new vote, Ky Scott was nominated by those assembled to represent the masters students on this committee.  The faculty and previous nominee will be notified of this oversight and change.  The faculty on this committee ultimately have the final say in how they proceed.

STHSA officer voting issue

The way the instructions were worded on the STHSA election ballot asked students to only vote for representatives which would represent them (ex: only doctoral students vote for doctoral representative, only international students vote for international representative).  This was how voting was done several years ago before voting was electronic.  However, the past few years of voting have allowed everyone to vote for all positions regardless of if that position represents them or not.  Several students raised this difference in instructions and some voted for all positions anyway, while others followed the instructions, making the results skewed.

Moving forward we could:

1)   Vote to accept results as is

2)   Vote for uncontested results and re-vote for two contested elections

3)   Vote to redo entire election, all positions, that say everyone can vote for everyone.

Discussion on these options raised the concerns that

• Some feel uncomfortable having a say for a position that won’t represent the voter
• Some want to vote for all positions because, if you’re a regular attendee and/or officer of STHSA, these are the people we’ll be working with regularly
• Some proposed a change to the section on voting in the by-laws that will articulate how we will expect people to vote.  Such a proposal would take effect for next school year.

Ky moved to adopt solution 2: to accept the uncontested positions and re-vote for the two contested positions in a new election.  Kourtni, Ian, and Laura seconded.  Motion passed 16-1-2.  Dates were set for the re-vote for Monday September 30 – Wednesday October 2 at 5pm.  Uncontested winners will be alerted after the re-vote as well so that all new positions come in on an even timeline.  The by-law change has been tabled until we address changes to the by-laws later in the school year.  This is typically done once a year, but we can make changes once a semester, so will discuss later this semester as to whether we will address this issue in the fall or spring.

FLIERS

Ashley – Mid-way through 2012-2013 year, a moratorium was made against posting fliers in STH primarily for aesthetical reasons.  Now, however, we’re in a place where no one can advertise anything except in two locked cabinets and a tiny pin board by the elevators.  The student body wants a solution for what to do while there’s no basement access as well as a spelled out approach of how to negotiate this issue.  We are empowered to say this is what we want to see and here’s our plan for doing it.  For example, plastic paper holders that can be affixed to the wall and paper be slid into them, maybe put in a 3x3 set up in the basement as well as on doors, entrances, elevator lobby, etc.  These are the same places we used to hang fliers but in a more organized manner.  Other discussion included:

• Larger bulletin boards in more areas might be doable.
• Plastic holders get dirty and scratched and bad looking too.
• Somebody, for example, Ashley, could be a screener for approving fliers before they were put up.  This person could potentially also be in charge of hanging them.
• Possibly take larger board on first floor outside deans’ suite for the time being, but ultimately need something from the basement to the 3^rd floor.  The first floor board could go back to being admissions advertising when TV is installed.
• Not unprofessional to have fliers advertising STH organizations and their events because it shows there’s an active student body.
• Ashley and Kristen will work to draft something to send to the administration.

Student Stipend Issue

Jason – The university-wide new policy states that stipended students only get their stipends on the fourth Friday of September but that four week difference is really problematic for students who rely on stipends for upfront semester costs.  Students are concerned about what to do and also want it noted this isn’t an STH issue but a larger BU issue.  Discussion included:

1)   Put a resolution out?

2)   Administration did get rid of late fees for us but that doesn’t really help students with the up-front fees associated with each semester.

3)   Ashley – we as the gathered body could formally request that AdCab of STH could fight for us.

4)   Jason – resolution of concern for situation and appreciation for the complexity then begin organizing and taking it to other student groups in other schools.

Moving forward, those gathered agreed that a resolution to be sent to AdCab that voices appreciation and respect for the work they have done so far, and asks them to advocate on our behalf to the larger administration that a change is needed in how stipends are released.  Two documents will be drafted:  one for internal STH to work with us on this and one for graduate students at BU as a whole.   We are not yet taking for action but just saying this is a point of concern for us and asking for discussion around it.  Jason will have a draft for next week’s meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

Emma – Dance Salsa, Eat Salsa at 6-7:30 in Meulder Chapel on Thursday

Pippa – get more events that include dancing b/c basement big room has a dance floor

Joseph adjourns at 1:47pm