Student Government Association Minutes
October 7th, 2014
Cascia Hall
President: Tim O’Leary (2015) Vice President: Kate Mermelstein (2016)
Secretary: Mackenzie Goebel (2016) Treasurer: Lauren Foster (2015)
Member at Large: Lauren Folino (2016)
Advisor: Allison Pukala, Director of Student Involvement
Members present: Brooke Coupal (2017), Brenna McDonald (2017), Shane Pacheco (2016), Nicholas
DeFilippis (2017), Maria Pichardo (2015), Molly Glasheen (2016), Anthony Preston (2016), Andrea
Ahearn (2018), Kaileen Cote (2018), Elizabeth Hogan (2018), Yuchen Wang (International), Colin
Sherman (2017), Sue Ung (2017), Jennie Votta (2015), Tayla Bertolino (2017), Jessica Arsenault (2016),
Hinal Vaghela (2018), Afnan Almazrua (International), Mercedes Delacruz (2016)
Members absent: John Ferraro (2015), Matt Goodwin (2015), Fahd Badri (International)
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SGA Treasurer Lauren Foster moved to open the meeting at 5:06PM.
SGA Secretary Mackenzie Goebel took attendance.
Class of 2016 Representative Shane Pacheco offered a motion to approve the minutes. Motion
was seconded.
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Pacheco offered a motion to move the agenda out of order to allow the Dance Club to present
about their prospective student organization.
o After the presentation, SGA Vice President Kate Mermelstein offered a motion to open a
discussion about the Dance Club.
o SGA Member at Large Lauren Folino explained the correlation of using the speakers list
with green and red cards to indicate an agreement or an objection or comment.
o After deliberating, Goebel moved to close the discussion. Move was seconded.
Mermelstein offered a motion for a hand vote to approve or disapprove of the Dance Club as a
new student organization. SGA members passed the Dance Club and announced to their
executive board that they are now a recognized student organization on campus.
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Class of 2016 representative Molly Glasheen offered a motion to move the agenda back in
order. Motion was seconded.
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Folino asked for Reports of Committees.
o Campus Life Committee: Class of 2017 representative Colin Sherman offered a motion
to open a discussion about the new student commons space. Motion was seconded.
Members discussed ideas including an indoor driving range, a fitness center featuring a
larger dance studio, and an outdoor fire space and patio area. Pacheco mentioned
research he conducted on other similar college campuses and many have a central
student organization space. Mermelstein moved to close the discussion. Move was
seconded.
o
o
Dining Committee: Pacheco captured his committee’s meeting yesterday with Michael,
Ross and Bradley. Their discussion included:
 acknowledgement that there have been issues with Sodexo catering
 a reminder that Carol Leibovitz is still looking for students to join the
international dining committee
 Sparky’s will be closed Saturday, October 18th, during brunch hours
 Augie’s will begin serving food in the future
 a suggestion to incorporate a pizza warmed into the MyZone area
 promoting the utilization of the new cubbies in Sparky’s to less the danger of
backpacks crowding the floor of the dining hall
 students have consumed three times the amount of ice cream from the soft
serve machine this year than in the past, there will be a rotation of flavors to
accommodate different tastes
 reflection of sushi night went well, 2,000 pieces of sushi were consumed
 SGA helping promote the dining survey to students
 note that a full time baker was recently hired to bring more pastries and baked
goods to the dining hall
Their next meeting will be held on October 20th at 4PM, all students are invited.
o
Finance Committee: Foster mentioned the Town Hall meeting this evening, where
student organizations will receive information about their budgets directly from the
committee. Foster is pleased to announce that the student organizations are continuing
to do big things and have kept the committee busy with allocation requests.
o
Campus Infrastructure Committee: Class of 2017 representative Sue Ung reported that
she has tried to contact her point person. However, the person is no longer a Merrimack
Employee. The Executive Board will discuss who she should contact and let her know.
o
Academic Affairs Committee: Class of 2017 representative Brenna McDonald expressed
that her committee is looking forward to their meeting next week.
 Mermelstein offered a motion to open a discussion about cheating within
classrooms. Motion was seconded. SGA President Tim O’Leary discussed issues
around the subject of students cheating in the classroom during exams and
having no action taken by the professor. O’Leary would like to foster a
conversation between the Academic Affairs Committee and the Provost’s office
about academic integrity. Class of 2018 representative Hinal Vaghela explained
that she has had professors who ask that students put their phones and
backpacks in a certain area of the room during exams to ensure there is no
cheating via electronics. Glasheen asked O’Leary to clarify what he is asking for.
O’Leary is saying there needs to be a stand against the presence of nonessential
electronics during exams. Votta suggested creating an educational workshop for
professors on cheating, i.e. what to look for and how to properly address it.
Mermelstein would like to be cautious with our wording as she is sometimes
required to use technology and electronics during exams. Goebel moved to
close the discussion. Move was seconded.
o
Public Relations Committee: Class of 2017 representative Brooke Coupal and Pichardo
have created an Instagram account for SGA (@MerrimackSGA) that will be up and
running within the next couple of days. They are still working on creating a flyer to
promote SGA in all social media outlets.
o
Student Organizations Committee:
 Mermelstein reiterated that the Dance Club has been approved.
 Comedy Club is scheduled to present to SGA next week.
 A Marvel Comics Club has met with the committee and started drafting a
constitution.
 A Chemistry Club is working on updating a constitution and becoming active.
 Some professors have expressed interest in starting clubs and said that they
have students interested. However, professors cannot start student
organizations. There has been interest in a Mechanical Engineering Club, a
Social Justice Club, an American Civil Liberties Club, and an Athletic Training
Club.
 Mermelstein explained there are still existing student organizations that need to
update their constitutions; their budgets will be frozen if not updated by this
Monday.
 The committee has made the philanthropy and service sheets live year round so
organizations can send in their work once it is completed.
o
Get Out the Vote Committee: Goebel announced the 2018 Class Council Elections have
been opened. All open positions are running opposed and the recent tally on voter
turnout suggests a high interest from the students. Thank you to all who helped with the
elections and the committee.
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Folino discussed the blood drive. Because she needs to update Jamie on Thursday with the
number of signups, Folino again asked that members are signing up for tabling and encouraging
students and faculty to donate and support our event.
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The discussion cards and the speaker’s list have already been address by Folino in the discussion
pertaining to the Dance Club.
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O’Leary briefly discussed the Executive Board’s meeting with Chief DelGreco and Sergeant
Parnell. The topic was based around the weekends and the apartment culture and safety of the
student body. We are asking that if you see something, say something. There is a tip line that
SGA will begin promoting along with other useful resources on campus. Glasheen mentioned an
Uncle Sam poster campaign with examples such as “I want you to not throw glass bottles”.
Members recognize there has not been an immense issue yet but there could be at any
moment. O’Leary also suggested a “What If…” video featuring students in certain situations on
the weekends and potential outcomes.
Open Floor
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McDonald expressed an idea from the SGA’s summit coordinator. At the end of events on
campus if there is left over food, there could be a notification that goes out to students and
faculty. They are then welcome to take the food and alleviate waste.
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Goebel offered a motion to close the meeting at 5:57PM. Motion was seconded.