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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF GRADUATE STUDENTS

Regular Assembly Meeting


COGS Assembly Room
Room, 250 Student Life Building
August 10, 2010
6:30 p.m.

Agenda

Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

Swearing-in of New Members and Members not at Inauguration


• Dominick J. Ardis- College of Social Sciences Seat 3

Messages from Student Government

Student Comments

The Report of the Speaker


• Volunteers needed for New Graduate Student Orientation on Tuesday August 17, 2010
• Event for Graduate Students with Families at the REZ on October 5, 2010
• Thesis/Dissertation formatting center concept- joint project with COGS, FSU Libraries/Tutoring Center, and the
Graduate School

The Report of the Deputy Speaker for Finance

Committee Report
CSAC Report
• Ways & Means
• Academics & Student Life
• Internal Affairs

Funding Requests
• World Affairs Program (WAP)- Bill 41 heard on petition: an allocation of $6,514 from COGS Unallocated to fund
travel and associated fees for competitions

Old Business
• Bill33- Sponsored by Representative Straub: Revision of Apportionment of Representatives to the Congress

New Business
• Bill 39- Sponsored by Representative Arispe: Amendment Preserving Representation
• Bill 40- Sponsored by Representative Grimes: Reforming the COGS Non-Discrimination Policies

Final Roll Call

Adjournment

Next Meeting
• Monday August 16th 2010 at 6:30PM in the COGS Chambers
Report of the Deputy Speaker for Finance
18th Congress of Graduate Students
August 2, 2010

• COGS Administrative $112,064.00

• COGS Unallocated $37,366.00

• COGS Presentation Grants Left for year - $29,499.82


o Carry Forward $ 0.00
o July-October $ 0.00
o Nov-Feb - $0.00
o Mar-Jun - $0.00

• COGS Conference Travel Left for year - $7,500.00


o Carry Forward $ 0.00
o July-October $ 0.00
o Nov-Feb - $0.00
o Mar-Jun - $0.00

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF GRADUATE STUDENTS

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION


COGS Assembly Room
Room, 250 Student Life Building
July 12, 2010
6:36 p.m.

REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT: Adams, Blair, Englehardt, Glazier, Grimes, Johnson, Lieberwirth, Myers,
Weber

QUORUM: No.

PETITIONING IN:
• Alex Mekta – (College of Business) International Advocacy Seat for duration of Rep. Kozisek’s leave
• Jeffery Fluegel – Business Seat 2
QUORUM: Yes.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Amanda Blair

REPRESENTATIVES LEFT EARLY, EXCUSED:

REPRESENTATIVES LEFT EARLY, UNEXCUSED: None

REPRESENTATIVES ABSENT, EXCUSED:

REPRESENATIVES ABSENT, UNEXCUSED:

REPRESENTATIVES LATE, EXCUSED: Taylor, Worrall

MINUTES APPROVED:
• June 7, 2010
• May 6, 2010 (attendance)

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• Jennifer Feltman
o Coordinator of the New Graduate Student Orientation (August 17)
o Changes
 More events for grad students
 COGS is helping with funding for tables and tents
 Two Orientation sessions in the morning, one for brand-new students and one for
FSU undergrads
• “Insights” with current graduate students
• Need one more student from the STEM fields as a panelist.
 Seminole Dining is providing a free lunch for all of the graduate students in
attendance
• BBQ lunch on the Union Green.
 Afternoon sessions on grants and funding.
o Need volunteers to help run the orientation
 Need greeters to help out
 Also need a panelist from STEM
o Also responsible for the Professional Development Workshop series

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 If COGS reps have any requests for particular types of workshops, get your requests
in now; they are being planned now.

SPEAKER’S REPORT:
• Bill 30 Veto
o Was the bill we set up to establish internal sweepings
o Asked that it be vetoed by VP for Student Affairs because Student Body President was
adamantly opposed to it
o Will be conferencing with them in about two weeks to go over that bill again. Senate
President is now happy with it; SBP still not sure
• FSU Non-Discrimination Policy
o Amended two weeks ago and COGS was part of that amendment process
o COGS has advocated for this change for years.
o Added sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to the Non-Discrimination
Policy.
• Supreme Court case – CLS v. Martinez
o CLS was an RSO that didn’t want to follow a nondiscrimination policy, but the Court said
they had to in order to continue to receive school funding.
o Working on trying to get our internal COGS policy in line with that the Court has said they
agree to and proposal will be at next meeting.
• Thagard Discussion
o Asked W&M committee to look at potential relocation to Thagard
o Administration would like us to move, though there are concerns express by COGS
members about whether we will get what we want in an old building.
o Want this resolution ready for first meeting in fall semester.

DEPUTY SPEAKER FOR FINANCE’S REPORT:


• COGS Administrative:
• COGS Unallocated:
• COGS Organizational Support:
• COGS Presentation Grants: Left for year - $
o Carry Forward $2.43
o July-October $0.00
o November-February $0.00
o March-June $
• COGS Conference Travel: Left for year - $
o Carry Forward $300.32
o July-October $0.00
o November-February $0.00
o March-June $

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
• Ways & Means Committee
o Had a meeting last week to discuss a few ideas from Representative Arispe.
o Committee voted to not support all three of his ideas; had some good ideas and identified
problems but we felt that his ideas for solving issues were not quite the right way to do it.
• Academics & Student Life
o Meeting tomorrow at 6:15pm in the basement of Strozier.
• Internal Affairs
o Did not meet
• C-SAC
o Did not meet because we have received no requests within our responsibilities.

ELECTIONS:

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• Deputy Speaker for Judicial Affairs: Amanda Blair nominated, unopposed.

OLD BUSINESS:
• Bill 33 delayed because both sponsors are not here.
• Bill 34 – Adjusting the Duties of Deputy Speaker for Judicial Affairs
o Purpose
 The problem that W&M Committee was trying to address is the fact that some
members are not sure what our responsibilities are.
 Inform petitioners of what the new responsibilities are before they come into the
Assembly.
 Questions were good tonight but we don’t usually ask these kinds of questions.
• More often we get “What is your favorite color?”
• This could shine some light on something new about the petitioners.
o Questions
 Weber – The way I’m reading C, we’re swearing people in before informing them of
their duties?
• No objections to amending the wording.
o Pro
 None
o Con
 Glazier – No real way to enforce this. Seems arbitrary and vague. Questions seem
like they could become rote and repetitive if they’re mandated. Taking people out in
the hall before the meeting does very little.
o Pro
 Taylor – Something that this bill addresses is that we keep on putting duties off to
other people. This formalizes the process. It addresses the problem of people
coming and getting a seat and never seeing them again.
o Con
 None
o Leiberwirth moved to amend Section F to read “Assemble an extensive list of pertinent
questions to be asked in consideration of petitions of new members and to disseminate this
list to the Assembly.” Second. No objection. Amendment passes.
o Glazier called the question. Second. No objection.
o Closing
 Even though this may not help enormously, it doesn’t hurt to spend a few extra
minutes with our petitioners and make sure they know what’s up. If it becomes a
rote reading of questions, then the section should be struck.
o Bill 34 passes as amended.
• Bill 33
o Blair moved to table Bill 33 indefinitely. Second. No objection.
o If someone would like us to revisit Bill 33 they must make a motion to do so, otherwise it will
expire at the end of the Congress.
• Bill 35
o Purpose
 This bill creates a new section in the COGS Code to put in writing exactly what a
leave of absence is. This just takes the questions out of it.
 Also adds an approval mechanism. Don’t want people asking for a LOA for an
entire year and simply vanishing.
o Questions
 Taylor – Could you please explain “temporary vacancy”?
• Wanted to make it clear that your seat will be held for a specified period of
time but that you won’t go towards the quorum count.
 Glazier – Why the IA Committee and not, say Executive Committee?
• IA presides over the affairs for the members anyways
 Glazier – So this would eliminate the leaving and temporary filling of a seat?

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 Leiberwirth introduced several technical amendments. Second. No objection.
Amended.
• Glazier moved for a 10-minute recess. Second. No objection.
• Meeting reconvened at 7:45pm.
o Glazier moved to amend the bill to add 118.1(a): “The representative’s seat may be
temporarily filled by another student with similar qualifications; the representative on a leave
of absence shall resume his or her seat upon the end of the leave.” Second. Objection.
 Purpose
• This will alleviate the current uncertainty about whether a representative will
resume his or her seat and what happens to the person filling that seat (they
are only filling the seat temporarily, to be specific).
 Taylor moves to amend the amendment and add 118.1(b): “The student temporarily
filling the vacant seat shall be informed by the Deputy Speaker for Judicial Affairs
prior to accepting the position of the length of his or her seat.” Second. Objection.
• Purpose
o Not actually creating something about the Deputy Speaker here; it
reinforces an existing objection to the membership.
o This is more clear than the first way.
• Questions
o Englehardt: Unclear on what B actually means. If you’re going on a
LOA and you’re going to ask someone to fill your seat, wouldn’t you
be the one telling that person?
 Had never known about the leaves of absence and filling
temporary vacancies.
 This just further codifies what is talked about in 104.3,
where Deputy Speaker for Judicial Affairs is the one who
provides this information.
o Englehardt: Why do we need more language saying something
that’s already in the code?
 This is to take the guesswork out of temporary vacancies.
 When we’re formalizing this process, there’s no reason to
leave things out.
o Englehardt: So what information is the Deputy Speaker actually
conveying?
 The length of his or her service.
• Pro
o None
• Con
o Glazier: Not necessary; it’s already in the Deputy Speaker’s job.
• Lieberwirth moved to strike “by the Deputy Speaker for Judicial Affairs”.
Second. No objection. Language stricken.
• Blair moved to call the question. Second. No objection.
• Closing.
o Yield.
• Amendment to add Section B as amended passes.
 Glazier moved to call the question. Second. No objection.
 Closing
• Yield.
 Amendment to add 118.1(a) and (b) passes as amended.
o Questions
 Weber – What are the grounds for approving a leave?
• Some guidelines are given in 118.3.
o Pro
 Blair – The way it is now, the leaves more or less automatically get approved. The
committee was concerned with members who simply disappeared for an entire year.

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o Con
 Weber – Doesn’t like this going to a committee, because there’s really nothing to
outline what sort of things are approved and what are not. If we’re approving
everything automatically now, then we need to make guidelines for what is allowable
and what is not.
o Pro
 Taylor – Doesn’t think there’s anything now actually requiring someone to give a
reason for a leave of absence. If we give reasons for approving or denying a leave
of absence, then we may be prying too much into peoples’ personal lives.
o Con
 Weber – If we don’t want to provide a reason, then why are we even taking the step
of forcing it to go to IA?
 Worrall – If there’s no reason being asked for, then not sure if the consideration
makes any sense.
o Glazier moved to strike Section 118.3 and language in 118.2 referring to the chairperson of
Internal Affairs. Second. Objection.
 Purpose
• This fixes the big problems with a leave of absence being unclear now and
we can fix the guidelines later.
 Questions
• Taylor – Given that W&M’s idea with this bill was to provide some guidelines
how does this help?
o Go back to committees and get guidelines.
• Taylor – So who approves this now?
o Grimes – Basically the person asking for the LOA.
• Worrall – Your issue is the inclusion of the committee?
o Would rather strike the whole approval process and start over.
• Taylor – Would you be amenable to retaining some semblance of what the
W&M committee talked about, with giving an idea of things that we want in a
LOA?
o No. Several people have issues with these guidelines specifically.
 Taylor withdrew her objection. Amendment adopted.
o Glazier moved to call the question. Second. No objection.
o Closing
 Thank you for your consideration.
o Bill 35 passes as amended.
• Resolution 8
o Purpose
 Our meetings have become much longer, as we have more procedures to discuss
and more funding requests to decide. Going to meetings twice a month would make
it possible to retain the vigorous debate while keeping the meetings shorter. If a bill
is tabled, it would could to a committee who could address the bill between
meetings.
o Questions
 Worrall – Would this change the number of required committee meetings?
• No.
 Blair – If this bill passes, would it take effect immediately?
• Yes, but a meeting could be waived if there is no business to discuss.
 Lieberwirth – Doesn’t address the length of the meeting?
• More meetings a month should result in shorter meetings.
o Pro
 Blair – I think this will be a good thing and move more quickly and efficiently. I know
I forgot some of the things discussed in the bills last month and this should
alleviated.

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 Taylor – We are sometimes rushed to make a decision because the meeting is
running so late and this will let us do due diligence.
o Con
 Taylor – Play devils’ advocate – we might have more absences
 Weber – We seem to be spending a lot of time regulating ourselves, not helping the
graduate community.
o Pro
Worrall – We can always pass this and move to amend it later as necessary.
Blair – Sometimes if we know we don’t have the agenda to have 2 meetings a
month, the Speaker can cancel the meetings. New petitioners would probably rather
hear about w meetings per month that end at 9:30 than 1 that ends at midnight.
o The question was called. Second. No objection.
o Closing
 If we have issues that run on, we can suspend Rule 5 and cancel the extra meeting.
o Amendment 8 passes.
• Worrall moved to waive Rule 5 as it pertains to next week. Second. No objection. Rule waived.

ELECTIONS:
• C-SAC: Katie Taylor, Raul Arispe, Elisa Weber nominated. No objection.

NEW BUSINESS:
• World Affairs Program could not make it tonight; their request will be held next week.

ROUNDTABLE:
• Taylor: We got the new committee assignments last week, and we’re apparently still having a
problem with committees. Doesn’t understand why that’s still happening.
o Grimes: We’ve been working at this for three years; would encourage people to take their
committee responsibility seriously.
o Blair: Thinking about introducing new legislation about committees but it’s not an issue in the
Code. Can we get people serving on more than one committee?
o Grimes: It’s a little irregular and no other SGA entities do it, but am perfectly okay with it.
• Glazier: If Rosario were here she would want to congratulate Spain on winning the World Cup.
• Lieberwirth: Raising money for American Cancer Society; just ran first triathalon on Saturday in
support of it in honor of a three-time cancer survivor. If you want to donate to ACS please let her
know.

FINAL ROLL CALL: Adams, Blair, Englehardt, Glazier, Grimes, Johnson, Lieberwirth, Myers, Taylor, Weber,
Worrall, Metka, Fluegel

ADJOURNMENT:

NEXT MEETING: August 10

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244 Student Life Building Tallahassee, FL 32306-4177 Phone: (850) 644-7166 Fax: (850) 644-1950

The 18th Congress of Graduate Students


BILL 33
Sponsored by Representative Straub

Revision of Apportionment of Representatives to the Congress


On June 7th, 2010, the body voted to amend Chapter 111 of the COGS Code governing allocation of
seats within the Congress of Graduate Students . The purpose of this bill is to increase the size of the
body and increase representation in underrepresented colleges.
Be it enacted by the Congress:

111.2 Seats shall be allocated to each college and school according to its graduate student
enrollment as published in the most recent FSU Fact Book. One seat shall be allocated to a
college or school for every 299 199 graduate students, or portion thereof, enrolled, though
no college or school shall have less than two seats in the Assembly. In addition, one seat
will be allocated for each 299 199 graduate students, or portion thereof, enrolled for
classified by the University registrar as "post - baccalaureate/special," and for students
enrolled at the FSU Panama City Campus; any graduate student may fill seats of this
classification as an Advocate.

Strikethrough indicates deletions, underlined items are additions.

___________________ __________________________________
David Grimes Joyce Howard
Speaker of the House Director of Student Affairs
___________________ _____________________________
Quinn Straub Mary Coburn
Deputy Speaker for Finance 7 June 2010 Vice President for Student Affairs

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10
244 Student Life Building Tallahassee, FL 32306-4177 Phone: (850) 644-7166 Fax: (850) 644-1950

The 18th Congress of Graduate Students


BILL 39
Sponsored by Representative Arispe

Amendment Preserving Representation


On July , 2010, the body voted to add Chapter 104 of the COGS Code to allow the seat occupied by the
Cogs Speaker to be made available for another eligible FSU Graduate Student.

Purpose: When a COGS representative is elected to the position of Speaker, that person loses the
ability vote, except in the event of a tie. This results in a diminished level of representation for the
school or group that the speaker elect formerly represented. This amendment will restore this
representation, and maintain the original seat apportionment.

Strikethrough indicates deletions, underlined items are additions.

Section 104.2

H) When a COGS representative is elected Speaker, their seat shall become vacant; this

seat shall then be filled in accordance with chapter 112 of this code.

___________________ __________________________________
David Grimes Joyce Howard
Speaker of the House Director of Student Affairs
___________________ _____________________________
Quinn Straub Mary Coburn
Deputy Speaker for Finance Vice President for Student Affairs

July 2010

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244 Student Life Building Tallahassee, FL 32306-4177 Phone: (850) 644-7166 Fax: (850) 644-1950

The 18th Congress of Graduate Students


BILL 40
Sponsored by Representative Grimes

Reforming the COGS Non-Discrimination Policies


On August 8, 2010, the body voted to add Chapter 121, and amend Chapters 200 and 201 of the COGS
Code to reform the non-discrimination policies of the Congress in accordance with the attached document.

The purpose of this act is to best adapt policies of the Congress to effectively protect each student’s interest
in not being discriminated against by an organization they have no choice but to financially support. The
Congress determines that this purpose is best served by creating a non-discrimination policy with
enumerated bases to be applied against COGS itself, and to create an “Equal Opportunity, Equal Access
Policy” to be applied against RSOs wishing to receive funding. The latter policy is intended to require all
RSOs to admit all interested students as members, and allow all interested students seek election into the
leadership of all RSOs. It is the belief of the Congress that this system, which is viewpoint neutral in nature
and makes no inquiry into the reasons for which an RSO seeks to exclude an individual best protects the
interests of the students and the RSOs and will lead to greater efficiency in enforcement. It is the intention
of the Congress that this act be understood as synonymous with the policy adopted by UC Hastings Law
School in Christian Legal Society v. Martinez (http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-1371.pdf ).

It is the intention of the Congress that this Act become effective nine weeks from the signature of the Vice-
President for Student Affairs, and that it be immediately enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law
upon its effective date.

___________________ __________________________________
David Grimes Joyce Howard
Speaker of the House Director of Student Affairs
___________________ _____________________________
Quinn Straub Mary Coburn
Deputy Speaker for Finance Vice President for Student Affairs
August 2010

Chapter 121 Non-Discrimination Policy


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121.1 The Congress of Graduate Students, its employees, officers, and sub-allocation authorities
shall not practice de facto or de jure discrimination against any of the individuals or classes
protected in the Student Body Non-Discrimination Statement as determined by the Student
Senate, or against any individual or group on the basis of race, creed, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, family status, socio-economic status, or any other
characteristic of individual identity not rationally and reasonably related to the nature of the
circumstances at hand.

A) This chapter shall not infringe upon the legislative immunity enjoyed by
representatives on the floor of the Assembly.

B) This chapter shall not limit the ability of the Congress to allocate monies to or on
behalf of departments or entities of the University, so long as such departments or
entities are compliant with the FSU Equal Opportunity/Non-Discrimination
Statement.

Chapter 200 Provisions for Recognized Student Organizations

200.7 Upon recognition of a student organization, and prior to any A&S expenditure by such a
student organization, the Financial Officer and the President shall countersign the following
Statement of Understanding:

Statement of Understanding
The undersigned authorized representatives of herein designated as
(Name of Office held, (name of Organization) fully understands the COGS Code,
which applies to all funds allocated from the COGS budget. Furthermore, the
undersigned agrees on behalf of the organization for which they are officers to all
procedures for expending funds allocated from the COGS budget. Additionally,
the organization accepts the terms of the “Equal Access, Equal Opportunity”
provisions of the COGS Code. Finally, the undersigned understands that any
violations of the Code will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Signature, Financial Officer

Signature, President

Chapter 201 General Restrictions on Spending

History: Amended by the 18th Congress, Bill 7

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201.3 No organization which receives funding from COGS will practice de facto or de jure
discrimination against any of the individuals or classes protected in the Student Body Non-
Discrimination Statement as determined by the Senate. Additionally, no entity which
receives funding from COGS will engage in de facto or de jure differential treatment in
membership or otherwise on the basis of race, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, family status, socio-economic status.

Equal Opportunity, Equal Access Provision

A) The Congress finds that funding programs by RSOs leads to expanded personal,
professional, and academic opportunities which would otherwise go unrealized. The
Congress further finds that A&S fees which are mandatory in nature should never be
expended by an organization which would not have all students as members. The
Congress additionally finds that free, fair, and open elections are a sufficient
mechanism to safeguard the philosophical perspective and heritage of RSOs. As
such the Congress adopts the “Equal Opportunity, Equal Access” policy contained
within this section.

B) No RSO may receive any funding if membership in the RSO and/or leadership in the
RSO are not open to all students. Any requirements for membership or leadership
not expressly authorized in this section shall be deemed incompatible with the terms
of this policy, and shall make such an RSO ineligible to receive or expend funds
from COGS or any of its sub-allocation authorities.

1) No exemption or similar dispensation shall cure incompatibility with this


policy whether contained in State or Federal Law, or if originated by the
University though the Division of Student Affairs or any other entity.

2) Membership may be limited to currently enrolled students at the Florida State


University. Leadership may be conditioned on attendance requirements, or
prior service to the RSO. The terms of this policy admit of the ability by
RSOs to condition or limit specific privileges of membership, such as
placement on a competitive team, selection for attendance at a conference, or
other similar situation, so long as the conditions or limitations are directly,
reasonably, and rationally related to the circumstances of the situation.

C) All currently enrolled students shall have the direct right to seek enforcement of this
section, §201.3, in the Student Supreme Court without the burden of any standing
requirements. Prior notice or authorization by the Congress or any other entity shall
not be required to initiate suit to enforce this section.

D) The COGS Executive Board under the direction of the Speaker shall compile a
compliance guide for use by RSOs in fulfilling the requirements of this section, and
shall update such a guide no less than once per year.

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