Attendance:
Paul Wang
Anyi Sun
Brandon Lozano Garay
Abigail Martin
Elliott Ewell
Alejandro Ramos
Chase Lenk
Vincent Chen
Sachin Maharaj
Eleanor Donahue
Ollie Tannahil
Timmy Ignacio
Kelly Shi
Eisa Rafat
Alex Kruse
Harper Stevenson
Danielle Lancaster
Sadie New
Niña Ramores
Liliana Restrepo
Call to Order
Meeting Speaker: Dean Janet Lohmann
- Dean Lohmann has a background in sociology
- She was a sociology professor and Dean of First Year Students before getting into her current position
- As Dean for Student Affairs, Dean Lohmann oversees many different divisions of student affairs, including Athletics, Res Life, and Health and Counseling
- She reports to the President, and her job is also to support staff
- Her tagline is “grace, growth, and gratitude”
- Paul: What is your experience working with the BSG?
- Dean Lohmann: Trying to rebuild student leadership on campus. In her time here, student engagement has changed. Work with BSG has ebbed and flowed. Thinks about how student gov partners with staff, faculty, and administration to get things done, such as Polar Pause
- Alex: Advantages at Bowdoin that you think students least take advantage of?
- Dean Lohmann: Student government!
- Elliott: Biggest mistake that past BSGs have made?
- Dean Lohmann: Wanting to accomplish things but not realizing the time dedication and management it takes
- Vincent: Quality in students that you’d like to promote?
- Dean Lohmann: Kindness
- Eisa: BSG initiative that previously existed that you remember, or one that we haven’t yet done?
- Dean Lohmann: How to help students get their licenses – got close but didn’t make it happen
- Paul: How do you see BSG being a resource for replacement in their onboarding process? How to show that we can influence them during their time here from the get go?
- Dean Lohmann: Staff will be helping to onboard. She is also writing a transition document.
- Sachin: Advice on navigating transitions after graduation?
- Dean Lohmann: Giving yourself a break. Only takes one opportunity to land. Continue to learn and engage and think about the ways you want to do that. Give yourself structure in your day even if you don’t have a job.
- Brandon: As leaders, how can we embrace saying no to things?
- Dean Lohmann: More than okay to say no, and it’s actually critically important. Better to go narrow and deep into a pursuit than broad and shallow. There is something meaningful about taking something on and going deep with it.
Student Gov Conference at Tufts
- Sadie: Went with Vincent, Mundo, and Nyla to the conference. First rendition. Lots of panels and speaking. Valuable section at the beginning where different student governments could put up stickers of initiatives they were successful with, or questions they had for other schools. There was a focus on civic engagement
- Nyla: Very Massachusetts-based. Speakers mainly talked about Massachusetts politics. However, the choices of panels were valuable.
- Vincent: All speakers had some connection to Tufts. Gained a better understanding of how one’s undergraduate experience could help with civic engagement in the future. There was a panel on how to create change on campus, and someone was talking about the unionization of ResLife on campus, which was relevant to Bowdoin,
- Elliott: What was an initiative people said they were successful with that we don’t have?
- Nyla: Therapy pets
- Sadie: Can try to ask for photos of the activity and send them to everyone
Budget authorization for Earth Day tabling
Brandon: Sustainability Office has asked if BSG can be there to table at the Earth Day event. Need to provide something for the table, so asking for a budget authorization for 6 pans of gelato (about $500) plus some for merch for the table
- Vote: Motion passes
Election updates
- Class council and executive position elections are this weekend
- Chair of SOOC and Diversity & Inclusion are currently uncontested
- Various positions for general assembly and faculty committees (application based, deadline in 2 weeks)
Constitution
- Currently revising the Constitution. Will finish by Friday and send it out to assembly for vote next week. Need ⅔ vote for formal authorization to pass
Upcoming budgeting process
- Creating comprehensive and flexible budget with existing team for next year
- Going to review how we spent this year’s budget and how we want to spend next year’s
Merch update
- Open (and free) for anyone on assembly or class council
- There is a form to indicate which items you’d like (sweatpants and bucket hats) and what size to order
Harps Quad Day
- Need music/connections to WBOR
- Getting close to number of hosts
- Eisa: Would recommend checking with Eduardo/CML
Onboarding
- Will be programming for all people who will be part of BSG next year
Adjournment