Introductions:
Giovanna: Academic Affairs Chair
- Bridge between admin and student body
- Academic policy
- Defending Course Reviews
- Syllabi proposal to become available on Workday
Claire: D&I Chair
- Anonymous drop box last year
- Sending out emails with resources for students to access
- Looking for collab with Disabled Students Union
- Looking to collab more with affinity events
Aidan: Student Affairs Chair
- Student wellness, student experience
- Projects in mind: bridging gaps on campus during polarized moment
- Blending student groups: eg. athletes/nonathletes
- Enhancing student experience
- Wellness initiative focused on sleep
- Events like Cold at Coe
Oscar: Facilities and Sustainability Chair
- Dining advisory committee
- Transportation – posters
Tyler: Chair of TCC
- Treasury chartering commission
- Class VPs and couple at large reps
- Mission: charter new clubs on campus and recharter current clubs; try to foster student org community on campus; help leaders plan succession; organizing meetings; setting agendas; any training or support needed
Chase: Chair of TFC
- Treasury funding commission
- Decide how to allocate student activities fee among them
- Budget
- TFC guidelines
3 Members of Student Activities who rotate through attending meetings: Nate; Katie; Sara
- Steps in if want; questions regarding administrative or historical POV
Structure
- Unique access to admin
- Trust that we are qualified to speak on behalf of students
- 2 important powers: advocacy and spending
- $85K – some which goes to funding events like ivies and spring gala
- 5,000 just for proposals
- Want people to be bringing their ideas
- Any Bowdoin student/faculty/staff can attend meetings
- 5-10 time allocated to public comment at each meeting
- First share agenda; then break into committees – 15-20 mins to work on projects, touch base, divide responsibilities and tasks
- New structure: used to apply to work on specific committee; now there is opportunity to join whatever you’re interested in based on current projects; want there to be more flexibility
- Committee meeting time built into GA meetings
- Motions: need to be seconded
- E.g. motion to vote on a proposal
- Motion to limit debate if feel like going in circles; used to limit time
- Motion for executive session: by ⅔ majority vote, can ask advisors, Orient, and any other students to leave; used for especially sensitive and controversial topics
- ⅔ majority vote for proposals to pass
Expectations
General rep responsibilities:
- Attending these meetings
- Want people to be vocal and to share opinions, even if not in agreement with others
- Keep general pulse on campus life – same goes for class councils
- Meet every week that class that is in session
Implementing new policy of limited screens this year
How to get active discussion and environment?
- Be open to suggestions and criticisms if putting forth a proposal
- Don’t be afraid to bring up potential criticisms
- Reach out to advisors if you have questions or ideas
- Talk to representatives outside of meetings, before/after meetings, especially if you have an idea you might want to put forth
- Be present at meetings, not just physically but mentally too
Proposals
- Attendance policy for 2025-2026 school year
- All general representatives may only have 2 absences communicated to secretary and president to be considered excused. Unexcused absences may warrant check in with president. Extenuating circumstances such as illness or athletics
Proposal passes
- Proposal to full vacancies through process of appointment and confirmation
- Appointing general rep (Eve); class of 2027 treasurer for fall (Franco); class of 2027 VP (Juliet)
Proposal passes
Next meeting:
- 8:00 pm
- 6 administrators coming to speak
- Nate, SJ Tinker, Dean Scanlon, Jim Hoppe, Peter Bae, Keisha
- Each presenter will have 10 minutes to speak
- Shared question time
Saturday, October 4: General Assembly Retreat at Wolfe’s Neck in Freeport