JHU SGAThe 114th Session

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Senate General Body Meeting #2 — Minutes (09/01/26)

Minutes / Senate · minutes · 114th session · created September 1, 2026 · updated September 11, 2026

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114th Johns Hopkins Student Government Association

Senate Meeting #2

Month Day, 2026 / 07:00 PM / BSC 404

MINUTES

  1. 1. Call to Order and Attendance (1 min)

    1. Absentees:
      1. Excused:
      2. Unexcused:
    2. Present

  2. 2. Convening Business (30 min)

    1. Newsletter presentation
      1. History of the newsletter - financially independent
      2. Mission - fair, accurate, engaging news
      3. Importance of serving as an archive for Hopkins history
      4. In the past there’s been letters to the editor from SGA (2023 example)
      5. Possible platform for SGA to conduct polls, publish statements
      6. Possibility of an SGA column in the opinions section - update general student body on current initiatives
      7. Clarifying role of SGA in opinions section
      8. Articles expressing concerns about transparency and oversight from administration
      9. 5 min Q&A
        1. Jackson: Newsletter is great, everyone should engage with them; possible to publish resolutions in Newsletter? Myra/Henry: better to modify format slightly to fit editorial style
        2. Cole: How many physical prints per semester? Grace: 4 prints per semester
        3. Kai: what is the desired content for opinion pieces from SGA, A: can be more specific, about motivations and processes instead of just summaries about meetings
        4. Jason: Opinions from one person in SGA reflects the opinion of all of SGA, Myra: disclaimer at end of article saying that the opinion belongs only to the person who wrote it

  3. 3. Amendment and Approval of the Agenda (1 min)

  4. 4. Public Input (3 min)

  5. 5. Reports (5 min)

    1. Cabinet Reports (4 min)
      1. Student Body President - Jason Yu
        1. Excited for the new school year and initiatives; Dr. Brittany Brown comes back on Tuesday (please sign welcome card)
        2. Appreciate if more SGA members show up to these programming events including : next Thursday 3 - 5 pm, FLI Event x Off Campus Housing, Boba & Karaoke Sophomore Class, Jay Game
      2. Student Body Vice President - Sumire Sumi
        1. Met with most members that had many good initiative ideas
        2. Introducing Buddy System (suggested by Cole) : have to know your “buddy” by the end of the semester
      3. Secretary - Honora Muratori
        1. Nametags for everyone to get to know names
        2. Needs communication from committees on when and where to meet so that rooms can be booked
      4. Treasurer - Amy Xu
        1. Worked with Peter over the summer to work on some changes
        2. Implemented budget changes with LEED : annual budgets rather than semester budget to save application time; event grants are on a rolling deadline; funding bills will be later shown in the meeting
        3. Increased the threshold for each service including professional services, travel money, food money, supplies
        4. Implementing a per semester cap of $50 per GBM (can be requested by any RSOs for things like food)
        5. Pending approval for annual allocations coming out soon
      5. Chair of Programming - Grace Guan
        1. Program is bringing back battle of the classes
        2. Plan to visit committee meetings
      6. Director of Communications - Sienna Kim
        1. 2 new posts on instagram introducing new exec board and for SIF
        2. Tag SGA for SGA IG reposting your post
      7. President of the Senate - Jazzlyn Fernandez
        1. Insert headshot to google drive
        2. Update for committee times and how to swap committees; Speak to committee chair of the committee you would like to switch committee to
        3. Student Services Committee : 8:30 - 9:30 PM
    2. Advisor Report (2 min)
      1. No reports; disclaimer : consult exec board and advisor before writing in newsletter
    3. Senator Reports Initiatives Updates
      1. Veda Kommineni
        1. Working on assigning student service committees a liaison to work with (ex. Housing, transportation, etc.) and they would be the main point of contact
        2. Got picnic blankets for rent at the beach
        3. Year Goal : work with Academic to bring cover grades back (Pass/Fail); extending shuttle route
      2. Jackson Morris
        1. Hopes to advertise Disability Caucus to student body during SIF
      3. Shreemann Patel
        1. Look into Committee on Student Elections; accountability bill coming next week; template bills linked in google drive
        2. Nothing done about dumbbell in Wolman gym; have updated slightly the menus in Student Center to show which are vegetarian options but still working to make it clear (making clear symbols)

  6. 6. Non-Legislative Business (30 min)

    1. Confirmation of Senate Parliamentarian: Shreemann Patel, confirmed with majority vote
    2. Senate procedures - Shreemann (https://canva.link/czrmbs15b4ahhyu)
      1. Legislative process, position roles, bylaws, constitution, bylaws
    3. Senator of the month:
      1. Nominees: Jackson and Peter, Winner: Peter (21 votes; 56.76%) Jackson (14 votes, 37.84%)

  7. 7. First Reading (20 min)

    1. Fast-Forward Finance Bill - Finance Chair Peter Tarpley
      1. Budget increase from 300k to 500k
      2. Shreemann: motion to refer to IA
    2. JHUMA Funding Bill Fall 2026 - Senator Mamadou Thiam
      1. Cosponsors: Jackson, Veda
      2. Event bill with BBQ vendor
      3. RC: motion to send to finance
    3. GBM Snacks and Activities Funding Bill- President of the Senate, Jazzlyn Fernandez
      1. Cupcake examples
      2. Motion to discharge to second reading
    4. Clarifying Legislative Roles and Processess Act (CLeRPA) - VPOTS and Chair of Internal Affairs Shreemann Patel
      1. Executive branch needs legislative partner to introduce bills, change language of caucus representatives so they are not technically chairing two committees
        1. Nefemi: Clarifying CSE mistake about having two Black caucus representatives - will only be one open position going forward
        2. Kevin - keep the Asian and Pacific Islander caucus representative because it is important to represent caucuses that have faces systemic discrimination
        3. Peter: Will the process for creating and passing finance bill stay the same?
        4. RC : supports the part in the amendment of lowering the min. from 14 to 10 members of Finance & CSO
        5. Mahima : suggests to get rid of min for Finance & CSO; clarifying the number of co chairs in Finance & IA within the bill
        6. Demarri : questions why there is a need to bring back API caucus
          1. Kevin responded that by eliminating this position, we are decreasing the representative voices in Hopkins
        7. Jackson : discuss with caucus chair regarding wording in bill surrounding the caucuses
        8. Cole: Motion to refer to internal affairs

  8. 8. Second Reading (10 min)

    1. S.B.26-27.21.04-1 Rules Bill - VPOTS and Internal Affairs Chair, Shreemann Patel
      1. IA passed with positive recommendation
      2. Jason: motion for 5 minute moderated caucus
        1. Jason: people don’t read emails
        2. Demarri: important to have for people who do read the emails
        3. Peter: what does “policy” mean
        4. Jason: worried about keeping attention
        5. Paul: is policy a summary, Shreemann: policy means actual document
      3. Jackson: move to amend bill so that advisors may have access to changes but not able to change
      4. Bill passes!
    2. GBM Snacks and Activities Funding Bill- President of the Senate, Jazzlyn Fernandez
      1. Bill passes!

Prospective Legislation & Announcements (5 min)

Adjournment (Estimated 9:00 PM)

Time-length and adjournment estimates are provided for the benefit of guests at Senate meetings. However, SGA meetings are always slated to extend until 9:00 PM and SGA members are expected to remain in the Senate chamber until official adjournment by motion, whether before or after the adjournment estimate.