Lexington (MA) High School Senate

LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-FACULTY SENATE

2004-2005

Moderator Ben Skier, Assistant Moderator Jim Williams, Secretary Lexy Smith

<http://lhs.lexingtonma.org/senate>

Agenda 4-13-05:

Announcements, Committee Reports, Open Comments,

Sophomore Open Campus Bill, Discussion of Mission Statement

Minutes from Meeting: 3-30-05

I. Call to Order

Meeting is called to order at 7:49 by Moderator Skier

II. Approval of Minutes

Motion Approved

Motion by Chair to approve Minutes of last meeting

III. Approval of Agenda

Motion

Motion by Senator Paulsen to insert a CRUD discussion with a seven-minute limit

after Dr. Jones' address

Vote: Motion Passes

Motion Approved

Motion by Chair to approve Agenda

IV. Announcements

a. April 6th panel discussion with PTSA to discuss GPA Bill

V. Committee Reports

Climate 1. Discussed CRUD

VI. Open Comments

a. no open comments

VII. Dr. Jones' address concerning Recruiter Bill

a. Sympathy and respect expressed for bill's intention

b. Dr. Jones reported on the Vietnam war protests for his college's newspaper,

although he felt some ambivalence

c. This bill is an act of defiance and although its rationale states

that it aims to change school policy, we must engage in conversation, like Dr. Martin

Luther King Jr. did

d. It is hard and exhaustive work to engage in such discussion

e. This bill shuts out all opposing views and creates a fortress

f. The majority of people here probably agree with the bill's

intention but concern is expressed for general public's reaction

g. If senate wants to affect change to improve civil rights for gays, then it must

write letters to newspapers and US senators

h. Taking a stand and offending people will guarantee open criticism but there are

non-divisive methods to take a stand

i. The bill is vetoed but senate should still fight for this issue

Motion

Motion by Senator Enders to allow discussion after address

Vote: Motion Passes

j. Respect expressed for Dr. Jones for explaining his position

k. Solid arguments have been made against this bill but gay students will still feel

unsafe; we therefore need to become activists around this issue in order to affect

change

Motion Motion by Senator Colarusso to override veto (Seconded)

l. Overriding the veto will force our decision-makes, the school committee, to give

us an explanation and engage in discussion

m. Civil disobedience should be divisive and non-violent

n. We deserve some explanation and attention concerning the bill

o. There is clearly no present discussion with military

p. Shutting out the military would encourage more discussion

q. An override would allow discussion with school committee, however; policy

should begin drafting a new policy

r. MLK engaged in discussion through political confrontation

s. MLK quoted: "I submit that an individual who breaks a law that his conscience

tells him is unjust and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment to arouse

the conscience of the community over its injustice is in reality expressing the highest

respect for the law."

t. MLK should not be the issue; Dr. Jones' address is the issue

u. An override might be too hasty, especially before we obtain other opinions from

school community

v. We wanted to push this issue, so that people would take notice; the goal was not

to change military policy ourselves

Motion

Motion by Senator Colarusso to Call to Question on Motion

Vote: Motion Passes

Question is Called: Motion Fails (29-12) needs a 3/4 majority

VIII. CRUD Discussion

a. On CRUD Day, X-Block is moved to the end of the day on a Wednesday, during

which students pick up trash outside and then have ice cream

b. There are three extra days at the end of June and CRUD will give teachers

something to do with their students at that time

c. Why must we decide today?; Climate has to start planning

d. It will be harder to clean in June because of the foliage

e. Climate to observe outside to determine necessity of CRUD

f. The seniors will be gone in June

g. It might be better to just have a senate clean-up day

h. A June CRUD could be bigger, perhaps with a barbecue

i. The whole purpose of CRUD is to bring the school together; a senate clean-up

day is not a good idea

j. CRUD should occur before June, so we can enjoy cleanliness

k. Final exams will be the last Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and there will be

reviews of the final in the following days

l. It is suggested that CRUD take place on last Monday

m. Climate will have to make its own decision

Motion Motion by Senator Paulsen to Adjourn

Vote: Motion Passes

List of Senators Absent from Senate meeting

*Denotes excused/notified absence.