Lexington (MA) High School Senate

LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-FACULTY SENATE

2005-2006

Moderator Peter Lubershane, Assistant Moderator Sam Kafrissen, Secretary Peter Kim

Minutes from Meeting: 9-21-05

I. Call to Order: Meeting is called to order at 7:50 by Moderator Lubershane

II. Approval of Minutes: Minutes approved.

III. Approval of Agenda: Agenda approved.

IV. Announcements: 1) Question is raised about who is currently in charge of overseeing flyer posting in the hallways because of the fire code.

V. Open Comments: 1) Senator Colarusso encourages students to go to the moon.

2) LHS Today announcements should be discussed because it seems to be done arbitrarily.

VI. Committee Reports: 1) Policy committee discussed Honor Code bill.

2) Social action committee met Tuesday to discuss open campus.

VII. Voting Records Bill 1) Secretary Kim speaks against the bill because it lacks evidence to support its assumptions, it increases peer pressure and majority voting, and has logistical problems.

2) Voting records force people to elect wisely and peer pressure is good.

3) It would slow down voting process. We should look at a better way to do this. Peer pressure isn't the issue.

4) Senators should ask the community. Senate records should be publicized on the Musket, so that community can make more informed decisions during elections.

5) Amendment proposed by Senator Colarusso to include "and transcripts" after the word voting, and strike voting from the title.

a) If we are going to take this seriously, we need very detailed minutes. People must be able to examine the reasons behind the votes. Absurdity of this bill may prove why current bill is inadequate.

b) Amendment fails unanimously

6) Records are posted on Senate website. The issue is that Senators are good at delegating tasks to other people.

7) Won't solve the issue at elections.

8) the Musket should assign a senator solely for Senate.

9) Military recruitment bill proves most bills are the culmination of weeks of discussions.

10) the Musket was criticized for having too much stuff about Senate in the survey conducted. There is a Senate report section in the Musket.

11) Kids should approach Senators and have face-to-face conversations.

12) The bill can only help the current situation. We can appoint a vote tabulator. Senator Williams volunteers for the job if no one else wants to do it.

13) Only 8 bills or resolutions were passed last year.

14) Only voting records increase possibility of vote misrepresentation. Other issues in discussion of the bill might be important.

15) Amendment proposed by Senator Burnett to take out word secretary and replace it with "standing committee or person appointed by the executive"

a) It solves the problem of imposing the burden on one person.

b) Executive can handle the ob.

c) Some suggest that communications committee handle the job.

d) Anyone can be appointed.

f) Amendment passes 21 to 11.

16) Many express concern that no one cares. We need to inspire interest in Senate.

17) Doesn't matter if a lot of people read the records because elections are very close.

List of Senators Absent from Senate meeting: *Denotes excused/notified absence.

*Serrano *Collins *Metzger-Traber Wilson Tall