Graduate Center, CUNY
Doctoral Students’ Council
Emergency Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

May 11th, 2007—6pm

Steering Committee members present:
Ericka Calton, Chong Wojtkowski , Brenda Vollman, Patrina Huff, Kate Wilson, Charles
Lieberman, Rob Faunce, Denise Torres

Steering Committee members absent:
Rouzbeh Nazari [non-voting ex-officio], Michael Broder

Chair: Chong Wojtkowski
Minutes: Patrina Huff

Meeting called to order at 6:05 PM

May 11, 2007

I. Approval of agenda.
Denise Torres registered a complaint regarding call to meeting as unconstitutional. Kate
Wilson informed there is no constitutional right of complaint. Rob Faunce questioned the
legitimacy of the meeting. Denise Torres stated the emergency meeting was against both
the constitution and Sunshine Laws and asked for clarification regarding agenda and
emergency call. Chong Wojtkowski stated she forwarded the agenda, this is a regularly
scheduled time, and that by constitution the Co-Chairs could call an emergency meeting.
Denise Torres reiterated call was not in-compliance with constitution or Sunshine Laws and
registered complaint.
Motion to approve agenda accepted with majority consent.

II. Approval of old minutes.
Motion to table April 13th minutes approved. Motion to accept March 9th minutes with
spelling checks by Ericka and addition that Denise was present approved.

III. Plenary Elections Process.

Ericka reports that students who have been elected as representative have been contacted
and that most ties have been resolved, however, the steering committee should attempt a
second round of contacts to nonrespondents by Tuesday.
Ericka says for the May 18 meeting the order of nominations/elections will be: 1) co-chair
for communications, 2) co-chair for business, 3) co-chair for student affairs, 4) steering
committee members, 5) media board and other positions (Ericka will write short
descriptions of these to be distributed at the May 18 meeting). Denise Torres corrected
the order of nominations/elections stating the order of elections is 1) co-chair for student
affairs 2) co-chair for communications and 3) co-chair for business as per the constitution.
Brenda Vollman agreed this was the order and affirmed elections would be held in alignment
with existing regulations.
Ericka says candidates will stand up and say something about themselves. They will have the
choice to be present or to leave the room while the plenary discusses their candidacy.
Brenda asks if the discussion part can be skipped and candidates voted on based on what
they’ve said. Chong and Kate respond that discussion is crucial as there may be facets of a
candidate that don’t come up in a speech. Denise asks if there will be paper ballots. This is
answered in the affirmative. Charles suggests that paper ballots be distributed upon
completion of discussion of each candidate. Denise stated that in keeping with the
constitution a record be kept so, in the event of vacancies, second place candidates can fill
the positions. Ericka affirmed that records and ballots are currently kept in sealed
envelopes. Brenda says this is already the current practice. The constitution requires all
ballots be kept and vacancies filled in the order that candidates were elected.

IV. Semester wrap up

Brenda asks that, though office hours officially end on May 17, steering committee
members come to the office as much as possible to help with collection of receipts and
other outstanding paperwork.

Ericka asks the chairs of the library, health issues and community building committees to
submit a report summarizing their activities for the term.

V. Recent Email Communications

Executive session begins 6:21 PM
Executive session ends 6:59 PM

Denise states for the record that she feels an emergency meeting was inappropriately
called and that the amount of time spent in executive session proves that the primary
purpose of the meeting was not to discuss the elections/end of the year wrap up as stated
in the emails to the steering committee.

Ericka states for the record that she disagrees.

Rob states for the record that he feels the calling of an emergency meeting was an abuse
of power.

Chong states for the record that she disagrees.

VI. Motion to adjourn at 7:03 PM approved with unanimous consent.