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Minutes of the Meeting of the Dalhousie Law Students’ Society Board of Directors

November 2, 2008

1. Call to order at: 7:14 PM
   Motion by Stewart, Seconded by Melissa, Carried.
   
   
2. Roll call of members present
1.  Gord McGuire – President
2.  Adam Picotte – VP Academic
3.  Alia Rosenstock – VP Executive
4.  Frederic Perron-Welch – VP External
5.     Michelle Black – DALSA Representative
6.  Jessica Upshaw – DBLSA Representative
7.  Melissa Grover – First Year Representative
8.  Jade Buchanan - First Year Representative
9.  Stewart Carstairs - First Year Representative
10.  Greg Gilhooly - Second Year Representative
11.  Erin Tolfo - Second Year Representative
12.  Dan McGruder – Third Year Representative
13.  Mark Leung– Third Year Representative
14.     Sean Fraser – Chair

Regrets: Gill Carter – Secretary
Michelle McBride – VP Finance
Brian Kuchar - Second Year Representative

3. Adoption of Agenda
   Motion by Melissa, seconded by Michelle
   Gord: Friendly Motion to add ‘Exam Study Space’ to New Business
   Mark: Friendly Motion to add “Asian Law Students’ Society Representative’ to New Business
   Melissa: Friendly Motion to add “etiquette lessons” to Old Business
   Carried
   
   
4. Approval of Last Meeting’s Minutes
   Motion by Melissa, seconded by Dan, carried.
   
   
5. Chair’s Remarks
   N/A
   
   
6. Questions from Public
   N/A
   
   
7. Reports of the Executive
1. President’s Report
   -Invited the school to attend via email and Weldon Times
   -Exam scheduling at other Canadian universities is coming along nicely. Dal law appears to have the most onerous schedule. Both by break and over all time, Dal has the shortest schedule (first year exams).
   -Discussed incorporation, the executive is studying the matter as the LSS has been in default for some time.
   -J.D. / LL.B. email has been drafted and the executive has given input. It will be out soon.
   -Lounge renos are public knowledge and Olga is doing great with getting feedback.
   -Library hours are being explored. Dal Law claims to have the best hours in the country during exams, which seems to be holding upon investigation. However, some other schools stay up later during finals and have 24 hours study space.
   -Comp Sci building is no longer 24 hours
   
   
2. VP Executive Report
   -Working on Legal Who invoices
   -Met with Donna Beaver re: locker security. She will be speaking with facilities about getting cameras in the locker rooms. They are being nice and helpful.
   -Is working on ‘Firm Menus’ which is a list of societies that firms can donate to.
   
   
3. VP Finance Report
   -N/A
   
   
4. VP Academic Report
   -Class evaluation are out and doing well.
   -OTL survey will be out soon.
   
   
5. VP External Report
   -Dal Master Plan is out, the DSU has a good list of proposed improvements to the school, including 24 hour study space. An email was sent out by the VP External and everyone is encouraged to take a look. He will gladly advocate anything you wish. There will be a final meeting on Nov. 5^th.
   Alia: Was the grad house on the agenda?
   Fred: Yes.
   Mark: Is there a deadline for opinions?
   Fred: The sooner the better; within the next week. Many ideas have already been submitted.

7:30 Arrival of Domus President, Colin Andrews

8. Representative’s Reports
1. DALSA Representative’s Report
   -N/A
   
   
2. DBLSA Representative’s Report
   -N/A
   
   
3. First Year Representatives’ Report
   Stewart: Canvassed members of section C about phone and cable in the lounge. Students said keep the phone service, but get rid of cable unless we are getting a bigger TV. He also put up an informal survey about the lounge phone and people seem to like it.
               Fred: Mentioned the DSU’s student input strategy as an option for     getting feedback about the lounge, or other issues in general.
               The President: Mentioned that comments can also be made anonymously      on the webpage.
               VP Executive: Mentioned we’ll have space for a similar board and a comment box.
   VP Executive: Will work on such a project and report back next week.
   
   
4. Second Year Representatives’ Report
   Erin: If kitchens are to be a part of lounge renovations, the year reps should take on responsibility of keeping the area tidy.
   President: Will inform Olga that the LSS is willing to add this to official duties.
   
   
5. Third Year Representatives’ Report
   Mark: Encouraged his class to report to Olga about their ideas for lounge renos.
   
   
9. Old Business
               1. Etiquette Class
               Mellisa and Jade met with Rose Godfrey. The Dal Career Development office is       holding on in Jan and law students will get first dibs. There will be a five course           meal for $20 and if students aren’t satisfied on that, more will be done.
               Domus President, Supported by VP Academic: Liked the idea and said Domus          was considering something similar with a wine tasting.
   
   
10. New Business
1. Domus Update
   Domus President, Colin Andrews:
   -Domus membership has decreased, partly because of free-riding. This year, Domus has added a cover for non-members. The first years have been very into Domus and has 100 more members than last year, now. Fees may be lowered in the future.
   -Without the house, things are focusing on new areas, including the Neptune theatre. They are attempting to avoid cutting into other social events. There was a plan for Domus to take part of the Grad House but that fell through. The Dean is looking at other opportunities to have part of the Grad House for Domus.
   -Domus is working on institutional memory by developing a board, which would provide information and continuity.
   -Domus owns a shuffle board which Domus will loan to the LSS for the lounge.
   -Domus needs storage, as they no longer have the house.
   -There was a discussion about providing more space for Domus. The Executive will discuss it and be in touch.
   President: Clarified that the LSS doesn’t have final say on the lounge, and suggested Domus make a formal request Olga.
   Chair: Thanked Colin for his update.
   
   
2. Exam Study Space
   -The computer science building is no longer open 24/7 for safety and student health reasons. DSU President, Courtney Larkin, said the closure was for safety, health, and minimum wage issues. However, they will be open later during exams. The President was told the building was closed due to vandalism and theft. Comp Sci students are now allowed in after hours. The decision is final. And, she believed that hours would not be extended during exams. She suggested speaking to Dean Saunders about extending library hours (and cc’d him). She also suggested Law students using the SUB, which would require us consulting the DSU. President raised the possibility that some Law students would get swipe cards to get into the comp sci building.
   There was discussion supporting both longer hours for the Law Library and getting access to the Comp Sci building.
   VP Executive: Speak to Ann Morrison about this. Asked Donna Beaver about swipe cards for Weldon. But, because the school is so big and cavernous, people might try to sleep here—it happened before. Suggested a study-in protest of the lack of hours because the Law School doesn’t have total jurisdiction over the law library.
   Erin: Stress that comp sci and med building are open to 12 and we should have the same rights. They shouldn’t be entitled to better study space hours than we are.
   
   
3. Dal Asian Law Students’ Society:
   Mark brought up the idea. He was looking for a rationale for why there is a DBLSA and DALSA rep but not and DALSS rep. All three societies are open to everyone, irrespective of immutable qualities. Mark believes having a representative on the LSS would be good for bringing in the view of Asian students.
   VP External an explanation that Dal Law’s program attempts to remedy discrimination in Nova Scotia through the IB&M program, which is the rationale for LSS representation.
   There was a hearty discussion of the pros and the rationales for the existing representatives. Better inclusion and building bridges between Asian students across Dalhousie and Halifax.
   There was a discussion which pointed to the possibility of changing things come the AGM.
   
   
11. Announcements
    The Chair: Reminded everyone about the social event next week.
    VP Academic: Election coverage at the Grawood tomorrow
    President: There is an election party at his place.
    Jade: Reminded everyone that it’s Movember and everyone who can should be growing a mustache in support of men’s health.
12. Adjournment
    Motion by Mark, seconded by Michelle.