Wesleyan Student Assembly — Wesleyan University

Minutes: February 16, 2003, No. 14

WSA Officers

• President: Joey Wender
• Vice President: Yaw Agyenim-Boateng
• Coordinator: Sara Mirsky
• Treasurer: Adam Lachman

Opening of Meeting

The meeting was opened at 8:08 pm.

Approval of Minutes

The minutes were approved unanimously.

Meeting Agenda and Business

• Discussion with Jeff Ederer and Jeff Miller
• Yearbook Pictures
• Committee Reports
• New Business and Announcements

Discussion with Jeff Ederer, Director of Residential Life, and Jeff Miller, Associate Director of Student Life Facilities

Mr. Ederer and Mr. Miller open by asking for questions.

Stack

• Camille Zahniser inquires into long term goals for housing.
• Mr. Ederer states that students will continue to live in wood frame houses; it would otherwise be too expensive and unpopular. The current interest is in lowering the number of people living off campus, so a new residential hall is being built that will hold about 160 bed spaces. The new hall will probably be for freshmen and will be close to the center of campus. The plan for Intown is to replace it with more townhouse style apartments for upper classmen. Mr. Ederer is very supportive of student input, so students will have more input with any renovations that will take place.
• Mr. Miller informs the Assembly of current projects. The two room doubles in Malcolm X House will be converted into singles. The fire alarms in various residential halls are being updated. The whole hot water system in the Butterfields was changed last semester.
• Mr. Ederer also points out that they will be working with the Master Planner to identify which parts of campus will be phased out.
• Mr. Miller adds that they are trying to convert three houses on Pine Street into a parking lot, but doing so would mean losing 11 bed spaces. They are currently looking for alternate bed spaces. The parking lot will be good for Freemen Athletic Center and people living on Pine Street. It will contain over 100 spaces.
• Jeremy Abrams asks how the new residential hall will solve the problem of off campus housing if freshmen don’t live off campus.
• Mr. Ederer explains that 35% of freshmen live in singles. The plan is to put more freshmen in doubles, sophomores in dorm singles or program houses, juniors in program houses or apartment style living, and seniors in woodframe houses. The over 100 singles in dorm singles that freshmen now live in will belong to sophomores, but they will try not to isolate freshmen among sophomores. They will not eliminate freshmen singles; just lower the number of them, especially in the Foss Hill dorms.
• Selina Ellis asks for an estimate of the percentage of seniors living in houses next year.
• Mr. Ederer estimates that it will remain about 90% because no spaces will be lost. In the future, they will be looking into converting graduate houses into undergraduate houses.
• Nathan Victoria asks how the policy of off campus housing limits affects groups that own their own houses.
• Mr. Ederer explains that ResLife makes a contract with these groups that their houses will be kept in the same condition as campus houses are. This policy is controversial, however, because it means that Public Safety has to have access to off campus houses. Since Public Safety hasn’t had good relationships with fraternities in the past, alumni are very wary of the way the administration will be handling the situation.
• Jesse Watson asks if it is true that International House and Art House will no longer be program houses. He asks why this is and if it is part of a larger initiative.
• Mr. Ederer responds that all houses have to have intentions and goals. According to the evaluation process that had been developed, five houses were failing. Of these five, three appealed; Beta was granted its appeal. Chi Psi, Heathen House, International House, and Art House will no longer be program houses. Heathen House will be converted to Buddhist House, International House will be used as college property, and Art House will probably not stay campus housing in the long term due to its distance from campus.
• Jesse Watson reports that there are problems with the new location of Buddhist House. The noisy location is not ideal for its program, and the area is too small for the number of people who want to live in it.
• Mr. Ederer informs Mr. Watson that the house is the best one available. Members will be able to practice their faith even with the noise. Art House has not totally been disregarded, but it might not be part of the University in the future.
• Sara Mirsky asks if there have been any solutions to the laundry problem.
• Mr. Miller reports that he has proposed a site for the middle of Home Avenue, but it was rejected even though it would be ideal. It was rejected because the University doesn’t want to allocated maintenance money to a “new program,” especially since a new facility was built at 1 Vine Street last year. He is therefore looking into other solutions. There is a plan to bring the Butterfields’ laundry facilities upstairs in the future to make it safer and open to everyone. Unfortunately, changes are difficult to make because the University does not view it as a serious issue.
• Ali Gomer asks if there will be a laundry card dispenser in Vine Street after the video camera is put up.
• Mr. Miller affirms that the company is very willing to put it in; the job will be done within the next year.
• Brian Byusa inquires into the quality of services in program houses.
• Mr. Miller informs him that Physical Plant does not regulate program houses. Rather, the houses are supposed to regulate themselves; Physical Plant just makes sure that they provide services for themselves.
• Yaw Agyenim-Boateng asks for an explanation of the review process for program houses.
• Mr. Ederer explains that there are six categories for evalution, and points are given for each. The committee that assigns the points then provides recommendations to a three person board (consisting of Dean Whaley, Dean Hill, and the Chair of the SAC). The house could appeal to get more points if it did not receive enough. If the board determines the request to be reasonable, the house is granted program house status again.
• Sam Franklin wonders why Public Safety has to do walk-throughs in fraternities if there are community standards agreements.
• Mr. Ederer states that, although he can’t speak with 100% authority, an issue existed between Beta and Public Safety last year. Beta alumni took a hard line against Public Safety; Beta cannot have program house status with that attitude. Also, on a national level, there has been a debate about student behavior and how far off campus they should held liable for it. Public Safety should have a role in the regulation of Beta since it involves so many students.
• Joey Wender brings up the fact that there is a small number of students of color in Clark Hall.
• Mr. Ederer explains the situation. No where on the room preference form does it identify background or race. ResLife looks to assign students as much as possible in their first or second choices. More than half of the incoming class last year put Clark as their first choice. Because of this, Clark rooms were assigned last. The people pulled from the pool were those who wanted to live in Clark, but also in a single. Selections were made from there. How did it happen that only two African American students wound up in Clark if there are blind applications? The University hired institutional researchers to answer that question. They came up with four main reasons: 1) blacks were less likely than whites to request Clark; 2) of the eighteen African American students that did request Clark, four sent their applications in late, and therefore were not considered for Clark; 3) two of the remaining students requested a specific roommate and were therefore not considered for Clark; 4) six of the black students requested a single room. The percentage of blacks chosen was similar to the percentage of whites. The URLC met last Wednesday and discussed whether housing should be done by random assignment or by choice. It was decided that ResLife will continue to assign by choice, but will be more careful. Housing assignment applications will be online for next year, hopefully decreasing the number of the problems encountered.
• Adam Poswolsky asks what happens if fraternities do not sign the facilities standards agreement. He asks what it means if they lose their program house status.
• Mr. Ederer responds that if they lose their status, the house will be considered off campus housing. ResLife is trying to get everyone to sign it, though.
• Adam Poswolsky suggests that ResLife look at the fact that all program houses being taken off line are all on the outskirts of campus.
• Danny Rodriguez recommends making program house doubles into singles so that they’ll be more popular. He also asks if house walk-throughs are announced.
• Mr. Miller explains that the only reason there would be a random walk- though would be a fire safety inspection.
• Georgi Radev asks if there is a tendency to put Asian freshmen in the Butterfields.
• Mr. Ederer answers that Asians were more likely to put Clark as their first choice than whites were, so they were given their second building choice, which was the Butterfields. Furthermore, the previous International Students Officer used to encourage international students to apply to the Butterfields so that they could be near to her office. When the housing application goes online, though, more information will be given about different residential halls.
• Yaw Agyenim-Boateng warns that since older international students communicate with younger ones, a chain forms in which international students continually apply for the same residential hall.
• Mr. Miller informs the WSA that ResLife and Physical Plant are looking to involve students in more actions.
• Mr. Ederer announces that ResLife is open everyday. If people have questions, they should stop by, call, or email him.

Yearbook Pictures

• When the Secretary returns to her computer after taking yearbook pictures, she finds these words written on her computer:
• Jeremy is sexy… almost as sexy as Karen but he is cooler, but she is smarter by a real lot.

 

Committee Reports

• Community Outreach Committee ( COCo)
• Jeremy Abrams, COCo Chair, reports:
• PSAC had a meeting during which shuttle and escort issues were discussed. They looked at getting rid of the escort service and using the shuttle and taxi in its place.
• The Student of Color Forum will be held in two weeks.
• Plans for Roller Night are coming along well.
• Stack
  • Karen Courtheoux asks if there will be follow ups to the meeting about key card access.
  • Sam Franklin informs her that there a committee has been formed to work on a long term plan involving key card access.
  • Mr. Abrams also points out that the University should be looking at temporary short term goals.
  • Karen Courtheoux recommends inviting the chair of ITS in to speak because he has some ideas about security that contradict Ms. Wiggin’s suggestions.
• Independent Projects Committee (IPC)
  • Yaw Agyenim-Boateng, WSA Vice President, reports:
  • Melinda Coro reports that Senior Cocktails went well and that it was helpful that WSA members were there.
  • Danny Rodriguez reports that the Social Committee is working on setting up a website so that they can receive student input.
  • Juan Moreno reports that Esquid is going to be set up by the creators of WesMatch.
  • Mr. Agyenim-Boateng reports that the IPC is currently looking at ways to reduce waste on campus.
• Student Budget Committee (SBC)
  • Adam Lachman, WSA Treasurer, reports:
  • Mr. Lachman met with Pam Tatge to discuss the Crowell Concert Series and issues facing the CFA with student groups. The CFA request for subsidizing student tickets for the Concert Series will increase from $6,000 to between $8,000 and $10,000 next year. Also, the WSA subsidy of the box office manager will be removed from future budgets. Pam Tatge also expressed interest in working on a student run Lunch Time Concert/Performance series when the Chapel comes back online next year.
  • Student Group Accounts will be accessible to the SBC online in two weeks.
  • SBC Hearings from this past week:
  • Speaker Music:
    • AMSC Zeehas; 12 Wait Music Request: $150.00 Allocation: $150.00
    • WESU Tracy & the Plastics etc. Request: $350.00 Allocation $0.00
    • AMSC Tracy & the Plastics etc. Request: $125.00 Allocation $125.00
    • Pinoy Grandmaster Cuesta Request: $400.00 Allocation $200.00
    • Kappa Alpha Theta Lecture Request: $422.00 Allocation: deferred
    • Chinese Music Ensemble Musician Fees Request:$1,050.00 Allocation: $0.00
    • Live Performance Coalition Glitter Penis Request: $350.00 Allocation:$0.00
    • Common Room QUAD Request: $13,650.00 Allocation: $6,000.00
    • WMC Ben Verdery Request: $2,750.00 Allocation: $2,000.00
    • Week Thirteen Totals Requests: $19,247.00 Allocations: $8,475.00 44.03%
  • Supplemental:
    • Strategic Games Club Request: $345.00 Allocation: $22.50
    • SPIN Request: $237.39 Allocation: $75.00
    • WESU Request: $8,924.00 Allocation: Deferred
    • ESL Request: $140.00 Allocation: $100.00
    • ISIS Request: $370.00 Allocation: $230.00
    • Women's Water Polo Request: $2,955.12 Allocation: $500.00
    • Westech Club Vollyball Request: $405.60 Allocation: $250.00
    • Jar Request: $880.00 Allocation: Deferred
    • ASA Request: $570.00 Allocation: $295.00
    • ASA Request: $145.00 Allocation $0.00
    • Week Thirteen Totals Requests: $14,972.11 Allocations: $1,472.50 9.83%
• Finances and Facilities (FiFac)
  • Ali Gomer, FiFac Chair, reports:
  • Wesleyan bought Atticus; the school will own the property and the bookstore will remain at that location, but they have yet to decide on what book vender will occupy the space. Renovations and expansion will begin in late May and will be finished by mid August. A new bookstore committee has been formed; Ms. Gomer, Gabe Tabak, Jared Make, and Jesse Watson will serve on it.
  • The campus planning session that will be held this week will focus on residential areas. People should contact Stacy Baldwin if they want to attend. The session will meet at Freeman on Wednesday at 1:00 to leave for the tour, which will end at 3:00. At that time, there will be a workshop where the campus planners will show their ideas and ask for feedback.
  • Sam Franklin is working on safety issues on campus.
  • Matt Lerner is putting the finishing touches on the WestCo Café proposal after meeting with Guidance this week.
• Educational Policy Committee (EPC)
• Colleen Galbraith, EPC Chair, reports:
• Ms. Galbraith will be speaking with Marcia Bromberg tomorrow to discuss whether the EPC will be involved in the new bookstore issue.
• The five year calendar will be finalized tomorrow; a week will be added to each semester.
• Karen Courtheoux reports that the library search committee for a new library director is going very well. All of the candidates are very high quality.
• Student Affairs Committee (SAC)
  • Emily Polak, SAC Chair, reports:
  • he housing appeals process concluded this week with the appeals being granted to Beta and denied to both Heathen House and Art House. Buddhist House’s application to be a program house next year was accepted.
  • URLC also met this week to discuss how first year housing will work for next year’s incoming class.
  • Dining met with Manuel Cunard this week and brainstormed the key values for dining within the new University Center. He will write up a report that will be forwarded to the WSA.
  • The SAC met with Dean Hill, Dean Whaley, and Maryanne Wiggin to discuss shuttles and key card issues of safety. Dean Hill will draft a letter to Marcia Bromberg asking that the University create an account with an area taxi service so a student can use their ID, and the fare chare will be billed to them. This should temporarily alleviate some transportation issues. Use of the MTA is also being investigated. The next step is to meet with ITS.
  • The GLBTQQ subcommittee is presenting their transsexual awareness program with a speaker coming soon.
  • Dan Matzkin will be meeting with a campus disability group to bring forward student concerns, both physical and learning.
  • Weekend dining is working on buying a small amp/mic set up for the late night café so that performers do not need to keep bringing their own.
• Coordinating Committee (CC)
  • Sara Mirsky, WSA Coordinator, reports:
  • The member of the week is Adam Poswolsky.
  • The CC will be meeting with Frank Kuan next week.

Executive Committee (EC)

• Joey Wender, WSA President, reports:
• The task force’s report on the Honor Code and the Code of Non-Academic Conduct has been released. It is very complimentary of student governance in the role of the two codes. Most of the suggestions involve professors stressing its importance.
• The meeting with the CRC was quite productive. Focus groups as well as a CRC Advisory Committee are being planned as a result of our discussions.
• The Trustee Reports are in. The trustees are returning to campus on March 7.

 

New Business and Announcements

Jesse Watson announces that the Freshman Forum will be held tomorrow, February 17 from 8-9 pm in PAC 001.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:39 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,
Monica Arduini, WSA Secretary