Wesleyan Student Assembly — Wesleyan University

Minutes: February 29, 2004, No. 14

WSA Officers

President: Sohana Punithakumar
Vice President: Daniel Rodriguez
Coordinator: Sara Mirsky
Treasurer: Camille Zahniser

Meeting Agenda and Business

1. Meeting Opening
2. Approval of Minutes
3. New Business
4. Committee Reports
5. Social Committee
6. Announcements
7. Adjournment

Opening of Meeting

The meeting was opened at 6:20 PM.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes are approved unanimously.

New Business

No new business.

Committee Reports

1. Community Outreach Committee (COCo)

   Jeremy Abrams, COCo Chair, reports:
   COCo has submitted revisions to its Constitutional by-laws. Johanna Goetzel reports a great response from students wanting to meet and read to kids at the Wesleyan Bookstore from 10am to 11am monthly on Saturdays. Finally, the student group pamphlet is done. It will be distributed after spring break.

2. Coordinating Committee (CC)

   Sara Mirsky, Coordinator, reports:
   The Member of the Week is Nora Connor. Happy birthday!

3. Educational Policy Committee (EPC)

   Karen Courtheoux, EPC Chair, reports:
   The EPC outreach initiative is underway. The committee has tabled for two days at Mocon, two days at the Campus Center and will spend two days at Summerfields next week. Students are responding voluminously. EPC is already putting the feedback to productive use (i.e. to inform how we proceed on the TA issue). Individually, Birthday-girl Nora Connor is working on a proposal to institute advisor evaluations, just as we conduct teaching evaluations. Courtheoux met with Billy Weitzer and Joe Bruno, Dean of Division III (NSM), to discuss science programs for non-majors, and will have a follow-up meeting in coming weeks. Zach Kolodin is satisfied with his glance into students' roles in admissions and will now be moving on to the subject of TA's and how to make them more functional, and will work to streamline communication with professors. And, Jesse Watson will be writing a report on the Arabic language program in order to improve the program.

4. Executive Committee (EC)

   Sara Mirsky, Coordinator, reports:
   Regarding Wesleyan athletic admissions, athletic ability is just like any other factor in the college admission process; a coach supporting a candidate for admission is similar to a professor's support. A reminder, the WSA dinner with the Dean of the College Staff is at 6 PM on Wednesday at Russel House. The crosswalk on Washington Street is a project for CAFSAC and is under Joyce Topche's jurisdiction. CAFSAC is also looking for bulletin board installation locations as an alternative to chalking.

5. Finances and Facilities Committee (FiFac)

   Nathan Victoria, FiFac Chair, reports:
   The Fauver Field Committee met to review layout. The contractor bids are due in four weeks. Physical Plant is removing asbestos on Long Lane, which might turn into a retirement home. The shuttle committee will report at the next meeting. FiFac will run an advertising campaign for public transportation.

6. Independent Projects Committee (IPC)

   Danny Rodriguez, IPC Chair, reports:
   Regarding Senior Cocktails, there will be a limit on guest list. The next cocktail event will be on April 15. There will be 10 buses, a 50-guest limit, and special invitations for first semester seniors. A casino is reserved for the first night of senior week. The VP will advocate for not having Casino Night because the event drains funds. Finally, the juniors are voting for their senior class officers now.

7. Student Affairs Committee (SAC)

   Selina Ellis, SAC Member, reports:
   Undergraduate Residential Life Committee has Westco squared away. Applications will be due over spring break, and notification will come at the same time as program house notification. Korean house did not receive any applications and might not exist next year. Special interest housing notification will come before students must accept program housing bids. Jeff Miller proposed a change in major maintenance budget allocations: instead of voting on all projects together, he suggests reserving funds for academic facilities and for student life facilities, to allow student life facilities more control over their major maintenance funding.
   The Student Life Committee received updates on the SCPA Committee and Behavioral Health committee. The SLC discussed SJB issues with Michael Benn of University Legal Projects. The problem with student adjudications is students not knowing consequential university liability.

8. Student Budget Committee (SBC)

   Pacho Carreno, SBC member, reports:
   This week's large allocations were:
   
   • $1000 more to April Planning Month
   • $1000 more to Students for a Free Tibet
   • $1000 to Mabuhay

   Stack

   • Daniell Krudy asks if EPC could review the writing tutor program in conjuction with the TA project.
   • Karen Courtheoux ask why April Peoples' Awarness Month, while cutting performances, is recieving less money than other themed months. Pacho Carreño says that last year, the month had an expencive keynote speaker. The SBC found out that one performer reported to cost 2000 dollars will be free. Furthermore, most other groups get money from sources other than the SBC.
   • Karen asks SAC about the phonecall back policy from the Office of Behavioral Health.
   • Selina Ellis replies that the phone call back is from a therapist to evaluate urgency of a case.
   • Karen suggests that FiFac stay on the junior-Fauver housing capacity because in the past funds have run dry during construction and ResLife decides to cram students in residencies by adding more rooms into less space.
   • Pacho Carreño asks when the Fauver residency will open.
   • Nathan Victoria says it is scheduled for the fall of 2005.
   • Jeremy Abrams asks if the Planning Committee is not unconcered that the freshman will buy alcohol from junior neighbors.
   • Nathan replies no; the hall's mainentrances open in opposite directions.
   • Selina Ellis asks what will happen to the retaining wall on the west slope off Fauver onto Vine Street.
   • Nathan Victoria says that the contractors proposals still have to address the hill problem.
   • Monica Arduini ask if this will still be pretty.
   • Nathan Victoria says that there will not be too much concrete, if that what Monica meant.
   • Brittany Mitchell asks if Vicoria is still working on the environmental aspects of the residence.
   • Victoria replies no.
   • Arijit Sen asks committee chairpersons to support thier members more. He asks Juan to add Sen into more minutes. And finally, states that if ResLife is worried about frosh geting alcohol, there are few obstacles as it is now.
   • Calvin Cato asks if buletin boards will be edited or checked.
   • Nathan Victorias says not now, but dry erase and cork boards might become standard issue on dormitory doors.
   • Danny Rodriguez asks how tall the building will be.
   • Victoria replies four floors.
   • Johanna Goetzel says that the Nicholon Dormitories will house more sophmores.
   • Victoria says that there will be more frosh on Fauver and more singls for sophomores in the Butterfields and High/low Rise for juniors and seniors.
   • Pacho Carreño asks Daniel Rubin what changes will come out of the email responses to dining.
   • Rubin replies Pi will extend hours of opperation after spring break, the Campus Center might close on the weekends, a drink cart near Olin Library might be installed and then the Summerfields menu should be improved.
   • Emily Polak suggests that the Assembly present the issues formally ot the students to keep them informed on the issue.
   • Nora Connor feels like there is no time left for environmental input.
   • Polak says that the Sustainable Development Forum might contribute.
   • Karen Courtheoux reports in addition her committee report that the Library Committee met with library staff and faculty, in which meeting they discussed facility improvements and other architectural suggestions.
   • Sen asks why the school does not stop building and invest in geen energy.
   • Courtheoux says that when the school borrows money for construction that is now it must be spent.
   • Daniel Rubin asks if it is possible for Marsha Bromberg, Rob Schmidt and Manny Cunard to come back for feedback on this.
   • Sara Mirsky asks why there is a 50 person guest limit for Senior Cocktails.
   • Calvin Cato replies that it was going to be 100, but questions should be sent to Jenina Nunez .
   • Rodriguez says that juniors should tell friends to vote for a write-in Senior Class Secretary .
   • Rubin asks for students to email him with comments on dishes and ingrediants.

9. Social Committee Report -- Maris Yanow

   The Social Committee is working with Public Safety to keep Spring Fling fun and safe. Underage drinking, open flames near couches and drunken beligerence are all problems that might lead to a law suit. To mitigate university liability, new policy creation will try to keep the wildness of the event undercontrol. The policy initiative might include the following programs, prohibitions and regulations: no couches, an area for grills, no mass containers (kegs), more non-alcoholic events in between bands, and a "beer garden" off the hill. The following dialogue should focus on solutions to appease the administration.

   Stack

   • Danny Rodriguez shares his frustration. He says there seems to be no middle ground, but Public Safety wants a good faith effort.
   • Jeremy Abrams asks if coolers count as a mass container, and suggest placing the beer garden in the CFA.
   • Maris Yanow says that alcohol quantities and consumption might be limited with in the garden.
   • Brittany Mitchel points out that the garden would have a four can limit.
   • Yanow says that the goal is a comprimize in order that there may not be more changes in the future.
   • Daniel Rubin says that Trinity College's spring fling has an 8 foot tall chain link fence, and for 21+ student must wear a wristband to drink. There is a six pack per person limit. Sofas are allowed, but not barbaques.
   • Karen Courtheoux likes the bracleting idea and suggests they are mailed to students.
   • Victoria wonders how a beer garden might effect greater Middletown attendance. He says spring fling is a community builder and the event should not be closed to the Middletown population.
   • Dannielle Krudy thinks the fence is a bad idea. She suggests saftey stations or stationed officers on the hill.
   • Ellis asks about rain location solutions
   • Yanow replies that alcohol would be banned from any inside venue.
   • Sara Mirsky comments that with the hill is very managable, as it is visible from any perspective. Students must be respectful; Public Safety has always been there and they must do their part.
   • Nora Connor likes Karen's idea concurs on Jeremy's idea of a tolken beer garden.
   • Britany Mitchell adds that the beer garden is an expensive idea because of private security costs.
   • Carreño asks if Public Safety would pays some of he security costs.
   • Yanow says, a little.
   • Alison Burson suggests catered food inplace of barbaques.
   • Dante Furioso says that no mater the remedy, people will circumvent it. First-aid and medics should be omnipresent.
   • Justin Christopher says caging drunk people is a greater liability.
   • Yanow says the only problem with braclets is limiting illegal fabrication.
   • Abrams says that braclets are good without the fence, and asks if there will be real police.
   • Yanow says no, but with a fence, a the Mountainside security company might be hired. Calvin Cato suggest braclets be personalized.
   • Annie Heindel says the fence could be okay if it does not have a big presence.
   • Natalie suggests buying a really awesome band so that people will not feel like they have to get so drunk.
   • Lisa Schambers asks who the administrators in charge are, and suggests that the ice cream man come for the event.
   • Yanow replies the administrators are Lelani Kupo, Dean Rick, Dave Myer of Public Safety, Cari Macdermott and Peter Patton.
   • Daniel Rubin suggests that all public saftey officers have rosters of students over 21 years old, that there be a two guests limit, and that ambulances be present.
   • Gabe Tabak says that Public Safety could table for a couple weeks before the event, and suggests that there b more trash cans on the hill.
   • Rubin recommends giving a free keepsake with the braclet as an incentive for those over 21 to pick them up.
   • Courtheoux suggests having many water fountains for students chugging beer in the garden. And, the WSA should be prepared to fight an unsuitable policy decision.
   • Britany Mitchell warns, if there is no solution then the event might be cancelled by Pubic Safety this year.
   • Further suggestions should be emailed to myanow@wesleyan.edu.

Announcements

Sara Mirsky asks members to review the edited By-laws for discussion after the break. Please email smirsky corrections and comments.
Jose Marantes proposes changing the organization of the Committee Reports portion of the meeting to include everyone effectively while keeping them brief.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Juan Sebasti—n Moreno, WSA Secretary