Wesleyan Student Assembly — Wesleyan University

Minutes: April 18, 2004, No. 18

WSA Officers

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

Meeting Agenda and Business

1. Meeting Opening
2. New Business
3. EPC Survey
4. Approval of By-Laws
5. Committee Reports
6. Announcements
7. Adjournment

Opening of Meeting

The meeting was opened at 7:03 PM.

Approval of Minutes

April 4, 2004 Minutes are approved.

New Business

There is no new business.

EPC Survey

(Insert Document)
Here are preliminary findings of the EPC Survey conducted in order to evaluate student opinions on issues dealt with in the Faculty Educational Policy meetings. Recently, faculty have discussed a process of advisor evaluation, course scheduling procedures, course and professor evaluations in EPC meetings. Some faculty do not want course evaluation directions to state the importance they hold in the determination of tenure. And, the administration is considering spreading courses earlier and later in the day and week to increase accessibility.

Stack

• Sohana Punithakumar thinks that students should not be aware of the evaluations' effect on professor tenure.
• Jesse Watson points out that there are merit-based salary increases for professors, which have some basis in teaching evaluations.
• Arijit Sen asks how the professor evaluations are used.
• Watson replies that that professors read the evaluations and use the comments to improve their courses, and they are used in tenure hearings, as are professor's publishing record.
• Alison Burson says that the scheduling proposal will not reduce course scarcity at Wesleyan.
• Josh Bryant says he feels that "tenure" should be in the directions because the evaluations are the only way students can be involved in the tenure process. Professors must be accountable to the students, who need to understand the evaluations are used.
• Camille Zahniser says that the directions should point out their use in restructuring courses in the future.
• Danielle Krudy says that through changing the course times, accessibility is not improved. More students will still want to take the same classes, but now they will not be conflicting.
• Watson says that every departments will be required to follow the process.
• Emily Polak asks if it will effect "first year initiatives".
• Karen Courtheoux replies no.
• Rebecca Solow is concerned that if students know that their evaluation comments effect tenure, then the professors might think students are even more biased then they already believe them to be.
• Jeremy Abrams says that even if courses are moved earlier, he will still take afternoon classes. More teachers and more courses are needed.
• Nora Connor points out a common student misconception that publishing is more important than teaching.
• Daniel Rubin doubts that evaluations are quantifiable, while work published is measured numerically.
• Solow believes evaluations are quantifiable.
• Arijit Sen is worried that if students understand their power in professor evaluation, then a professor will boost grades in order to elicit a favorable evaluation.
• Selina Ellis says that she had a professor that stopped giving bad grades at the end of the semester because he or she was afraid of receiving bad evaluations.
• Courtheoux says that courses meeting three days per week will not start before 9 am. And, course will only begin at 8:30 if the professor schedules it then.
• Punithakumar does not believe students receiving bad grades necessarily write poor evaluations, even though poor grade might precipitate from poor instruction.
• Nathan Victoria points out that the students signing up for early courses will be those who really want them.
• Justin Christopher says that he would write kinder evaluations if he knew they effect careers because he is a "softie".
• Straw poll of members in favor of a course scheduling process change: 17 for, 5 against and 4 abstentions.

Approval of By-Laws

Sara Mirsky announces that the By-Laws will be put an email vote, whose deadline is Tuesday.
Camille Zahniser motions to change "Lerner" Rules of Order back to Roberts Rules of Order.
Motion passed: 9 for, 7 against and 9 abstentions.

Committee Reports

1. Community Outreach Committee (COCo)

   Jeremy Abrams, COCo Chair, reports:
   Danielle Krudy will continue work with the Public Safety Awareness and group accountability. Arijit Sen is writing document containing the best suggestions from the Communication Committee. Abrams will meet with Camille Zahniser to talk about group accountability. He is also meeting with the leaders of April identity month some time. And, the lighting tour will happen April 28.

2. Coordinating Committee (CC)

   Sara Mirsky, Coordinator, reports:
   The CC prepared the By-law revision assembly members are voting on with the help of IPC and other select representatives.

3. Educational Policy Committee (EPC)

   Karen Courtheoux, EPC Chair, reports:
   Some language courses have been cut out of next semester, for example there will be no Spanish 1. The Intellectual Property Committee met and will draft a list of principles to guide its forthcoming education programs, policy and website. The Library Committee had its last meeting of the year; space, technology and the committee's future were discussed.

4. Executive Committee (EC)

   Sohana Punithakumar, President, reports:
   The Assembly must ask what transportation services are students willing to sacrifice for the proposed shuttle program. Newly approved, the president will sit at the Board table during General Trustee meetings, which is a great step because the Chair of the Faculty and the Chair of the Alumni Association are present already. In their meeting with President Bennet, the EC discussed the importance of the escort, diversity and student facilities as headliners in the strategic plan, and the departmental website regulation.

5. Finances and Facilities Committee (FiFac)

   Nathan Victoria, FiFac Chair, reports:
   CaFSAC did not meet this week. The calculator for the Financial Aid Office will be complete by the end of the year. There will be a meeting on the 30th for the Fauver architectural board.

6. Independent Projects Committee (IPC)

   Danny Rodriguez, IPC Chair, reports:
   First semester seniors will be able to buy tickets for senior week events.

7. Student Affairs Committee (SAC)

   Rebecca Solow, SAC Chair, reports:
   The search committee for the director of ResLife will begin phone interviews next week; the SAC is represented by Emily Polak on this committee. The following things have been mentioned as priorities/ a "wish list" for the new director, students have suggested that he or she be committed to program housing, transparency, accessibility, and support student engagement. And that the be a person of color, not from a large state school. Sohana Punithakumar, Jeremy Abrams and Solow met to compile strategic planning goals for diversity and multicultural issues. Also, Dining Committee met and discussed next years proposed meal plan of 12 meals and 300 points per week, which equals about 17 meals per week, and will be available to financial aid receiving students. Lastly, all restaurants and cafeteria will stay open until the end of reading week, and during finals, late night will be served at Pi Cafe.

8. Student Budget Committee (SBC)

   Camille Zahniser, Treasurer, reports:
   The SBC is coordinating allocations that have not been spent.

   Stack

   • Camille Zahniser says that the school has sold the Wesleyan cabin, which is a problem for the SBC who will begin paying full hotel fees.
   • Abrams says that the cabin was sold because it was a budgetary drain for the school.
   • Solow says that there were also safety and repair concerns.
   • Arijit Sen asks why the new ResLife area coordinator should be a minority.
   • Solow says it is important because most of the staff are white.
   • Emily Polak points out that it will be good because of the recent issues the department is has dealt with.
   • Sen also asks why do the students must sacrifice the transportation system at all.
   • Punithakumar says that the budget is small to begin with, but future increases are proposed.
   • Solow suggests that if sacrifices must be made, then Middletown loop should be dropped, and the escort might start its run at 10 pm, instead.
   • Danielle Krudy asks Karen if she could express to student sentiment to the Spanish Department that the course removals were sneaky and now some students cannot go abroad.
   • Abrams announces that High Rise has had 10 to 15 fire alarms this year because of wiring malfunctions. Now, students are not responding to the alarms.
   • Zack Kolodin suggests keeping late-night dining at Summerfields.
   • Sara Mirsky replies no, students need more options other than quesadillas.
   • Courtheoux asks that even if the school is losing money on its cabin, it could get a time share or purchase a more inexpensive one.
   • Solow says that parents have complained that students go to drink there on weekends.
   • Brittany Mitchell says that Freshman cannot afford to eat at Summerfields, and should preemptively complain about proposed Foss Hill path.
   • Lisa Schambers says that Summerfields is not to good option at night because of its location.
   • Jose Marantes says that the Assembly should take advantage of their opportunity to reopen the Campus Center.
   • Johanna Goetzel says that the Campus Center offers more options, and is bigger and better.
   • Justin Christopher says that Goetzel is wrong.
   • Straw poll of members in favor of moving late night to the Campus Center every day: 1for, 20 against and 5 abstentions.
   • Straw poll of members in favor of the Campus Center serving food on the weekend and until 8 pm on weekdays: 17 for, 3 against and 4 abstentions.

Announcements

Arijit Sen warns Assembly members that Middletown police are issuing 75 dollar jay-walking tickets.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:53 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Juan Sebasti—n Moreno, WSA Secretary