Wesleyan Student Assembly — Wesleyan University

Minutes: November 16, 2003, No. 6

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. Update on New University Center
5. New Meeting Time Vote
6. Committee Reports
7. Announcements
8. Adjournment

Opening of Meeting

The meeting was opened at 8:10 PM.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes approved.

New Business

No new business.

Update on the New University Center – Peter Patton, Alan Rubacha and Bruce Wood

When the Wesleyan Master Plan began in 1997, it was discovered that the campus was built off-center. The New University Center will bring it back to center. Included among the advantages of this location is south face overlooking Andrus Field. The goal of today's discussion is to lock down schematic design and then move on to a more detailed look at the internal spaces. This will be a yearlong process, followed by pre-construction demolition. Tentatively construction will begin in 2005, and will be complete for use in the fall 2007. The placement of the Center is designed to create boulevard behind College Row. A previous scheme used all three buildings, Squash Cages, Alumni Gym and Fayerweather, to build one large Center; instead this design proposes Wesleyan sized building, which will be constructed between the Cages and Fayerweather. The key to the new design is connecting College Row to the CFA, by creating a pedestrian space between the Center and the Squash Cages and across Wyllis Avenue.

The parking lot behind North College will be removed and replaced by more parking near the Admissions Office. Because Wyllis Avenue is at a lower level, architecturally Fayerweather could be either offset by one foot, or made with all floors on the same level. The current plan keeps the building five feet above the lower Wyllis Ave.

The food services will be distributed over a number of levels. Retail space could possibly include a bookstore. The existing loading dock on squash courts will remain. And, music rooms in lower level will include steel pans. No space other than that of the WSA will be controlled by a university group—all other meeting rooms will be available by appointment. This valuable raw space will include two large basement rooms for game-day-only football locker rooms. Because there will not be a main entrance, the Center will tie the Wesleyan campus into circulation.

Stack

• Karen Courtheoux says that the plan is a positive compromise, in fact the WSA voted in favor of it unanimously. She asks, as student involved in steel drum band, where will the group be going during reconstruction?
• Peter Patton says that is a good question and tells Alan to take note of that comment.
• Karen also asks if first year dining will remain communal dining?
• Peter Patton replies yes, in the evenings there will be an all you can eat/board program—largely first year students will be using this dining option. And, in keeping students' options open, there will be four to five dining options in this building and four to five options besides the Center. Sohana Punithakumar asks if the groups that currently have offices in the WSA will have new accommodations in the Center.
• Bruce Wood says that there will be meeting rooms that currently do not exist on campus, perhaps they will stay on High Street, or the size of the new office could house some of them.
• Camille Zahniser says that it is very important for the SBC to have an office close to WSA's office that must be reserved for thee hours every Monday. She asks if the SBC will have a designated room.
• Peter Patton says that if the SBC is organized enough to reserve a room the group will likely get it, but it will not receive be any preference over any other student groups.
• Punithakumar asks if there will be locations within the building for advertising.
• Peter Patton replies yes, the first floor will be an "information commons". Patton asks what students would like to go into the retail spaces—ITS computer store, UPS, Wesleyan spirit shop?
• Sara Mirsky asks if Wyllis Avenue will continue to be a one way street.
• Peter Patton replies that tentatively it will be. There might be a raised pedestrian crossing, all parking will be moved off the street to make it an interior campus street rather than highway or service road.
• Bruce Wood offers that it might be two-way up to the squash court, for food service loading.
• Pacho Carreño says that it is imperative to have central Career Recourse Center.
• Peter Patton says it might be too late to put it back into the plan.
• Georgi Radev asks if the Center will lack any functions the current Campus Center.
• Peter Patton says that he does not think there will be a game room.
• Cecile Aro asks if it will be open 24 hours a day.
• Peter Patton says no, but there will be late hours.
• Jesse Watson says that PACLab blocks pedestrian traffic coming from the Science Center.
• Camille Zahniser says that the Social Committee generally uses the Mocon dining hall for events, and asks if there will be tolerable acoustics?
• Peter Patton yes, there will be three Mocon sized spaces in this building.
• Zahniser asks if there will be securable storage space as well?
• Peter Patton says that there will be basement spaces with large secure lockers.
• Zahniser asks if there is any chance that WESU will return to the center of campus.
• Peter Patton says no, there is not.
• Daniel Rubin asks how the exterior will look.
• Bruce Woods says he would share picture if he had them.
• Gabe Tabak asks if there will be specialty dining such as kosher and vegan?
• Peter Patton suggests Tabak talk to Manny Cunard.
• Allison Burson says that she picked schools based on whether or not they were pedestrian friendly campuses, because she hates crossing streets.

Vote on new meeting time

Motion to move Sunday meeting time from 8 PM to 7 PM, beginning next semester: Passed.

Committee Reports

1. Student Affairs Committee (SAC)

   Becca Solow, SAC Chair, reports:
   The URLC held a successful community forum to gather feedback on the Executive Summary. The committee will meet on Monday to discuss the rest of the process for gathering feedback and to decide where each committee member stands on recommendations. There will be a new member appointed to the SLC on Thursday. The committee meets every other Friday at noon. All members interested in the opening should e-mail a paragraph statement to Solow.

   The Dining Committee met and discussed labor practices of the final restaurants under consideration for off-campus point implementation. They are Mamouns, Thai Gardens and Illianos. The committee selected Thai Gardens for having the best labor practices. The restaurant is committed to making the program work.

   Discussion to approve Thai Gardens as the off-campus points restaurant.

   • Karen Courtheoux says Thai Gardens is in direct competition with Typhoon and implementing points there would detrimentally affect Typhoon's business.
   • Becca Solow says there will be no lasting impact, because the program will have a one-semester duration. Besides, for majority of business hours, the two restaurants will be on equal footing.
   • Courtheoux asks if Thai Gardens is preparing for the switch.
   • Solow says that it has already hired more kitchen staff and is looking into delivery. The restaurant will encourage students to make reservations, to prevent long waits.
   • Ali Gomer asks if it will deliver to students purchasing food with cash as well.
   • Solow thinks so.
   • Daniel Rubin asks Solow to elaborate on Connecticut's wage and over time pay minimums
   • Solow says the minimum is $6.90 per hour or $4.90 if wait staff keep tips.
   • Sohana Punithakumar says that having met the owner of Thai Gardens, she is confident in their fair labor practices, which include paid vacations for salary staff. Thai Gardens is aware that the program is temporary and will have to switch to flex points/cardinal cash at end of the year.
   • Ben Somberg says that USLAC is aware of two Thai Gardens' employees that are not allowed to keep tips, hence if this information is true, then the PR person lied.
   • Gabe Tabak asks if the Wesleyan dining union has a stance on Thai Gardens.
   • Solow says that the Union was in favor of them.

   Motion to approve Thai Gardens as off-campus points restaurant: Approved.

   SAC report continued: SAC also initiated a comprehensive review of the Campus Center menu, overseen by Dan Matzkin and Joe LaChance, Campus Center manager. Daniel Rubin has volunteered to collect student feedback (drubin@wesleyan.edu). Lastly, SAC will review the potential meal plan options for the new University Center at the next meeting, and SLC will meet on Friday. The agenda items will be student of color issues, the Office of Behavioral Health, and the Codes; the chairs of the SJB and Honor Board will attend.

2. Educational Policy Committee (EPC)

   Karen Coutheoux, EPC Chair, reports:
   Karen is working with Barbara Jones to determine who will sit on the Student Library Advisory Committee. EPC will meet with Dean Rick this week, and eventually Dean Rutherford, to discuss academic support for students with special needs. EPC is considering communicating with the campus community; the committee welcomes feedback or suggestions on methods of communication. Faculty EPC and full faculty also met. Karen and Jesse attended those meetings.

3. Independent Projects Committee (IPC)

   Danny Rodriguez, IPC Chair, reports:
   Social Committee should request money from the SBC this Monday for Winter Carnival. Senior class officers are planning cocktails for December 3rd. E-Squid will be on-line once a disclaimer and an introduction to the site are created, finally Dan Stillman has figured out an easy way to put classes into the program.

4. Community Outreach Committee (COCo)

   Rafael Medrano, COCo Chair, reports:
   COCo Met on Friday with Lelani Kupo to review the student packet and update old information. The committee is working on a project to engage Wesleyan with Middletown; Joe John will discuss this with Frank Kwan.

5. Finances and Facilities Committee (FiFac)

   Nathan Victoria, FiFac Chair, reports:
   Three of the new trash receptacles were installed at the Davenport Campus Center this afternoon, the prophesized "Village of Receptacles". A second set will be installed at Davenport on Monday morning to the left of the entrance ramp, in front of the row of chrysanthemums. Victoria placed a temporary recycling stickers on the lid of one of the units. Official signs will be made in red. FiFac removed the cardboard meal tray rack that was next to wood benches on the patio because it was ready to fall over. We will have it repaired and reinstalled it next to the Village. FiFac will tour Summerfields on Tuesday. And, there will be a cement walk put on Foss Hill with lights and trashcans at each end.

6. Student Budget Committee (SBC)

   Pacho Carreño, SBC member, reports:
   The SBC met and allocated funds. Large allocations included:
   
   • $2200 to Wanderlust films for a quality film production
   • $2400 to SUN for a poetry slam
   • $850 to WESU for a show
   • $1050 to Underdog Music Consortium for a show in April

7. Executive Committee (EC)

   Sohana Punithakumar, President, reports:
   EC met with Manny Cunard to discuss the Auxiliary Services Advisory Committee. The committee is also meeting with President Bennet next week.

8. Coordinating Committee (CC)

   Sara Mirsky, Coordinator, reports:
   Member of the week Daniel Rubin for his extraordinary work with the Campus Center menu review.

   Stack

   • Pacho Carreño asks, will the URLC opening will carry over to next semester as well? Becca Solow replies that it might not, depending on scheduling changes and Daniel Rubin's return to the committee.
   • Ali Gomer asks if lighting will be added between PAC and Olin, where it was originally needed.
   • Nathan Victoria asks that Gomer voice her concerns to Joyce Topshe (jtopshe@wesleyan.edu).
   • Danielle Krudy asks if the WSA values efficiency over constructive discussion. She suggests that it might have been in appropriate to make decision on off-campus dining tonight. She adds the tension between USLAC and WSA does not make a healthy environment. Krudy suggests that the WSA be respectful in relations with USLAC. Becca Solow asks that, in the future, members with concerns about the agenda speak with executives before the meeting. The vote today was necessary for implementation.
   • José Marantes says that COCo is trying to build community interaction, and tonight's vote will affect the WSA's interactions in the future. The WSA must practice good public relations and be professional.
   • Danny Rodriguez says that he has talked to about 50 students about restaurant labor practices and that's why he was comfortable voting tonight. He says he made an informed decision.
   • Karen Courtheoux says that she is not happy with the meeting tonight, particularly because she was called a conspiracist. She felt she could trust Sohana and Becca with the information that they presented. But she in no way intended on disenfranchising workers. That is why she claims she is not a conspirasist.
   • Gabe Tabak interrupts with a point of information: conspirasist is not a word. Karen was accused a conspirator.
   • Courtheoux responds with another point of information: *&^%$#@!

   Announcements

   Nathan Victoria suggests that students emailing Joyce Topshe about the Foss Hill path first go to the facilities website because there are many more changes happening to Wesleyan's campus.

   Adjournment

   The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 PM.

   Respectfully Submitted,
   Juan Sebastián Moreno, WSA Secretary