Wesleyan Student Assembly — Wesleyan University

Minutes: November 23, 2003, No. 7

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. Social Committee Report
5. Manny Cunard of Auxiliary Operations
6. Committee Reports
7. Announcements
8. Adjournment

Opening of Meeting

The meeting was opened at 8:10 PM.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes approved as corrected.

New Business

No new business.

Social Committee Report - Maris Yanow

Winter Carnival is scheduled for December 9 at Mocon Dining Hall. Although the location is no the best because of the capacity situation, the Committee will staff all exits with a counter so that people can enter as others leave once capacity reaches its maximum of 500 people. The committee looked into hosting the event at the Chapel and at the Hockey Rink, however, for different reasons, niether will work for the performers booked. Right now, the venue is booked and so is one of the bands. The Committee is aiming to bring variety in genres, which include an alumni-based rock group and a hip-hop group, which is not yet confirmed. The Committee is requesting suggestions for Spring Fling performers. The Committee also has an open position, which they would like to fill with an underclassman.

Stack

• Sohana Punithakumar asks if event staff will count the number of people that leave as well as those that enter?
• Yanow replies, yes. The bottom door will not be an exit, and we will be able to control the number of people entering and exiting.
• Punithakumar asks how the event will it be publicized?
• Yanow says there will be bulletin broadcasts and postering around campus.
• Punithakumar suggests that the event be publicized early.
• Daniel Rubin suggests that the Social Committee stuff mailboxes, and depending on the budget put snowflakes into the invitations as well.

Auxiliary Operations and Campus Services - Manny Cunard

Manny Cunard announces that the grand opening of Pi Café is within 24 hours. And, tonight he is answering questions about construction on campus.

Stack

• Linda Dempah asks why the new café is being advertised as Pura Vita.
• Many Cunard replies that the sign will be removed and replaced.
• Gabe Tabak anticipates that there will be a demand for evening service, and asks if that will be an option to stay open until midnight.
• Cunard replies, yes, that is an option.
• Becca Solow asks where seating will be.
• Cunard replies that there will not be as much seating as he hoped. Inside there will be 24 to 28 seats and in warm weather there will be seating for 36 to 40 people out side.
• Radoslava Petrova asks if meals will be accepted at Pi.
• Cunard replies that students will only be able to purchase with points.
• Petrova asks also if there will be music played.
• Cunard replies that that has not been considered.
• Sohana Punithakumar suggests that music not be played because the Science Center is an academic building with the computer lab adjacent to the café.
• Becca Solow asks if Adam Lockman's ice cream will be served at Pi.
• Cunard replies yes, and Adam is ready to do a one week free sampling in the Mocon dining hall. And,
• Summerfields is scheduled to open January 16 with a board program and residential restaurant program. The capacity is 140 seats.
• Nathan Victoria asks if there is any way to have a soft opening for athletes returning early from winter recess.
• Cunard replies that he is pressing the contractor the restaurant's completion by January 13, when the ResLife staff return. Also, he announces that Kosher Kitchen is moving on schedule and construction will begin with in a week.
• Victoria asks how many jobs the Kitchen will create?
• Cunard replies that 6 to 8 part-time student workers and one full-time staff person will be employee.
• Sohana Punithakumar asks what will keep chairs from being stolen from the Pi Café?
• Cunard replies that they will be chained down. Every night the chairs will be cabled and the entire café unit locks up.
• Nora Connor asks if students will be able to use meals at Summerfields.
• Cunard replies, yes, until 8 pm, after which Summerfields will serve ala cart. But, should it need to be extended until 9 that will happen.
• Becca Solow asks what renovations are happening in Kosher Kitchen, what the time line is and if there will be a Kosher/Hillel cart in the Science Center.
• Cunard replies that there will be a wholly different menu. Lounge furniture, new lighting and different colors will be added. Unfortunately it is still in the basement of Butterfield A. The contractor wanted to start early by shutting down the Kitchen over thanksgiving break. There are two other dining projects, Weshop and the Emporium for the fall of 2005 in the new freshman residential hall.
• Jessie Watson asks what vegan options there will be at Pi?
• Cunard replies, there will be at least one, and he will pass on that comment.
• Punithakumar asks what alternative kosher dining will exist during the Kosher Kitchen renovations.
• Cunard say there will be a packaged kosher meal program.
• Sara Mirsky asks what will happen to Kosher Kitchen after the University Center opens.
• Cunard replies that Kosher Kitchen will be a great space and will remain open for at least a year after the opening of the new Campus Center. Also, next fall, the new One-card program will consolidate access cards in the introduction phase 1.
• Anay Shah suggests consolidating the future late night dining options to only one space.
• Becca Solow says that Summerfields will be primary late night option and the 3rd floor of the Campus Center will close in the evening.
• Dante Furioso if the One-card will include spending downtown?
• Cunard replies that a separate pool of money (debit system) will be accessible through the card for number of services and products downtown. One current question is whether or not give students the option of purchasing alcohol with the card. He says that for every 10 dollars spent downtown, one dollar will come back to Wesleyan to pay for the system.
• Justin Christopher asks if there will be a shuttle to Penn Station and other Tri-State locations at the end of the semester.
• Cunard replies that yes, and that makes sense because there are so many students traveling.
• Nathan Victoria asks if the One-card payment will be a wireless system, and will birth-dates on card, as well?
• Cunard says that there is no reason will not be, but he is not sure that the state will accept them as a legal from of identification.
• Lisa Schamber asks how students will be able to deactivate the card, because people lose IDs often.
• Cunard replies that students will be able to deactivate the card over the phone. And, future phases will include academic swipe access.
• Ali Gomer asks if the cards will be under the jurisdiction of the Office of Public Safety.
• Cunard says that there will be a new office under Auxiliary Services.
• Schambers suggests a temporary deactivation system for students that misplace cards temporarily.
• Cunard says that is possible.
• Danny Rodriguez asks if there will be a signature on the back.
• Cunard replies, yes there will be one as well as photo identification. He announces that there are two new add money machines at Low-rise and In-town, as well.
• Sara Mirsky asks if there are cameras up at 1 Vine, yet.
• Cunard replies, not yet, the machines needed to go in with out them. He says that Anay Shah's plan from last spring of a dual shuttle program loop that would travel on Main Street late at night is currently under consideration. Marianne Wiggan will transfer the shuttle budget to Auxiliary Services and hire student drivers.
• Becca Solow says the Middletown loop is a great idea. Wesleyan Escort should remain in operation late at night at the same times. She suggests looking into using adult drivers late night on weekends, however.
• Cunard agrees that a non-student driver can be more objective in order to concentrate on driving at those times.
• Daniel Rubin as if bus sized vehicle could be purchase for the route.
• Cunard replies that would create a financial issue. He is looking into 15-person van, though.
• Punithakumar asks if Middletown residents be able to use the route, as well.
• Cunard says it could be a 50-cent route for non-students. This a consideration that will be discussed and returned to the WSA.
• Camille Zahniser says that even if the Wesleyan Escort is being misused, it is highly valuable and is used for traveling across campus.
• Ali Gomer asks how is bookstore is going.
• Cunard replies that it is above his projections. For the first time, the university is receiving a commission check. And, will net near 5500 dollars income. Used textbooks sales went from 5% to 28 %; the goal is 35%. Also, Wesleyan will own Color Mart within 6 months.
• Karen Courtheoux asks what the current situation of the Bookstore Advisory Group is.
• Cunard says the Group is reviewing trade book selection, social programs and soft selection. The delay was selecting a faculty for the Group.
• Dan Rubin asks who chooses the Wesleyan apparel that sells in the Bookstore.
• Cunard replies that Wesleyan has trademarked the Wesleyan logo, but the selection is currently a decision of the wholesaler.

Committee Reports

1. Student Budget Committee (SBC)

   Camille Zahniser, Treasurer, reports:
   The SBC met and gave out money. Large allocations were:
   • $1000 for ASHA (AIDS Gospel Choir)
   
   A lot about thought was put into funding Wanderlust Films. Most of the group's funding is currently from outside sources. The SBC determined that it is an inclusive student group that is open to the general public and will be showing its films on campus and at festivals.

2. Executive Committee (EC)

   Sohana Punithakumar, President, reports:
   COCo and IPC will join forces to advertise the new and amazing WSA website. A new Campus Services and Facilities Committee is being formed. Joyce Topshe, Manny Cunard, and Nathan Victoria will be the likely co-chairs. One of their first issues will be a new University transportation service, which will look into hiring student drivers (not late at night, though) and lending out vans to student groups. EC met with President Bennet and discussed a programmatic fund being created for non-major maintenance items.

3. Educational Policy Committee (EPC)

   Karen Coutheoux, EPC Chair, reports:
   Karen met with Dean Rick regarding academic support for students with physical disabilities. They discussed increasing visibility of the program, including an awareness campaign with easier web access. She is still working on getting an appointment with Dean Rutherford regarding academic support to students with learning disabilities. Karen and Zachary Kolodin are looking into the issues of the T/A program and the amount of credit given to the lab component of science courses (in addition to issues already being pursued i.e. environmental studies department, art/photo department course access). Faculty EPC met this week, also.

4. Coordinating Committee (CC)

   Sara Mirsky, Coordinator, reports:
   The WSA member of the week title will be share among Ali Gomer, Anay Shah and Linda Dempah, because this is their second to last meeting before going to study abroad. SBC elections begin the week after break, and four positions are open. Spread the word!

5. Finances and Facilities Committee (FiFac)

   Nathan Victoria, FiFac Chair, reports:
   Summerfields will have a "Captain Planet minus heart food theme". An outdoor basketball court might be constructed behind Butt C. Jeff Ederer has money in his budget for a post and hoop, but not the concrete. A path across Foss Hill is in the campus plan. New signs are located at the corner of High and Wyllys and at the corner of Wyllys and Parking lot F. Freeman hours will not be increased because of a limited budget right now, but they are possible in the future. Gabe Tabak, in working with financial aid, changed formula for financial aid closer to other schools. Now, students are paid weekly instead of bi-weekly. After Thanksgiving break, the new portfolio will include a financial aid page. There is a summer earnings waiver question for students doing unpaid community service internship, which will be capped at 50 for this coming summer; the selection committee will include the office of community service.

6. Student Affairs Committee (SAC)

   Rebecca Solow, SAC Chair, reports:
   The URLC voted on external reviewers' recommendations; there were many unanimous votes but several issues will be discussed in depth at our next meeting in order to come to a consensus on a recommendation for the SLC. The issues are program housing (not its existence, but better defining its role on campus), the role of student staff, adult presence in residence halls, and alcohol policy. At the SLC meeting this week, it was decided that the committee would form a Student of Color subcommittee. Marina Melendez, director of graduate studies, Renee Johnson Thornton, Dean and MMUF director, and Solow will constitute the committee, which will meet for the first time probably next semester. Also, discussed briefly were issues with the report on the Code of Non Academic Conduct and Honor Code; the chairs of the SJB and HB will attend the next meeting. Billy Weitzer also reported briefly about issues of academic organization and the idea of re-structuring the Class! Deans' responsibilities. An all-campus email went out soliciting feedback for the Campus Center menu review. Daniel Rubin received over 50 replies in 24 hours. That group met on Friday and will compile a summary to present to Joe Lachance.

7. Community Outreach Committee (COCo)

   Rafael Medrano, COCo Chair, reports:
   Due to weather circumstances on Wednesday night the lighting tour had to be canceled. Maryanne Wiggin, Director of Public Safety, is making sure that lighting behind the Foss Hill dormitories are working fine during winter break. And, once Summerfields opens, lighting in the Butterfields will be improved. AWARE, Association of Wesleyan Area Residents, met this past Monday and was presented the Campus Master Plan by Joyce Topshe. Residents expressed concerns with zoning changes. COCo did not meet this week, but is still working on correcting and updating the Student Packet with the suggestions given by Leilani Kupo. Also, we are working on a project for next semester. Two members are working on our independent project to try and top last year's successful roller rink night.

8. Independent Projects Committee (IPC)

   Danny Rodriguez, IPC Chair, reports:
   IPC did not meet this week. IPC will be working with COCo on advertising for the WSA website with Greg Heller on Tuesday. Please e-mail Danny with any changes to the site, so that everything can be up to date by after the break and ready with a link to the voting page. E-squid will be done by December 7th after the site's language is fine-tuned.

   Stack

   • Ali Gomer asks if President Bennet is interested in the Programmatic Fund, and how did he receive the plan?
   • Sohana Punithakumar relies that he is receptive, but questioned who would allocate the fund.
   • Ben Evar asks if there is an incentive to create an SOC subcommittee, why does it over lap with international student committee?
   • Becca Solow replies that the SOC community has continuing issues and during faculty of color meeting there was overlapping discussion.
   • Sohana Punithakumar suggests that SBC candidate photos and statements be uploaded onto the WSA website because there will not be an Argus issue before SBC elections begin.
   • Ani heindel asks what the status of Thai Gardens is.
   • Solow says that she will meet with Tim Reise to discuss the program implementation.

Closed Discussion about the Current WSA - Confidential

Announcements

Georgi Radev calls for applause for Juan's birthday.
Sara Mirsky announces that Lisa Schambers has accumulated too many unexcused absences. She will be tried for impeachment in the next meeting, pending the signed petition.
Gabe Tabak wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Juan Sebasti—n Moreno, WSA Secretary