Wesleyan Student Assembly — Wesleyan University

Minutes: December 10, 2004, No. 12

WSA Officers

President: Emily Polak
Vice President: Jeremy Abrams
Coordinator: Ali Gomer
Treasurer: Pacho Carreno

Meeting Agenda and Business

1. Introduction and brief explanation of how stack works
2. Presentation of statement to WSA by students
3. Further WSA discussion regarding any other actions WSA may take over the next week
4. Election update from the Election Committee

Opening of Meeting

The meeting is opened at 4:05 PM.

Approval

Minutes approved.

Introduction and Brief Explanation of How Stack Works

Ali Gomer introduces herself as coordinator of assembly. She states that everyone at the meeting should have three sheets of paper: general meeting procedures, administrators’ letter and students’ letter. She outlines the meeting procedures: three minutes for each person, yielding procedure, points of clarification and getting on stack.

Presentation of Statement to WSA by Students

Andrew Vernon Jones reads the statement to the assembly, states that he is not by any means the leader of the student movement.

Stack

• Evan Simko-Bednarski says he agrees with the statement. It is often the case that the administration pits students against each other.
• Arijit Sen says he disagrees with the statement to a degree. Sen says that it projects students as not students. They are not in between the students and the administration. All of the people in this room are concerned about students’ rights.
• Anda Greeney says that the WSA is an organizing force for students. Even if the WSA deferred power to the student body, there would still need to be an organizational force. Juan Marantes says that no one here right now is necessarily “you.” He says that we need to unite as students to work together instead of just representing with the WSA. We don’t want them to use the WSA as mediators.
• Annie Fox suggests that we should clarify the section implying that WSA members are not students. She felt that she did not agree with all people’s concerns. She says that the venues we have had have been intimidating to people with opposing views. Arijit Sen says that everyone should be uniting; the WSA should not be acting as middlemen. Students are on one side.
• Brian Thorpe says that the group is not asking us to step down but rather to work together with us. He expresses anger that the WSA is being the only group that the administration is working with. He says that right now they are addressing concerns about grievances against the administration. Annie Fox responds that we are giving the administration the idea that students are all in agreement.
• Zach Kolodin suggests that we are the body that the administration is comfortable to talk with. He says he does not want us to be the only group that is representing the student body but that the WSA should maintain a role.
• Pacho Carreno says he would like to know what the next step should be. Are we going to try to appoint or elect some students among us to represent the students? Brian Thorpe says that we all have different issues that are important to us. What brings us together is that our demands are not being addressed.
• Yaw Agyenim-Boateng says the WSA with concerns come to the WSA and express them. He thinks it would help at this point for WSA to work with different groups, and express different points
• David says he doesn’t feel comfortable with any group of students negotiating issues. He wants to express them himself; he doesn’t feel that the WSA should represent the student voice. There has been a movement on campus that has come up, and it can’t be repressed anymore, so as students we should trust all the people with concerns.
• Evan Simko-Bednarski expresses that the WSA as a body is a movement to represent the students in general or just a small set of issues.
• David replies by saying that WSA should remain students as they are, and should have a limited capacity on what they should do.
• Nathan Victoria poses the question of who has raised all the concerns
• Ari Sen, mentions as an example the situation of financial aid, where we can mediate to the student body. He mentions that in January we can set up this forum, where all the concerns can be brought up to Bennet. And that all the voices can’t be heard at once, there needs to be some form of organization. He goes on about the rules of the WSA, and that it’s important to have some for of general rules to be followed. He says that Bennet feels that WSA can reach out to Bennet, and bring up coherent concerns, and an organized voice.
• Nathan Victoria, brings out the point that the administration doesn’t listen to the general concerns of the student body. While reading Bennet’s letter he makes a notion to Bennet’s use of “you” and “they” which draws a difference between the WSA and the general student body, which shows that we are not seen as students. Also, he addresses the will of students to represent themselves, that Bennet will only listen to people with a good coherent point.
• Jacob Mirsky agrees with what Nathan said, and he thinks we should look at the facts that we have now. What’s important is that there should be a change in how they handle student concerns. Bennet wants the WSA to create a forum where the student body can express their concerns. He suggests that before we talk to Bennet, we should first discuss on what we should bring up to him, and that the student grievances should be heard, and all the voices on campus should be heard. There should be dialogue from the students to the administration. There should be a discussion on how WSA is going work with Bennet.
• Caitlin Swain mentions that one of the hard things when you are on the WSA, is that you should be thinking on terms of compromise. She talks about the discussions WSA can get involved in, and that there alternative ways in getting things done. She sees that WSA have been trying to do outreach, and that WSA brought a huge response from the student body. She says that as representatives WSA should be as inclusive as possible, so that no one will be left out. She agrees with Annie Fox, that every point of view should be heard. She says that a record of every students concern is being created. She says that the ways students are trying to do outreach would be a step back, she wants to make them into a form that Bennet really wants. And it’s not appropriate the way things are being handled now
• Michael Cho doesn’t want Bennet not to hear students who are not on the WSA. He says that Bennet only wants to
• Jacob says that he wants an integration of student concern outside the WSA. But that WSA should effectively represent the student body
• Emily Polak notes that WSA shouldn’t be just referring to Bennet we should include the whole of administration. She says that the WSA hasn’t agreed to meet with the administration without hearing the student body first. She says WSA needs to be aware the role the administration expects the WSA to be in. And she says that the WSA hasn’t agreed to organize the January forum that the administration wants the assembly to do. She thinks the next forum should get together as a joint committee, with a few WSA members, and people from different group. She makes it clear that the WSA is not compromising with anything.
• David poses the question to Emily why she doesn’t want to plan the forum.
• Brittany Mitchell addresses that there’s a problem with administration not listening to student voice, and that the protests show that we are not something that can’t be ignored. She doesn’t understand what the exact goal, looking at the logistics. She says she would like to see some positive done about it.
• Annie Fox points that we should have a goal, as Emily had mentioned. She says we have issues we should address.
• Brittany Mitchell says that the WSA has made some positive progress, and things should be addressed.
• Andrew Vernon Jones says that the letter he brought is a point that should be of concern to us.
• Emily Polak addresses David’s question. She says she won’t abandon the role she was elected to. She explains that her role is difficult to separate herself and her position as president. She says she can be of best service by being in her exact place.
• There is a Motion to move all people who have to leave at 5 to move up their speaking time.
• Carissa, says that it’s not just about student voice not being heard, but that it’s important that WSA is not being heard as well, but she recognizes that WSA are heard over the rest of the student body. She wants people to realize that some students’ issues that have been going on for years, haven’t been addressed. And she encourages people to come to the movement for WSA members to come to different meetings, which have been going on outside this meeting room.
• Zach Kolodin says that anyone can suggest agenda items for WSA meetings. A student responds and says that if WSA wants to represent the student body why can’t members come to other meetings.
• Lashawn Springer says that people are playing to Bennet’s view of the WSA. She says students participating in this movement do not represent the student body either.
• Brian Thorpe says that WSA does not ensure an expression of all student voices, but he acknowledges that students in the movement don’t either. His main concerns are students of color issues and student housing. He wants WSA to legitimize all the concerns of different groups, so the administration can address them. He says that a lot of students see the WSA as a group that doesn’t have a lot of influence with the administration, He thinks that there needs to be a way of things to not have always go through the WSA.
• Evan Simko-Bednarski says that Rabs Hutchful and Lashawn Springer have been going to other student organizing meetings and that there’s a problem with labels when classifying WSA members as non-students students.
• Jose Marantes starts of by saying that what bothers him is that he doesn’t want to come to WSA meetings, he doesn’t want to come through WSA to deal with issues. He says that he wants to speak directly to the administration. He says that the practical solution to the administration’s problems should be through the student’s eyes. He wants the student body to decide how we are going to be represented, and not how Bennet wants things to be done. He says there is a common goal to representing students the right way. He wants to start creative ways for issues to be discussed. He says some of the views are very upper-middle class and doesn’t exactly represent everyone.
• Kristy Mercado says the consequences of the going through the WSA makes it difficult for the general concerns of students to be addressed. She says that students only decide to go through the WSA to get their voice heard. She wants another agency to have some connection with the administration She thinks the WSA shouldn’t decide on how things are going to happen. She says one way of the WSA can do that is by telling the administration that WSA is not going to be used by them. To represent the student body. she suggests that the WSA should have an open meeting with Dean Patton to plan the forum, that anyone can come, and get all types of different groups. Also, she wants other students to be in the room and give their suggestions.
• Alec says that unilateralism is the main issue of contention. Students of Color should be consulted about the issues because they are the people with the most important perspectives. Matt Ball suggests that we should try to set up some kind of an ad hoc committee that would include people from WSA and other students. Kristy Mercado suggests that the WSA should not go into the meetings alone.
• Karen Courtheoux motions that we ratify the motion just read about the position of the WSA in this situation. Brian Brotman says that we should not claim to be higher than other students; suggests that we make clear that WSA members are students.
• Yaw Agyenim-Boateng says that the administration views the WSA as mediators. He suggests that WSA should make it clear that members are representing the students and not just trying to keep the administration happy. Brittany Mitchell suggests that it is unfair that the student assembly should be criticized for compromising a little. Sometimes you have to compromise and WSA go into things trying to represent student interests as well as possible.
• Elaine Garven says that we are confusing the large number of different issues at stake. We should have discussions about how the student body can hold themselves accountable more effectively. If we don’t come to some consensus on how we represent each other, we will allow administrators to control us.
• Karen Courtheoux reads a statement that essentially calls for more respect from administrators for all students and not just those on WSA.
• Jacob Mirsky says he does not like the phrasing “any special role” and suggests its adaptation.
• Brian Brotman suggests to remove the part about the “listserve.” A straw poll is motioned and passed.
• Zach Kolodin suggests to strike the first sentence as it puts the administration on the defensive. Suggestion is tabled.
• Michael Cho asks who will be in charge of representing students outside of WSA: no one; it’s a mass movement.
• Annie Fox says she understands that confrontation is seen as a valuable means of action. She stresses that we need to agree on a group of representatives so that we are able to engage them in dialogue.
• Karen Courtheoux motions to pass the edited version of the statement.
• Evan Simko-Bednarski suggests that we add something stating that student concerns have fallen on death ears. Karen refuses.
• Discussion about adding “alone” ensues.
• Motion to ratify this motion. 22 vote in favor, none opposed. Motion passes.
• Jacob Mirsky suggests that we meet on Monday with members from the listserve, WSA members and Bennet and Peter Patton. Non-WSA members suggest that they do not represent everyone on the listserv. Motion not passed.
• Point of information. Patton has contacted Emily four times to set up the forum, but she has declined all times.
• Ali Gomer motions to table section number three of the agenda. Passed.

Election update from the Election Committee

Ali Gomer describes the situation. Last night Emily Polak sent emails to the four people with the most votes. Right now the election is still running. The issue at hand is does this effect the outcome of the election?

Stack

• Pacho Carreno suggests that we explain to all candidates exactly what happened and then to extend the campaign until next Wednesday. Point of clarification: an election must take place over a five-day period. It must be at least one week. If necessary the election will be repeated within two weeks.
• Arijit Sen says that the elections have not been compromised as such.
• Karen Courtheoux asks what are the constitutional criteria for invalidating an election. Ali Gomer reads from the election. No quorum.

Adjournment

The meeting is adjourned at 6:10 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Arie Eernisse, WSA Secretary