Wesleyan Student Assembly — Wesleyan University

Minutes: February 5, 2006 No. 11

WSA Officers

President: Jesse Watson

Vice President: Monica Arduini

Coordinator: Emily Malkin

Treasurer: Matt Ball

Meeting Agenda and Business

1) Open Form for Student Concerns

2) Approval of Minutes and New Members

3) Update from Social Committee: Josh Scannell

4) Discussion with Barbara Jan Wilson, VP for University Relations

5) Student Affairs Committee Mid-Year Report

6) Discussion of the

future of dining at Wesleyan with Max Ornstein and Zelda Ferguson

7) Committee Reports

8) New Business and

Announcements

Attached Documents

Zelda and Max's dining proposal

SAC mid-year report

Opening of Meeting:

2:00 pm

Open Forum for

Student Concerns

none

Approval of Minutes

Minutes approved

by majority

Approval of New

Members

Jorge Soto, COCo

Naomi Takahashi, COCo

Estrella Lopez, IPC

Members approved

unanimously

Update from Social Committee

Josh Scannell, planning spring fling: just wants to take questions. This year, they have less groups. Will start a little later, end around the same time.

Stack:

• Sam Ruth says that someone has leaked the possible bands online: Josh replies that he's heard that too, not sure about the story. Headliner is set, 3 possible opening acts.

• Does not want to give specific names without set contracts.

• Mark Kelley asks how they decided to have less bands this year. Josh replies that the committee decides it every year, a lot of it is done online, tries to reach consensus. Everyone should apply to be on the social committee.

• Catherin McAllister asks if there is still room this year for recommendations: Not really.

• Gabe Tabak asks about security: Same as last year—there will not be drinking pens. Wristbands, Middletown police, and public safety will be there.

• Dave Woo asks about the genre of the headliner: Well-known hip-hop artist.

Discussion with Barbara Jan Wilson

Wilson has been here for 27 years. University Relations = fundraising and friend-raising. Wesleyan spends 120million each year, 20-30 mil is from endowment, and 20-30 million is from annual fund, by donators. Recent Wesleyan campaign: 200 something million—20 new faculty, new buildings, paid some debts. Even if you're paying full tuition, endowment is still paying for each student (actually costs about 60,000 a year for student). So far, class of 2006 has given 12,000, which is very good.

How to raise money: Wes has smaller endowment than peer schools. More resources (people) = more money= better financial aid, more faculty, etc… $1 investment in University Relations= $14 back in ten years. Anyone interested in this research should contact BJ Wilson. Anyone who gives to annual fund will be honored in the new University Center. Wesleyan alumni traditionally gives less than other schools. This is not their fault, we just suck at fundraising.

175^th anniversary: scholarship fund to raise 175 scholarships: would anyone want to help with that?

Stack:

• Sally Smith asks about mainstreaming admissions and money: Wilson says "more liberal has never gotten in the way of fundraising." Sometimes criticized for not being diverse enough.

• Alex Halpern Levy asks what is the largest gift to Wesleyan. Wilson says the Freeman family has given over 100 million.

• Nate Ratner asks whether or not the fundraising is increasing, etc… Wilson says that they are raising about 30 million a year, ten years ago it was 10 million. The campaign put 80 million in the endowment, would like to put 10 million in every year.

• Benedict Bernstein asks about Trustees not giving up to expectations. Trustees gave 50% in the Wesleyan campaign. Only 33 Trustees, though, so we can't depend on them.

• Dave Woo says Amherst has a lot of alumni fundraising, why? Wilson says it's due to the "culture of giving" at these institutions. They don't have richer alumni, just a different atmosphere. In the 50s, Wesleyan had smaller classes than Williams and Amherst, which accounts for a lot of the donation gap. Hope to catch up within 5 years. Does not think we'll catch up with their endowment: need 1 billion dollars within the next three years.

• Jerry Ai says that Wes had a large endowment in the 80s, but what happened since then? In 1964, Wes was the richest school per student in the country. The president (Butterfield) was very conservative in investments. When Wesleyan accepted women, built science center and foss hill, the money was taken directly from the endowment (without fundraising).

• Owen O'Connor asks about the relationship between giving and being on the board of Trustees: Alumni elected Trustees—9, who tend to be younger. The others are appointed, for a variety of reasons. Money isn't the only criteria, experience is important: lawyers, president of other schools, etc… Diverse, complex board.

• Max Rose asks about fundraising and tuition: Wilson wants to keep tuition closer to inflation: 3-4% a year. Also want more faculty, safety and senior houses, and other projects. Rose also asks about our rating in US news and world report: Wilson says one of the reasons that Wesleyan's rating isn't higher is fundraising.

• Sam Ruth asks about time frame for endowment increase: Wilson says within the next 4-5 years. This year, she wants to raise 27.7 million. Ruth also asks about tactics to keep graduating seniors involved. Wilson says she tries to catch 20-30 seniors a year, and senior class officers. For example, will build new science center, so will recruit young alumni in sciences.

• Gabe Tabak asks about the next ten years. Wilson says they will probably start a silent campaign in 08-09 (500 million), museum project (23 million), will renovate Davenport (annex to PAC), and improve senior housing. The major struggle is putting more money in endowment.

• Catherine McAllister asks about "aggressive" fundraising. What types of investment? Wilson says they didn't used to invest in hedge funds. "Aggressive" means more balanced, diversified portfolio.

• Benedict asks about the commencement: Will launch the 175^th at the 174^th commencement. Will have t-shirts, etc…

• Nicole Ippoliti says that she has heard that some alumni has stopped giving due to chalking, frat issues, etc… What is being done about this? Wilson says chalking issue hasn't come up in a couple of years, Psi U alumni is very concerned, but DKE alumni isn't. In general, alumni can't shape policy much. Does keep track of reasons why alumni don't give, they're equally as likely not to give money because they're renovating their house or something of the sort.

• Alex Halpern Levy asks about the .5 million given towards the museum. Wilson says that it is in the endowment now, will build museum in the next three years, or money will go into the arts.

• Zach Blau… (sorry) Wilson says they solicit 22,000 alumni, about 4000 are MIA.

• Alex Halpern Levy asks if all 22,000 graduated, what about transfers? Wilson says anyone who has been to Wesleyan for a minute will be tapped, but if they don't respond, they are dropped from the list.

• Sam Ruth asks if she talks to Doug Benet about policy changes and money issues: Wilson says she does, the biggest issue was the pornography course, but the new dorm wasn't very popular either: alumni are worried about Wesleyan not being "serious" enough.

• Alex Halpern-Levy asks about the possibility of a new president: usually, when a president retires, people give more, by the second year of the new president, fundraising should be back to normal levels from the lackluster first year. Suggests Halpern-Levy to go into fundraising.

• Wilson is rooting for the Stealers today.

Student Affairs Committee Mid-Year Report

See attached documents

Stack:

• Jerry Ai asks about storage: size of box and delivery system: Rafael doesn't know specifics about box size, but delivery will be door to door.

• Jason Harris asks about the option of freshmen rooming with the opposite legal sex, would that have to be requested? Rafael says that they will have an option to request that, then ResLife will talk to them and look at the best rooming options. Jason asks which dorms? All dorms.

• Benedict Bernstein asks if DDAA should be from a minority background: Rafael says that it's illegal to specify a specific ethnic background for the position.

• Jason Harris asks about same-sex floors: where are they? In Hewitt.

Discussion of dining with Max Ornstein and Zelda Ferguson

• Zelda: New University center= new opportunity to examine dining program. See attached documents.

• Block board program: block of 120 meals a semester… won't loose meals every week. The rest will be purchased with points. Will be accepted in new Weshop, marketplace in new University center, possibly meals in WesWings and Red and Black.

• Max: labor rules—Union is afraid of loosing meals to a facility that doesn't hire union workers.

• Gave Tabak: RFP: request for proposal…Will draft a proposal that turns these talking points into points in the actual contract.

Stack:

• Benedict Bernstein points out the duality of the phrase "upperclass" students. Also asks if this plan is economically feasible. Tabak says this is what we want: will strike a balance between student priorities and what is reasonable cost-wise.

• Owen O'Connor asks about the time table: Gabe says this will be finalized in the next 5-6 weeks, will select a new vendor by the end of the semester.

• Zach Kolodin asks about the evening meal thing… Zelda says that students are usually busy for breakfast and lunch, dinner is the only relaxed meal, so points for breakfast and lunch would offer more flexibility in schedule. Points available for use would then also be increased.

• Zach also asks about the half-plan for seniors… would financial aid only cover the half plan or the full plan? Zelda says that financial aid should cover the full plan, does not know exactly how details would work out.

• Anda asks for a paragraph about community relations and the dining plan: Zelda says they talked about using points at local restaurants and vendors. Gabe says that if we want good relations with the union, this would be a bad idea.

• Anda says that it's strange that both 1^st and 2^nd year students require a number of meals. Zelda says that they need financial base, and will establish that with the block meal plan for freshmen and sophomores.

• Max Rose asks about products in Weshop and real retail prices. Why is that the case right now, and what will have to be sacrificed? Gabe says that labor costs are high at Wesleyan, so prices will always be higher than regular supermarkets. However, there can be a certain percentage cap. Max asks where the extra money they're currently making is going. Gabe can't speak for Aramark.

• Sam Ruth asks if a lot of the seniors want the half points plan, would that be a problem? Gabe says there will be more analysis on the matter. Sam asks who will make the decision: Dining committee will make the choice.

• Anda Greeny says that the document isn't aggressive enough in expressing what the students want. Need to state exactly what we want to push vendors to be creative. Especially would like Sophomores to have the option of an all-points plan.

• Jesse Watson asks about WesWings and Red and Black and their continued existence on campus… Gabe says that the only dining facility on campus that is designed for dining is MoCon. Would express need to keep both places on the campus dining plan.

• Benedict wants more flexible weekend plans and extended hours. Max says that if you add hours in one place, you have to take it away somewhere else. Gabe says that putting all dining facilities under one roof will have the possibility of keeping facilities open longer.

• Catherine McAllister wants to talk about sophomores on the meal plan… thinks that putting freshman and sophomores together for camaraderie isn't a bad idea. The faculty meal thing is also really good. Suggests a social viewpoint, not just finances. Anda replies that a social standpoint should be addressed directly as such.

• Estrella Lopez says that Aramark is responsible for a lot of schools. What are the odds that they won't be here anymore? Gabe says that Aramark will submit a bid, the Thorndike group (Red and Black and WesWings), Sodexho, and Chartwells… 4-5 contracts.

• Alex Halpern-Levy says he spends a lot of money off campus for food: Is there a national union? Other universities have students using points in local towns. Josh Sannell says that we will deal with many levels of unions… national, local, and specific shops. Shops don't want students to use points, because it will hurt their situation, which may or may not be the case at other schools. Unions at other schools could be much weaker. Halpern-Levy doesn't think the quality student life should be affected by powerful local shops. Says WSA reps have to represent student interests.

• Anna Pinkert asks about lower buy-in options: will that create a gap between students who can afford to eat off campus all the time and students who depend on the meal plan? Gabe Tabak says they will investigate into other schools, don't want to divide student body along financial lines, but also want to address increased independence that seniors have. First to figure out if it's feasible, then decide if it's desirable.

• Zach Kolodin wants to address Alex Halpern-Levy's labor point: In the past, WSA has taken the position that the union workers at a part of the Wesleyan community, and has traditionally supported the union's viewpoint. Gabe says that support for union labor is a student priority.

• Catherine McAllister asks about prices on campus—Gabe says that if food prices on campus is reasonable and quality is good, seniors won't want to go off-campus.

Committee Reports

EC, FiFaC, CC, SBC, COCo, SAC, and EPC reports submitted by committee chairs. Personal pronouns in these reports refer

to the specific committee or chair

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The EC met to brainstorm about goals for the semester which we will report at next week's meeting. Any general assembly concerns are much appreciated. Jesse and Gabe met last Friday to review candidates for the VP of Finance and Administration position. In addition, Jesse and Monica met with Lisa and the architects and contractor for the new University Center to talk about configuration of the new WSA office. The Mid-Year report is done, and will be printed next week due to WSA copier breakdown.

FINANCES AND FACILITIES COMMITTEE

The Dining committee met on Wednesday. We looked at slides of the visit to Keene State's new Sodexho-run dining center, and Zelda and Max presented their concept of dining proposal. Gabe, Katie, and Monica all attended the University Center design meeting, where we heard from the architect about the construction plans. Katie took notes:

Usdan University Center- Design Meeting (Feb 1 06)

-Progress: 2nd floor steel frame is almost complete and the 3rd floor should be completed by end of the month -There will be a "mock building" 15x20 to display interior (?) -By July '07 the inside of building is scheduled to be complete -Some of the furniture will be built in (i.e. the reception desks) so we will not have a say in those things -We looked at tile and carpet samples: Turazzo (like in Sci Center) and maybe using white oak -The Goal: to have designed it in 3 months, by May

Basic Building Design Changes:

-Movement of info desk into more central space (instead of with the box office)

-Permanent wall on 1st floor instead of the retractable wall due to sound issues and cost, making one 50 and one 70 person capacity room -In the WSA office there will be 50 mailboxes for organizations and the potential for our own entrance -In the dining area a desk was added, for checking in or taking money -The terrace has stairs coming down both sides for access and fire regulations, thus it can be accessed 24 hours a day -One shallow, one deep display case (for sculture or 3D work) added on ground floor entry way area -took out skylight on 3rd floor -new terrace on 3rd floor to "normalize" the roof

Fayerweather:

-Since the ballroom capacity is almost 500, 3 exits are needed

-Potentially 2 women's bathrooms, at

Midge Bennet's request, and one of each on first floor, one unisex on bottom floor

On Friday, Katie attended the Prototype House meeting to get feedback from current residents:

Prototype Houses Meeting (Feb 3 06)

-Two seniors living in the large blue protoype house near the Athletic Center (14 Warren) came to share experiences of living in the prototype houses -The University approved plans to build another one this summer in time for next fall

Problems/Concerns

-Heat doesn't go over 70, doesn't usually feel like 70 and usually isn't warm enough -floorboards move, visble space between them

-Upstairs common space isn't used, might be because there is only a carpet and no furniture in there

-No dish disposal, no spray hose

-Cubby closets instead of closest with doors

-Room #s don't correspond to floorplan

-Moldy shower curtains, small moldy showers

-No shower cubby space in bathroom

-Fan come on automatically with bathroom light, too noisy

-No wastebaskets

-No railing around porch

-people just walk right through

-One of the parking spaces is handicapped, yet no one that lives there can use it

GOOD/ SUGGESTIONS:

-Layout and furniture okay

-Kitchen very nice, great stove

-Maybe a double sink in Kitchen?

-Furniture match nicely

-Big Flower pots were nice (until people overturned them one night...)

-Bathroom good, esp the separation between room with a toilet and room with a shower

-ID entry and Key entry good

-Windows okay, Perhaps curtains instead of shades

-Two bathroom switches- one for light and one for noisy

fan

-Compost bins wanted

In the coming week:

The senior woodframe furnishing survey is open now. All seniors should fill it out and encourage other students to do so as well. Tuesday

- Gabe and Rob will meet with Tom Kannam about the EAC. Wednesday - URLC 1st meeting of the semester. Gabe and Benz will be the FiFac representatives. Friday - Eric will meet with Wendy Rayack about labor code compliance issues. Also, Jesse and Gabe will be at the next meeting of the VP for Finance and Administration meeting.

INDEPENDENT PROJECTS COMMITTEE

New Member: Estrella Lopez

CRC advisory committee met: fiscal/annual progress of CRC, will be presented next week. Big conference coming up.

IPC is going to increase wsa knowledge with mid-year reports

COORDINATING COMMITTEE

-We continued appointments and appointed people to both COCo and IPC. We have (almost) a full assembly! One more spot to fill...

-We met and discussed Constitutional Review Committee, which hopefully will begin sometime next week. Xiaoxi is going to be chairing this committee and will discuss it in some detail at this Sunday's meeting. The committee is open to everyone on the

WSA.

-Pat Leone (ITS) emailed Emily about E-squid and the voting website. Due to software changes at ITS, there is some immediate need to figure out the future of these two sites. Emily is working with ITS and Dan Stillman (creator of both sites) to try and institutionalize the voting website and figure out a way to get E-squid regularly maintained.

- Members of the week: Max Ornstein and Zelda Ferguson for the dining proposal

STUDENT BUDGET COMMITTEE

This past week, we had our first weekly meeting for the semester. We expected a lot of groups with a very large total amount of requests, but we were pleasantly surprised with only around fifteen requests. It was our two new member's first meeting, but they did well and things look very promising for the semester.

In addition, Social Committee came in to update us on their situation. This situation will be updated when they speak to the WSA at large this Sunday. In addition, we will speak about a situation with Ujamaa and Black History Month that is currently unresolved.

For the long term, we are planning on putting the finishing touches on the website by adding some more information. Once this is finished, we hope that things will be more self-explanatory, straight-forward, and group-friendly, things we can all agree are fabulous.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH COMMITTEE:

-The search committee for the new director of Public Safety will be conducting interviews soon, probably before Spring Break. A committee of four or five COCo members will sit on that committee and meet with all of the candidates.

-As a heads up: there was an incident about a week ago in which a suspicious person was asked by Public Safety to leave campus, but not arrested. By the time it got passed down from person to person, serious concern about this person and the safety of senior houses was brought to my attention. It will be on the agenda at the first PSAC meeting of the semester, which could be as early as this week. There is likely to be an article about the issue in Tuesday's Argus.

-COCo members attended the First Friday's series at the Office for Community Partnerships this Friday in order to meet the new mayor of Middletown. Discussion focused on the economic development of Middletown.

-Nicole Chabot, the new Student Activities Program Coordinator, is trying to start up a Student Leadership Committee. COCo is collaborating with her in the effort, and the first meeting of the semester should be next week.

-We'd like to welcome our two new members, Naomi Takahashi '07 and Jorge Soto '09!!

 

STUDENT AFFIARS COMMITTEE

Student Life Committee (SLC) meeting:

Job position for the Dean of Diversity and Academic Advancement (DDAA) in posted and the application deadline is February 17, 2006.

The search committee will meet for the first time on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 followed by a second meeting on Monday, February 20, 2006. Zack Kolodin, SAC's newest member, is working with Dean Cruz-Saco on getting together Diversity and Academic Advancement Advisory Committee.

At the SLC meeting, Dean Butler presented the proposed revision of the current Guest Policy. SLC members suggested change regarding language and clarifications, before we can recommend for implementation. Dean Butler also presented proposed revision of (Regulation 4) Property Regulation of the Code of Non-Academic conduct (CNAC), to include "tunnels, construction sites and roof areas" regarding unauthorized use, or the abuse, destruction or theft or university property. The SLC approved the revision and recommended its implementation.

Update on Diversity Web Resources: Dean Mike announced the update of a web page for diversity web resources, where students can find information regarding discrimination and harassment. One of the features of the web page allows students to report incidents of discrimination and harassment. There will be an email notification every semester to inform students of diversity web resources, it will eventually migrate to the DDAA website

Update on "Campus Conversations" Programming:

The color orange: February 16 at Crowell.

Loves makes a family (Photo display) on February 23

Conversations lead by WesDEFs will take place after the shows.

Announcements:

1) Creation of Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Working Group. I have to nominate three students. One of them is our own, Renee Verdier.

2) Student storage space is now located on long lane property. Rates: $15.00 storage fee per box or item for up to 12 months storage (no monthly fees, just a one time fee). Since it is kind of far from the center of campus, there is a pick up and deliver service for $20.00

3) Senior Woodframe house furnishing survey was distributed via email.

EDUCATIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE

Not much to report from EPC this week. Our committee met to brainstorm about the coming semester and the Faculty EPC passed several resolutions that will be presented at the next faculty meeting. Among the ideas our student committee is considering for this semester are: Attempting to establish a grant for student educational innovation and an investigation into the Wesleyan Bookstore's pricing and return policies.

Anyone with any ideas or comments on these ideas is welcome to talk to any EPC member, or to bring up your concern during the General Assembly.

Stack:

• Benedict asks if members from last fall who are abroad will be able to submit changes for Constitutional review. Yes. They will be emailed.

• Jason Harris asks about Usdan offices: suggests using other office spaces in the area. Jesse Watson replies that this office plan will be very appropriate for our needs.

• Anda Greeny suggests either cutting E-Squid, or doing big publicizing blitz. Emily replies that we need someone to update it first. Is maintenance worth it?

• Dave Woo asks about storage areas for student groups in USDAN. Jesse Watson says that COCo is working on a proposal to keep 190 high street or some other way to get office and storage space. Will have new space for painting banners, though.

• Matt Ball asks why we're concerned about E-squid. Courses/crosslisting is more confusing, etc… Voting website is easier to manage: L-dat code? Matt also asks about what would happen to 190 high if we didn't manage to keep it. Jesse Watson doesn't really know, but probably no other plan.

• Nate Ratner asks if we could arrange something with ITS to update these. Emily says that they can take the voting website, but E-squid is somewhat controversial, and much more time-consuming. Nate suggests some sort of institutionalized means of updating.

• Zach Kolodin says that they talked about some sort of compromise between faculty and students. Suggests bringing it up to EPC. It would be much easier if faculty could give the info to E-squid, instead of entering it manually.

• Napat Phichaphop asks about the teaching evaluation system and how effective they are. Sam Ruth says that they're really just used by tenure committee, and academic affairs, but not immediately used for hire/fire basis.

New Business and Announcements

Sam Ruth asks about union relations and data used last time. No one knows, but it's generally accepted that any money going out of campus will hurt the Union workers.

Adjournment: 4:04 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Xiaoxi Tu, WSA Secretary