Wesleyan Student Assembly — Wesleyan University

Minutes: November 4, 2007

WSA Officers

President: Matt Ball

Vice President: Emily Malkin

Coordinator: Izaak Orlansky

Treasurer: Gianna Palmer

Meeting Agenda and Business

1. Roll Call
2. Approval of New Minutes
3. Fight Song
4. Open Forum
    Eric Rosenberg, Students for Ending the War in Iraq
    Andrea Neustein, Student Advocates for Transportation
5. Student Budget Committee Allocation (Gianna Palmer '10, SBC Chair)
    Presentation about the Future of the New York Times Readership Program with WSA members Sami Pop '11 and Robert Alvarez '11
6. Discussion about GRS change with WSA members Mike Pernick '10 and Saul Carlin '09
7. Committee Reports
8. Approval of Minutes
9. New Business and Announcements
 

Opening of Meeting: 7:07 pm

Attached Documents: Committee Reports

Roll Call

Fight Song

Approval of Minutes From Last Week

Minutes approved unanimously

5. Open Forum

Eric Rosenberg for Students for Ending the War in Iraq asks WSA to talk to trustees to about divestment and communicate that over 700 students have signed petition to support divestment, as well as parent and alumni signatures. Make clear there is strong support on campus. Went to talk to Tom K. (in charge of investments) to ask for investment policy and money received, have not gotten a response from him since this meeting. Need this information for a meeting with M. Roth next week. Ask a member to ask for this information (is not private information)

Stack

• Sam offers that maybe this information is hard to access. Eric says no, it is public info
• Emily clarifies that “hoping for us to me median with board.” also offers idea of getting in touch with board members because are “progressively minded people” and offers her help to get in touch with them. Not sure board of trustees meeting is the best outlet for such actions.
• Matt knows endowment advisory committee is in charge of investments. Holding idea of bringing it to trustees over his head might be a way to gain cooperation, although this is confrontational.
• In response to Micah, students do have right to this information. Problem is that he has not gotten back to them
• Emily and Isaac gives brief history about passing of divestment resolution.
• Eric asks about policy as to lasting power of a resolution. Emily responds that it is permanent.
• Becky asks for further information if Roth mentions proxy vote again

 

Andrea Neustein head of students advocates for transportation. wanted to express that she will make student transportation a priority for WSA. already designed basic mock-up for program, needs funding through WSA.

Stack

• Candance asks what specific expansions are in future. Survey on student body revealed complaints about both location and frequency, as well as price. Most institutions like us have free shuttle. Candace also asks if the shuttle will be going to other location. Meriden station, mall, etc.
• Saul expresses need for major student concern and to show that it is an institution priority
• Jessie asks if meeting is student based. Yes, it will be.
• Matt states funding for this would be through WSA office budget, as opposed to SBC.
• Saul states that CT Limo will be contacted to add Middletown to their locations of services
• Izaak states ITS has worked on a ride board and it should be coming soon

 

6. Student Budget Committee Allocation (Gianna Palmer '10, SBC Chair)

Stack

• Candace asks about deferrals, which is when the SBC asks a group to come back later in the year
• Mike asks if there is as much oversight when it comes to a group eselling university property, as opposed to request for money
• Morgan expresses worry about “Identity Month” plan, and allocating based on asking time. Group leaders seem very receptive, and it is easier for budgeting reasons. Not just giving out $5000, groups have to present reasons.
• Emily praises Gianna for her work spearheading initiative of electronic application process. SBC has a lot more contact with students than any other committee on a regular basis.
• Izaak asks about receipts. Groups have to shows proof of purchases through receipts, charge statements, etc. Reimbursed after spending their own money usually. Groups account frozen when reach debt with SBC
• Robert asks about debt of social committee. Gianna expresses Social group’s debt will be cleared, but wont receive extra funding
• Melgily asks about WES-U and Argus, both of which have student Business Managers. Also asks about why program housing gets money. Psi U request was to bring RJD2. Program houses receive funding when benefits whole community.
• Darien asks about money left over at end of year. There is sometimes. Emily and Matt express this issue will be talked about more later
• Matt points out that part of criteria is no allocations to fraternities, so expresses concern about the allocation to Psi U.

7. Group Recognition Process by Inslee Coddington '10

Stack

no questions raised

7. Committee Reports

FiFaC

Stack

• Izaak expresses concern about selling wood-frames. It’s a “slippery-slope” and encourages all younger members to keep an eye on wood-frames
• Mike asks about conversation about possibility of replacing wood-frames with Fauver-like dorms in the distant future. Comments on idea that is would be less expensive to knock down wood-frame than to fix them is disputed among the administration.
• Micah asks about reasoning for selling the lots as opposed to rebuilding if the house is falling apart in the first place. Most of these lost being sold are far from campus
• JZ expresses that physical plant should be separate from those making these decisions
• Melgily asks about program housing, if included in this selling plan. Program houses aren’t on sale.
• Alex expresses that he thinks cost of $80,000 per bed is exaggerated. Also expresses concern about disorganization with those coming to houses to fix, private contractors, etc.
• Emily clarifies that the number is due to meeting state fire stuff, and the breakdown shows it would cost way more to do it privately
• Candace expresses concern about clarity as to what is “outlying” and what is “on campus.”

OEAC

Stack

• Becky asks fro second round of door-to-door on Thursday as well.
• Door-to-door is to pass out information on what we’ve been doing this year, and then strike up conversation.

 

SAC

Stack

• Discussion about new alcohol policy suggestion

 

SBC

no stack

 

COCo

no stack

 

EPC

Stack

• Melgily gives idea of taking a class to computer lab and have them give evaluation there
• JZ doesn’t like assumption that all Wesleyan students have a laptop, and is skeptical about taking class to computer labs
• Matt points out that students are more thorough on the computer in their evaluations.

 

 

 

9) New Business and Announcements

Stack

• Emily explains about Dean Mike’s dinner and NYT.
• Matt explains about Social Justice Day. There will be a planning committee to put on event.
• Jessie expresses concern about left over Argus papers with environmental concerns, and asks if the WSA can help to monitor this cost and left over paper.

9. New Business and Announcements

Stack

• Emily explains about Dean Mike’s dinner and NYT.
• Matt explains about Social Justice Day. There will be a planning committee to put on event.
• Jessie expresses concern about left over Argus papers with environmental concerns, and asks if the WSA can help to monitor this cost and left over paper.

Motion for Adjournment 8:50 PM

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Alvarez