Wesleyan Student Assembly — Wesleyan University

Minutes: November 11, 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
    Lucas and Hannah, Students for Ending the War in Iraq (SEWI)
5. The New Science Center
    Presentation by Prof. Bodznick, head of the Molecular and Life Science Building Committee.
6. Committee Reports
7. New Business and Announcements
 

Opening of Meeting: 7:05 pm

Attached Documents: Committee Reports

Roll Call

Fight Song

Approval of Minutes From Last Week

Minutes approved unanimously

4. Open Forum

Lucas and Hannah from students against the war in Iraq

Talked to Roth about divestment: Roth open. Asked about proxy votes and figures. Wants to set up a meeting between students against the war in Iraq and trustees. Wants to make sure the WSA reps bring up the issue with the board of trustees.

Stack

• Emily- WSA asked that the finance committee subcommittee meeting that the issues of the Students against the War in Iraq be put on the yearly agenda.

• Matt- Proxy vote committee has been formed 2 years ago. 

5. New Science Building 

Presentation by Prof. Bodznick, head of the Molecular and Life Science Building     Committee

Prof. Bodznick- In need of a new science building and starting working on project in 1998. Information is on Blackboard. Hall Atwater in terrible shape and needs to be demolished and replaced. Selected a company in Boston that builds science buildings. Have been developing programs for the science building for the past year and half. Problem is in  building the new building where the old building is. Trying to make the sciences an integral part of the campus. Wants to create and improve visual and physical connections to the campus core. Issue is in replacing or extensively renovating Shanklin. The costs are similar.

Stack

• Candice- How long will Atwater hold up?

• Prof- It will hold up for a while but we need to start worrying about safety. It’ll hold up safely till the project is complete.

• Gianna- Is there any plan to be done with the science tower? 

• Prof- No, but if there is enough money they’d like to resurface.

• Fludie- Are you going to try and connect it to the butter fields? 

• Prof- The indoor walkway will capture the flow from the butter fields.  

• Natasha- How will the building make a connection to the Middletown community? 

• Prof- Plans are being shown to the nearby neighbors. There is landscaping plans that are appealing. 

• Julien- What decisions still need to be made? Will there be a greater incline leading up to Olin

• Prof- schematic designs will be done in December and there will be a complete floor plan that will be sent to an estimator to get the costs.   There will be a gradual slope that will be leading to the street.

• Sam- When will the plans begin?

• Prof- Builing begins in 2008 and phase 1 will be done in 2012

• Izaak- When was decision made that Shanklin will be demolished? Was there an opportunity for students to talk about Shanklin?

• Prof- Board approved the plan to go ahead with skematic design in june.            The landmarks advisory board advised not to demolish

• Lucas- Who lives in the houses that are going to be demolished? And who’s funding it?

• Prof- Not sure. Through donations and loans.

• Alec- What sacrifices will Wesleyan have to make for the new building?

• Prof- Doesn’t see it as a sacrifice because it needs to be built in order to have top programs. There needs to be equal part of fund raising and endowment.

• Antoine- How is sustainability being looked at?

• Prof- Wants to build using leads-silver. Heat wheel technology to recapture heat.

• Matt- Has there been any discussion about changing davenport?

• Prof- Taking away loading docks in Davenport and having a significance entrance but no other plans.

• Becky- Thanks prof. likes plans.

• Jen- Do you have any names in mind for the building?

• Prof- Doner who gives $35 million

• Mike- Is the building going to be lead certified?

• Prof- Would like to but not sure.

• Sam- What are the benefits of renovating shanklin?  Do you feel committee had same feeling to use savings from endowment towards science building?

• Prof- For historical preservation. Yes, because of inflation.

• Matt- Can you get a higher certification later? Can we get an estimate to see how much more it would cost to get leds certified?

• Prof- It depends as the process goes along and the cost estimates. If were close or had the opportunity we would. First want to get the initial costs.

• Izzak- Do you feel that the committee and school dropped the ball when we should talk about Shanklin? Do you have any regrets?

• Prof- Felt process is very open. And hoped that blackboard would help give feedback.

• Liana- Are you working the surrounding area for handicap accessibility?

• Prof- Yes, it’s important

• Matt- The WSA was not in favor of being taken down last year.

• Darien- What is the projected life of the new building?

• Prof- 100 years.

7. Committee Reports

FiFaC

Marjorie- Card access

Becky- 200 Church is being pushed for Card access because so many people use that building.

Alison- Does the PA system have estimates?

Early stages.

Cesar- Can people return bags to Wesshop?

Becky- Yes and people can buy green bags.

Sam- One way to encourage wesshop bags is for cashiers to tell you that you get a discount.

Jen- Plastic bags were in weshop this weekend.

 

OEAC

 

SAC

Matt- Having a notice about the hard alcohol policy being defeated.

 

SBC

 

COCo

Izaak- Why wouldn’t sexual assault be in SJB?

Natasha- Friends being involved. Assault is not something the SJB does

Candice- There is a lot of privacy issues for sexual assault cases.

 

EPC

Gianna- Why was video being used?

Sam- Not final just an option discussed

 

7) New Business and Announcements

Alec- Email about social justice day and students received it well, but there needs to be more teachers involved.

Charlotte- How will thanksgiving day be done this year? Circular tables.

JZ- There will be a service for Veterans day.

Izzak- Thanks about being on time.

Matt- Roth said he was going to sign the climate committee when the trustees come.

Emily- WSA.wesleyan.edu will be the email address used for all questions.

Becky- All you can eat at Lunch.

Natasha- Can there be an option for both?

Becky- No

Jen- Not in favor of all you can eat lunch

Sami- Wants to know if there can be both set lunch and meals.

Matt- I would like it.

Micah- There is more freedom to use points and meals.

Emily- Please have to go options available.

Mike- People are going to be unhappy with either option. Needs to push for option for all you can eat or per item.

Saul- Issues with choice. When will there be more coolers?

Emily- Wants there to be a deli in the bookstore. 

Candace- Whats going on with the lunch menu for the professors?

Straw poll for all you care to eat lunch

In favor- 14

Not in favor- 2

Abstain-12

Motion for Adjournment 8:50 PM

Respectfully Submitted,

AJ Chan