A final version of the Formal Group Housing resolution has set in writing LUCC’s qualms with the way the new procedures have been enforced. The resolution passed 14 to three, with only faculty members voting it down.The resolution states that, while the principles outlined by the Board of Trustees and the Task Force on Residence Life were equitable and fair, the current implementation has fallen short of the policy as it was written.
Among the violations mentioned concerned the choosing of students for the selection board. LUCC is concerned with ensuring that students on the selection board are uninvolved with the formal groups requesting housing. LUCC has requested that the council be given the power to appoint students to the Formal Group Housing Selection and Review Board.
LUCC also requested that the number of houses reserved for formal groups be lowered to below 50 percent of available housing. This would make available more options for theme houses or for general lottery small houses.
During the meeting, Dean Nancy Truesdell spoke against the resolution. “We should discuss this… we need to talk, not put forth resolutions,” she said.
In response, former LUCC president Cole DeLaney said that it is important for LUCC to know what they want before going to the administration. “It is not a last step, but a first step,” said DeLaney.
The Residence Life Committee also reported that they have posted more information about the new dormitory on the web.
During the Residence Life Committee report, Megan Brown was asked about rumors that the Residence Life Committee is planning a referendum to make Plantz Hall a smoke-free environment. Despite LUCC’s decision to vote against making Plantz smoke-free, Brown says that the committee is concerned that the council did not take student needs seriously enough, and that most students would want Plantz to be smoke-free.
For the referendum to pass, over 50 percent of the entire student body must vote in favor of the proposal. This vote will take place soon, before students must select housing for next year.
The Student Welfare Committee reported that paper usage concerns might be valid. In residence halls and the library only, around 1.101 million sheets of paper are used every year, costing $6,358. The school spends around $8 thousand to provide toner for those printers every year as well. These figures do not include academic labs or faculty/staff computers.
The committee also announced that Computer Services is considering the addition of wireless networking on campus. Students who are interested in wireless networking and assisting in planning where it should be put on campus are encouraged to notify Ed Johnson: johnsone@lawrence.edu.
Computer Services is also increasing its concern over student downloading of pirated movies. Students will risk temporarily losing their accounts if problems persist after requests have been made for students to delete these illegal files.
LUCC is planning to write out clear voting procedures in order to avoid future problems with elections. The hope is that having the process codified will make for fewer contentions in future elections. PEL will be taking care of this process.
New cabinet members were appointed for the new administration. Sara Compas, Anna Corey, and Felix Ankrah will be joining the cabinet. Bill Dalsen will continue acting as parliamentarian, with Steven Tie-Shue continuing as corresponding secretary.
When Dalsen leaves campus to study abroad, Tie-Shue will take over his role as parliamentarian, welcoming in Aditi Hate as corresponding secretary.
DeLaney closed with remarks about his year as president. He said, “LUCC is a well-oiled machine, but a well-oiled machine needs to be used for something.”
He went on to explain that he regrets being unable to have longer to work with LUCC.
DeLaney encouraged everyone to continue weighing out competing agendas.
“Don’t look at LUCC in terms of the power that it has…the real power is in the moral authority that LUCC has in representing students,” said DeLaney.
In a ceremonial changing of leadership, DeLaney gave Jacques Hacquebord the gavel to close the meeting.