In the spirit of this year’s elections, last night’s College Council meeting opened with a bit of controversy. Sean Glasheen ’01, Nishant Nayaar ’02, Tim Karpoff ’01, Scott Moringiello ’99, and Nate Foster ’01 questioned co-presidents Will Slocum ’99 and Kate Ervin ’99 about their decision to write a letter on election day calling attention to questionable claims on a candidate’s posters. They said the language of the letter was particularly harsh and that the letter could have interfered with people’s votes. Kate and Will defended themselves vigorously, saying they felt compelled to set the record straight to ensure fairness to all candidates. Eric Soskin ’99, representing the Goodrich Committee, Matt Haldeman ’02, John Rivera-Dirks ’99, Heather Barger ’02, and Ami Parekh ’01 also defended Kate and Will’s decision. Eric added that the co-presidents’ role in administering elections ought to be spelled out more clearly to prevent possible conflicts of interest in future elections.

Comments sent to opinions@wso were addressesd. Ami Parekh ’01 offered to see about the possibility of breakfast points being used in Goodrich. Another student wrote in with high praise for the idea of a five-meal plan, which looks like a shoe-in for seniors next year. There was also a note from a freshman blasting Council for not supporting substance-free housing. The grave letter concluded, "I hope you can live with yourselves!"

Matt Whalen ’99 of the Bookstore Committee said that Water Street Books would soon carry computer supplies since Jesup no longer does. He also announced that students will be able to reserve books online for a 5% discount. Mark Acton ’00 said that the inserts pitching magazines only need to be in the bag, not in every book.

Carrie Ryan ’00 of the Safety Committee promised to deliver the suggestion of Dave Walfish ’00 that there be better lighting around West’s steps. Owen Boger ’01 asked Carrie to make sure a new card reader is installed behind Armstrong. Eric soskin ’99 said there needs to be a stop sign in the parking lot behind Perry. Elissa Shevinsky ’01 suggested a blue light by Thompson.

Liz Lee ’01 of the Committee on Undergraduate Life said the committee is working to raise awareness of the honor code and hopes to bring about a reversion to students’ signing the honor code instead of approving it on Selfreg. The CUL discussed homophobia this week and plans to revamp the recommendations written in 1995 on how to promote tolerance on campus. Will Slocum ’99 complemented the committee’s work on devising more effective house-governance scenarios.

Cathy Warren ’99 of the Winter Study Committee reported that the committee is generally evaluating Winter Study. One plan is to have evaluations of adjunct instructors, and another idea is to institute grading during Winter Study. Council groaned, and Cathy said reassuringly that grading was only an idea, nothing definite.

Next, Council handled three budget requests. Jon Salter ’02 of the Martial Arts Club asked for $360 to run tournaments and to pay for safety equipment. John wanted to cut in half the current $45 quarterly charge to students. Participating in the club yields P.E. credit. The funding passed 23-5-0. Grace Kim ’02 of In Hymn, a Christian a capella group, received $330 for transportation and office supplies by a vote of 25-3-0. Max Weinstein ’00 sought $100 for training materials for the MHINDS peer listening program. The funding passed 26-2-0.

Finance Committee member Owen Boger ’01 introduced the committee’s recommendations for spring funding of large athletics and tournaments groups. Council approved these groups’ budgets as recommended. Next, Council discussed the allocations to the activism organizations. There was considerable dissent over the Garfield Republican Club’s request for funds for a speech by Alan Keyes, a likely presidential candidate, and there was discontent about paying for the Pre-Med Society’s reception for students, profs, and local doctors. Though the motion to eliminate funding for Alan Keyes’ speech narrowly failed, Council voted down the request for $900 for the pre-med reception. In the music subgroup, there were objections to the gospel choir paying a professional pianist and drummer when there might be students who could provide the service, but the motion to cut those funds failed by a close vote. The finance committee’s recommendations for the music subgroup then passed intact by a wide margin.

Last, Max Weinstein ’00 explained the recommendations of the Committee on Educational Policy on class size. Max emphasized that the committee’s report is only a recommendation, not a policy. Besides the College Council, the faculty and the admissions office will comment on the policy. Max said that while there are several faculty who share Council’s desire that more professors be hired, his committee disagrees since the popularity of certain disciplines oscillates over time. He did say, though, that more visiting profs might be hired when departments need them. Max emphasized that the recommendation to cap courses is not sweeping but only a recommendation to be selectively applied. Council decided it would be more effective for Max and the Council’s class-size subcommittee to talk over the CEP’s report before engaging the entire Council in a discussion of the CEP’s recommendations. The CEP’s recommendations on how to fix the class-size problem are available at the College Council’s website, http://wso.williams.edu/orgs/cc/. Please pass along comments to opinions@wso.williams.edu.