Medha and Bert sign off with a smile Introduction - Medha and Bert started off their last meeting by stating that the results for Jose will be on TODAYJ. Student - Faculty Committee Updates: CUL - June Yi '02 stated that the CUL decided that names should remain on WSO Housing Plans. The Committee will be looking into the housing system to determine what the philosophy of the housing system at Williams is and should be. At their next meeting they will be talking with the Dining Services. CUL has made the recommendation to eliminate squatting. June explained that the reasoning behind the elimination of squatting was that there were certain houses that had developed certain dynamics. Squatting may lead to self-selected theme houses. The elimination of squatting was a move to diversify housing on campus. Carrie Ryan '00 stated that she feels as though there are a lot of value judgments being thrown around when it comes to diversity in housing. She said that she does not feel as though it is a problem for individuals to live with those that they wish to live with. Ben Finholt '00 stated that he thinks he agrees however, he feels as though this is a first move to work against the fragmentation that many students are talking about. Todd Rogers '01 stated that he had been talking to someone on the housing committee who would have liked to see these issues come to them. Winter Study Committee - Chris Warshaw '02 stated that they are working on the logistics for getting adjunct evaluations by next winter study. They are also working on revamping winter study financial aid. There will probably be a difference between semester and winter study aid. However, they are planning on making the financial aid packages of traveling winter studies and 99s more similar. Additionally, adjunct salaries will be raised next year. Safety Committee - Carrie Ryan '00 stated that the safety committee has met since the last time they updated council. However, the WEST STEPS are in place! Comments, concerns? Carrie also stated that she believes that two Greylock Buildings will be going smoke free next year. The idea of smoke free housing on campus will be discussed in detail next year. Email 00chr. Bert Leatherman '00 stated that they might set up a student section at games next years. Ben Finholt '00 stated that it might be a better idea to set up a non-student section. Carrie Ryan '00 stated that the Log Committee is working on the situation with the neighbor who has been consistently complaining about the noise at the Log. Improvements to the Weight Room: Fletcher Brooks, the coordinator of the fitness center, presented the Council with the short term improvements that they are planning for next year. He thanked the council for all the student push. The primary change that they are proposing is to move some of the cardio equipment from the weight room to a separate room so as to free up space. We received many opinions regarding the change, some in favor and some opposed. Joe Masters '02 stated that all of his constituents were in favor moving the equipment; his constituents also asked for more mirrors and tread mills. Carrie Ryan '00 asked where the cardio equipment would go. Fletcher stated that they are looking around for possible solutions. Carrie asked about whether the equipment would be old or new. He said they were looking at buying new equipment. He said this might also allow students to work out during the hours when both the weight room and squash court fitness center are closed. Many members stated the opinions of their constituents concerning the move and the weight room in general. Fletcher would also like to make a separate room for stretching. Todd Rogers '01 stated that he was hoping to emphasize that this is temporary and he wanted to know what the long term plans were. Carrie stated that this is getting incorporated in the capital plan. Fletcher stated that the plan currently might take 8 years. Laddie Peterson '02 asked what the course of action should be as of now. Fletcher stated that we might want to have a student survey and possibly put pressure on the Athletics Director and the Assistant Athletics Director. Joe Masters '02 stated that we could have a referendum on Jose. Carrie Ryan '00 stated that there was a petition in plan that we might want to reinstate. Email: fbrooks@williams.edu Minority Curricular Review Committee: Chabeth Haynes '02 came to council with the proposal to establish a cthey should look for a diversity of ideas. Todd Rogers '01 stated that he would like to see a CC member on this committee. Names on the WSO Housing Plans: CUL decided not to support plans of eliminating names from being on the WSO housing plans. In concurrence, council also decided not to support the idea. We received many opinions as to the negative effects of removing names from the online plans. The CUL decision to support the proposal to eliminate the possibility of squatting was also discussed. Funding Requests: Social Responsibility Month: Biniam Gebre '00 requested $1900 from council in order to support the wide range of activities that will be occurring on campus during the month of April to raise awareness about issues of social responsibility. They were able to raise all the other funds from other campus and non-campus groups. Vote to fund $1900 to the Social Responsibility Project: 21-0-1. Steel Pan Band: Chabeth Haynes '02 requested $ 2425 for the recently formed Steel Pan Band. They need to buy instruments in order to begin learning, teaching, practicing and performing. Medha asked whether they asked the Music Department for funding. Chabeth stated that the only way the music department would help them is if they became part of the music group. Ben Finholt '00 stated that it might be a better idea to wait till next year when we find out if the music department would support them. Nelson Hioe '00 stated that it might be a better idea to wait until next year because we might be able to fund out what other departments might fund. Vote to fund Steel Pan Band $1420: 14-6-3. Ephs Film Guild: Tom Cubeta '03 and Mike W'03 were wondering if it would be okay for them to associate with a company called Nibblebox.com. The company would provide them with equipment if they advertismentoring that they will receive will be very significant. Joe Masters '02 stated that WSO has aadministrative penalties from the deans for those students who were caught. CEP Class Size Update: Max Weinstein '00 spoke briefly about what he calls "the most important issue before CEP in his two year tenure." Essentially, CEP wants departments to announce which classes are seminars, and which are lectures, and to stick to these goals. In other words, no more than 50 students in so-called "discussion classes." However, there are certain departments on campus that don't want to do this, and are moving in an entirely separate direction. In order to attain their goal of truth-in-catalog, CEP wants to announce those departments that do not want to clarify which of their classes will be large, and which will be small. Max will be back after spring break to bring up this issue with the campus. Members' Open Time: Carrie Ryan raised the issue that Nibblebox might be a potentially invasive presence on campus, in spite of how helpful their services might be for the Eph Filmmaker's Guild. Benjamin Finholt bitched a little bit about the New York Times in off-campus houses, and eventually answered his own question and said that it wouldn't be feasible. Joe Masters announced some changes that WSO has made recently: there are now more options on email terminals - National News, Weather, and next two meals in the dining halls. Also, there will be a faculty facebook online, a joint venture between WSO, OIT, and the Office for Public Affairs. Bert Leatherman, in his final address as President, told council that Napster will be re-instated back in April, barring technical hang-ups. Other issues of his that may come to fruition: College Council may move into Rich Kelley's office from Goodrich, and there may be a rally in Boston about NESCAC, maybe with a vanload of students from each school in NESCAC. Medha Khirtane announced that MinCO and CC will have a joint meeting when the new MinCO reps are elected, after spring break. David Thal asked for more council members to show up for the student trustee meetings. Well, I guess that is allit's been funHave a great Spring BreakJ -Ami