Senators discuss the dean of the College of A&S search

Co-ed housing speak-out planned during Senate meeting

The Senate covered it all last Sunday - the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences search, expository writing, co-ed rooms and upcoming Senate elections. It passed five proposals, planned a speak-out, and almost finished writing a letter.

A guest to the meeting, junior Rob Harper, announced that he was visiting the Senate because he was concerned about student liaisons to the dean of the College search committee. He wanted to know what Senate had done to select liaisons for the committee.

Senators junior Chapin Beninghoff, senior Noah Bopp and sophomore Joshua Kaye attended a dean of the College search committee meeting April 23. Professor of History Marcia Colish, chair of the dean search committee had asked the Senate to send student delegates to this meeting to help design the job description.

Senator senior Matthew Cole said that his proposal about appointing students as permanent liaisons to the dean search committee, which had been previously passed, eliminated the senators' usual first dibbs on getting committee seats.

The senators passed a new proposal which required the nomination and interview process for the student liaison positions on the dean search committee will be held by the end of the semester. Andreas Pape, senator sophomore, made signs advertising the position. Cole and Toshio Mana, senator sophomore, will temporarily join Students Appointment Committee to help Dan Persky, senator sophomore, with the interview process.

Persky announced that changing one of Expository Writing's temporary positions to a permanent one is on the top of the Educational Program and Planning Committee (EPPC)'s list of priorities.

Persky also announced that at its Thursday meeting the EPPC will discuss two permanent English department positions that will open up next year. The committee could decide to change one of those positions to an Expository Writing permanent position, continued Persky.

Persky asked the group to define its position on the issue, so he could represent the Senate at Thursday's meeting.

Bopp said, "My interest lies in finding great teachers rather than where they go."

"I would like to see Senate take a position that Expository Writing is a vital [part of] Oberlin College," Harper said.

Kaye said, "It's been Expository Writing who's been crying for help, not English. I think we should sway that way."

The proposal which was passed "reaffirmed [Senate's] position that Expository Writing is very important," Bopp said.

The senate also discussed their role in the current controversy over co-ed rooms. The planned a speak-out and began a letter on the issue. (See related story.)

Cole then made an announcement about the upcoming Senate elections. Cole listed the names of candidates, who are: Erica Wagner, Kamala Sessoms, Matt Schiek, Dan Persky, Andreas Pape, Dan Orr, Jay O'Neil, Toshio Mana, Sam Krasnow, Claire Koczak, Joshua Kaye, Chuckie Kamm, Nicole Johnston, David Heafitz, Florian Gerhardt, Alex Freuman, Marissa Demetrius, Ted Carleton, Stefan Bloom, Chapin Beininghoff and Win Amaya.

Next, Kaye announced to the Senate that President Nancy Dye decided that Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk and Residential Life's decision to suspend junior Josh Robinson was made without proper due process. Robinson was found last Thursday morning drunk in South Hall by Security. Robinson was delivered a letter from Cole-Newkirk which said he was suspended.

Kaye then spoke to the Senate about events that took place at Harkness last Saturday night. Kaye said Residential Life, by order of Cole-Newkirk, had Security break up a party there because alcohol was being served. Kaye said no alcohol was served and the event was advertised as a concert, rather than a party. "I find this disturbing," said Kaye.

"I think Dean Cole is having some communication problems. This is not a good thing for a dean of student life," said Cole.

Haserman said, "The Dean seems to be misusing powers."

Bopp said, "It's getting scary...It seems like we need to talk to Nancy Dye about this."

The senators passed a proposal saying that they will send a delegation to talk with Cole-Newkirk during her open office hours this Wednesday, as well as talk with Dye during a scheduled appointment.

The senators then passed the charters for Healing Arts Co-op, African Student Association, and Oberlin Gamers' and Role-players' Established (OGRE). The Sadism/Masochism and Bondage/Discipline (SM/BD) charter was pulled from the slate, and the senators discussed SM/BD.

Bopp said, "I had a very big problem with this `slave auction' thing they did...It seemed to be a lot like prostitution."

Haserman said, "The slave auction was done for a fund raiser for a [SM/BD] speaker." He added that no vaginal, anal, or oral sex was involved.

Kaye said, "I think we should pass it."

"We can only approve or disapprove what's in the charter," said Cole.

A vote was taken on passing the SM/B&D charter. There were seven for it, two against it, and three abstentions.

After Cole said he thought it might need to pass by two-thirds, Bopp said, "I think it would be better to hash this out." Bopp proposed that the Senate talk about it next week. This proposal passed with nine in favor, two opposed, and one abstention.

After confusion about the legitimacy of the previous vote which approved the SM/BD's charter, another vote was taken. This vote decided that the Senate will talk more about the SM/BD club charter next week.

More than three hours after the meeting began, the Senate meeting ended when they chose Demetrius as the next facilitator.