Senate deals with student services and rule changes

One week following an intense discussion about dissolving Student Senate, the body discussed three proposals at its meeting this week. The proposals dealt with the recent controversy over a rule change made by dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk, the College's contract with AT&T and a request by the Office of Residential Life and Services for Senate to approve a survey concerning the meal plan.

Senate unanimously approved the first proposal, introduced by Senator junior Joshua Kaye. It called for the re-instatement of the clauses that were removed by Cole-Newkirk. The clauses stated that evidence collected in students' rooms during certain searches could not be used against them in College judicial proceedures.

Kaye said the proposal was brought up to "provide the same protection that students enjoyed before." Junior Chapin Benninghoff, who resigned from Senate last week, said, "The spine was ripped out of the body of rights, this proposal simply replaces the spine."

Cole-Newkirk does not support the Senate proposal. "[The proposal] creates a cycle of distrust that tells me that the Senate doesn't trust that the Judicial Board, the Community Board, or a hearing officer will make a fair and just decision in a case that arises when a staff member sees something in a student room that is outside the values of the community."

Students come down on different sides of the issue. Senior Rebecca Koper said, "Legally, the administration has every right to do it. It is a matter of trust between the students and administration. If students abuse this trust, the rule should be changed."

Junior Jeff Cerr said, "It's hard to judge. You have to take responsibilities and accept risks involved in taking illegal substances. I think you should have as much responsibility inside college as outside. The school shouldn't protect you from state laws."

Sophomore Cary Strumf said, "I think it's a violation of privacy, they're not the police."

Senator senior Florian Gerhardt brought the next proposal to the floor. The proposal asks Residential Life and Services to conduct a re-evaluation of the campus calling plan, contracted with AT&T. Gerhardt said international students have complained that the schools contract with AT&T does not allow them to use deals on international phone calls from other companies.

Some international students don't feel very strongly about AT&T. Senior Numair Choudhury said, "I have never found anything cheaper. I think ACUS is pretty damned good." Senior Faiz Chapra said, "I think AT&T is all right unless there are other cheaper deals from companies I don't know about."

The last proposal was brought from Residential Life and Services requesting that Senate approve a survey intended to collect student opinion about the meal plan. The current meal plan is 21 meals a week.

Director of Conference Services Michelle Gross said, "We would like to have a relationship with Senate to ask for student input into Residential Life and Services [in order] to keep updated with student issues and concerns."

Student reaction to the possibility of changes in the meal plan was overwhelmingly positive. Senior David Wallace, who is currently trying to get off board said, "It's frustrating not to be able to decide whether I eat in a co-op, on board, or off board. I don't feel I have much of a choice in this."

Senior Raumin Dehgan said, "I think it's a good idea. It's hard to get a dining facility for every meal. If you're studying, have extracurricular activities, or sleep in on weekends." Senior Zakia Redd and former senator said, "I'm in support of a partial meal plan."

"Twenty-one meals a day is too much. I don't eat more than 14 or 15 meals a week" junior Wayne Miller said.

Senator sophomore Chuckie Kamm said, "I think it's great. It's something people have wanted for years. The fact that the administration is finally responding to student concerns is wonderful. It's high time."