Senators discuss Cole forum

Senate decides to set up its own monthly forums for discussion

Last Thursday's public forum with Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newirk was still on the minds of student senators and administrators this week.

Discussion of the forum dominated discussion at the Senate meeting last Sunday.

Senior Dan Persky said, "There are great differences of opinion about the meeting; it was one of the most bitter and hostile meetings since I've been here."

Although President of the College Nancy Dye would not comment on the forum, Cole-Newkirk said she was generally pleased with the meeting.

"I think it went really well," Cole-Newkirk said. "I think about halfway through, the forum turned to be positive."

Cole-Newkirk said the staff of Student Life and Services is considering how to best implement the suggestions gleaned from the forum.

"I was really pleased about the forum," Cole-Newkirk said. "I think we need to do it more often."

Senators reached a consensus that they should set up their own monthly forums between students and administrators. The first such forum will occur after Fall Break in early November.

Persky, first-year Kevin Guzman, sophomore Bobbi Lopez and sophomore Nathaniel Stankard were appointed to an ad hoc task force to set up a monthly forum. The task force met privately on Tuesday.

"These forums should not be held in an emergency kind of way, but a 'we should have been doing this all along' kind of way," Senator senior Chapin Benninghoff said. Benninghoff's objections led to a restriction that the advertising for the new forums not mention any other past event, including the Cole-Newkirk forum.

"There were two meetings going on there: One was a dialogue between students about the ways that students communicate with each other. The other was communication with the administration. It would be inappropriate for us to get involved in the first, and very appropriate for us to get involved in the second," Benninghoff said.

"Not only should the student body have dialogue with administrators, so should the Senate," Stankard said.

As for the topics of the forums, Lopez envisioned "issue-oriented forums with administrators. We need to create more dialogue." In considering venues for the forums, Finney Chapel was suggested but senators agreed it was too formal.

Dean of the College Clayton Koppes was proposed as the first forum speaker.

"I'm not crazy about that kind of event," Dye said. "I'm personally happy to address large groups of people, but I don't think that kind of event promotes honest and mutual conversation or resolution of differences."