It was as if Linneas himself ran the last Senate meeting.
Should Women's Studies be a part of Ethnic Studies? If we had a "Scandinavian Studies" program, would that be allowed in? Should Oberlin students have a community service requirement?
These are all questions that Student Senate found itself pondering last Sunday.
The questions arose as Senate considered the creation of this year's advisory councils. The tentative council titles are Ethnic Studies, Housing and Dining, Course Evaluation, Police and Student Interaction and Community Service Requirement.
Senator junior Atif Aziz and Senator sophomore Adrian Leung proposed the formation of an advisory council under the title "Ethnic Studies."
This provoked a discussion as to how to define Ethnic Studies. "I consider Ethnic Studies to focus on people of color," said Leung.
Senators questioned the definition, with one senator asking whether Scandinavian Studies could be considered ethnic studies. "We might be walking into a bear trap by saying that one group can enter but not another," said Senator junior Sarah Fineberg.
Senators debated the meaning of ethnicity, who constitutes a minority and who exactly is included in the "person of color" label. They finally agreed that the specifics of the issues should be left open to the members of the advisory council.
Senate also debated whether the College should play a role in disputes between students and the police department. Senator junior Sam Taylor designed an advisory council that would promote student rights awareness and, in the event of a confrontation with police, moral and/or legal help from the College. "The College should act as a safety blanket to protect students who are unjustly accused," said Taylor.
Senate passed all of the proposed councils with the exception of Housing and Dining and Course Evaluations. These two councils are temporarily tabled but Senate plans to address them during the next meeting. Next Sunday, Senate is also scheduled to discuss reassignment of Senate office hours, a new Senate endorsement procedure and the creation of an officer guide.
Senate: Members of Senate discuss the issues. (photo by Matt Maddy)
Copyright © 1998, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 127, Number 6, October 9, 1998
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