Home >> Archives >> 10.31.05 Minutes
Senate Summit: 5:30-6pm
I. Roll Call/Agenda
II. Old Business
A. Vote on Gen Judic Constitution (Catherine Day, Chief Justice)
Lindsey Boylan, College Government President: Thank you all for wearing such great costumes and coming early for the Senators Summit. I think our discussions will be very helpful moving forward this year on effective communication at house councils!
Catherine Day, Chief Justice: Are there any questions about the General Judiciary Constitution?
Motion to approve amendments to the General Judiciary Constitution carries.
Catherine Day, Chief Justice: Are there any questions about the General Judiciary Constitution?
Motion to approve amendments to the General Judiciary Constitution carries.
B. Lectures Funding Vote (Cortni Jones, Student Bursar)
Lindsey Boylan, College Government President: Next, will the student bursar approach the podium?
Cortni Jones, Student Bursar: So you voted last week on the Lectures Funding Process.
Motion to approve the lectures funding process carries.
Cortni Jones, Student Bursar: If any one had questions or if there was any dissent amongst the masses get in touch with me.
Cortni Jones, Student Bursar: So you voted last week on the Lectures Funding Process.
Motion to approve the lectures funding process carries.
Cortni Jones, Student Bursar: If any one had questions or if there was any dissent amongst the masses get in touch with me.
C. Constituted Organizations Vote (Michel Ballard, CGVP)
Lindsey Boylan, CGP: Will the SOAC chair approach the podium?
Michel Ballard, CGVP: So I am here to have a vote on the new organizations.
Megan Aebi, Freeman Senator: A lot of my constituents wanted to know about the process before it started.
Michel Ballard, CGVP: I encourage anyone who has questions to email me. My plan for next semester is to make sure that this process is much clearer. This is an issue that has occurred for the past five years on this committee.
Samira Vachani, Pomeroy: One of my constituents was concerned about knowing more about the applications being approved.
Michel Ballard, CGVP: We are going through our constitution and I really want feedback to make this process better for everyone.
Michel Ballard, CGVP: So I am here to have a vote on the new organizations.
Megan Aebi, Freeman Senator: A lot of my constituents wanted to know about the process before it started.
Michel Ballard, CGVP: I encourage anyone who has questions to email me. My plan for next semester is to make sure that this process is much clearer. This is an issue that has occurred for the past five years on this committee.
Samira Vachani, Pomeroy: One of my constituents was concerned about knowing more about the applications being approved.
Michel Ballard, CGVP: We are going through our constitution and I really want feedback to make this process better for everyone.
III. New Business
A. SOAC Update (Michel Ballard, CGVP)
Lindsey Boylan, College Government President: Next we have Michel Ballard for New Business.
Michel Ballard, CGVP: So we have finished our fall interviewing and you will be voting on the process we used to choose the people selected to be on these committees. Please check the conference for the list of people and the committees we chose them for, and vote for those in your constituencies.
Michel Ballard, CGVP: So we have finished our fall interviewing and you will be voting on the process we used to choose the people selected to be on these committees. Please check the conference for the list of people and the committees we chose them for, and vote for those in your constituencies.
B. SOFC Update (Cortni Jones, Student Bursar)
Lindsey Boylan, CGP: Next, will Cortni Jones, Student Bursar please approach the podium.
Cortni Jones, Student Bursar: We basically have set a timeline where we are going to make major improvements on the budgeting forms and the SOFC constitution. Each SOFC member is also a member of a smaller subcommittee. One subcommittee's work is almost done, the subcommittee on outside resources. They have created a simple fact sheet for all treasurers. Your SOFC Senators are putting in a lot of extra hours. Whenever we do have issues such as lectures funding and there is some dissent, ask that constituent why, because we are going through a complete reevaluation process. If anyone has any other concerns about the SOFC constitution please let me know.
Cortni Jones, Student Bursar: We basically have set a timeline where we are going to make major improvements on the budgeting forms and the SOFC constitution. Each SOFC member is also a member of a smaller subcommittee. One subcommittee's work is almost done, the subcommittee on outside resources. They have created a simple fact sheet for all treasurers. Your SOFC Senators are putting in a lot of extra hours. Whenever we do have issues such as lectures funding and there is some dissent, ask that constituent why, because we are going through a complete reevaluation process. If anyone has any other concerns about the SOFC constitution please let me know.
IV. Open Discussion
A. Dining Services Presentation (Barry Monahan)
Lindsey Boylan, CGP: Moving on to Open Discussion we have Barry Monahan who is Assistant Vice President for the Administration and has overseen the Dining Services for over 20 years.
Barry Monahan: Lindsey wanted me to tell you a little bit about myself. I was born in the town of Wellesley. My kids can't believe I'm living and working in the same to town I grew up in. I have learned over time that students are having issues in the town and one of the issues I work on is working between the students and the town. Quickly I am in charge of 14 departments and have 175 employees. I was hired in 1975, in 1974 I ran for Congress. I will do my best to answer any questions.
Melanie Carter, McAfee Senator: What was your title again?
Barry Monahan: Assistant VP of Administration.
Ashira Greene, Claflin Senator: What is your relationship to dining services and how can you help us help our constituents?
Barry Monahan: I oversee Dining Services and if you have questions or suggestions I am the person, or you can direct your questions to my director of Dining Services, Phil Harty.
Catherine Lee, College Republicans Senator: The Wellesley Inn has just been sold and I was wondering what our relationship with that is, and whether or not anything for students would be going in at that location?
Barry Monahan: We thought about buying the inn initially, but decided that it would be a poor investment for the college to make at this time; as far as we know, the realtor is putting in high end condominiums.
Deb Norris, Hillel Senator: I heard that in the Campus Center we will be getting a sandwich grill.
Barry Monahan: We want to be on target with what our customers wanted. Sandwiches appear to be the number one issue. How quickly we will change it depends - it is actually more difficult than it seems because of the configuration of the kitchen. Also we need to deliver to our customers and we want to give you what you want. It won't always be the way it is now.
Mea Lewis, CCBC Senator: I know there have been concerns about the different dining halls and I was wondering what you have heard and if you have made any changes about there not being enough food and overcrowding.
Barry Monahan: I know this was an issue, in Stone Davis especially. I don't think this is a real issue anymore. There is crowding though, especially in Stone Davis and I think this is because of the Wang being so far away. We believe that the system is working. I am in the dining halls at least once a week. We really need honest feedback. Our job is to make sure you are getting the service and quality of food that you want.
Shayla Adams, ETHOS Senator: My constituency would like to know if we can get more culturally relevant food in the dining halls- collard greens, corn bread etc. Second, the black community at Wellesley has been concerned about discrimination in the Ville. There have been documented instances of discrimination. Who can we talk to about getting our concerns heard by the greater community of Wellesley?
Barry Monahan: If we know that students want a certain kind of food then they should suggest it and we will do our best to provide it. Next on the issue of the black community or any other kind of community, we have seen this issue a few years ago with CVS in particular. After working with them, the issue cleared up and now CVS employs a more diverse group of people. If there are instances occurring now I should be notified. I would also say that, children and students in general do not always get a great reception to the stores in the Ville. If there are issues of concern, you should contact me and let me know. I am also in constant contact with the Dean of Students.
Shayla Adams, ETHOS Senator: Redirect - we would like to present to the board of selectmen, is there anyway we could do this?
Barry Monahan: Yes, please let me know and all they would want is the time frame and the subject.
Cortni Jones, Student Bursar: I have a question about how you run your staff. If we have specific questions we should report to the directors of various departments, but if we have general questions or concerns about your department we should contact you?
Barry Monahan: Yes that comes to me.
Clara Peterson, Bates Senator: I know students are concerned about food running out around 8-9 pm in the Campus Center.
Barry Monahan: I'm sorry that's happening. I will look into that.
Emily Pighetti, WASAC Senator: Bates also gets crowded. Also I don't think the College Club is accessible to students.
Barry Monahan: It's not really supposed to be open to students. It's more for alumna, staff and faculty. It has never been a place for students. The people there are a lot older.
Edlyn Yuen, Pomeroy Senator: Some students were wondering if food that is free in the dining hall could be free in the campus center, such as soda. Stone D. offers soda until 10pm but they don't want to walk all the way over there.
Barry Monahan: For those of you who were here last year for Schneider, we cannot provide the same kind of flexibility. The dining hall and campus center are not financially connected.
Paola Reyes, Munger Senator: Some of the students in Munger would like to have a cereal bar in Munger.
Barry Monahan: I will look in to that and get back to you.
Rebecca Kapler, OMHA Senator: Has there been any discussion on diet restrictions for religious reasons, especially for those students keeping kosher and who celebrate Ramadan? Since it's on a point system students are concerned that they will be wasting points. This has been addressed by Pomeroy, which has the kosher dining hall and by Multi-faith council.
Barry Monahan: I will go back and make sure that the people who are on the dining services advisory board are aware of this. That is a group of students that sit with the management team and give suggestions. We will get those names up and I really encourage you to contact them.
Lindsey Silver, Beebe Senator: We do have the list. I got it from Linda Davey.
Daria Axelrod, Clafin Senator: Some of the students were wondering why we have the point system. Is the purpose of the Campus Center to make money or to feed students? If it's to feed students, we would like to see the prices be lowered a little bit from what they are now.
Barry Monahan: Dining services went out to look and see that the prices were competitive but not higher than what you would find locally. The prices should be competitive or equal to local prices.
Ashira Greene, Claflin Senator: Are you privy to the information about the one size of the take away cups? If there are items that students would like in the campus center how would we go about suggesting that.
Barry Monahan: Definitely email Phil Harty. Let us know what you want. We are literally every day trying to figure out what you want.
Kellye Steindel, Shafer Senator: I know that the food reps have a lot of input into this. Talk to your food rep because they have a direct input.
Ashira Greene, Claflin Senator: And the cups??
Barry Monahan: I don't really know, I will find out. Thank you for having me. I would love to bring some of my staff next time. There is a structure already set up to give feedback. Ultimately what we need to do is to provide the food that you would enjoy.
Barry Monahan: Lindsey wanted me to tell you a little bit about myself. I was born in the town of Wellesley. My kids can't believe I'm living and working in the same to town I grew up in. I have learned over time that students are having issues in the town and one of the issues I work on is working between the students and the town. Quickly I am in charge of 14 departments and have 175 employees. I was hired in 1975, in 1974 I ran for Congress. I will do my best to answer any questions.
Melanie Carter, McAfee Senator: What was your title again?
Barry Monahan: Assistant VP of Administration.
Ashira Greene, Claflin Senator: What is your relationship to dining services and how can you help us help our constituents?
Barry Monahan: I oversee Dining Services and if you have questions or suggestions I am the person, or you can direct your questions to my director of Dining Services, Phil Harty.
Catherine Lee, College Republicans Senator: The Wellesley Inn has just been sold and I was wondering what our relationship with that is, and whether or not anything for students would be going in at that location?
Barry Monahan: We thought about buying the inn initially, but decided that it would be a poor investment for the college to make at this time; as far as we know, the realtor is putting in high end condominiums.
Deb Norris, Hillel Senator: I heard that in the Campus Center we will be getting a sandwich grill.
Barry Monahan: We want to be on target with what our customers wanted. Sandwiches appear to be the number one issue. How quickly we will change it depends - it is actually more difficult than it seems because of the configuration of the kitchen. Also we need to deliver to our customers and we want to give you what you want. It won't always be the way it is now.
Mea Lewis, CCBC Senator: I know there have been concerns about the different dining halls and I was wondering what you have heard and if you have made any changes about there not being enough food and overcrowding.
Barry Monahan: I know this was an issue, in Stone Davis especially. I don't think this is a real issue anymore. There is crowding though, especially in Stone Davis and I think this is because of the Wang being so far away. We believe that the system is working. I am in the dining halls at least once a week. We really need honest feedback. Our job is to make sure you are getting the service and quality of food that you want.
Shayla Adams, ETHOS Senator: My constituency would like to know if we can get more culturally relevant food in the dining halls- collard greens, corn bread etc. Second, the black community at Wellesley has been concerned about discrimination in the Ville. There have been documented instances of discrimination. Who can we talk to about getting our concerns heard by the greater community of Wellesley?
Barry Monahan: If we know that students want a certain kind of food then they should suggest it and we will do our best to provide it. Next on the issue of the black community or any other kind of community, we have seen this issue a few years ago with CVS in particular. After working with them, the issue cleared up and now CVS employs a more diverse group of people. If there are instances occurring now I should be notified. I would also say that, children and students in general do not always get a great reception to the stores in the Ville. If there are issues of concern, you should contact me and let me know. I am also in constant contact with the Dean of Students.
Shayla Adams, ETHOS Senator: Redirect - we would like to present to the board of selectmen, is there anyway we could do this?
Barry Monahan: Yes, please let me know and all they would want is the time frame and the subject.
Cortni Jones, Student Bursar: I have a question about how you run your staff. If we have specific questions we should report to the directors of various departments, but if we have general questions or concerns about your department we should contact you?
Barry Monahan: Yes that comes to me.
Clara Peterson, Bates Senator: I know students are concerned about food running out around 8-9 pm in the Campus Center.
Barry Monahan: I'm sorry that's happening. I will look into that.
Emily Pighetti, WASAC Senator: Bates also gets crowded. Also I don't think the College Club is accessible to students.
Barry Monahan: It's not really supposed to be open to students. It's more for alumna, staff and faculty. It has never been a place for students. The people there are a lot older.
Edlyn Yuen, Pomeroy Senator: Some students were wondering if food that is free in the dining hall could be free in the campus center, such as soda. Stone D. offers soda until 10pm but they don't want to walk all the way over there.
Barry Monahan: For those of you who were here last year for Schneider, we cannot provide the same kind of flexibility. The dining hall and campus center are not financially connected.
Paola Reyes, Munger Senator: Some of the students in Munger would like to have a cereal bar in Munger.
Barry Monahan: I will look in to that and get back to you.
Rebecca Kapler, OMHA Senator: Has there been any discussion on diet restrictions for religious reasons, especially for those students keeping kosher and who celebrate Ramadan? Since it's on a point system students are concerned that they will be wasting points. This has been addressed by Pomeroy, which has the kosher dining hall and by Multi-faith council.
Barry Monahan: I will go back and make sure that the people who are on the dining services advisory board are aware of this. That is a group of students that sit with the management team and give suggestions. We will get those names up and I really encourage you to contact them.
Lindsey Silver, Beebe Senator: We do have the list. I got it from Linda Davey.
Daria Axelrod, Clafin Senator: Some of the students were wondering why we have the point system. Is the purpose of the Campus Center to make money or to feed students? If it's to feed students, we would like to see the prices be lowered a little bit from what they are now.
Barry Monahan: Dining services went out to look and see that the prices were competitive but not higher than what you would find locally. The prices should be competitive or equal to local prices.
Ashira Greene, Claflin Senator: Are you privy to the information about the one size of the take away cups? If there are items that students would like in the campus center how would we go about suggesting that.
Barry Monahan: Definitely email Phil Harty. Let us know what you want. We are literally every day trying to figure out what you want.
Kellye Steindel, Shafer Senator: I know that the food reps have a lot of input into this. Talk to your food rep because they have a direct input.
Ashira Greene, Claflin Senator: And the cups??
Barry Monahan: I don't really know, I will find out. Thank you for having me. I would love to bring some of my staff next time. There is a structure already set up to give feedback. Ultimately what we need to do is to provide the food that you would enjoy.
V. Dean of Students' Corner
A. Deans Kim Goff-Crews and Michelle Lepore
Lindsey Boylan, CGP: Next up is Dean's Corner.
Kim Goff-Crew, Dean of Students: We had 130 alumnae for a special ALANA alumnae program this weekend. We also had prospective students come in yesterday, so we had a lot of people on campus. Tomorrow, as you know, is Tanner Conference. This year we received the largest number of applications to date. This year, there are about 195 presenters, 177 of which are students, with 92 faculty advisors. The Class of 2006 has the most presenters in Tanner this year. The book should be available, and you should have received them in your mailbox. If not, there will be extras at the conference. Also, we have a lot of great food at Tanner, especially the desserts! So come early and come often!
Michelle Lepore, Assistant Dean of Students: Our health and counseling review starts this Wednesday. There are great opportunities for students to give feedback. All student leaders have been invited to a special meeting. Also on Wednesday November 2, there is an open student meeting in the lobby of health services. The second half of the first year survey is out and they will get an email out in the next few weeks.
Emily Pighetti, WASAC Senator: Is there priority given based on class for tanner presentations?
Kim Goff-Crew, Dean of Students: I would think so, but I'll find out about it.
Corina Morris, Fusion Senator: Is there a way for other cultural orgs to get involved with ALANA?
Kim Goff-Crew, Dean of Students: Get in contact with the Dean of Admissions.
Lindsey Boylan, CGP: moving on to beyond the bubble with Sophie Kim
Kim Goff-Crew, Dean of Students: We had 130 alumnae for a special ALANA alumnae program this weekend. We also had prospective students come in yesterday, so we had a lot of people on campus. Tomorrow, as you know, is Tanner Conference. This year we received the largest number of applications to date. This year, there are about 195 presenters, 177 of which are students, with 92 faculty advisors. The Class of 2006 has the most presenters in Tanner this year. The book should be available, and you should have received them in your mailbox. If not, there will be extras at the conference. Also, we have a lot of great food at Tanner, especially the desserts! So come early and come often!
Michelle Lepore, Assistant Dean of Students: Our health and counseling review starts this Wednesday. There are great opportunities for students to give feedback. All student leaders have been invited to a special meeting. Also on Wednesday November 2, there is an open student meeting in the lobby of health services. The second half of the first year survey is out and they will get an email out in the next few weeks.
Emily Pighetti, WASAC Senator: Is there priority given based on class for tanner presentations?
Kim Goff-Crew, Dean of Students: I would think so, but I'll find out about it.
Corina Morris, Fusion Senator: Is there a way for other cultural orgs to get involved with ALANA?
Kim Goff-Crew, Dean of Students: Get in contact with the Dean of Admissions.
Lindsey Boylan, CGP: moving on to beyond the bubble with Sophie Kim
VI. Beyond the Bubble (Sophie Kim, CPLA Chair)
A. Bush Selects Alito for Supreme Court
President Bush today (10/31/05) named appeals court Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. to the U.S. Supreme Court. Alito, 55, serves on the Philadelphia-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; if confirmed by the Senate, he would replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's seat. Alito's nomination comes four days after White House Counsel Harriet Miers withdrew her nomination.
B. Thousands Gather to Pay Respects to Parks
The memorial service paying tribute to Rosa Parks, the woman who changed a nation when she refused to move to the back of a bus in 1955 Alabama, got underway Monday at a Washington church with hymns and tributes to the civil rights pioneer. Rosa Parks is the first woman ever to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda. Tributes to the civil rights pioneer will continue through Wednesday. Parks died Oct. 24 at 92. Days later, Congress approved resolutions allowing her body to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda.
Only 30 people have lain in honor there since 1852. Parks was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996, and the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor, three years later.
Only 30 people have lain in honor there since 1852. Parks was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996, and the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor, three years later.
C. Chavez calls for ban on Halloween
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has urged families not to mark Halloween, calling it a US custom alien to the South American nation. Chavez said Halloween was part of the US culture of "putting fear into other nations, putting fear into their own people". He also said Halloween was a "game of terror", the AP news agency reported. Chavez is known as a fierce critic of the US government and President George W. Bush personally.
D. Pakistan pledges quake aid, defends relief effort
Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf pledged Monday to deliver 500,000 tents to quake survivors by the end of November as he defended the government's response in aiding millions of victims.
Declaring that relief efforts are "proceeding quite satisfactorily," Musharraf blasted critics who have slammed the military for not moving quickly enough in the wake of the Oct. 8 quake that killed nearly 80,000 people.
Declaring that relief efforts are "proceeding quite satisfactorily," Musharraf blasted critics who have slammed the military for not moving quickly enough in the wake of the Oct. 8 quake that killed nearly 80,000 people.
E. Handsome Men Have Edge in Election Wins: Study
Handsome men have a 56% chance of winning an election while their less good looking counterparts only have a 44% of winning according to a study conducted by an economics professor at the University of Texas. The study is available on the National Bureau of Economics Research website.
F. Prince Charles and Camilla to visit the United States
Prince Charles will travel to the United States on Tuesday for his first official tour of the country since 1994, although he has made a number of private visits since then. He last visited the United States on June 11, 2004, for the funeral of former President Ronald Reagan.
During the tour, Charles and Camilla will inaugurate a new memorial garden in New York for the British victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center. They will also travel to Washington for their lunch and dinner with President Bush and Mrs. Bush. (In the five years since he has been in office, the President has only hosted five state dinners. Bill Clinton hosted 30 in eight years, Bush, Sr. gave 29 in only four.) During the final leg of the tour, Charles and Camilla will meet homeless people in San Francisco.
During the tour, Charles and Camilla will inaugurate a new memorial garden in New York for the British victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center. They will also travel to Washington for their lunch and dinner with President Bush and Mrs. Bush. (In the five years since he has been in office, the President has only hosted five state dinners. Bill Clinton hosted 30 in eight years, Bush, Sr. gave 29 in only four.) During the final leg of the tour, Charles and Camilla will meet homeless people in San Francisco.
G. On this day: October 31
1984: Indian prime minister shot dead
Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India, is assassinated in New Delhi. Indira Gandhi was India's first female prime minister. Indira Gandhi was voted the greatest woman of the past 1,000 years in a poll by BBC News Online in 1999. The only child of India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi was herself elected prime minister in 1966. She served four terms, three of which were consecutive.
1864: The U.S. Congress admits Nevada as the 36th state
On this day in 1864, anxious to have support of the Republican-dominated Nevada Territory for President Abraham Lincoln's reelection, the U.S. Congress quickly admits Nevada as the 36th state in the Union.
Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India, is assassinated in New Delhi. Indira Gandhi was India's first female prime minister. Indira Gandhi was voted the greatest woman of the past 1,000 years in a poll by BBC News Online in 1999. The only child of India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi was herself elected prime minister in 1966. She served four terms, three of which were consecutive.
1864: The U.S. Congress admits Nevada as the 36th state
On this day in 1864, anxious to have support of the Republican-dominated Nevada Territory for President Abraham Lincoln's reelection, the U.S. Congress quickly admits Nevada as the 36th state in the Union.
VII. Cabinet Announcements
VIII. Adjourn
