6:02 p.m | Attendance. The representative from the Terrace Apartments is not present. Strong and Town Students have sent proxies.

6:03 p.m. | Consent Agenda. The following items were approved:

6:05 p.m. | Executive Board reports:

Activities:

Finance: VP for Finance, Jason Rubin says the VSA is in good financial health. He says all fund level are looking strong. He discusses a new fund application rubric that the fiance committee has designed to guide applications from organizations for funding.

6:08 p.m. | Appointment of Jewett Vice President

The council unanimously approves Rachel Glorsky as Jewett VP. She will fill the position that was vacant before.

6:10 p.m. | The council unanimously approves the allocation of $5000 from Speakers, Lectures and Panels Fund to Vassar Democrats.

6:12 p.m. | The council approves the allocation of $5000 from the Discretionary fund to the Community fund.

6:13 p.m. | SoCos Representative Matt Wheeler ’12 proposes an amendment to the VSA Election Bylaws that would alter the time-frame in which candidates would campaign for elected positions. He hopes the change will establish limits on campaigning timeline so that candidates who decide to run early in the filing process will not gain an unfair advantage over those who file later.

Class of 2014 representative Michael Moore raises the issue of the language of the amendment. He says it implies that the current system dissuades candidates from running, and that the current system may actually draw in candidates. Wheeler responds by pointing that there are significant advantages for those that file early and campaign longer than others, and this may prevent some candidates from joining the race if they decide to file later than their potential competitors.

Seth Warner ’14, Co-chair of the Board of Elections, speaks in support of the current Elections bylaws. He says the current system has no glaring flaws, and were successfully designed last year. He says that the bylaws have led to a significant increase in the total number of candidates, and generally improved the student body’s involvement in the VSA. He says, “Nothing wrong has happened in the current election system.” He also asserts the current system has been in place for too short a period to be successfully judged.

6:29 p.m. | The council votes to extend the discussion of the amendment conversation by 10 minutes.

Wheeler responds to Warner’s argument. He says that the current system was an overhaul of another system that was in place for a short time.

Student Hannah Groch-Begley says that the current bylaws do not make sense because of unclear stipulations approving campaigning only after a Candidates’ meeting has taken place. She also says that the amendment would limit the number of visits candidates make to students’ rooms which can be distracting and annoying for students.

Warner, responds to their points by saying that precedent for frequent changes in Election bylaws does not justify continually altering the Elections bylaws. He says that if candidates are willing to campaign over a long period of time, they should be able to reap the benefits of their hard work. He asserts the VSA should not limit students’ freedom to campaign when they please.

Student Michael Mestitz ’12 echoes Wheeler’s concerns about the advantage that students who file their candidacies early.

Moore proposes a motion extending the conversation by five minutes.

6:40 p.m. | The motion does not pass. The amendment will go to the Operations committee, and will be voted on next week.

6:41 p.m. | Wheeler introduces a Resolution Regarding the LGBTQ Center. The resolution advocates the creation of a full-time position for the LGBTQ center.

6:43 p.m. | The council votes to endorse the resolution.

6:44 p.m. | VP for Student Life Charlie Dobb begins a Discussion about All-College Day. He says that he wants the event to be better connected to the passions of the student body.

2013 Representative Vincent Marchetta recommends the event include student art.

VP for Activities Mookie Thottam suggests that faculty voices should be incorporated into discussion about the day.

President Tanay Tatum adds that students often do not attend events concerning the community. She suggests that the student art, especially political art, would help draw students to participate in the day’s events.

Cushing representative Daniel Shaw ’14 discusses the time conflicts students face because classes overlap with All-college day programming. Dobb responds that the event occurs on Wednesday because classes end at 3 p.m. on that day.

2012 President Pamela Vogel advocates a student panel to attract more participants.

Jewett representative Clayton Masterman ’14 suggests the day could be moved to Friday so that more students could attend. Dobb responds that more students pass through the College Center on Wednesday and faculty are more likely to attend the event on Wednesday.

Dobb concludes by emphasizing the importance of a theme to tie the day’s event together.

6:57 p.m. | Open Discussion

Vogel announces that there are 104 days left until graduation

VP for Operations urges people to attend the Operations Committee  meeting this week to participate in further discussion about the elections Bylaws.

Warner announces Religion and Spiritual Life Day on Wednesday. The theme for this year will be Religion and Sexuality.

7:00 p.m. The council votes to conclude the meeting.

7:01| Attendance. All are present.

7:02| The consent agenda is approved.

1. $850 to Asian Students’ Alliance from the Council Discretionary Fund
2. $570 to The Limit from the Conference Fund
3. $500 to Class of 2013 from the Council Discretionary Fund

7:03| Executive Board Reports

President

President of the VSA Tanay Tatum informs Council that there will be a position of “Young Trustee” position which will instate a position for a younger graduate — “a few years out” — to have a seat on the Vassar Board of Trustees.

Tatum also reports that she has attended a conference for student-body leaders organized by the White House. Tatum said her job on the council it to “bring the concerns of Vassar students” into consideration in that Council’s deliberations.

VSA Vice President for Operations Jenna Konstantine ’13 informs the Council that the VSA-sponsored shuttle will run on Saturdays only.

“Tasty Tuesdays are back this week,” notes Konstantine, to Council-wide ovation.

Konstantine reports that the Strong and Jewett House junior representatives positions are now open. Applications for these positions will be due “a week from this Wednesday.”

7:13| Open Discussion 

There are a 118 days left for graduation, reports Class of 2012 President Pamela Vogel.

7:15| There is a motion to adjourn. It passes.

7:02| Attendance.

All members are present. Terrace Appartment President April Cha is absent.

7:04| Consent Agenda

The consent agenda is approved.

7:05| Joint Committee Updates

VSA Vice President for Operations Jenna Konstantine ’13 is about the give updates to Council on joint-governance committees at Vassar. Konstantine reports that the Student Technology Advisory Council (STAC) is discussing the College’s switch to Gmail from Zimbra as an email service provider.

Davison House President Doug Greer ’14 reports that the Committee on Academic Technologies is considering the use of  Chrome Books on campus. “I’m also working on the printers,” he says.

Class of 2015 President Benedict Nguyen, who sits on the  Vassar First Year Committee, says he is working on expanding the role of Safety and Security on campus, as well as the Vassar More than Meets the Eye program.

VSA Vice President for Academics informs Council is that the Committee on Curricular Policy is working on combining the subjective and the objective portion of the Course Evaluation Questionnaire.

The Committee on College Life is working on “consolidating all texts that have regulations in them,” reports VSA Vice President for Student Life Charlie Dobb ’12.

7:21| Class of 2012 Gift report

“The Class of 2012 is going to the Internship Grant Fund,” explains co-Chair of the gift Mitchell Gilburne ’12. Co-Chair Boyd Gardner ’12 says that this gift represents the collective wish of the Class of 2012 — who reported that their main priorities were academics, financial aid and career development, and “this represents a culmination of that.”

7:24| Dialogue on Student Government Structure Event Announcement

Konstantine says that Council plans to “move the Council restricting discussions to a really large, organic level.” She says that Council is planning conversation-dinner-style forum of “about 60 people” to talk about VSA governance, and reach out to several organizations and departments “to expand the scope as much as possible.”

“This is a way for us to solidify our efforts this semester and last year.” The goal, she reports, is to “have a real timeline” that all students can see for the restructuring.

7:28| Executive Board Reports

Activities

VSA Vice President for Activities Mookie Thottam ’12 says that he is working on the creation of a “Org Event Report,” which gives student organizations the opportunity to debrief their events “on a Google Doc.”

He adds that “the theater organizations have worked on a new event request system.” There will be a day when all the theater organizations will have “a summit to chart out all their events of the year.”

He reports that there is a possibility that the Vassar Activities for New Students (VANS) may not be held next year.

Finance

VSA Vice President for Finance Jason Rubin ’13 says that “the VSA is in good financial health.” All account levels have healthy balances. Several projects are coming up for the spring, including the acquisition of new speaker system.

7:37| Board of House Presidents (BHP) Update

Board of House Presidents co-Chairs Noyes House President Deb Steinberg ’14 anf Jewett House President Clayton Mastermann ’13 report that the BHP has two resolutions. Mastermann reports that one resolution effects the position of a “House Manager” position, who would serve “as a liaison for getting service requests done.”  Steinberg reports that BHP is working in “formalizing a process” through which noise complaints will be directed towards Safety and Security.

VSA President Tanay Tatum ’12 “commends BHP” for timely and relevant resolutions.

7:41| Declaration of Open Positions

Konstantine declares the position of the Strong House junior representative and the Class of 2012 vice president open.

7:42| Appointments

Town House President Alejandro Montoya ’12 is appointed to CAT.

Justin Chin’13 is appointed to the position of Class of 2013 treasurer.

Gloriana Alvarez ’13 is appointed to the position of Jewett House junior representative.

Hannah Bober ’13 is appointed to the position of Josselyn House junior representative.

7:46| Finance Threshold Bylaw

The Operations Committee “had some concerns about how this amendment will affect the timeline for applying to funds,” said Konstantine. Because of these concerns, there is a motion to table this amendment to the next meeting of the Operations Committee. It passes.

7:48| Open Discussion

“There are 161 days until graduation,” reports Class of 2012 President Pamela Vogel.

Montoya congratulated Vogel for “a very successful 99 Nights program.” “The champagne was lovely.”

7:51| There is a motion to adjourn. It passes.

Per an all-campus email from Dean of the College Christopher Roellke, a Vassar student was arrested by the Town of Poughkeepsie Police for “burglary and possession of a controlled substance” in the evening of Thursday, Dec. 1.   The student in question is still under arrest.

The full text of Roellke’s email is attached.

Read the rest of this entry »

Earlier today, Vassar President Catherine Bond Hill announced in an all-campus email that Marianne Begemann has agreed to become Vassar’s second Dean of Planning and Academic Affairs (DOPAA). Begemann’s decision to accept the position marks the end of a nine month long search [http://www.miscellanynews.com/2.1576/search-for-new-dopaa-continues-1.2621865#.Tte6B7Ik67s] which began when Rachel Kitzinger, Vassar’s current DOPAA, announced her retirement last February.

If approved by the Board of Trustees, Begemann, as DOPAA, will become responsible for the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Wimpfheimer Nursery School, the Athletics Department, the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, the Grants Office, the Office of Institutional Research, maintenance projects, the Faculty Housing Program, and several other long-term projects starting on January 1st, 2012.

The full text of President Hill’s email is attached below:

Dear Members of the Vassar Community,

It is my pleasure to announce that Marianne H. Begemann, Associate Professor of Chemistry, has accepted the position of Dean of Planning and Academic Affairs, effective January 1, 2012. As with all senior administrative positions at the college, this appointment is subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, which is expected at its December 6 Executive Committee meeting.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Vassar College, class of 1979, Marianne received her PhD in Physical Chemistry from UC Berkeley in 1984 and taught for a year at Mills College before joining Vassar’s faculty in 1985. She has been a dedicated and inspiring teacher, with a commitment to mentoring students in laboratory research. Her own research in environmental chemistry and laser spectroscopy has been supported through major grants from Research Corporation and the National Science Foundation.

Over the years since her appointment, Marianne has served as Director of the Undergraduate Research Summer Institute, Chair of Chemistry, member of the Independent Program and Environmental Studies Steering Committees, budget member of the Faculty Policy and Conference Committee, member of the Faculty Appointments and Salary Committee, and, since 2006, Chair of the Multidisciplinary Science Center Planning Committee. In this latter role, she has provided exceptional leadership in moving this crucial project forward.

Marianne began her current appointment as Associate Dean of the Faculty in 2007. She has overseen hiring of new non-tenure-track faculty, coordinated our postdoctoral fellowship programs, overseen the College Course program, and served as Dean of the Faculty office liaison for faculty development initiatives and an array of campus committees. She has counseled many faculty members informally, assisted with budget, grant and curricular development, and most recently supported a group of faculty in designing a new Multidisciplinary Learning and Living Community on Food.

Marianne’s keen intelligence, broad experience, diplomatic communication skills, and deep knowledge and love of Vassar will serve her well in her new role. She will oversee long-range planning, the Office of Admissions, the Office of Financial Aid, the College Libraries, the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, the Department of Athletics and Physical Education, College housing, classroom upgrades and faculty office arrangements, the Wimpfheimer Nursery School, and the Infant and Toddler Center. She will report directly to me and will work closely with all of the other members of the senior staff. We very much look forward to working together on behalf of the College.

As we welcome Marianne to this position, I would also ask that we thank Rachel Kitzinger for her 4 1/2 years of outstanding service as Vassar’s first Dean of Planning and Academic Affairs.  Rachel embodies the ideals of liberal education and the life of the mind, and I have valued her leadership, wisdom, and friendship enormously.  I am pleased that her contributions to our common mission will continue through teaching in the Department of Greek and Roman Studies.

I also want to thank the members of the search committee: Bob Brigham, Ken Livingston, Lisa Paravisini-Gebert, Cindy Schwarz, and Peter Stillman.  The success of this search is a reflection of their care, thoughtfulness and dedication to the highest standards of the college.

Catharine Bond Hill
President

7:09 | VSA Council is about to begin. Tonight, the Council will host a forum with Dean of Planning and Academic Affairs Rachel Kitzinger and Vice President for Finance and Administration Betsy Eismeier.

7:02 | Attendance.

7:04 | Forum Lecturer in Psychology and Faculty Chair of Community Works Nicholas de Leeuw: Community Works distributes a set budget to local charities. De Leeuw is hoping to garner greater student support for Community Works, especially by hosting dorm auctions. Community Works manages about $100k per year, according to de Leeuw. This year, Community Works has chosen 11 agencies from about 45 applications. According to de Leeuw, the committee has supported Dutchess County Outreach every year. They also tend to switch between giving funds to Battered Women’s Services and Grace Smith House.

7:15 | Executive Report from Activities: Vice President for Activities Mookie Thottam ’12 says that yesterday’s Meet Me in Poughkeepsie event was a success. He also says that the VSA may have a community day in the spring after being under budget for Meet Me in Poughkeepsie. Thottam also acknowledges that the event might have been bigger. This year, the VSA hoped to make the events more Poughkeepsie community oriented.

7:21 | Executive Report from Finance: The VSA has purchased a new speaker system.

“The capital loan system is almost operational,” says VSA Vice President for Finance Jason Rubin ’13.

7:25 | Forum with Dean of Planning and Academic Affairs Rachel Kitzinger and Vice President for Finance and Administration Betsy Eismeier: Kitzinger is updating the Council on the College’s $400 million capital campaign. Vassar has raised $287 million to date. The College hopes to raise $400 million by the end of 2013.

Part of the money raised will go towards the renovation and construction of science facilities, which will include a new bridge building, the renovation of New England Building and Sanders Physics, and the razing of Mudd Chemistry Building. The campaign also focuses on financial aid. “In order to increase financial aid, we really need to add to the endowment that is committed to aid,” says Kitzinger.

The campaign will also add to the College’s Annual Fund, which supports the operating costs of the College.

Eismeier adds that the campaign has been ongoing for several years, beginning in 2006, but it was delayed by the recession.

Main House President Jeremy Garza ’14 asks about Vassar’s portrayal of the College in its communications with alumnae/i and the public, specifically an emphasis on Vassar’s history as a women’s college and its queer community.

Kitzinger says that she disagrees with criticisms suggesting that these areas of Vassar have been left behind based on what she has seen while traveling with the Vassar Voices production.

Eismeier and Kitzinger are discussing financial aid. “What we’re assuming is as the economy improves, the demand for financial aid will stabilize and become controlled,” says Eismeier.

Kitzinger is describing the wide income distribution among Vassar students.

Students graduate with an average of $14,259 in loans, says Kitzinger. “I think we should be really proud of that fact,” she says. In addition to a need-blind, Kitzinger says that it is important to see admissions outreach to a wide variety of high schools and a policy of meeting full need that is reevaluated every year. She also notes that Directory of Financial Aid Michael Fraher is leaving at the end of the academic year.

8:12 | Kitzinger and Eismeier are discussing the process and progress on the science center. The facilities will be LEED certified.

VSA President Tanay Tatum ’12 is asking about the possibility of the bookstore space turning into a new student center.

“It seems that there are some real opportunities to do some things that meet a variety of needs,” says Eismeier. Eismeier says that the College will need to assess the multiple needs for space across campus, including a need for student space.

Kitzinger says that she has one more month in her position.

8:37 | Declaration of Open Positions: Jewett House Junior Representative, Class of 2013 Treasurer and Josselyn House Junior Representative are open for the spring semester.

8:42 | Open Discussion: Aashim Usgaonkar will serve as the next Editor in Chief of The Miscellany News.

7:00 | The Council meeting is about to begin. Tonight, the Council will discuss a new Campus Climate Campaign.

7:02 | Attendance.

7:03 | Vice President for Activities Mookie Thottam ’12 says that Meet Me in Poughkeepsie will be held on Saturday, Nov. 19.

7:07 | Vice President for Academics Kate Dolson ’13 announces plans for a new multidisciplinary space on campus. She is also discussing her work on the Library Committee.

7:10 | Vice President for Student Life Charlie Dobb ’12 is discussing the work of the Student Life Committee. This week Associate Dean and Director of Equal Opportunity Belinda Guthrie will be coming in to discuss the adoption of new Title IX measures. The College has recently adopted new measures on sexual misconduct. Next week Director of Facility Operations and Grounds Kiki Williams will be coming to talk to the committee. Student Life Committee Meetings are open and held on Thursdays at 1:45 p.m. in College Center 204.

The Alcohol Task Force will hold focus groups in the beginning of December. They will ask the question: “Why is the Vassar effect more significant than other campuses?” Dobb suggests that more students come into Vassar as non-drinkers but who then become drinkers and “problem drinkers.” Dobb says that students will be asked to chart their drinking habits over a two week period.

Dobb says that he is hoping for the Campus Dining Review Committee (CDRC) to turn its research over to Aramark and for Aramark to send back an action plan to address that research. “I don’t know enough about campus dining to know how to fix it,” says Dobb. Concepts that come from this back and forth process will then be tried in campus dining.

7:30 | This weekend Vice President for Operations Jenna Konstantine ’13 attended the Seven Sisters Conference at Mt. Holyoke College with several other members of the VSA Council. About 50 representatives from the Seven Sisters colleges attended. The Seven Sisters colleges include Smith, Wellesley, Barnard, Mt. Holyoke, Bryn Mawr and Vassar Colleges. Radcliffe College was subsumed into Harvard University.

Konstantine notes that the reaction to bringing men to the conference was very interesting and provoked many questions and conversations. “I think we need to think about how we engage the Seven Sisters and how we think about the history of women’s education,” says Konstantine.

The theme of the conference was activism, which Konstantine notes is a gender-neutral topic. Those who attended the conference are discussing how other colleges are facing similar issues as Vassar is.

7:40 | The Council has unanimously passed a Bylaw amendment that will allow the Conference Fund to be applied to competitions.

7:41 | Discussion of Campus Climate: VSA President Tanay Tatum ’12 is hoping to create a multifaceted and multimedia campaign to address recent incidents on campus, including a campus pledge for students to sign.

Class of 2015 President Benedict Nguyen is discussing the a recent Freshman Forum about the Vassar community.

Class of 2014 President Michael Moore urges the Council to act quickly and suggests that they find a message or slogan for the community to rally behind. Lathrop House recently instituted a “Not in My House” campaign.

“I think people are now looking for a VSA response,” says Davison House President Doug Greer ’14. “I think face-to-face is the only way that this is going to happen.”

The Council is discussing the possibility of having a door-to-door campaign and other options for a campaign.

Class of 2013 Vincent Marchetta feels that the conversations that have happened after biased incidents have revealed another bias by attempting to identify a kind of student that would be the perpetrator, particularly white, male athletes. “These are biases that as a result of these incidences made me uncomfortable,” he says. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think we know the types of people that commit these incidents.”

Raymond House President Sam Brucker asks what kind of things students would be asked to do as a result of a pledge, noting that pledges such as those instituted by the Vassar Greens that request specific actions.

Tatum says that she would like to get together a working group to bring about the campaign.

8:20 | Open Discussion: There will be a teach-in on sexism and Vassar on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Sanders Classroom 212.

8:21 | Council has adjourned.

7:02 | The Vassar Student Association (VSA) Council meeting is about to begin.

7: 03 | Attendance.

7:05 | Forum with EMS Captain Sam Black ’12: This year for Halloween EMS saw 11 intoxicated students and sent two to the hospital. This represents fewer calls and hospitalizations than last year. However Black says, “If Arlington would’ve been running our students to the hospital that night, I think we would have sent more.” Because of the weather, Black says, the lower statistics may not be entirely accurate.

In the last four years, Black says that EMS has been sending more students to the hospital—a 200 percent increase over the last four years. According to Black, EMS responds to calls for intoxication, medical needs, and trauma.

“I don’t know if binge drinking is necessarily up, but from our numbers it looks like it might be,” says Black.

Black is also looking at numbers before and after Baldwin Health Center ended its 24-hour service. Black also adds that the VSA’s efforts to reduce the emphasis on drinking on Halloween has been successful and thinks it should extend to the rest of the year.

Black says that weekends with large all-campus events tend to cause spikes in calls, but he has noticed that EMS has had weekends with many calls despite no large all-campus events.

Black says that there were nine crew members on duty for Halloween this year. Last year, there were 12.

EMS does not collect data based on class years, but based on age. The Office of Health Education collects data based on class years. Director of Health Education Renee Pabst is also here and says that the increase in calls this year was spread evenly among class years.

7:32 | Forum on Sexual Assault Violence Prevention (SAVP) with Pabst:

Pabst says that the College is looking to fill a Sexual Assault Violence Prevention Coordinator.  “We are working with Human Resources to solidify the job description. Our goal still is by sometime beginning or middle of next semester to have that position hired,” says Pabst.

“For those of you who haven’t seen the Break the Silence website, I think it could be very educational for you,” adds Pabst.

Pabst notes that though reports of sexual assault are up this year, that does not mean that the occurrence of sexual assault is necessarily on the rise. Similarly, when the SAVP Coordinator position ended two years ago, reports of sexual assault plummeted, says Pabst.

Pabst says that her office is also working with Associate Dean and Director of Equal Opportunity Belinda Guthrie on being fully in compliance with Title IX legislation. In two weeks, Vassar will be hosting a meeting with other colleges on Title IX. According to Pabst, Vassar is ahead in the area of Title IX.

Pabst says that just as the College worries about incidents of intoxication during large parties, it is also concerned about spikes in sexual assault.

Though it seems counter-intuitive, “We want to see the numbers go up because we know it’s happening,” says Pabst because anonymous surveys indicate that sexual assault occurs more than it is reported. Pabst would like to see the two sets of data line up and then to see the numbers decline overall.

Pabst also decries the number of lights that are out around campus.

“One of the difficulties I think is when you take a full time position, or what should be a full time position, and put it on another position…it’s just not enough,” says Pabst. She notes that this makes it difficult to publicize SAVP services. “At Vassar we refer to people and not offices … That’s why having a separate person identified with it is going to help that.”

Pabst is discussing Title IX. “It’s any gender-based discrimination,” she says. “We are seeing male survivors coming forward, and I’m so happy about that because we know they’re out there.”

Pabst says that the campus counseling service is free and confidential. She is discussing other on and off-campus resources.

Pabst is addressing concerns about the legitimacy anonymous forums, like Break the Silence. She says that false reporting does not happen often and that it would take a lot of effort for someone to make up a story, especially because perpetrators are never called out by name on the site.

8:15 | Executive Report from VSA President Tanay Tatum ’12: The More than Meets the Eye Committee on institutional memory, specific events regarding student identity, recently met with the Freshman Orientation Committee. Tatum says that the VSA will coordinate an event based on this history during Orientation Week.

8:22 | Fund Application from Vassar International Students Association (VISA): VISA is hoping for more than the $2500 it was allocated last week to help cover the costs of its Kaleidoscope event. A motion to increase the allocation to $3500 fails.

Tatum moves to increase the allocation to $3000.  The Council splits its vote, and Tatum, who only votes in case of a tie, votes in the affirmative passing this motion.

Council moves to allocate $3000 to VISA.

9:01 | Executive Report from VP for Operations Jenna Konstantine ’13: There will be a new online library for VSA documents.

Konstantine hopes to host student dinners to discuss VSA restructuring.

9:05 | The Council votes to have a five minute recess.

9:12 | Campus Dining Review Committee Update with VP for Student Life Charlie Dobb ’12: The CDRC is winding down its operations.

9:17 | Resolution Supporting Multidisciplinary Programs with VP for Academics Kate Dolson ’12: Dolson explains that multidisciplinary programs have suffered because of the recent economic crisis, and that upcoming renovations on the New England building, which houses these programs, will hurt them more. The Council moves to adopt this resolution.

9:26 | Resolution Encouraging Conduct Reform with VP for Student Life Charlie Dobb ’12: This resolution was prepared in response last week’s announcement that housing relocation is a logical consequence for hosting an unregistered party. Dobb believes that the relocation policy runs contrary to Residential Life’s stated goals, and hopes that this resolution reflects that belief.

Noyes President Deb Steinberg ’14 fears that the policy was miscomunicated, and that the Council should learn more before adopting the resolution.

The Council unanimously moves to adopt the resolution.

9:47 | Amendment regarding Conference Fund with 2013 President Vincent Marchetta ’13: This amendment will make it easier for organizations to attend competitive conferences. Thottam reminds the council that some funding applications do not line up with VSA bylaws neatly. The amendment is tabled to the Operations Committee.

9:53 | Open Discussion

2014 President Michael Moore ’14 expresses his concern that the earlier discussion with VISA was problematic because several key questions regarding past and projected ticket sales could not be answered. Tatum thinks that the VSA is exercising too much creative control, and hopes that the VSA Council will behave less like an interrogator in the future.

Marchetta reminds Council that the Letter to Senator Saland has not been sent to Mr. Saland’s office yet.

Thottam announces a new Meet Me in Poughkeepsie website.

Davison President Doug Greer ’14 hopes that the VSA will promote his plans to increase discriminatory education on campus.

Lathrop President Dallas Robinson ’14 and Main President Jeremy Garza ’14 tell Council that each of their houses have suffered from incidents of discrimination.

10:20 | Council adjourns.