7:00 p.m. | Attendance

7:03 p.m. | Mike Faba ‘10 and Sam Black ‘12, Captains of Vassar Emergency Medical Services (EMS), begin their presentation on EMS calls last night for the 2009 Halloween Party. According to Faba, there were 9 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) on call last night. While last year there were 12 EMS calls—11 of which were alcohol-related—this year there were 16 calls, 15 of which were intox-related, one of which was medical-related. “There was an increase of seven or six calls and we sent five more people to the hospital than we did last year,” says Faba.

According to Faba, there were four additional calls that were attended to by ambulances and not by EMTs, as all technicians were occupied with other patients.

Faba continues: “Last night saw the most EMS calls in one night of the history of EMS record-keeping, which goes back 8 years…This does not necessarily reflect a huge change in student behavior. We don’t know whether or not the increase in calls corresponds to an increase in drinking or of awareness of EMS on campus,” says Faba, explaining that the more students who trust and know about EMS, the more calls they are likely to get.

7:15 | Faba also explains that more calls came in for members of the Class of 2011, a trend that has continued since the class began its first year at Vassar.

Following Faba and Black’s presentation, the President expresses concern that the alternative programming planned this year was not as effective as hoped and that “next year the administration may be pushing even harder to get rid of the Halloween event.”

7:17 | Academics: “I wonder if we can work to change the culture of Halloween on campus.I think that’s the larger issue. Alternative programming is great, but it’s not really getting at the root of the issue.”

7:25 | Organization Report from ACT OUT. “The event was a huge success—I’ve heard positive feedback from everyone involved,” says ACT OUT President Leslie Hamilton ‘10 of the Oct. 11 National Equality March, to which 102 Vassar students attended.

7:30 | Committee Report from Committee on College Life (CCL). According to CCL Representative Nate Silver ‘10, CLL will be working this year on revisions to the student conduct guidelines and looking into alternative parking options.

7:40 | Executive Report from Activities: In the upcoming weeks there will be a “number of organizations up for certification,” explained Activities.

7: 50 | Activities moves to fine the Vassar Ultimate Frisbee Team. According to Activities, between 30 and 35 people were observed with open containers of beer playing frisbee on Ballentine Field before October Break. Last week, those at a meeting with the VSA Activities Committee, representatives from the Judicial Board and members of the Frisbee team discussed how best to move forward with disciplinary action. After the meeting, it was decided that the Frisbee Team would be fined $3,000. Earlier in October, the VSA Council approved supplemental budgeting, which included a $3,000 bonus for the team that was meant to enable them to go on a Spring Break trip to a conference. According to Activities, “that money was allocated based on a display of responsible behavior, and we believe that this was antithetical to that.” The fine would remove the money allocated to the team for the conference but would not affect the money allocated to them for their 2009-10 operating budget.

Frisbee Team representatives present, however, contend that the fine would affect events between now and the spring conference.

8:30 | Town Houses moves to amend the fine amount to $1500. Finance speaks against the amendment, saying that the Team can still apply for Special Purpose Funds later in the year, especially if players exhibit responsible behavior. Activities also explained that there are no grounds on which to fine the team $1500 and that the $3000 amount was chosen on the basis of this year’s supplemental budgeting.

8:44 | The motion to reset the fine amount to $1500 fails 21 to three. The motion to fine the Frisbee Team $3000 passes  23 to one. Motion to censure the Frisbee Team passes unanimously.