7:02| All Council members are present.

7:04| The Consent Agenda is approved.

7:05| Forum with Associate Director of Safety & Security Kim Squillace as well as Rich Horowitz

“It’s been quite a year,” says Squillace. She reports that a student was arrested was arrested for second-degree burglary and seventh-degree possession; “we have also seen several drugs like ecstasy and heroin.” Hospitalization are also increased this year, she says, adding “we almost lost a few students this year.”

VSA Vice President for Finance Jason Rubin ’13 asks about issue with discrimination. Squillace says that there is a large stress on diversity in her office, and that issues of discrimination have been muddled by word of mouth. “This hurts our officers, and that hurts us,” she says. “I believe that sometimes people don’t handle things correctly, but we continue to do a lot of training.” “We do not tolerate any ‘ism,’” she asserts.

Class of 2014 President Michael Moore asks Squillace how her office shares information with the larger student body. Squillac says that her office is working on ways to reach out to the student body, and “setting up systems through which students can read published material about situations and how they were resolved.”

Jewett House President Clayton Masterman ’13 asks whether the arrest made earlier this week involved the individual responsible for previous thefts. ”We have reason to believe that person stole more than one laptop,” she says.

Alex Koren ’13 reports that in his dorm, freshmen called Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and while they were not persecuted for having alcohol, it was confiscated. “Doesn’t this stop students from calling EMS?” asks Koren.  ”Well, when there is alcohol in the room, we cannot just leave it there,” she says. “To safeguard the students, we are going to take it away. If it’s a party, we are going to ask to look around for it.”

Dobb asks Squillace what Safety and Security officers “know what they can and cannot search.” “The officers have manuals, and have to read College Regulations,” Squillace says. If there is evidence of the violation of College Regulations, Squillace says, officers are allowed to enter the room.

Joseph Rearick ’14 asks Squillace is there is a way by which officers record their interaction with students, and how much of a role that plays in the evaluation of future action. She says that “officers are instructed to write down as much as possible to create a feel of the environment.”

Davison House Presidnet Doug Greer ’14 asks “Where exactly are officers allowed to look in the room?”

“Refrigerators, closets, under the bed, and inside the different rooms in a suite,” she reports. “They shouldn’t be searching personal spaces like dresser or desk drawers in general, though.”

President of the South Commons Matthew Wheeler ’12 asks what the line between objective and subjective action by officers in terms of “disruptive conduct” penalty. “Anything that’s disruptive falls under that regulation,” says Horowitz. “It’s meant to be a catch-all for dangerous and disrespectful behavior.”

Squillace and Horowitz refer to page 92 of the Student Handbook as a reference for Safety and Security’s right to search areas of a student’s room.

Class of 2015 President Benedict Nguyen says he plans to “be in touch with [Safety and Security] to create include information about student conduct procedures” in freshman orientation.

Class of 2013 Vince Marchetta asks how often “there are changes made to Security’s changes,” and how they are communicated to the student body. “Most changes do not affect students, and all changes are designed to better execute our jobs.” Some changes — like the use of plainclothes officers — are designed “when you guys are threatened.” “It’s in the regulations, so it wasn’t a new change.”

VSA Vice President for Operations Jenna Konstantine’13 asks what happens when “protocol is not followed.” “What is the next step?” Squillace says that such a situation needs to be brought to her attention immediately. “If you don’t have satisfaction from your interaction, please come and speak with us.”

Moore asks whether Safety and Security is directed by Residential Life. “We do not take directives from Res Life,” she says, “but I have a good relationship with Res Life.”

A member of the audience asked whether there is any reason “for Security officers to think they need to act differently this year than they did in previous years.” Squillace says that “the only thing I can think of is that there were some changes in the College Regulations, and some of our newer hires were not well versed with them.”

Lathrop House President Dallas Robinson ’14 asks if students who point out suspicious behavior are thanked and commended. “They deserve to be commended,” she says, adding that her office thinks acknowledgment and gratitude is due to students who call in about things that make them feel uncomfortable.

Dobb thanks Squillace and Horowitz for coming in to speak to Council.

8:04| Executive Board Reports

Academics

VSA Vice President for Academics Kate Dolson ’13 reports that it has come to her attention that, with natural science classes, it is unclear on the Course Catalogue whether the course involves working with lab animals. She is working on getting notification about such activity “so that students can see it easily and not have that awkward conversation” with the course instructor.

She also says that the schedule of classes is such that several students have “four-day weeks,” and she wanted Council’s opinions on the structure of the school week. “There is a feeling that it promotes skipping class on Thursday and going out then as well,” she notes.  ”I’m looking if there any merit behind extending the number of days that have classes.”

Student Life

Dobb says that “Student Life has been busy,” he says.

Mastermann, a member of the Campus Dining Review Committee (CDRC), says that the CDRC is “looking at implementing some concepts at the [All Campus Dining Center] that will improve dining,” such as increasing the “busy hours” at the dinning hall and increasing “self-serve” options.

Dobb adds that the Campus Life Resource Group (CLRG) is “trying to iron out the All College Day theme,” and it is “disappointed  that the CLRG is not being used a place” to house dialogues about campus climate.

President of the Town Houses and Chair of the Alcohol Task Force Alejandro Montoya reports that the Task Force will “host focus groups next semester.”

Dolson says that if a student is interested in joining the CLRG, he or she should contact Associate Dean of the College Edward Pitmann.

The review of Dean of the College Chris Roellke’s review, which will “be in full swing next week.”

8:33| For Adoption: Amendment to the Constitution, Article XII

The amendment is adopted unanimously, and there is now a week-long comment period.

8:35| First Reading: Amendment to Bylaws, Article IV, Section 9

The amendment sets up a threshold of $5,000, beyond which student organization will have to seek special permission of the VSA Finance Committee. “The amendment is in response to recent debt issues orgs have faced,” says Rubin. The amendment is tabled for consideration by the VSA Operations Committee.

8:29| Open Discussion

Class of 2012 President Pam Vogel reports that “there are 168 days left until graduation.”

Marchetta says that the “class presidents will be meeting regularly when our schedules allows it.” “We are going to be looking critically at class councils to make some decisions and potential suggestions to improve the presence of class councils in the VSA’s governing documents.”

There is a motion to adjourn. It passes.

7:05 | Forum with Director of Safety and Security Don Marsala: “You probably heard that we caught the suspects in the series of incidents,” says Marsala.

Marsala says that the suspect was caught as a result of two calls from students. Right now the suspect is sitting in jail on a different arrest warrant and will actually have to get out before the College is able to arrest him on the crimes committed at Vassar.

Safety and Security officers are required by the state to have an eight-hour class every year, which Marsala and Kim Squillace teach to make it more Vassar-specific.

7:08 | Josselyn House President Dan Flynn ’13 asks about the ability of Safety and Security to handle large crowds, specifically referencing the unruly crowd at this semester’s Shiva Rave.

“We discourage large crowds just for that reason,” says Marsala. According to Marsala, there are times when security is not able to handle the crowds because it becomes larger than expected.

“I think in planning our events, we need to be very cognizant of our talks with Fire Watch,” adds President of the Class of 2011 Moe Byrne ’11.

“If things get out of hand, we call the police,” says Marsala. “If it looks like it’s going to be a larger-than-normal group we might call outside contracts, but we haven’t had to do that in a number of years.”

7:13 | Marsala describes the two different kinds of e-mails that get sent from Safety and Security. Campus Advisory for somewhat less serious issues that students should be aware of, such as a string of thefts.

Campus Alerts are for “when there’s an immediate danger,” such as a sexual assault or someone “lurking” around the buildings. Marsala adds that he has not been able to send out an official e-mail about the arrest of sexual assault suspect because, while he is personally certain he is the perpetrator, he cannot be officially sure until they question the individual.

7:18 | “I think we had three go to the hospital this weekend,” says in response to a question about whether incidents of hospitalizations from intoxication have declined. “I think [Shuttle Driver] Rodney Young found two just driving around.”

Marsala does say that this represents a leveling out of incidents, but it still isn’t great.

7:21 | Marsala is describing incidents in the past several years. Since a series of thefts and other incidents, Marsala says he has asked Town of Poughkeepsie police officers to patrol the campus from time to time and has posted officers in the evenings at North Gate and Main Gate.

“It hasn’t affected the coverage [of dorms] at all,” says Marsala.

7:24 | President of Lathrop Samantha Garcia ’13 asks how officers respond to an incident like the recent assault given that it happened in a residence house rather than outside or on the periphery of campus. Marsala says that students need to help by not allowing “piggy-backing,” which allows strangers to get into a dorm after a student swipes in. However, if a student notices a suspicious person or stranger, Marsala says that they should call Safety and Security to investigate rather than address the situation themselves.

Garcia also voices a concern that Vassar College Entertainment (ViCE) staff had to take on a crowd-control role during the Shiva Rave. Marsala says that security thoroughly debriefed after the Shiva Rave to prepare for the future.

7:33 | “I just hope that strangers on campus aren’t immediately treated as criminals,” says South Commons President Brian Kim ’11.

Marsala says that is not the case at all. “That does not happen.”

7:35 | Byrne asks if there might be an increase in the number of parties allowed to be registered in each block of senior housing. Currently, students are allowed to register two parties in each group of housing: Terrace Apartments and Town Houses.

Marsala says that this has been a recurring problem. In the past the limit was five parties, and he says that this led to an overwhelming crowd scene each weekend.

7:39 | Vice President for Activities Tanay Tatum ’12 asks that Marsala includes crowd control in the next round of security training.

7:40 | “We have 24 full time officers, we used to have 27,” says Marsala. “We have 4 Sergeants; we used to have 3, so a little bit of a trade-off there.”  He says that this is a lot for a College of Vassar’s size.

“We have three cars rolling at all times, including a supervisor,” says Marsala.

“The biggest problem that most colleges have is retaining security officers,” says Marsala. “We don’t have that problem for some reason.”

“They have all different levels of experience,” says Marsala in response to a question about the required experience for Vassar’s security officers. “But once they have they have their New York State security license, they are allowed to come on.”

7:49 | Certification of HYPE: HYPE is a dance troupe that also teaches dance and uses dance in community outreach, says Tatum. According to HYPE’s members, the organization is a place for students who love to dance but may not have been able to get into FlyPeople or Vassar Repertory Dance Theater (VRDT). The organization is more about learning rather than performing. VSA President Mat Leonard ’11 moves to certify HYPE. The motion passes unanimously.

8:01 | Executive Report from Student Life: Vice President for Student Life Samin Shehab ’11 says that the Student Life Committee has submitted a draft of a Relationship Abuse charge to several administrators and is waiting for feedback.”We’ll have a busy next semester,” adds Shehab.

8:04 | Executive Report from Academics: Vice President for Academics Laura Riker ’11 says that she has been thinking about working on more communication between majors committees and Committee on Curricular Policy representatives.

8:06 | Course Repeat Policy Memorandum: Riker has introduced a memorandum endorsing a course repeat policy that would allow students to retake a course in their first three semesters in which they receive a D or lower. CCP passed this policy last month, and after the endorsement the faculty will have to vote on the policy before it becomes official.

8:10 | Open Discussion

8:11 | Vice President for Finance Travis Edwards is discussing the financing of a Sesquicentennial party at the beginning of next semester. The party will cost $10,000, and in order to finance it, Edwards says that the Council needs to vote to transfer the money from the Discretionary Fund into a special fund set up for the event. “All of this money is very much going into the production value of the event,” says Edwards.

There is no bylaw that specifically addresses how to transfer money between the VSA’s internal funds, which Edwards implies might be something the Council should address.

“As of right now, all of the DJs are going to be Vassar alumni,” says Tatum. “It’s going to be a really really big event.”

The motion to allocate $10,000 to the Sesqui Fund passes.

8:17 | Vice President for Operations Ruby Cramer ’12 is discussing “The Birthday Party” that the College is hosting on February 3, 2011. “We’re asking students to contribute their own baked creations to this event,” says Cramer. The cakes will be a part of a student cake competition.

8:29 | “I want to thank everyone for a wonderful semester,” says Leonard.

8:32 | Council is adjourned.

“A student reported a suspicious individual to the [Campus Response Center], and we found him after a brief chase,” said Marsala. Safety and Security then reported the individual to the Poughkeepsie Police Department (PPD), who arrived on campus and arrested him. The PPD, said Marsala, already had an “outstanding warrant” on the individual and is currently questioning him.

Be sure to check The Miscellany News for constant coverage on this topic.

The stolen items include electronic products such as iPods, laptops and an Xbox. The thefts are being investigated by The Town Police and Vassar College Security.

Below is Squillace’s complete letter, which contains a detailed report of the thefts:

The strengthened security enforcements were added as a result of “several reports of students being approached in a threatening manner by unknown individuals” before October Break.

To read Roellke and Marsala’s e-mail in full, click “Read the rest of this entry” below.

November 9, 2009

To the Vassar Community:

As we wrote earlier, prior to October break Vassar’s Office of Security received several reports of students being approached in a threatening manner by unknown individuals. Investigation of these incidents led to an arrest and the identification of others for questioning.

In the meantime, we wanted to let you know that several additional security measures have been taken. Vassar College Security has added walking patrols in the Quad, the North Lot/Pine Path areas and on the Townhouse Path.  The officers assigned to these posts all wear new reflective vests that clearly identify them as security officers. Our bicycle unit is also doing more patrols throughout the campus.

At our request, the Town of Poughkeepsie Police has added Vassar to both their vehicle and bicycle unit patrols.  We thank local law enforcement for all of their assistance in keeping our campus safe.

We’ve learned that many more students are requesting walking escorts at night from the student led Campus Patrol (845-437-7232).  Please continue to take advantage of this important service, as well as of the on-campus shuttle vans driven by Vassar security officers. Shuttle information can be found by dialing 845-437-6700 on campus, or by calling the college switchboard 845-437 7000 and saying “Shuttle” when prompted.

Finally, at the Office of Security’s request our Buildings and Grounds staff has been trimming overgrown foliage that blocked streetlights and walkway areas. B&G is also vigilant about replacing burned out bulbs that would be lighting the campus. Should you see an outdoor bulb that needs replacing, or identify additional safety related maintenance issues that need attention, please call the Campus Response Center non-emergency number (845 437 5221), or 9:00am-5:00pm call B&G at 845 437 5555.

We continue to encourage all community members to report any suspicious activity to the Campus Response Center  (845-437-7333/EMERGENCY and 845 437 5221/NON-EMERGENCY).

Sincerely,

Chris Roellke
Dean of the College

Don Marsala
Director, Vassar College Security

Christopher Roellke
Dean of the College
Professor of Education
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
PH:  845-437-5600
Fax: 845-437-7640

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.

So far this semseter Marsala has sent out several emails reporting three incidents of sexual assault and two incidents of physical assault. This is many more than in previous semesters, and Marsala commented to the Miscellany News that he doesn’t “ever remember having this many incidents” and that “to have them all at once like this is kind of strange.”

Patrols all around the campus will be stepped up and the Police Department has promised added patrols in and around the campus as well.” When asked to elborate further, Marsala explained that “campus patrol is on added alert” and that there are more people patrolling on foot and on bikes.

Student officers who patrol the grounds are “allowed to challenge anybody”, according to Masala. But, when they are faced with more serious situations their protocol is to contact security officers through their walkie-talkies.

One of the individuals involved in last night’s assault was arrested earlier today when he was stopped on the premise of driving a suspicious vehicle. He was taken into custody and, according to Masala’s email, “he is currently at the County Jail awaiting arraignment.” Masala expects that the other individuals will be apprehended shortly with help from the individual in custody.

Masala concluded his email cautioning students to remember “that we are living in a world that isn’t always safe” and to report “any suspicious activity” to the Campus Response Center (CRC).

Squillace warns that if anyone has had contact with the bird, which was treated with arsenic, they are advised to “seek medical attention through Health Services or your doctor.”

Though the bird is presumably valuable for its historic qualities, the e-mail, which was drafted by the Campus Security Office and sent by Dean of the College Chris Roellke, also emphasizes that the bird presents a danger because of the chemicals with which it was preserved.

According to the message, “The bird has been treated with arsenic and should only be handled by trained personnel equipped with proper personal protective equipment.”

Students report that the bird was seen at the Town Houses over the weekend. “This is not so much a theft issue as a safety issue at this point,” wrote Squillace. “No questions asked we just want to safely recover it.”

Kiwi birds are flightless, nocturnal, burrowing and native to New Zealand. Kiwis mate for life, and, out of all birds, they lay the largest eggs in relation to the size of their bodies. There are several species of kiwi birds in New Zealand. Most face threats from non-native predators, such as dogs, and habitation loss, leaving most kiwi species classified as either vulnerable or endangered.

The all-campus e-mail urged any member of the community to contact Campus Security at (845) 437-5221 with information regarding its whereabouts.