General Assembly

Minutes from April 26, 2007

Associated Students of Occidental College

General Assembly Minutes

April 26, 2007

12:00-1:30, J200

Minutes by Chelsey Brack

Senators Present: Matt Kuzio, Andrew DeBlock, John Wilson, Caroline Kim, Mike Myers, Amy Laslett, Rozell Hodges, Konstantin Chaykovskiy, Max Thoman-Tedford, Patrick McCredie

Guests Present: Max Read, Abe Cohen, Ben Torgerson, Daniel Landesman, Krystal Keough, Robert Calderon, Sarah Arvey, Dominique Kirkwood, Santiago Mendez, Chelsey Brack (9).

Spencer Jemelka and Katie Orme opened the meeting at 12:05 PM. Katie and Spencer welcomed everyone to the official student forum. The General Assembly is a place for students to bring up issues and policy change. The General Assembly recognizes that the student body is one of many forums that form the community. This is a forum for students to work with other students and administrators. Spencer welcomed members of the Honor Board.

1. Abe Cohen and Ben Torgerson - Honor Board and the Honor Principle

[ HONOR PRINCIPLE (2007)

Presented to the General Assembly

A Community of Difference

Students of Occidental College strive for high standards of excellence, equity, community and service. This endeavor requires an environment in which each individual is able to flourish. Since the Occidental student body is diverse and passionate, maintaining this community is a process that is as constant as it is challenging.

The Occidental Community is a community of difference. Divergent viewpoints are not only necessary to the Community – rather, they form the very basis of it. As students at Occidental, we confront disagreement and opposition in each day’s activities. This is a trying and oftentimes difficult endeavor. Oxy students are united in our agreement that we are enriched by these engagements. We assert that constructive conflict leads to intellectual, personal and social fulfillment. Therefore, protecting the variety of our discourse is a matter of collective concern.

This honor principle stems from a common agreement to adhere to standards of engagement that preserve the graciousness of our exchange. This requires that we engage one another honestly, but responsibly and with respect. We, the students of Occidental College, define our community standards and agree to advance this principle. Our values are not static – they change as we do. It follows that the honor principle is not imposed on us; instead, we are its keepers. We mutually recognize that our honor principle serves to preserve the passion and difference that is the Occidental Community.

As a member of the Occidental Student Body, I acknowledge and commit to this agreement:

_______________________________________

Outline of Topics

n Statement of WHAT we are trying to do

Or, our objectives

n Explanation of HOW we are trying to do it

Both in the text and in practical application

n Recognized areas of WHERE to go from here

Anticipation of some concerns and criticisms

1) Our Goal and Method

n To foster ties of community and mutual respect at Oxy

More specifically, to provide guidance for campus discourse and disagreements

n Approach: Recognize the inevitability of disagreement AND affirm the value of this disagreement to an Oxy experience

Thus, Our Two Main Objectives

n Outline Standards of Engagement

Preserve the difference and diversity we value

n Give Student Body Ownership of Standards

We assert, revise, and mutually recognize them

Symbolic gesture of student governance

2) Our Attempts

n Encourage and Support a Community of Difference

n Principle as a Community Work

n Establish an Explicit Commitment to the Principle

ideas IN the document

n Describe Functions and Characteristics of an ‘Honor Principle’

n Protects Discourse

n Common Agreement

n Standards of Engagement

n HONESTY linked with RESPONSIBILITY and RESPECT

n Student-Defined and Student-Advanced

n Not Imposed on us but Determined by us

n Depends on Mutual Recognition

ideas FOR the document

n A Community Work

n Quad chalking, general outreach, discussions with other community members (faculty and administrators), continuous forum for comments

n An Explicit Commitment

n Explanation of Principle at Orientation

n Have incoming class sign it

3) Where to go from here…

n Series of Explanatory Papers

n On Respect

n On Responsibility

n On Honesty

n On the Honor Principle and the Honor Code

n On the Honor Principle and the Honor Board

Anticipated Objections

n No Statement of a Principle

Intentional omission: Not a rule of conduct, but a set of fundamental beliefs

n “Not imposed” is incompatible with “signed”

Voluntary signatures or sent out with acceptance letters (next year/future)

n Not Very Upbeat

Must be applicable for times of serious conflict ]

They have been working on forming an honor principle at Oxy. John wilson asked about the last paragraph, about having standards and values and trying to say that they are changing. He thought that the sentence did not make a lot of sense, and ben reasoned that its about not just one class identifying with the honor principle, that all classes do, and that values change and that he is leaving room for that. John said that he would change that also, not have it be such a broad statement, and Ben agreed that it was reasonable.

Max Read asked Ben to define "community of difference" as mentioned in the PowerPoint. Ben said that Oxy prides itself on diversity and how we exist. What binds us is to unite and bond around this difference. For example, at a religious college, students can bind around support of their faith, and though Oxy doesn't have that, we bind around our differences.

Mike Myers asked how it was going to be implemented, in terms of in the future, future students "signing" the Honor Principle agreement. He asked how it is planned to be enforced and how the Honor Board is going to do that. Ben said that there are a number of ways, and there can be the continuous commentary to raise awareness of the principle and keep people interested. Ben said that it is a day-to-day process, it is important that every time students leave their dorm room or walk out of their houses and walk on the campus, they need to know that they are upholding the Honor Principle and a level of graciousness. Sometimes that slips, but the Honor Board wants to reinforce it.

Andrew DeBlock asked if this is to replace the "no students should take advantage of other students," and Ben said that no, it was different, that this is a student-to-student imposed code.

Katie Orme asked for any other questions and comments, and as there were none, Ben thanked everyone for their time.

2. Andrew DeBlock - Improved Student Website

Student Website URL: http://employees.oxy.edu/minouye/test/gateway_student.htm

Katie introduced Andrew DeBlock to talk about the new student website, and Andrew talked about how they've been working on it for a couple months with ITS. They reorganized categories to make it more accessible to students and made more links to follow the mission of the college that are right there on the student webpage. He said that they kept all of the important things, and got rid of the things that students were not actually using. The first stage of change is about being more accessible to people and to make people more aware about what's going on, what can be used, etc. Hopefully next semester there will be a little box that students can click to directly email Andrew so he can get students' input on what they think of the site, how to improve it, etc. The next step will be an RSS feed, so Oxy News can be provided for students - which will be student news, rather than administration news. They are going to fix the master calendar on the page and make it more useful for students. They are also trying to make it easier to know what's going on on-campus in an effort to increase student attendance to these events. Andrew then opened up the floor for questions.

John Wilson suggested that they get new and updated pictures on the student website, and Katie commented that there was a photographer on campus yesterday having students sign releases for pictures that will go into admissions packets, and will eventually go on the website as well. Andrew agreed that it was a good idea that he had not really focused on, but would work on now. He thanked everyone for coming and asked everyone to email him at adeblock@oxy.edu with any questions or input.

3. Rozell Hodges - Budget

See Budget for information

4. Sarah Arvey - Graduate Students as Hall Coordinators Resolution

Spencer said that the GA had a resolution submitted last night by Sarah Arvey as a closed resolution, which means no changes can be made to it, and it will be voted on next week.

As residents of Occidental College, we believe that any Hall Coordinator (from here on referred to as an HC) should be a member of the Occidental community. The administration of Occidental College has put forth a proposal to employ graduate students from the surrounding community as the HC in both Pauley Hall and first-year residence halls. We, as students of Occidental College, write this closed action resolution to be considered and voted on by the entire student body through the representative bodies of the General Assembly and ASOC Senate. Through its passing we request that the administration of Occidental College not use the proposed plan of employing graduate student HCs from the surrounding community until a committee made up of students and administrators working collaboratively and mutually agree on a plan and procedure.

The following reasons should be reviewed by the appropriate administration and student committee:

1.) Hiring from within the Community:

The Occidental Community is a unique and diverse community, and necessitates leaders who are both excited and familiar with this exceptional community. By hiring outside the Occidental community it goes to alienate those who strive to uphold Occidental’s ideals. It is illogical to hire an employee who is instrumental to the functioning of the community but has never before been a part of it before. There are cases of our own Occidental students turning down the opportunity of serving as HCs due to their lack of experience. HCs are not simply positions to be filled; HCs provide a unique example of an Oxy leader within the Occidental Community. Residents are more likely to become involved with student activities in the presence of an Occidental student leader

2.) Logistics

If it is our goal to create a Occidental community it fits that one of the key members at least be a part of that community. In hiring a graduate student from an institution in the surrounding area we recognize that the HC would be commuting to class, literally leaving the campus of Occidental to attend their graduate level courses. Also, the level of work a graduate student has is often more of a burden than that of an undergraduate student, particularly if they’re commuting. Furthermore, as a graduate student, the HC would be removed from the social network of Occidental as they would be part of a scholastic community outside our own. This only goes to further remove the HC from the students he/she is supposed to serve.

3.) An Opportunity for Student Service

To be selected as an HC is a tremendous accomplishment for those working in Residence Life. In taking away the opportunity for our students to be HCs and giving it to an outside graduate student, we are also taking away opportunities for our own students to grow and learn within the Oxy community. HCs serve as a source of leadership and community within Residence Halls, and have the opportunity to engage students more directly in a vibrant Oxy Community.

4.) Lack of Dialogue

An ongoing problem here at our small, liberal-arts campus is the lack of dialogue between those making key decisions and those affected by them. As proven during the General Assembly meeting of March 29, 2007 students are generally angered and disappointed about the possibility of outside graduate students being employed as our HCs. We ask that in the future student considerations being taken into account, especially when students’ lives are affected by the decisions being made. As such this policy should not pass as there has been exceptionally limited discussion between administrators and students. This is not due to a lack of student interest but rather to a lack of administrative outreach.

For the reasons stated above we do not agree with the passing of the stated policy. Through the passing of this resolution we DEMAND the following:

1.) Graduate students from outside the Occidental community not be employed as HCs in any residence hall until such a decision is reviewed by the committee established below.

2.) A committee of students, RAs, HCs and administrators be formed for the 2007-2008 school year to review the decision about graduate student HCs and come to a mutual decision about the best course of action.

A) This committee shall be established by G.A. co-chairs.

3.) This committee shall remain established to review future housing policy decisions BEFORE said decisions are finalized. At least one RA and/or HC of each residence hall must be on the committee for purposes of equity and community. This committee shall not rule out the possibility of a campus-wide vote about housing policy decisions, and shall make it a goal to publicize through appropriate modes (KOXY, The Weekly, Campus E-mail and Hall-Spreads) the new policy before such a decision is made.

Be it known that if this resolution passes it becomes the voice of the entire student body. If the administration acts against this resolution it is acting against the will of the students and of ASOC. The Students of Occidental College feel this is indicative of a larger issue of communication between students and administration that has yet to be rectified. We, as tuition paying students at Occidental College, request our voices be heard when critical decisions that affect our lives are being made.

Signed,

Sarah Arvey

Jessica Lobl

Rosny Daniels

Max Read

Amber Penland

Catherine Petru

Berit Anderson

Katie Orme asked if there were five students who were in favor of the resolution to come to next week's meeting, there were more than five people, so Katie said it will come to next week's meeting for a discussion and a vote.

Spencer thanked everyone for coming to the GA and encouraged everyone to email the GA at asocga@oxy.edu with any questions or concerns.

Meeting adjourned at 12:37 PM.