General Assembly

Minutes from November 8, 2007

Topics: Oxy Engage Program

Associated Students of Occidental College

General Assembly Minutes

November 8, 2007

12:00-1:30, Fowler 302

Minutes by Chelsey Brack

Senate Members Present: Denise Loera, Mike Myers, Tilak Gupta, Ken Smutny, Nonda Hanneman, Andrew DeBlock, Xochiltl Ramos, Patrick McCredie, Santiago Mendez

Guests Present: Caroline Kim, Ben Dalgetty, James Taber, Chelsey Brack (4).

**Although this is not an official meeting because not enough students attended to reach quorum, the minutes are posted for your information.**

Laura Knuttunen and Jessica Simes opened the meeting at 12:05 PM. They said that the General Assembly is the official student forum of ASOC and is a place where all students are welcome to address campus policies, raise student issues, and begin the process of developing comprehensive solutions to student concerns. It is also a place that recognizes that the student body is one of many groups that help to form the community of Occidental College. In this respect the General Assembly is a tool of the entire community to begin dialogue and the collective process of working together to solve problems. In other words, it is a forum for students to communicate and work with students; it is a forum for students to communicate and work with the administration; and it is a forum for the administration to communicate and work with the student body. Finally, the General Assembly is a place that recognizes that the people who make up the Occidental community vary greatly in perspectives and ideals. For this reason the General Assembly will operate as a forum that encourages dialogue and debate, but will under no circumstances become a forum for personal attacks, hate speech or disrespectful conduct.

1. Caroline Kim, Student Affairs – “Oxy Engage”

She said she would be presenting on a program that Dean Avery has been working on putting into action for a while. It's a pre-orientation program and most of Oxy's comparison schools have them. Designed for first year students to come to school about a week before school begins, then have regular orientation, and its goal is to lessen that "lost" feeling upon arriving as a new student. She said that Oxy has MSI and other programs in the res halls, etc., but Dean Avery feels that more can be done to build community within the first year class. People have complained about MSI and athletes being back early training, etc., being exclusive. This is an opportunity to create an even bigger sense of community. A lot of other schools do simply a wilderness experience, but Caroline talked about a program that would consist of three parts. All three parts are easily accessible from the Oxy campus. “Oxy Serves/Connects”, is a work in progress, and it would be more of the community service aspect of the Oxy Engage program. This program would help them create a community. Students would help build a habitat at a habitat site in San Diego - where the fires have been would be an opportunity to help. There is one site solely for women to build, in the works. Another trip where students can go and volunteer at a homeless shelter and actually stay the night, in LA south central. There will also be “Oxy Encounters” - arts and culture trips and projects - one including entertainment and fashion manufacturing district. Since LA is the hub for corporate manufacturing - tours of sweat-free manufacturing companies, arts and culture. Museum tour through LA, a performing arts tour (students can take an improv class, go see theater in the evening). Led by student leaders. “Oxy Explores” is the wilderness part of the program. There are multiple options currently. One is to go to Santa Barbara - surfing, kayaking, rock-climbing. Trips are being created by an outdoor agency - Champions USA. Spans from 19-22 August 2008. Students move in, situate themselves on campus, then move on to their separate trips. Most schools that have pre-orientation programs charge students anywhere between $100 and $500. Dean Avery knows that it is expensive, so they are looking into a scholarship fund. They are looking for student leaders to go on trips - not O-team leaders or Res Life staffers, their training would conflict with the actual trip. The leaders would serve as liaison to lead trips and build in reflection times, help mentor first year students and serve as big sisters/big brothers. Oxy is trying to help build community so they can be a contact on campus for those first years coming in and help them all year. Caroline then opened it up for questions and comments.

Denise Loera asked how many students it would accommodate, and Caroline said it would currently accommodate about150-200 students. They would love 100% involvement, but since its such a new program, not yet. They will have to evaluate student-interest level as well.

Ken asked what the expected size of the freshman class for next year is, and Caroline said they have been told it could be anywhere between 400-500.

Santiago asked if any professors were involved in the programs, and Caroline said yes, some have been approached already to help plan the programs, the UEPI staff in particular. She also said that the programming is still being added as they go, and that they are trying to accommodate everyone's interests. They will also be meeting with a California Environment Semester professor for the Oxy Explores portion of the program. They've had the biggest response for the Encounters trips so far.

James Taber asked how these existing programs will effect existing programs like MSI. Caroline said they would not be compromised or affected at all. MSI is a great program and will happen, has a lot of positive aspects in acclimating students to campus, but there is an advantage of getting off-campus. It will be complementary to MSI. James asked if this program will become the focus of the administration's support, and Caroline said she didn't want to speak on behalf of the dean, but she personally disagrees with any idea that the dean is not supportive of MSI. From conversations they've had, she knows that MSI will go on - this program is in no way trying to replace MSI. Many colleges already do this - Claremont schools, many east coast schools as well. MSI will continue and this is only to support building community.

Ken Smutny asked where the rumors of the dean being anti-MSI are coming from, and Caroline said she didn’t know where they were coming from but that they weren’t true.

Ben Dalgetty asked how the break down of the students would go in the programs. Caroline said its different with every program, for example with the Oxy sort of “wilderness” program, they are broken into smaller groups for their activities, then brought back in together for their reflection time. For the Oxy Encounters they want to house them off-campus but on-campus would save money, trying to weigh costs, are in groups of 10-12, etc. The separated groups then come back together for reflection time. The Oxy Connects will be in different groups, then come back together for reflection time as well. At the end of all of the programs, all come back together for giant reflection period.

Mike Myers asked how many student leaders would be needed, Caroline said they are looking for 20-25 leaders. Encounters will need about 2 per group, Explores will need one per group who is trained in safety precautions, etc. She said she realizes they are making the pool very small in excluding O-Team and Res Life staffers, but there is not logistical way to get around that, and also from her experience as a student leader - leadership positions should be more widespread to other students – someone may be not the most vocal leader, but they could be really good at helping students reflect, bond, helping them feel more comfortable at oxy. Opening up opportunities for students.

Nonda asked what would happen if more than 200 students wanted to participate, because she feels that with O-Team and MSI, from personal experience, is exclusive and leaves people out. Caroline said that they are planning for 150-200 people, they have left space for overflow. Some will have to close availability because some trips cannot accommodate overflow. The goal for 2008 is not to create overflow or have a huge number, more just testing out program and getting it started. Questions will come up of how to integrate students who didn’t go on the trips, and that will happen when students return.

Denise asked if the student leaders will be paid or will volunteer, and Caroline said it would be a volunteer position. Caroline said they can’t pay next year for sure, but maybe in the future. She added that there are a lot of benefits students will get working with the students, student-leadership training, working with the Dean of Students. Patrick asked if the in the future there will be discussions of stipend or compensation programs, Caroline said they might try, but all of the comparison institutions do it as a volunteer program. Within student affairs want to create a student-leadership development, starting with these programs.

Ben Dalgetty asked if leaders/students could get any academic credits for doing the trip, and Caroline said she would look into it. Ben said for the leaders it would be especially helpful.

Jess asked how it all will be covered as of right now, and Caroline said that the finances to secure the trip (insurance fees, etc.) are being looked into. Everything done to finance the trips will be taken care of by students. Not being subsidized by anyone currently, but are looking into having donors with the program, maybe a student scholarship fund, etc. Trying to vary the cost and length of the trips. There will be a 1-day trip for transfer students, working on the Transfer Initiative. Athletes can’t get away from training – a 1-day service trip might be planned for them, etc.

Kenna said that they should work with clubs and organizations on campus like SLAC, Roteract, etc. There will probably be interest coming from them, so a good way to get leaders for the trips.

Jess said to email Caroline@oxy.edu with any questions, comments, concerns about the program.

Jess and Laura thanked everyone for coming to the GA and if anyone has any questions or comments to then email them at asocga@oxy.edu.

Meeting adjourned at 12:38 PM.