General Assembly

Minutes from February 28, 2008

Topics: Resolutions, New RLHS staff

Associated Students of Occidental College

General Assembly Minutes

February 28th, 2008

12:00-1:30, Johnson 200

Minutes by Chelsey Brack

Senate Members Present: Andrew DeBlock, Tilak Gupta, Robert Calderon, Dominique Kirkwood, Monikah Baltimore, Ryan Bowen (ASOC President)

Guests Present: Allison Riemer, Zak Stoltz, Richie DeMaria, Malia Latin, Scott Nishinaka, Spencer Jemelka, Rachel Johnson, Anahid Yahjian, Michael Darling, Richie DeMaria, Ellis Raskin, Philip Arsenis, Eric Quezada, Kecia Baker, Connor Nelson, Maureen Regan, Rachel Kay, Kym Duell, Bobby Rodgers, Chelsey Brack (20).

Noel Hollowell opened the meeting at 12:07 PM, and introduced Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz. Noel 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. Resolutions

Noel and Paolo presented a PowerPoint on resolutions explaining what they are, what they do, how to write one, and showed example resolutions. Information about resolutions directly from the ASOC By-Laws was provided:

Article VI. – Resolutions

Section 1. Definition.

Resolutions are official statements of the Associated Students of Occidental College once passed by the ASOC General Assembly and ASOC Senate. Before a resolution can be voted on, it must have been publicized to the student body for at least one week.

Section 2. Types and Formats.

A. Types of Resolutions: Resolutions can be proposed in three formats: Action, Discussion and Declaration.

1. Action Resolutions: Have a statement of the problem and proposed action (committee, letter, etc.). Action Resolutions are voted on in the GA and passed on to the Senate for ratification.

2. Discussion Resolutions: Have a statement of the problem and propose a discussion during the GA about the problem. No other action is proposed. No vote is taken and the resolution is not passed to the Senate but Senate is made aware that the discussion took place.

3. Declaration Resolutions: A student group makes a written declaration notifying the GA of their position on an issue and discussion at the GA meeting is up to the writers of the resolution. No vote is taken and it is not passed on to Senate for a vote, but Senate is made aware of the resolution. The presentation of the resolution is made by the authors of the resolution, but the discussion is facilitated by the GA co-chairs.

B. Format of Resolutions: Resolutions can be proposed in two formats: Closed and Open.

1. Closed Resolutions: A Closed Resolution cannot be changed by the general body of the General Assembly. It must be vote on in its original form.

2. Open Resolutions: An Open Resolution can be changed by the general body of the General Assembly. If the resolution is changed during a meeting, it may not be voted on until the next meeting.

Section 3. Meeting with Co-Chairs.

Students are required to meet with at least one of the Co-Chairs prior to the meeting in which they will present their resolution. Should the student fail to meet with a Co-Chairs, the Co-Chairs have the right to postpone the resolution until that individual meeting has occurred.

Section 4. Support.

Resolutions should come to the GA with at least 5 students’ support. Those 5 students’ names should appear on the resolution. The 5 students should be familiar with the resolution. All supporting students are encouraged to attend the meetings in which their resolutions is presented. ]

2. Guest Speaker: Res Life

Noel and Paolo introduced members from Res Life - Kecia Baker, Connor Nelson, Maureen Regan, Rachel Kay, Kym Duell, and Bobby Rodgers.

Kecia Baker, Area and Assistant Res Life Coordinator, talked about first years living in Pauley next year. She said that since the beginning of the year, she has made various statements about first years living in Pauley and no changes have been made, they will still be living in Pauley. Kecia then opened it up for questions. Rob Calderon asked why Pauley works with mixing first years and upperclassmen but not other res halls, and Kecia said they wanted to uphold a multicultural hall that includes first years and upperclassmen.

Scott, RHA rep for sophomores - asked if first years are given the opportunity to live in Pauley through CSP's, are they waived from the app process to live in Pauley. Kecia said that they are still working on it; going to the former model of it being tied with CSP, first years won't apply for Pauley, they will choose their CSP. Mickey MacDonald is leaving and when that resolves, they're going to work on the details, probably still an app for students to live in Pauley.

Noel asked how roommates are assigned in the res halls, and Kecia said that they are matched by personality. Last name match-ups are a fluke. Res life sits down and works out matching up people who sleep at similar hours, personalities. Kecia said they do not even look at the names while matching up.

Paolo asked Kecia to talk briefly about the initiative to have sophomores live on campus. Kecia said that it was not her decision, isn't afraid for it to go on the record. Res life has to carry it out. It has been a long conversation involving the retention committee and administration. The faculty senate went off of quotes as well. Looking at the trends at our peer institutions, require first years, a lot require all four years commitment. Kecia said that the first GA meeting last semester, Dean Frank came and talked about the WASP accreditation process we're going through - assessing ourselves, defining ourselves as a residential college in Los Angeles. Kenna Cottrill said it’s also stated something like “…in a major metropolitan city that IS Los Angeles.” Kecia said there will be exemptions, a form must be filled out, not sure who will approve that yet, but there is still a possibility. It will be going into the admissions packet; those students will have to make a decision. No one currently here will be impacted. Paolo asked Kecia to expand on the process of sophomore exemption from living on campus, and Kecia said they would fill out a form and must meet criteria. Nothing has been completely finalized yet. For example, if a sophomore wants to live at home, financially difficult, etc., they are working with campus dining to come up with some lower meal plan options, working closely with financial aid as well. It will be a fairly easy process for sophomores to apply to live off-campus as well.

Noel said that they need more than one printer in Rangeview, Kecia said that they will then work with ITS to get more printers, its in progress.

Noel said that a lot of the students are getting stuck in the elevators at Rangeview, asked how we can fix that. Kecia said that someone in facilities could probably address that better. She was aware that there were problems with the card swipe system, so they are going with a different vendor for renovations, this system has not lived up to our expectations.

Noel said that there was a recent accident in Rangeview, and asked if it was a possibility to put up mirrors in Rangeview. Kecia said she got that email, and forwarded it to campus safety and facilities and they're in the process of getting those mirrors in place.

Philip Arsenis asked about the theme of civility being promoted in the first year res halls; asked what the definition is. Kecia said no definition or rule was imposed, it’s a book like any other book put forth for the first year class; not being imposed on anyone. Phil asked if it was supposed to be a guiding force for first years, but Kecia answered that it wasn’t supposed to be life-changing, but they did consider the triple situation, and wanted to do something for the students to get along a little better.

Allison Reimer asked if there will be fewer triples next year, and Kecia said yes. Res Life is still keeping some triples in the inventory because it is significantly less in cost, so want to provide that option for people still. She also asked if gender-neutral housing is going to continue next year and if it will spread to other res halls, Kecia answered that it will be available next year. She also wants to apply it to Rangeview. Norris was ideal because of the bathroom situation, but it is not as easy in other res halls. She isn't sure about other res halls for the future. She said she can't see it growing much further than in Rangeview.

Dominique Kirkwood asked if there will be a mixture of upperclassmen and lowerclassmen in Rangeview next year, and Kecia said the goal of it, when originally built, was supposed to be a junior and senior hall. Seniors will have first dibs, then juniors, and if spaces left then sophomores. First years will not live there.

Rachel Johnson asked about the Women's Center, why it will be taken away, what will happen with it. Kecia said that the Women's Center will be torn down and a new Alumni Center will be put up there. The resource center is going to be made a more accessible space, in a living situation where people felt that they were infringing on other peoples privacy (being in their house). It will be a more public space. As far as the living component goes, the option is there to explore it but no one has approached her about it yet. They are also changing the name of it to the Women and Gender Resource Center, moved to Stewie, overseen by ICC. Right now no initiative to create a living component, but Kecia is willing to make it happen if students come to her. Rachel Kay added that 1601 is a women's living space as well.

Rob Calderon asked which res halls are going to be open for living next year. Kecia said that ALL of them will be open in August. Chilcott will be renovated the following year, but all the rest will be refurbished.

Eric Quezada asked about Rangeview; he said he was told they would get a discount for being forced to move in, and asked if it will it be the same cost as next year. Kecia said the discount was not for being forced, it was because they would be making the move. She said it only applied to the triples as well. It will not be more expensive. The cost of a double in Rangeview will be the same as any other dorm on campus. All the renovated halls will have microfridges as well.

Rob Calderon asked if students could return microfridges if they already have microwaves and refrigerators, Eric Quezada said he just lent his to someone else on campus when moving into Rangeview. Kecia added that eventually they will be everywhere, in every res hall.

Ryan Bowen asked if res life has been contacting any other organizations about energy efficiency, because he imagines that the plasma screens and microfridges suck up a lot of energy. Kecia said they always talk with facilities and that they have the energy-star rating; microfridges use less power and are more energy efficient in general compared to what students already have. Kecia said she is not sure about the plasma screens and their energy efficiency, if students are unhappy with them then res life can take them out. Trying to make opportunities for students to not feel "cut off from the world."

Allison Reimer asked about the kitchen in Rangeview, and asked what will happen to kitchens in renovated res halls. Kecia said the Rangeview kitchen is controlled by hospitality services, kitchens in renovated res halls still will be called "warming kitchens" for California code. Rob asked if pots and pans will be purchased and provided for res halls, Kecia said if a hall wants to get them, its residents can work with their HC and can help get them for students; just make sure they are taken care of.

Dominique Kirkwood asked if res life has thought of maintaining a site to look for off-campus housing - a link on the website, a site, etc. Kecia said there is a site, its called places4students, and Connor just updated the site. Click on off-campus housing, an outside company runs it.

Paolo reiterated that the floor is open for the other guests etc.

Kecia said that they have new faces in res life, and introduced other people here from res life

Maureen Regan - Assistant Director of Living and Learning Communities, which, she added, are more than just "dorms"

Connor Nelson, Assistant Director of Housing Services, responsible for room placements, etc.

Bobby Rodgers - AC for Upper Campus

Kym Duell - AC for Middle Campus

Rachel Kay - recent oxy alum, HC of Haines last year, back for a temporary basis, AC in first year communities

Monikah Baltimore asked if the same Living and Learning Communities will be established next year in the same halls, Kecia said yes, they addressed it earlier; the system will be the same. The challenge with it though is that there are limitations with moving people around when confined to one hall; hard to move them because of their CSP.

Ellis Raskin, an RA in Stewie, said that many residents have been playing basketball between Stewie and Pauley, but the courts are not the safest places, and athletic facilities are not really available for people who aren’t on sports teams. He asked if there were plans for more sports facilities for residents who aren’t on sports teams. Kecia said no, res life did not know that there was a want for basketball courts in res halls. Kecia told him to work with Kyle Bruin and RHA - student space committee. Trying to better use spaces on campus. There are a variety of solutions that are available, such as access to facilities at different hours, etc. Students just need to talk to the administration about what they want to see changed.

Michael Darling said he wrote an article about Rangeview in which RA's across campus said they were afraid of stating how the felt about the res hall, and asked why they should feel that way. Kecia said it was a good question, and that she was sorry that any RA’s felt that their jobs were in jeopardy for criticizing res life because she doesn’t want res life to have that image. Its not that students cannot criticize or they will lose their job. Kecia added that of the staff that works in Rangeview, they all reapplied to work there, so they must not be doing THAT bad of a job. Kecia is saddened to think that res life put fear in the RAs and she wants to change that if it is there.

Noel thanked Kecia for presenting.

Noel said they wanted to talk about what they want to do with GA this semester, which is to meet only every other week instead of every week, and they are very open to suggestions from the Occidental community about what they would like to discuss in GA meetings. Noel and Paolo thanked everyone for coming, and encourage people to come back and bring their peers. They also encouraged people to email them at asocga@oxy.edu with their suggestions, comments or concerns.

Meeting adjourned at 12:47 PM.