ID 1 Change and Evaluation

ASPC President Brian Andrews '01 and Senior Class President Lauren Shawn spoke to the Curriculum Committee about the Senate's rejection of its proposal to change ID 1 to 11 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the reasons for it. The committee then voted unanimously to pass the proposal, with a change to the length of the trial period to one year.

A senator asked if the committee has considered how it will evaluate the change, and how it will check for decreases in student involvement due to the change. Junior Class President Jake Oken-Berg explained that there is a full-time coordinator whose job is to collect data on ID 1. New data will be taken by this person to help evaluate the change. He also told the Senate that the Curriculum Committee has already informally begun discussion on the methods of data evaluation.

Judicial Board Changes

Andrews informed the Senate that in the past, group trials, in which individuals are tried and punished together, were traditionally given to the Student Affairs Committee. This was because there used to be concern that organizations, such as fraternities, would have too much control over the students, and thus influence the Judicial Board. However, this was deemed no longer a risk and the SAC voted to return the power to try groups to J-Board. The question now, Andrews stated, is whether this change should be implemented at the end of the semester, or at the end of the year. Changes to the student code usually go into effect at the end of the academic year, however, they are considering making the change mid-year. An argument for the mid-year implementation is that the people involved in making this change should be the ones to execute the change. However, Dean of Students Ann Quinley told them that the student code promises that the rules that are in place at the beginning of the year will remain the same for the rest of the year, and therefore, changes shall not be made until the next year.

Shawn said that she understood the desire to implement the change as soon as possible, but she felt that it would be detrimental to change the rules mid-year because it would be confusing for students.

Oken-Berg stated that he would be uncomfortable if it was an organization giving more power to themselves, but since this is power being given to another group, he feels comfortable with making the change in the middle of the year.

Director of the Campus Center Neil Gerard asked if student organizations will be notified of the change. Andrews responded that since the change will happen, it was not necessary to get their input.

Shawn asked if groups would feel cheated if one organization faced the SAC this semester, and another group faces J-Board next semester. Sports Commissioner Nick Grudin '01 said that he didn't think there would be any problems with students complaining. South Campus Senator Adam Rick '02 said that students would think favorably on the change, since it gives the power of trial to students and away from faculty.

ASPC Vice President Ellen Lin '01 asked if groups going on trial in the spring should be allowed to choose either the SAC or J-Board, but Andrews responded that the school should stick to the rules.

A motion to endorse the plan to make the change at the end of the semester was approved.

Safe Rides

Andrews announced that the Safe Rides program is still going on. Students attending off campus parties who have been drinking can call a particular taxi company for a free ride back to campus if it is within 5 miles.

Foothill Beverages is sponsoring the program again. Cards with phone numbers and information on the program will be placed in student mailboxes by the end of this week. Oken-Berg suggested that it should also be announced in an email.

Homecoming

Grudin reported that Homecoming was a big success. All of the t-shirts were sold, and there was huge attendance at the events.

Digester System Retooling

Communications Commissioner Harry Ou '01 informed the Senate that a student group met with Quinley last week to discuss better solutions to the Digester. Ou said that one solution is an HTML submission form for the Digester. Students would go to a website and fill out the appropriate form for their message in the Digester.

In the HTML Digester, hyperlinks at the beginning of the email can be clicked on, and will scroll automatically to the message in the Digester. A plain text format will also be included in this email. When it is sent to students, their browsers will choose which one it will read; either the HTML format or the plain text. This will get rid of the unreadable portions students used to see in the Digester.

Andrews asked how students will be informed of this change. Ou responded that since this is still in the planning stages, no plans have been made to update students.

Community Affairs Commissioner Leslie Mallman '01 asked if the old Digester can be reinstated while they are working on a better system. Ou said that it can be suggested.

Oken-Berg said that someone needs to be responsible for the system, but he was told that a proposal to change the bylaws must be brought.