ASPC President Brian Andrews ’01 announced that Ski and Beach Day plans are underway; the annual event is scheduled for February 24. He also reminded senators that there will be a Senate Social next Tuesday evening in Mudd Lounge. He would like to advertise specific issues up for discussion at the Social, including campus life and questions surrounding smoking policy. Krispy Kreme donuts were to be served, but there was some discussion over whether Cinnabons might create a greater draw for underclassmen. No final decision was reached on this issue. Andrews also noted that the Alumni Association Board is pushing for greater cooperation between CDO and Alumni, and he mentioned that this year’s Inspirational Young Alumni, a past ASPC President who works with homeless teens in Seattle, will be visiting campus this semester.

Commissioner of Community Affairs Leslie Mallman ’01 discussed plans for POW!, an annual campus-wide day of community service. This year it is expanding to include alumni; a simultaneous day of community service is scheduled for Alumni in the Bay Area this year, and they are working to make it nation-wide. Mallman and Campus Events Commissioner Julie Kern ’01 are working together to plan end-of-the day festivities for the event, which will take the place of Carnival this year. There will be a BBQ, bands, and activities at the Wash. POW! is scheduled for April 7.

Dean Quinley spoke about the electricity situation. She informed the Senate that the Public Utilities Commission has ruled that Southern California Edison can no longer charge the college enormous penalties for using power when it was being interrupted. The college is, however, still subject to "rolling blackouts," which may come at any time and with no warning. The two generators purchased by the college will be used when necessary.

Quinley said that as good citizens we must step up our conservation efforts, and asked that a short list of possible measures be drawn up to this end. Andrews asked what measures the college is taking. Quinley responded that heaters and coolers in the academic and administrative buildings are being shut off on weekends and possibly during lunch; the use of lights is being minimized, and the possibility of incorporating solar power has been raised, but much more research is necessary.

Concerns were raised about the environmental effects of the generators. According to Quinley, the ones we have have been deemed "environmentally sensitive." South Campus Senator Adam Rick ’02 contended that there would be a lot of student support for the introduction of some form of renewable energy resource, and said he hoped Quinley would give it some thought.

North Campus Senator Grayson Schaffer ’01 expressed concern over whether students would actually make the effort to turn off lights, or conserve energy. Commissioner of Environmental Affairs Pam Grewal ’03 introduced the idea of an incentive program for dorms, similar to one once instituted at the University of Michigan. So long as each dorm has a separate power reader, it can be determined which one has the lowest usage per person; the most energy efficient dorm would receive some sort of reward at the semester’s end. Andrews suggested pizza, while Oken-Berg said that cash would be a much more effective incentive. Grewal will investigate the feasibility of such a program at Pomona.

Lenny Molina ’02 came to speak to the Senate about the recently reached compromise between the Friends of the Bernard Field Station and the Claremont University Center regarding the building of the Keck Graduate Institute on the land now occupied by the field station. The board of the Friends of BFS had fileLengthy discussion ensued, with Grewal emphasizing the importance of clarifying our stance as pro-BFS and not anti-KGI. Grewal will write a Senate resolution on the issue to be voted on next week.

Off-Campus Senator Omayra Ortega ’01 mentioned that there will be a driver’s ed meeting on February 5 for all those interested in getting a driver’s license.

Andrews introduced the issue of smoking policy, which has been under discussion in Student Affairs Committee. Currently, the policy states that smoking is not allowed indoors or in areas where smoke can easily enter indoors except in private rooms. The SAC is considering a proposal to ban smoking in the Smith Campus Center courtyard, and is leaning towards approving such a measure.

Sports Commissioner Nick Grudin ’01 said that he felt it should be banned from the courtyard because it dampens the atmosphere for others. Both Ortega and Sophomore Class Representative Tanya LaGuerre ’03, neither of whom are smokers, expressed concern that it was unfair to smokers, who are social people, too. Senior Class President Lauren Shawn brought up of the issue of enforceability–who would police the courtyard? The proposed policy would also be problematic after evening events like Table Manners and parties in the ballroom when dozens of people smoke in the courtyard, she pointed out. Rick noted that if smoking were banned form the courtyard it could be an offense punishable by J-Board, and that might keep people from breaking the rule. There was general discomfort with the idea of sending people to J-Board for smoking in the courtyard; Schaffer noted that the idea was more to "give non-smokers a trump card" in asking smokers to please take it elsewhere. Oken-Berg pointed out that the issue goes beyond fairness, since smoking is a health hazard. Nora Lawrence ’01 suggested that maybe it could just be disallowed during business hours, which would solve the post-party problem, while others suggested that it could just be banned at the tables and by the Coop but still allowed along the periphery. Andrews took a straw vote and found that nobody was in favor of a total ban on smoking in the courtyard, and while some completely opposed the ban, many senators did vote in favor on somehow limiting where and/or when smoking is allowed. Andrews will bring the input of the Senate back to SAC.

–Compiled by