Those present: Ellen Lin, Tanya LaGuerre, Harry Ou, Adam Rick, Mike Rush, Pam Grewal, Leslie Mallman, Jake Oken-Berg, Julie Kern, Richard Sun, Lauren Shawn, Nick Grudin

Commissioner of Community Affairs Leslie Mallman ’01 announced that there will be a professional auctioneer at the Professor Service Auction instead of Frank Bedoya, who was initially slated to do the job. She urged senators to please attend the function and said that there were so many items up for auction that many would be on silent auction.

ASPC Vice President Ellen Lin ’01 asked senators to please sign up to act as liaisons to student organizations if they had not done so already. She distributed a survey designed to ascertain the fundraising practices of the various organizations that the senators are to have filled out by club leaders. Junior Class Representative Jake Oken-Berg ’02 asked why this was necessary. Lin responded that fundraising by student organizations is important to lessen the financial burdens they place on ASPC; she hopes to compile a book of successful fundraising tactics to keep in the ASPC office so that organizations can get ideas.

Sophomore Class President Tanya LaGuerre ’03 reviewed the events she organized for the sophomore class last semester. The first was a Krispy Kreme study break with the CDO, which she planned in response to her perception of general confusion among her classmates over future plans. She characterized this event as a "semi-success," saying that a lot of people came just for the Krispy Kremes. The second was a Sophomore Formal, which according to LaGuerre did not have a huge turnout but was a cool event. For this semester she has planned another study break with the CDO, a gathering to discuss study abroad-related issues, and a senior-sophomore social.

Commissioner of Campus Events Julie Kern ’01 distributed a charter written cooperatively by Kern and the students in the equivalent positions at the other colleges. The charter is a mission statement saying that the programming bodies of the respective colleges will work together and not program against one another. She noted that difficulties sometimes arise because the different schools have different policies and procedures that direct programming. The five chairs of students activities already meet weekly to discuss plans and conflicts. Lin asked for a motion to approve the charter, and a motion was made, seconded, and the charter passed. Director of the Campus Center Neil Gerard questioned whether this passage necessitated any changes in internal policies, such as the job description of the Campus Events Commissioner and CCLA practice. Kern responded that the nature of the charter is cooperative, not binding, and that we need only participate in it to the extent that it is to our mutual benefit. Oken-Berg asked if they shouldn’t somehow institutionalize it, but Kern maintained that it is important to allow for an out should we ever want to take it. Gerard pointed out that earlier incarnations of such an organization had failed because Pomona always ended up footing the majority of bills. Assistant Director of the Campus Center Dave Swenson pointed out that the Commissioner’s involvement in such an organization is already enumerated in the by-laws.

CEO of the Claremont University Center (CUC) Brenda Barham-Hill came in to discuss CUC’s position in the KGI/BFS controversy. She gave a detailed history of the land and its uses and explained the settlement made between CUC and the Friends of the Bernard Field Station. Several senators asked questions regarding the intent of the charter that accompanied the gift of the land in question as well as possible alternative building sites. Oken-Berg emphasized that the golf course that currently exists on a portion of the land in question is absolutely not an educational resource and asked why that was not the first thing to go; Barham-Hill responded that the city has a vested interest in keeping it there. Oken-Berg questioned why the city should get a say in what happens if the land belongs to CUC. Barham-Hill explained that dealing with the city in these issues has been extremely difficult and unpleasant, and there had to be some give and take if anything is to be accomplished at all.

After the guest left, Lin asked the senators what they wanted to do with this information. Commissioner of Environmental Affairs Pam Grewal ’03 said that she understood many of Barham-Hill’s points but that the golf course issue is ridiculous. Sports Commissioner Nick Grudin ’01 guessed that there is probably more to this situation than they or any student know; he pointed out that the $50 million gift from the Keck institute was probably more compelling than any other factor. Senior Class President Lauren Shawn ’01 asked what the problem was with the 45 acres of land that will still be reserved for the Bernard Field Station–is that not enough? Grewal responded that she asked some biology professors about it and they had said that building on a large portion of the land would destroy the entire ecosystem.

Oken-Berg said that he is troubled by the colleges’ repeated acquiescence to the city’s imperatives, citing the preservation of the golf course, Pomona’s inability to obtain a liquor license for the Café, and police shutting down parties as examples. Kern questioned what a Senate resolution would accomplish.

Lin reminded senators that if they endorsed a resolution against the building of KGI on the BFS, it would be representative of the entire student body and urged them to think carefully before they voted.

Debate ensued and the issue was tabled pending further research.

Commissioner of Academic Affairs Richard Sun ’01 announced the results of his dining hall survey, which indicated a significant demand for a revised and expanded course review procedure; plans for this are already underway. As for the issue of moving the P/NC deadline back to the add deadline, Sun predicted that the proposal will not go through at all and he therefore declared it a non-issue. He reported that the faculty members of the curriculum had rethought their position in light of student sentiment and realized that their reasoning had been irrational.

Lin distributed a three-page sample survey drawn up by members of the 5-C senate designed to ascertain student feelings about the possibility of instituting some form of 5-C judiciary. As policy stands, individuals are always tried at their home schools, regardless of what college the plaintiff attends. On behalf of North Campus Senator Grayson Schaffer ’01 (who was not present), she pointed out that it would be less than desirable for any individual to have to testify at another school and consequently be judged by non-peers. He proposes that there at least be guidelines instituted to provide for an advisor from one’s own college to be present at hearings conducted at other campuses. Lin asked senators if they felt a need for the survey.

Oken-Berg vehemently responded that the survey is a waste of time, and that the notion of a five-college judiciary is stupid and he does not support it. Freshman Class Representative Mike Rush ’04 asserted that there is already a five-college harassment policy in place. Oken-Berg then reiterated his distaste for the survey and the five-college J-board, calling it a waste of time. Grewal said that although the survey might be dumb and the creation of a full five-college judiciary unlikely, it is important that some sort of policy be considered to deal with the issue of testifying at other campuses. Oken-Berg again responded that the question at hand was stupid; he said that the survey dealt with the question of a full five-college J-board, so if they do not support that, they should forget about the survey and just work on whatever other procedure it is they’d like to institute.

Lin explained to senators that ASPC has the option of buying a block of either 400 or 500 good tickets specifically to sell to Pomona students for the Ben Harper concert at Big Bridges on April 6. Oken-Berg asked how good the seats would be, and said that for the Dave Matthews concert two years ago the tickets designated for Pomona students were not so good. He went on to say that he thought 250 tickets would be an adequate block for Pomona students and would lessen the financial risk for ASPC. Commissioner of Communications Harry Ou ’01 pointed out that Harper is really popular and said that 250 tickets would not be enough. South Campus Senator Adam Rick ’02 questioned whether Harper is really so popular that a quarter of the student body would want tickets. Oken-Berg was joined by Mallman in guessing no, but Grewal and Grudin argued adamantly that this event will sell out. A motion was made, seconded, and passed to buy a block of 400 tickets.

Lin then said that the senators could reserve tickets for themselves instead of buying them at the box office like every other student on campus; she pointed out that CMC’s Senate does this for events that they sponsor. Oken-Berg said that although he used to think that senators should be granted this privilege, he has reconsidered his position, especially in light of the fact that not a single member of Senate had anything to do with the planning or execution of this event (the campus center is responsible for it). Mallman disagreed, saying that they all work very hard and for many hours and get no compensation. Grudin proposed that each senator get two tickets (for which they will have to pay but not wait on line). A motion was made, seconded, and passed by a narrow margin.