In his officer report, President Ryan Park '05 talked about a College Council discussion centered on potentially changing the college's fraternity policy. On the topic of whether or not Resident Counselors (RCs) should be allowed to be members of fraternities Park reported that the Council decided that upperclass RCs should be permitted membership, but first-year RCs should not. Senator Matthew Vanneman '06 questioned how the college could permit RCs to belong to fraternities, if, technically, there are no fraternities at the College. Park noted that the Council is handling this contradiction-a new policy on fraternities will allow administrators to acknowledge the fraternities while making clear their disapproval of and lack of support for the groups. This policy change would have the added benefit, said Park, of "quell[ing] the false advertising issue."
Treasurer Ian Shin '06 announced that there were no discretionary requests this week, and that club fall budget appeals are currently underway. Shin said that the BC has allocated approximately $136,000 in club budgets and has set aside about $47,000 for discretionary purposes.
The senate then revisited a constitutional amendment proposed by Senator Joshua Stein '08 that would require any student-initiated referendum, prior to receiving any signatures, to be submitted to the Judiciary Council (JC), who would review its language for constitutionally and issue non-binding recommendations. Additionally, the student initiating the question or amendment for referendum would need to obtain signatures from at least 10 percent of each class of the student body. Despite some skepticism, Stein's amendment generally met with favorable opinions. Senator Spencer Robins '08 stated that a "meet[ing] with a non-binding voice" would be invaluable to the process and that it would "really make the whole post-referendum process a lot easier [by] streamlining the process." The senate ultimately passed the amendment.
While discussing new business, Park brought up several issues that he wanted to see in the Senate Orders. First, Park was disturbed by the "constant talking" among senators during meetings, and he felt that requiring them to sit in the first three rows only of the Red Room would minimize noise distractions and would help to expedite long meetings. Senator Daniel Reiss '05, however, vehemently disagreed with the suggestion. He said that talking is an active and integral part of being a senator and that restricting senators to the first three rows impedes their ability to converse with other senators about new business. Reiss emphasized that this was little more than "extremely pedantic ... third grade assigned seating." Needing a majority to pass, the proposed senate order failed.
Park then discussed his second proposed order, which would address the BC policy of not funding food. He explained that although it cuts costs, events are not attended if they are without food. Avi Das '07, however, did not think this was something that should go into the Senate Orders. "This particular BC doesn't like funding food," he said. The senate failed to create a senate order about the BC funding food.
The senate then discussed potentially writing a letter that would endorse an AAS stance on limiting Five College student use of Amherst computer facilities, particularly in the Media Center in Frost Library. Park said that he thought it would be a good idea to lock computers to guests during busy hours and that, in this way, the Five College Consortium hurts Amherst students.
Reiss asked if there was any way signs could be put up that would say that certain computers were for Amherst students only, but JC Chair Ryan Smith '07 said that signs don't work, as Amherst students don't ask others to get off computers. Das thought that a letter was a good idea, and that, at the very least, it wouldn't hurt, but Senator Boris Bulayev '07 questioned the impact such a letter would have on our Five College relations.
Park responded that at Smith College, computer usage by Five College students was already restricted, so endorsing restrictions here would be no different. Senator Emily Silberstein '06 pointed out that there were already focus groups dealing with these very Information Technology issues, and that she felt that the senate ought to wait until the end of the week when the focus group report was finished before writing a letter of any sort.
Park asserted that he intended to write a letter anyway, and that, technically, the senate was only debating whether or not the letter would be endorsed by the AAS. The senate passed the motion to allow Park to sign his letter on behalf of the AAS.
Vice President Dave Scherr '05 removed Avery Armour '08 from the senate to due to excessive absences. The meeting was then closed to all non-senators so that senate members could choose this year's recipient of the AAS distinguished faculty member award.