The Student Assembly External Review Committee has finished its one-month research period and in the next two weeks will hammer out its recommendations to reform the Assembly.
Class of 1995 Vice President Hosea Harvey, who chairs the committee, said the group's final report will be much like a research paper because it will include both recommendations and research.
The report "will represent a cohesive unit, which we hope will [be passed by the Assembly] in its entirety," Harvey said.
He said it is premature to discuss specific recommendations the committee will make. The committee was formed at the beginning of the term and charged with reviewing the current structure of the Assembly and providing recommendations for improving its communication with the student body and the way it attends students' needs.
Harvey said the committee will hold an informational session for current and future Assembly members on Sunday. The Assembly is scheduled to vote on the committee's recommendations on May 16.
During the last month, the committee surveyed around 300 students, who represented a broad cross-section of the College, Harvey said.
The survey results indicated students have a "lack of information about all aspects of Student Assembly," he said. Some suggestions students offered include having a quarterly newsletter or holding Assembly meetings in different residence halls, Harvey said.
Steve Fagell '95, a member of the review committee, said the survey results were varied and indicated some students are happy with the Assembly while others are "disillusioned."
The committee has also held two "focus groups" with students. Harvey said the committee held a "provocative" meeting with Assembly Vice President John Honovich '97, Assembly President-elect Jim Rich '96 and Assembly Vice President-elect Kelii Opulauoho '96.
Harvey said the committee held another focus group with student leaders including Assembly President Rukmini Sichitiu '95 and Assembly members Grace Chionuma '96, Brandon del Pozo '96 and Scott Rowekamp '97.
"It provided the committee with the chance to learn about the problems of student government," Harvey said. The discussions also allowed the committee to "gauge the polarizing issues," he added.
Such polarizing issues include what representative system is best for the Assembly, and whether the Assembly should concentrate on projects or policies, Harvey said.
Fagell said the focus groups were well attended and said the committee was "very pleased with the level of information [it] was able to get from students."
Harvey said students have presented many innovative ideas to the committee including incorporating other student structures -- like the Undergraduate Finance Committee -- into the Student Assembly. The UFC appropriates the money raised by the $35 a term Student Activity Fee to different organizations.Harvey said the committee has also reviewed the constitutions of four Ivy League student governments and student governments at other schools in Northern New England.
Harvey said the committee sent a survey asking studentsat different universities about their student governments. The survey, which was sent "as far away as Duke," received a "great response," Harvey said.
Members of the committee also talked to student government leaders at other colleges, Harvey said.
So far this term, Fagell said, "We've been involved in a lot of fact finding." But now the fact-finding is over, though Harvey said the committee will continue its discussions with students.
"We want as many different opinions represented as possible in the decision making process," Harvey said.
Between now and mid-May, Harvey said the committee will increase its meetings from twice a week to between three and four times a week.
The committee, which was selected by Harvey, includes three Assembly members and three non-Assembly members.
The three non-Assembly members are Fagell '95, Hadley Mullin '96, who co-wrote Kappa Delta Epsilon sorority's constitution, and Kytja Weir '98, a member of the crew team.
Class of 1997 Vice President Matt Schafer '97, Assembly Communications Committee co-Chair Alex Morgan '95 and former Assembly Treasurer Ben Hill '98 are Assembly representatives on the committee.
