The Student Assembly's Fall-term agenda includes several small projects as well as an examination of some College policy issues.
Assembly Vice President of Communications Jonah Sonnenborn '99 said this year's Assembly will continue to focus on student services.
The Assembly has already provided many of these services, such as the completion of the Mug Shots facebook, the ride board in the Hopkins Center, suicide hotline stickers and soap dispensers in residence hall bathrooms and the "free stuff" distributed last week including local coupons, Fruitopia beverages and toiletry items, he said.
Sonnenborn said more student services are on their way, including the Student Advantage Cards, the annual Assembly dining guide and intra-campus phones installed on the first floor of all residence halls.
This year's Assembly will investigate the "structure of fines imposed by the College," as well as look into DarTalk, the campus telephone system, Sonnenborn said.
Assembly President Jon Heavey '97 said although it is still in the preliminary stages, next year's DarTalk may eliminate its monthly $15 charges and instead spread out the service cost among all campus residents, which Heavey predicts will be less than what students currently pay.
Heavey added the Assembly would also like to work with Dartmouth Dining Services Director Pete Napolitano to improve the revamped dining system.
Sonnenborn said another Assembly objective is to work with the administration to "re-evaluate the Dash card and see if it is working or if there are still ways to improve it and simplify it."
The Assembly plans to place more emphasis on its community service committee this year, after it abandoned the committee midway through last year, he said. The Assembly plans to participate in the Ivy League Blood Drive and coordinate a Habitat for Humanity weekend for the Assembly.
Although this year's Assembly will focus on student services, it will continue to examine some critical policy issues with the administration.
"One of the major objectives for the year is to put a student on the Board of Trustees" to directly discuss student issues during Board meetings, Sonnenborn said.
Heavey said many Assembly members are determined to push to get a student on the Board. "If not a vote, just a voice," he said.
Sonnenborn said the Assembly will also continue to look into ways it can show support for the education department, which faces elimination.
Heavey said he and other members of the Assembly will be speaking with members of the social sciences committee about the changes in the department. He said he thinks it is important to keep students informed as to the reasons why it may be eliminated.
"If students can see reasonable reasons and if they see that they can still have a teacher prep program, then ... it is easier for students to make their own opinions," Heavey said.
"Realistically, there is not a lot we can do," Heavey said. "We can petition and have meetings, but ultimately it is out of our hands. The best we can do is inform the student body."
The Assembly is working with the administration to develop a policy about holding events on the Green. The idea emerged Spring term when the annual Native American Pow Wow took place in Thompson Arena instead of the Green.
"Everyone thinks of the Green as part of the College," Sonnenborn said. "Everyone should have the right to use it, whether to sit and study on the grass or for an ethnic group to celebrate its heritage."
He said the Assembly wants to ensure "anyone who wants to do something on the Green has that right."
Sonnenborn said the Assembly is looking into the creation of an ethnic studies department. The proposal stems from the incidents of hate speech last Winter term and were discussed at a town meeting and a rally. "We thought it might be time to form an interdisciplinary department to deal with these issues," Sonnenborn said.
The Assembly will also continue its evaluation of undergraduate advising.
