The Task Force on Social Life Implementation Committee recommended last week the College establish an ongoing committee to change the allocation of campus space and policies that restrict current programming and social options for students.
The recommendations, which have been submitted to Dean of the College Lee Pelton, are a result of suggestions made by the Task Force on Social Life.
"There is obviously work that needs to be done, and I think that the report and the recommendations have given us a focus," Dean of Student Life and Implementation Committee chair Holly Sateia said.
Sateia said the opening of the Kresge Fitness Center, an expansion of student activities and the creation of a mechanism for annually increasing programming funds have been some of the most important changes made since the Task Force submitted its report in April 1997.
The Implementation Committee "really wanted to look at fully utilizing the Collis Center," Sateia said. "We're doing this in response to the fact that so many of our students are up late at night, and they want a hang-out space."
She said extending the hours would only satisfy students if food were available while Collis was open -- so the committee would like to consider options for expanding the food services in Collis.
Sateia said the committee also recommended replacing the programming space previously available in Webster Hall, along with considering options in other spaces, including Thayer dining hall, the Alumni Gym and the Bema.
The committee also would like the College to consider creating a "common house" -- a student-owned, non-exclusive facility that could be used for programming without oversight from the administration, Sateia said.
"It would be similar to the space that is currently occupied by fraternities and sororities, but it would not be an exclusive space, where you would have to be a member to use it," she said.
Committee member Kristina Klebe '01 said it may be difficult to implement some of the recommendations.
She said many groups must approve the changes, and money for creating social spaces and programming opportunities is scarce.
"I feel like [the administrators] don't have the same interest as we do, and the people who do have the same interest can't persuade just anybody to finance some random idea," she said.
Klebe said students also disagree about which changes the College should make.
The committee would also like the College to be more responsive to the needs of minority students, she said.