The Student Assembly last night announced that 16 new iMac computers will soon replace most of the public BlitzMail terminals on campus and overwhelmingly voted to support a resolution urging the College to consider recommendations to increase social and programming space for students.
Student Service Committee Chair Beth Westman '99 said the Kiewit Computation Center has agreed to donate the new iMac computers to the Assembly after discussions throughout Summer term.
Westman told The Dartmouth 15 of the 18 old, outdated public machines currently in place will be removed and replaced by the new iMacs. She said the transfer should take place by the end of this term.
Westman said the one additional terminal gained through the replacement will be placed in Dick's House for student use, pending further discussions with Director of Health Services Jack Turco.
The old computers will be sold through Kiewit with the proceeds being used to purchase new security equipment for the iMacs.
The student space resolution adopted last night contains four main recommendations for College President James Wright and the Board of Trustees:
-- The construction of a new programming building to replace Webster Hall which is currently nearing the completion of its transformation to house the Rauner Special Collections Library.
-- The creation of informal social space.
-- The upgrading of dormitory lounges.
-- The creation and upgrading of spaces available for student organizations.
Unable to give an exact dollar estimate for the proposed changes, former Assembly President and resolution co-sponsor Frode Eilertsen '99 said a new building will cost approximately "three or four million dollars."
Assembly Vice-president and resolution co-sponsor Case Dorkey '99 said he expects the funding for any capital project like a new student building to come from sources other than tuition, and money for the other recommendations to come from budget reallocations.
The Assembly overwhelmingly supported the resolution without any debate. Only Administration and Faculty Relations Committee Chair Jake Shields '99 voted in opposition.
The adopted resolution makes note of the improvements already made to the Collis Center during the tenure of Wright.
Dorkey said the report will be an agenda item on the Trustee's next meeting, and it already has the support of many faculty and administrators.
The Assembly also saw new Assembly Parliamentarian James Pfadenhauer '00 preside over his first meeting last night, after being selected by Dean of Student Life Holly Sateia last week.
The parliamentarian oversees each meeting to ensure proper Assembly Constitutional order is being followed.
"I guess I have experience running meetings. I was an intern at the [Rockefeller Center] and had to run a lot of meetings," Pfadenhauer told The Dartmouth.
He also said he has never been involved in the Assembly and brings with him impartiality.
Pfadenhauer said he has spent his time since his appointment reading through the Assembly Constitution and thinks "the document, for the most part, fits its purpose well."
Pfadenhauer replaces Jason Rubinstein '00 who is now serving as a voting Assembly member.
