Acting Dean of the College Dan Nelson announced yesterday that Freshman Class President Josh Warren has been selected to become an additional member of the Residential and Social Life Task Force.
Nelson had previously selected eight students to serve on the task force, but no member of the Class of 2002 was among the original group. At its first meeting on Wednesday, the members decided Nelson should select a first-year student to participate.
Despite additional student concerns about a disproportionately low Greek representation on the committee, the task force has not yet decided to add more fraternity and sorority members although it has not concluded its membership evaluation process.
The task force is designed to compile community opinions and ideas about the controversial initiatives announced last week by the Board of Trustees.
"We're not there to represent different people but naturally I'm there to help get ideas from first-year students," Warren said of his inclusion.
He said he is excited to serve on the task force but worries "a lot of students are going to come up with a lot of good ideas ... and the ideas won't become a reality."
Warren said it is important to get freshman input since they will be at the College the longest and "have the most stake" in the changes made.
"Even though I don't belong to a Greek house my sentiments are definitely with them ... It seems contradictory to want more student-controlled social space and then try to close down the only existing student-controlled social space," Warren said.
"The Greek system is not at odds with the goals but the fact that they're the only system is not the best for this campus," Warren said. "There needs to be more options but they can't come as substitutes."