The Residential and Social Life Task Force met for the second time yesterday, and discussed the coordination of their efforts with other campus groups and the collection of student and College staff proposals.
Acting Dean of the College Dan Nelson told The Dartmouth yesterday that the task force plans to contact every campus organization to "encourage their participation in the process and their thinking about the five principles." Nelson hopes that every member of the College -- students, faculty, and staff -- will participate in discussion about the Trustees' initiatives.
During the meeting, task force members decided to write letters to various campus organizations explaining how they can submit proposals to the task force. The task force also created a BlitzMail account and BlitzMail bulletin board -- "Residential and Social Life Task Force" -- to allow students, faculty and staff to read and submit ideas and proposals.
Nelson said the task force also discussed organizing and advertising discussion forums for conversation about the Trustees' initiatives. The task force also plans to help advertise other campus organizations' events concerning the proposed residential and social life changes.
Although the task force had planned to discuss the addition of new members to balance student viewpoints, the discussion was delayed until next week's meeting. Nelson said the task force members felt there could be a more in-depth discussion of the issue if the conversation occurred next week.
Coed Fraternity Sorority Council President and task force member Jaimie Paul '00 said she thinks the task force's student makeup is "pretty good."
"I think the amount of people [on the task force] is great," she said. "I think the makeup is pretty good -- I don't think it will ever be perfect."
Task force member Aaron Akamu '01 said the task force meetings are very relaxed and even non-members are permitted to sit in on meetings if they wish.
According to Nelson, the task force's job is to serve as a conduit between the Board of Trustees and students, faculty, and alumni. The task force will help facilitate campus discussion and pass on the student sentiment to the Trustees.
Although Nelson said he wants the task force to facilitate discussion, he said he does not want the task force to be the sole provider of discussion on the issues.
"We are not at all interested in trying to have ownership or control of the discussion that happens on campus," Nelson said. "We want to encourage it, provide assistance ... and [insure] there is a space or forum for every voice."
Task force member and Student Assembly President Josh Green '00 said he thinks the task force will serve its defined purpose, but he hopes that there will be more resources for student discussion.
"It is clear that the task force is not going to be the end-all-be-all of student input -- at least I hope it isn't," he said. "I believe the students need to have advocates. Students need to have the opportunity to argue for what they believe in."
Green said he believes the five Working Groups -- discussion groups created to facilitate discussion on the Trustees' five outlined principles -- are the "first step toward filling the void" created by a lack of student advocacy groups.
Paul said she thinks the task force is "moving in the right direction by shaping [students'] visions."
"I hope that by using all of our resources -- students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, administrators from other colleges -- we can help students think of every idea possible and then shape their proposals," Paul said.
Akamu said the task force is doing what he expected.
"It's been such an abrupt process, but we're slowly going to have concrete results," he said.
Nelson said the task force will meet once more before the end of the term next week.
