Editors' note: Halfway through Winter term, The Dartmouth takes a midterm report of Student Assembly and its recent developments.
In what may prove to result in an important artistic addition to the College, the Student Assemblylast month passed a resolution to unveil boarded-up stained-glass windows containing Christian religious imagery in Rollins Chapel.
The Assembly leadership handled what could have been a controversial proposal with awareness and diplomacy toward all religious groups who would be affected by the unveiling.
Members of the Assembly's Committee on Student Organizations met with Hillel executives to assure that this unveiling would not affect Jewish High Holy Day services annually held in the Chapel. Furthermore, the Assembly assured the student body that all religious groups would be able to view the windows before any large-scale restoration took place.
Lobbying for student rights, the Assembly dealt with the issue of student rights and privacy violations in a diplomatic manner as well. Assembly members have sustained dialogue with students, as well as with Safety and Security officers, Dick's House and the Hanover Police Department on how to best create a sense of trust among the groups. This type of communication has led to various projects that will alleviate concerns of violations.
A prominent feature of this term's Assembly has been strong leadership, while at the same time, the delegation of authority to committee heads. Within committees, members have been encouraged to voice their opinions and promote new projects.
The Executive Committee of the Assembly recently reinstated the Privacy Taskforce, an ad hoc committee created last spring.
Moreover, there seems to be a balance of veteran and novice members of all ages within the committees, and a desire to involve other campus organizations within committee projects.
To promote knowledge and awareness of students' basic rights, the Assembly -- with the help of the Dartmouth Civil Liberties Union -- has set out to print cards enumerating their rights in situations both on and off campus and to draft an updated student bill of rights.
The Assembly has also initiated a committee that investigates the use of excessive force by Safety and Security officers and by Hanover Police.
And putting student funds to use, the Assembly voted on a number of proposals that would allocate various services to students, including the long-awaited return of a modified Big Green Bean Caf, the institution of DASH in dorm vending machines and the funded-maintenance of climbing holds in Daniels Climbing Gym.
