At a meeting marked by the presence of more than 30 non-Student Assembly members, the Assembly voted overwhelmingly last night to pass an unusual resolution endorsing a set of its own Five Principles for enhancing student voice at the College, closely mimicking the set of residential and social life principles put forth by the Board of Trustees in February.
The Assembly's resolution of student involvement -- passed 43 to five -- rings a familiar tone to students by reflecting the language and the format that the Board of Trustees used to announce its controversial Five Principles to overhaul social and residential life at the College.
"I realized student involvement is the issue I care about most, and it affects all aspects of Dartmouth life. As an institution, Dartmouth should be teaching students to take responsibility for their community, and right now it is failing to do that," Assembly President Josh Green '00 said.
Sponsored by Green and Vice President Case Dorkey '99, the resolution reflects Green's column printed in The Dartmouth last term in which he criticized the lack of student voice at the College.
"We're looking for some sort of institutionalization of students. Whether it's the Assembly or some other organization, it's time for students to have a real, recognized voice at this College," Green said.
The Assembly's Five Principles:
-
There should be greater representation and roles for students to participate in College Committees and a student-defined selection process.
-
There should be additional and improved student life funding controlled by students.
-
The Board of Trustees should be substantially inclusive of students and the process of selecting the Board should provide opportunities for participation by all Dartmouth students.
-
The incorporation of student input in the tenure process should be increased.
-
The improper use and abuse of authority due to a lack of direct student involvement should be eliminated.
Mocking College President James Wright's comments when the Five Principles were announced, Green told The Dartmouth, "This is not a referendum on these things. We are committed to doing this."
Green said Dorkey will chair a task force and select administrators to participate on it. The task force will be charged with finding procedures to implement the principles listed on the Assembly's resolution.
"We have been a little more antagonistic, but the truth is what we did before didn't work, and I'm willing to try something new," Green said of recent efforts to incorporate student voice in institutional affairs.
Green said the resolution highlights areas in which student voice is lacking and is meant to give the administration options for improving the situation in language it can understand.
To complement the resolution, a letter authored by Green will be sent to all Hinman Boxes by Thursday.
"The letter is to put the Assembly's Five Principles in context and should serve as somewhat of a road map to spur student involvement. We are not only trying to put them in one place for the Trustees, but so that students can realize now is the time to impact involvement," Communications Chair Lauren Lafaro '02 said.
Last night's meeting was characterized by an atmosphere of approval for the resolution.
"I think this [resolution] does a lot in two ways. First, when people get [the letter] in their Hinman Box and start laughing, it will draw attention and interest students. Secondly, the administration is playing dumb on not knowing how to involve students, and we can hammer out real ideas and ways the administration can involve students," Chair of Student Services Beth Westman '99 said.
Assembly member Scott Jacobs '99 said, "We're saying we're just as serious about student empowerment, just as they are about social and residential life."
Some disagreement existed over whether or not phrasing the resolution in the Trustee's format was appropriate.
"The best way to respond is not to send something like their principles back [to the Trustees], but to send something that is clear and direct and that shows thought; however, I do think this is ingenious and a good first step," Assembly member Sam Reisner '02 said.
The Assembly is also drafting a press release for The Boston Globe, mirroring the manner in which the Trustees suddenly announced their goals on social and residential life as well as to alert the outside world to student response to the Trustee's initiative, Lafaro said.
