Members discuss the possibility of structural changes
By JASON McFARLEY
Assistant News Editor
At a meeting Monday that may have prompted more concerns than it resolved, Campus Life Council members looked for ways to address problems that have long nagged the organization.
In the midst of some tension, the 75-minute meeting meshed much discussion with relatively few results, before members moved to halt their talks and reconvene at a later date.
The move effectively gives representatives two weeks to reconsider the CLC's mission and role at Notre Dame — issues that didn't bring the council to a consensus on Monday.
"Do we like the current structure of the council, or do we need a new structure?" student body president Brian O'Donoghue asked. "What can we do to redevelop this body?"
O'Donoghue, who didn't link his concerns to any specific incident, said these were questions he has had throughout the year. On Monday, he asked CLC members to come to the meeting prepared to speak openly about their own reservations.
Most of their feedback centered around members' responsibilities on the council.
"I sometimes feel unclear about the role I should have on the council. There are a lot of times when I want to jump in, but I know this is a student-run body, and it's their ballgame," said Sister Mary Ann Mueninghoff, Pasquerilla East Hall rector.
Philosophy professor Ed Manier also expressed some uncertainty about his role on the council. At one point, Manier talked about having a large workload while students are partying near the end of the semester, and the dialogue led to a brief but tense exchange between Manier and Knott Hall rector Brother Jerome Meyer, who mistook Manier's comment as an insult.
Later, other controversy arose as Manier seemed to direct comments at Bill Kirk, assistant vice president for student affairs.
"How can any of us hope to accomplish real change in an environment where student life administrators dictate what we can and cannot do. You can't achieve change in at an institution where there isn't academic freedom," Manier said.
Shortly after, Kirk moved to end discussion and reconvene at the group's next meeting.
At that meeting, members will likely return to other topics that arose Monday — the CLC's taskforce work and the scope of the council's authority.
Many members agreed that the council has been more productive than in recent years.
"I like having task forces to address specific issues. It keeps us focused on a mission," Dillon Hall senator Brendan Dowdall said.
But student body vice president Brooke Norton offered a different perspective.
"The only perceived problem is we're still stagnate. There hasn't been a huge report or concrete results, but that may be because we have such long-term goals," Norton said. "Still, it might be good to do some reports and show that we are being active."
Also in question Monday was the scope of the CLC's authority. O'Donoghue told members that he would consider any matter that affects the Notre Dame community as legitimate fare for the CLC.
Manier said other organizations have an advantage over the CLC because they have clear missions. The CLC establishes goals as needed, Manier said.
O'Donoghue noted that the CLC is a University body under the control of the Office of Student Affairs, and as such, it remains the only body of its type to have public meetings. He asked members to consider whether or not to close meetings, citing past comments from CLC members fearful of making public statements.
In other CLC news:
u O'Donoghue told the CLC that the newly formed Advisory Committee on Academic and Student Life (ACASL) will have its first meeting sometime next week. He said the CLC will remain a body separate from the ACASL.
u Jay Smith, student government chief of staff, said the Office of the Student Body President is sponsoring a student panel Wednesday as part of Martin Luther King activities at Notre Dame. The "Colors of the World" forum will be moderated by University executive vice president Father Tim Scully at 6 p.m. in the Hesburgh Library auditorium.
All News Stories for Tuesday, January 23, 2001
