The University creates a new
By JASON McFARLEY
Assistant News Editor
University President Father Edward Malloy recently announced the nine appointed and elected representatives who will head up the new Academic and Student Life Advisory Committee (ASLAC).
ASLAC members include Notre Dame students, faculty and staff members. University provost Nathan Hatch and vice president for student affairs Father Mark Poorman serve as co-chairs for the committee.
The ASLAC was established by Malloy in the fall at the recommendation of the University's Ad Hoc Committee on Academics and Student Life. Some members have held their positions on the ASLAC since late last semester.
According to Sister Pat Thomas, the new body will continue exploring the relationship between academics and student life on campus.
"These are two parts of [the students'] world that really do belong together. They don't have to be separate," said the Walsh Hall rectress, who was elected by her colleagues to a three-year term on the committee.
Junior Holt Zeidler and sophomore Phil Slonkosky believe working on the ASLAC will provide an opportunity for different segments of the campus community to communicate with each other.
They said the committee will effectively bring together views from students, faculty and administrators.
Both Zeidler and Slonkosky think their primary function on the committee is to represent student concerns.
"I hope to be representative of any concerns that students may have," said Slonkosky, who was appointed by Malloy to a year-long term on the ASLAC.
Zeidler, who was elected by the Hall Presidents Council to a one-year term, noted several issues he plans to highlight once the committee's work begins.
One of his concerns involves improving the on-campus scene for students inclined to venture off campus on weekends.
"We need to look at ways to integrate off-campus activities on campus," he said.
Zeidler also hopes to make job fairs and Career Center endeavors more effective, possibly by utilizing Notre Dame alumni and their resources.
Last year, amid talk that the ASLAC would replace the Campus Life Council (CLC), University officials announced that the bodies would have separate tasks and functions.
On Tuesday, Thomas, who also serves on the CLC, was hesitant to discuss what the differences between the two organizations will be.
"It's going to take time," she said. "We [ASLAC] members need to establish our ground rules."
The committee's first meeting is March 5. Two other meetings are planned before the end of the semester.
Thomas, Zeidler and Slonkosky will serve with six other ASLAC members: physics professor Ani Aprahamian and psychology professor George Howard, elected by the faculty to three-year terms; Keenan Hall rector Father Gary Chamberland, elected by Notre Dame rectors to a three-year term; junior Luciana Reali, elected by the student senate to a one-year term; and Dean of the College of Engineering Frank Incropera and director of the University Counseling Center Patrick Utz, appointed by Malloy to one-year terms.
All News Stories for Thursday, February 1, 2001
