Bishop to deliver report
By MEGHANNE DOWNES
Associate News Writer
Libby Bishop, Student Union president, delivers her Board of Trustees report at the board's winter meeting today in Naples, Fla.
Bishop said the report, an update on hall dances and an overview of social life at Notre Dame, would review the status of hall dances and the trend of the direction in which these dances are headed.
"I made it clear that students had a negative view on the loss of in hall dances because it led to a loss of traditions," said Bishop. "I said how the costs were high and what the challenges for dance commissioners were."
A portion of the report is devoted to Notre Dame's social climate, said Bishop. Bishop said she listened to the views of the freshman class council regarding social life and these views confirmed her belief that throughout her time at Notre Dame an increasing number of freshmen leave campus for social activities. Bishop said freshmen were disillusioned about hall dances because upperclassmen harbored negative sentiments towards the new policy.
"When students have a negative attitude about social life on campus, the attitude becomes reflected in their actions, their comments to peers, and results in increasing the trend of students going off campus," said Libby Bishop, in her Board of Trustee's report.
Bishop, in her report, states her purpose for the report is to offer ideas to "improve hall dances,"improve the "social atmosphere in residence halls" and to address moving away from the "alcohol-centered activity often being at the core of Notre Dame social life."
In her conclusion Bishop said, "The majority of students would like the dances to be able to be held in their residence halls again."
Bishop said students want in-hall dances in order to renew the importance and traditions in residence halls and not to see the return of hard alcohol or wild parties.
Bishop said in her report the other rules from the changed alcohol policy would still be effective if dances were returned and provided alternative suggestions.
"If the Office of Student Affairs does not view returning the dances back to the residence halls as a viable solution at this point, then students must be willing to work with the administration on making the hall dances as successful as possible within the framework of the new policy," said Bishop's report.
Bishop said that a student's commitment to be flexible must be met by the administrations promise to provide additional funding and resources.
Senate passed a resolution at Monday's emergency meeting directing Bishop to ask for dances to be brought back for a one-year probationary period. Bishop must sign the resolution within one week for it to be adopted and if not Senate may adopt the resolution by passing it again. Bishop did not include Senate's proposal in the report.
All News Stories for Thursday, February 6, 2003
