Committee may be dissolved, revamped
By HELENA RAYAM
News Writer
The dissolution or change in function of the Campus Life Council (CLC) is a possibility for the future, as members debated this and other last minute issues at the final meeting of the CLC of the school year Monday.
"If this body [continues to] exist, there is work to do," said Brian O'Donoghue, student body president. A current proposal by the Academic Council recommends the formation a new council that will address similar issues to those of the CLC.
The proposal's main recommendation calls for the formation of an advisory committee to the president of student affairs comprised of student, faculty and administrators.
This new Advisory Committee will operate by "bringing the key players to the table — the students, faculty, and administrators — to talk about the problems and tensions that exist between academic and student life," said Michael Palumbo, outgoing student body vice president.
Though the recommendation does not explicitly announce the dissolution of the CLC, some members questioned if the CLC would still be a viable council and if the advisory council would tackle comparable topics.
The Academic Council, chaired by Father Edward Malloy, submitted the proposal to the CLC for its review, but also to make them aware that the Officer's Group will meet in August to make more final decisions on the formation of the Advisory Council.
"He does not want to dissolve the CLC without another [council] to take its place," said O'Donoghue.
"I think he's trying to get a sense of whether those who sit on this body think this is a good idea because they are the ones most affected," said student body vice president elect Brooke Norton.
O'Donoghue said the Advisory Council would have a different "channel of communication" with more administrators.
The new Council's structure would differ from that of the CLC, having 18 members with six student, faculty and administrative members to look at student and academic issues.
As members discussed their support or concern about the new Advisory Council, there was uncertainty as to how the new Council would directly affect the CLC. Because the school year is ending, the CLC will not know the progress of the Officer's Group decision for three months.
"We want to be able to deliberate before the August meeting, but … the timing is bad," said outgoing student body president Micah Murphy.
"Essentially, what [the Officer's Group and Father Malloy] are looking for is our input before a final decision," said O'Donoghue.
One concern of some CLC members was the reduction in the number of students on the Advisory Committee as compared the CLC, which has 13 students, one administrator, six rectors and two faculty members.
"This Ad Hoc committee also requires the same thing only lessening the number of students," said off-campus senator Pat Foy.
"We'll have our voice diminished," said Murphy, referring to the situation where the new Advisory Council replaces the CLC.
Palumbo brought up the point that a council with administrators on it would decrease the number of necessary recommendations because the administrators would be accessible to address those concerns.
"I can't see this group talking about the same things that we do," said Bill Kirk, vice president of Student Affairs. He gave examples of the parking and ATM resolutions passed previously this year.
Kirk and others did say there was a fundamental problem with the CLC.
"We get diverted way too often with procedural matters," said Kirk.
Faculty Senate member Professor Edward Manier also expressed his problem with procedures, but said that he supported the Advisory Committee as a replacement of CLC because the faculty voice would be heard.
"This body was supposed to talk about academic and residential concerns and academics always take the back burner," said Ava Preacher, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Letters.
Sympathizing with Preacher, St. Edward Hall's rector Father Dave Scheidler expressed his own sentiments and those other rectors while trying to represent the students on committees and councils with more faculty and administrators.
"Sometimes we feel truncated," said Scheidler. "Maybe the effectiveness of the CLC could increase by narrowing its focus."
With fewer issues on its table, the CLC would not step on the toes of a newly formed Advisory Council, but continue to address campus life issues.
At the conclusion of the meeting, CLC members voted against a proposal for the immediate implementation of the new Advisory Council, but the majority of the members want to get more information and to deliberate on the status of the CLC at a later date.
In other CLC News:
u The Faculty Senate submitted a resolution about clarifying language in duLac and "The Source," especially with regard to disciplinary hearings.
"Some student organizations have academic purpose. They have to be free to discuss without concern that their discussions will be subject to reprimand," said Manier.
u The resolution was not passed because of possible discrepancies in the clauses of the resolution.
All News Stories for Tuesday, May 2, 2000
