Controversy surrounds report to Board of Trustees
By FINN PRESSLY
Assistant News Editor
The Senate, the representative body of the Student Union, voted unanimously to expel members of the public, including representatives from campus media, from a portion of its meeting last night to discuss the Board of Trustees report.
The motion to close the meeting was brought forward by McGlinn senator Meredith Sonnycalb.
The topic of the report, presented to the senate by Dan Peate and Brian Smith, addresses the Catholic character of the University, and whether or not Notre Dame's mission statement is adaquately implemented on all levels of student life.
"It doesn't reflect my views at all," said Fisher senator Phil Dittmar.
Many of the senators had points of contention regarding the report, including the College of Science's commitment to religion.
Senate parliamentarian Stephen Sanchez explained, however, that the aim of the report was simply to examine how the University mission statement affects daily student experience.
Keough senator Brian O'Donoghue explained that the report had already been sent to the trustees and that it is not within the purview of the senate to make changes to the report.
"We approved the topic last spring and basically said, `OK, kids, run with it,'" said O'Donoghue.
This has been the first year that senators have received a copy of the report at all, according to student body vice president Michael Palumbo. The report was provided, he said, so that the comments brought forth by the senators at the meeting could be integrated into the presentation of the report to the trustees next Thursday.
The motion to close the meeting immediately preceded adjournment of the Senate. Among the three members of the public removed was Dan Peate, who co-authored the report.
On condition of anonymity, one senator confirmed that following the closure of the meeting, senators continued to discuss the Board of Trustees report, though no legislation was passed concerning the report.
In other Senate news:
u Amy Szestak, chairperson of the ad hoc SafeRide committee, addressed the Senate to update them on the committee's progress.
"We believe SafeRide should be continued," she said, highlighting recent assaults and the hit and run accident on St. Peter Street as examples of why the University needs SafeRide.
Among the propsals discussed by the committee is the possibility of having paid positions on the SafeRide staff.
"We think this would help alleviate some of the problems we've had with accountability in the past," said Szestak.
She said that SafeRide would most likely return for two nights a weekend, and depending on demand, possibly extend those days to include Thursday night.
Carroll senator Patrick O'Donnell asked whether or not the committee had discussed an earlier proposal to operate SafeRide as a shuttle service.
"We don't think it would be the most feasible idea," she said, adding concerns that it would act as a bar to bar shuttle, which is not why SafeRide originated.
Szestak expressed optimism that the new SafeRide would be in place next semester.
u Lyons senator Jill Boroniec and the Residence Life committee reported the results of their meeting with the directors of Notre Dame's dining halls, Recker's, and the Huddle.
Boroniec said that they were particularly concerned with student offenses at Recker's.
"After hours they're still having problems with people verbally abusing staff," she said. In addition, an ottoman and barstool have been stolen from the facility.
Shoplifting from the Huddle has also increased dramatically, she said, prompting them to closely monitor security cameras throughout the store.
"If need be, they'll start pressing formal charges," she said.
u The senate decided to pass three resolutions concerning profit allocations from "The Shirt" program and senate attendance. The third resolution officially changed the name of the freshman class council chairperson to freshman class president.
All News Stories for Thursday, October 7, 1999
