will address
By LAURA ROMPF
Assistant News Editor
The Student Senate passed resolutions Wednesday night to ensure all students have access to 24-hour space in their dorms. The resolutions also states a uniform policy must be posted in the 24-hour space so rules are consistent from dorm to dorm.
"All residence halls have designated space for 24-hour use, but some dorms do not have adequate facilities and some 24-hour space is shut down when the security monitor leaves," said Lewis Hall senator Luciana Reali. "This conflicts with a statement in DuLac which says all residence halls should have 24-hour space."
"What we're moving for here is uniformity," said Zahm Hall senator Ryan Becker. "We have met with Bill Kirk and Jeff Shoup [of Residence Life] and they agree the rules should be uniform. We want to improve communication with the students."
Sorin Hall senator Kevin Berchou said because some monitors have worked for several years, they are not aware of policy changes and thus rules vary from dorm to dorm.
"We feel it's a problem," Berchou said. "We don't think girls dorms should have different rules from guys dorms and vice versa. There should not be any discrepancies."
Becker said the resolutions aim to accomplish two objectives.
"Overall we want to clarify the policies. The number one thing we want to address is there has to be 24-hour space available in each dorm. Also general conduct should abide by the rules in duLac," said Becker.
Reali said communication with students in a main concern.
Some halls have "two feet on the ground" and "lights on at all times" rules and because these are not clearly defined in DuLac or elsewhere, students are left confused.
Becker said ultimately rectors will have the final say, but the resolutions will aim to have similar policies from dorm to dorm.
"If the rectors want to make rules, that's fine," Becker said. "It's their dorm and they can manage it how they see fit. But it is our goal to work with Student Affairs, Residence Life and the rectors to have uniform rules."
Student body president Brian O'Donoghue informed senators that a similar resolution had been brought to the floor in the Campus Life Council (CLC) last year, but did not receive a two-thirds majority vote for passage.
"You should not pass this resolution," O'Donoghue said. "I think it would be wise to work through the system and try to get your ideas across. If you pass the resolution and it goes to CLC and voted down, then it's dead ... We do not know what that body will do with it, and I'd rather see something done through another avenue."
Reali said she was in CLC last year when the resolution was debated.
"CLC felt there was not adequate research last year," she said. "It was before CLC conducted a survey of rectors and before student senate surveyed students. We have continued that research this year, I hope this would help the resolution pass CLC."
O'Donoghue said the main voices against the resolution last year were the six rectors on the CLC, but senators felt passing the resolution would be a way to work with the rectors, rather than go behind their back.
"I don't think we should circumvent the rectors," said Stanford Hall senator Curt Roberts. "We shouldn't go behind their back and try to work the system, I think we definitely need their support."
"By passing this resolution, we are respectfully submitting our ideas to them," said St. Edward's senator Seth Whetzel. "If we go behind their back, it might make them mad and work against us, rather than with us."
Becker and other senators said if the resolution did not pass through CLC, they would pursue other routes to solve the 24-hour space problem.
"We need to speak up on these issues because we are the voice of the students," Becker said. "If it doesn't pass we will find another way."
"If they turn it down, we'll pursue other avenues. We need to show rectors that we are serious about this issue and we want their support," said Fisher Hall senator Dan Barabas.
Senate unanimously passed both resolutions which will move to the CLC and then to Residence Life for final approval.
In other senate news:
u Bethany Barker told the senate that the sophomore class's new signature event will be an off-campus formal held March 31 at the Century Center. It will be $20 per person and will include a dinner. Each sophomore will receive and invitation and then will have to RSVP.
u Senate passed a by-law that clarifies that the off-campus senator must reside off campus and cannot have an on-campus residence.
u Senate also passed a by-law that said all letters of nomination presented to the senate must be approved by a two-thirds vote. Previously no margin was designated and Pasquerilla West senator Audra Higgins said the oversight committee wanted to fix the situation before there was problem.
u McGlinn senator Melissa Rauch told the senate that there will be 35 computers available in the basement of the library for DARTing this semester.
"I have darted by computer every time, and I think it is much easier. This is a good thing," Rauch said, adding there will be more than enough computers for each designated time slot and consultants to help students with problems.
All News Stories for Thursday, November 2, 2000
