Executive Committee of the Student Body

Minutes from the October 27, 2009 Executive Committee Meeting

1. President Eric Hoffman called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
2. The EC met with the SFHB ad hoc Review Committee to discuss ways to improve the SFHB.
3. Hoffman adjourned the meeting into closed session at 7:01pm.
4. Hoffman reopened the meeting at 8:25pm.
5. Hoffman informed the EC of his discussion with Dean Dodson earlier this week regarding making procedural improvements to the University Board of Appeals. They discussed ways to engage current UBA members in the process to clarify their current procedures. The EC also discussed preparing a written proposal for reforms and suggested changes to the UBA. This will be an ongoing process over the next few months.
6. IFC President Garrott McClintock came to discuss ways to improve the SFHB. McClintock spoke in his individual capacity and made clear that his views did not necessarily represent those of every fraternity.
7. Hoffman adjourned the meeting into closed session at 8:38pm.
8. Hoffman reopened the meeting at 8:56pm.
9. Hoffman discussed logistics for the Reasonableness Project, an information-gathering project to solicit accounts from students about their interactions with local police. The goal of the project is to present a comprehensive report of these accounts to city and county leadership so that any problem areas regarding police reasonableness can be addressed. Hoffman informed the EC that he will present further logistics details, such as questions to be asked and ways to solicit student information, at the next EC meeting.
10. The EC discussed the idea of having an on-campus center to care for intoxicated students, so that local police could bring intoxicated students to campus for care instead of making arrests for Drunk in Public violations. The idea stemmed from comments raised at the Alcohol and the Law Forum a few weeks ago, in that a main reason why local police make DIP arrests is because there is not a local center for intoxicated persons to receive supervision. In response to an idea suggested by Dean Watkins, the EC decided to research information from peer institutions about this issue to investigate any benefits or consequences from adopting this model. Scott Centorino, Bill Larson, Jill Morris, Kenneth Hopkins, Austin Branstetter, and Scott McClintock will spearhead this for the EC.
11. Vice President Scott Centorino reported that the Dormstorm Taskforce is working with Facilities Management to set up a viewing of the Powerpoint presentation regarding the 10-year¬plan and student housing.
12. The Amicus Bovis Project (Hoffman) announced that he and Dining Services met with a representative from the Roanoke Chick-fil-A. Hoffman informed the EC that the Project is waiting on a response from the Chick-fil-A corporation regarding beginning discussions for an agreement.
13. Hoffman announced that he met with Teri Cugliari, Assoc. Director of Student Activities and Greek Life, and proposed that the EC to work with her Office to create an online location where students can fill out a single form to seek both Student Body Recognition and recognition from the Office of Student Activities. Once organizations have completed the joint form, they will still need to be approved respectively by the EC and the Office of Student Activities, but will be able to fill out one streamlined application form. The EC approved of this plan.
14. Hoffman proposed an amendment to the White Book, which the EC unanimously voted to pass. The proposal is available below. White Book Amendments must pass in two consecutive meetings to go into effect.
15. Hoffman adjourned the meeting into closed session at 9:20pm.
16. Hoffman reopened the meeting at 9:40pm.
17. Hoffman adjourned the meeting at 9:40pm.

White Book Amendment: The Pledge

Current Text, p. 3: "During orientation every student must sign a White Pledge Card. This is a student's first pledge as a member of the Washington and Lee community. It expresses that the student has been through an orientation program on the Honor System, understands the contents of the Honor System White Book, and will abide by the Honor System."

Proposed Change, p. 3: "During orientation every new student must sign the Honor Book. This is a student's first pledge as a member of the Washington and Lee community. It expresses that the student has been through an orientation program on the Honor System, has received a copy of the Honor System White Book, and will abide by the Honor System."

Rationale: The 2009-2010 EC has replaced the process of having new students sign pledge cards with the process of having new students sign the Honor Book. This amendment serves to memorialize this change in the White Book to accurately reflect current practices.

Summary of Executive Committee Honor Activity for the 2009-2010 Academic Year:

Investigations: 1

Withdraw in the face of Closed Hearing: 0

Closed Hearings: 0

Guilty Verdicts in a Closed Hearing: 0

Not Guilty Verdicts in a Closed Hearing: 0

Student Body Hearings: 0

1. President Eric Hoffman called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
2. Amy Heard, class of 2013, came to the EC to discuss her idea for a new student organization. The organization, modeled after a program at her high school, would accept students' used textbooks and then distribute books out for the next semester to students based on how many they contributed to the exchange.
3. Hoffman presented language to be used to solicit student accounts of interactions with the local police for the EC's Reasonableness Project. The EC will create a page on its website for students to easily submit these accounts.
4. Secretary Bill Larson met with Dean Watkins for the Student Safety First taskforce to discuss the feasibility of establishing a safe location on campus where students can be taken by local police instead of being arrested for being drunk in public. The taskforce will solicit information from other schools about how they handle similar matters.
5. Vice President Scott Centorino announced that Class of 2012 Representative Steele Burrow has joined the Dormstorm Taskforce. The taskforce is working with facilities management to set up an opportunity for students to view the Powerpoint describing the 10 year plans.
6. Class of 2012 Representative Scott McClintock informed the EC that having received the Traveller Steering Committee's rationales for adopting the five-mile radius service limit, the Traveller taskforce will be looking into compromises that can be implemented to address these issues. If compromises can be found, the Traveller taskforce plans on creating a report which will offer ideas on how to turn a unique service into a great unique service.
7. Hoffman informed the EC that he met with Teri Cugliari, Associate Director of Student Activities, and that they are working on creating an online form to streamline organization registration and update procedures.
8. The EC discussed alternatives to the current usage of exam envelopes in response to a question from Scott Dittman, University Registrar. The EC discussed a variety of ways that the envelopes might be reused to cut down on University costs.
9. Hoffman shared with the EC a letter from Maryanne Simurda, University Marshall, which asked the EC for ideas to increase student attendance at fall convocation. The EC suggested having department heads inviting students with majors in their department, improving the post-convocation food options, and having a reception for seniors to follow the event.
10. Centorino proposed an addition to the EC's budget policy to include Art. III Sec. 6: "Honor Societies: It is the Executive Committee's policy not to directly fund honor societies." Rationale: This serves to inform students of an established EC precedent.
11. Hoffman adjourned the meeting into closed session at 7:56pm.
12. Hoffman reopened the meeting at 8:03pm.
13. EC passed the budget policy change 12-1 (Hopkins opposed).
14. The White Book Amendment (see below) was passed unanimously for a second time effectuating the amendment of the White Book.
15. Hoffman adjourned the meeting into closed session at 8:08pm.
16. Hoffman reopened the meeting at 8:19pm.
17. Hoffman adjourned the meeting at 8:19pm.

White Book Amendment: The Pledge

Current Text, p. 3: "During orientation every student must sign a White Pledge Card. This is a student's first pledge as a member of the Washington and Lee community. It expresses that the student has been through an orientation program on the Honor System, understands the contents of the Honor System White Book, and will abide by the Honor System."

Proposed Change, p. 3: "During orientation every new student must sign the Honor Book. This is a student's first pledge as a member of the Washington and Lee community. It expresses that the student has been through an orientation program on the Honor System, has received a copy of the Honor System White Book, and will abide by the Honor System."

Rationale: The 2009-2010 EC has replaced the process of having new students sign pledge cards with the process of having new students sign the Honor Book. This amendment serves to memorialize this change in the White Book to accurately reflect current practices.

A member of the Student Body has withdrawn after the Executive Committee found him/her guilty of an Honor Violation in a closed hearing. The Executive Committee determined in the hearing that the student cheated on his/her politics quizzes. On two separate occasions the student was observed by the professor and/or other students using his/her book and writing answers on a closed book quiz.
In the student's defense, he/she said that he/she accidently left the book open on the desk and did not use it on the quizzes. However, the Executive Committee determined through credible evidence and deliberation that the student violated the community's trust by cheating on the quizzes.

(Absence excused: Kenneth Hopkins and Jordan Wilson)

1. President Eric Hoffman called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
2. Alex Caritis, President of Generals Interested in Legal Studies (GILS) came to the EC seeking Student Body Recognition. The organization is geared towards students considering a legal career and seeks to bring speakers to campus and hold informal events to educate students on various legal careers and the law school application process.
3. Vice President Scott Centorino reported that Dormstorm Taskforce has set up a public presentation for Facilities Management staff to present on the 10-Year Plan. A 3D Model of the plan will be unveiled at the presentation. The event will take place in Stackhouse Theater on Friday Dec. 11 at 4:30pm.
4. Class of 2012 Representative Scott McClintock reported that the Traveller Taskforce has drafted its initial report and will present it at the next EC business meeting.
5. Hoffman reported that the Reasonableness Project is waiting on ITS to create an online form so students can submit information. He hopes to have it up and running soon.
6. Hoffman adjourned the meeting into closed session at 7:12pm.
7. Hoffman reopened the meeting at 7:44pm.
8. The EC unanimously approved GILS for Student Body Recognition.
9. Hoffman adjourned the meeting at 7:45pm.