Thelomathesian Society

Minutes

10 November 2004

I.  Call to Order

This meeting of the Thelomathesian Society was called to order in the Hannon Room of the Student Center at 7:05. President Snedeker entertained a motion to approve the minutes. Senator Barney motioned for the approval, which was seconded by Senator Solomon.

II. Attendance

The following Senators were present, absent, or excused from the meeting on 10 November 2004:

Residence / Name / Present, Excused, Unexcused
Senior Townhouses / VACANT
VACANT
62 Park / Erin Hart / Present
Dean Eaton / Kate Byrne /

Present

Ben Lee / Present
VACANT
Randy Olivo /

Present

Jana Morgan / Present
Dan Allen / Present
Gaines / Matt Brender / Present
Hulett / Kristin Rury /

Present

Jamey Maswick / Present
Jenks / Katrina Franz / Present
Leah Yandow / Unexcused
Lee / Siobhan Scanlan /

Present

Sarah Gomer / Present
Jonathan Solomon / Present
Chad Burbank / Present
Emily Denham / Present
Off-Campus / Lauren Nuffort / Present
Elizabeth Mudie / Present
Priest / Drew Crawford / Present
Rebert / Ashley Cutler / Present
Rachel Hall / Present

Elizabeth Boyd

/ Present
Laura Rabinow / Present
Chance Johnson / Present
Reiff / Stefanie Chipperfield / Present
Sykes / John Gursky / Excused
William Hughes / Present
Noelle O’Brien / Present
Robert Glover /

Present

Ellen Doble / Present
Kristina Grube / Present
Theme Cottages / Max Perez / Excused
Paul Bien-Aimé / Excused
Dennis Morreale / Unexcused
Whitman / Mandie Barney / Present
Chelsea Davidson / Present
Katie McGinty / Present
Lindsey Wetmiller / Present
Kirk Donovan /

Present

On Campus Live in Greek / Simba Pasipanodya /

Present

VACANT
Erin Stone / Present
FYC / Jake Ryder / Present
Tabitha Ferrer / Present
Sophomore Class / Ryan Prenger /

Present

Mike Weineke / Present
Junior Class / Carla Hunter / Present
VACANT
Senior Class / Fredyne Yust / Present
Pam Hughes / Present
Senator At Large / Jeff Haislet /

Present

Jeremy Cronin / Present
Andy Cook / Present
Stacey Banfiield-Hardaway / Unexcused
Jess Henty / Present

Jeff Haislet

/

Present

Jessi Burg

/ Present

Domenico Pirrotta

/ Present

John Slattery

/ Present
/ VACANT

Ben Sears

/ Present

Karoline Chrzanowski

/ Present

Dimitar Velikov

/ Unexcused

Meredith Perry

/ Present

III. Officer Reports

A.  Vice President of University Relations – Alex Sheppard

No report submitted.

Vice President Sheppard introduced Pat Gagnon (Interim Director of Security and Safety) and Rance Davis (Associate Dean of Student Life and Co-Curricular Education) to field questions from the Senate.

Mr. Davis stated that they were here to take questions from the Senate.

Senator Hughes asked if we had the ability to dial 9-1-1, and if it required dialing 8.

Mr. Davis stated that you could do either.

Secretary Ryan asked if there was a reason as to why those people employed by the Greek houses were assigned to park far away from the house and if that could be changed.

Mr. Gagnon stated that this was figured out by how many live in the area and where they work and anyone could go through the appeals process.

Senator Hughes asked if cars needed to be moved over to D lot over break.

This was affirmative and the reason would be researched.

Senator Morgan asked why you need to discuss with Security first to get authority to go on campus with a vehicle.

Mr. Gagnon stated that this was due to the fact that we had a walking campus.

Senator Maswick asked what the open container policy for those students over 21.

Mr. Davis stated that they could have them in their room, and you could have reasonable amounts at say a picnic table.

Senator Slattery asked when Security was allowed to search your room.

Mr. Gagnon stated that you must have probable cause.

Senator Hughes asked if Security sees something in plain sight after letting you into your room.

Mr. Gagnon stated plain site is viable for seizure.

Senator Hunter asked about alcohol in the library.

Mr. Davis stated this has never been a problem.

Senator Solomon stated there were two different kinds of searches according to the handbook, and asked if they could be clarified.

Mr. Davis stated that if they think there is something dangerous in the room, then there is a process whereas the chief justice of the judicial board would give authority to do a search, in which it is not just plain view, everything is searched.

Senator Morgan stated that if you got a warrant for a certain item, could you be prosecuted for other things in the room.

Mr. Davis replied negatively.

Senator Ryder asked if the other things could be confiscated.

Mr. Davis stated that they would be confiscated, but you would not be charged.

Senator Pirrotta asked when Security does rounds are all houses treated equally or are Greek houses targeted.

Mr. Gagnon stated that it was all done equally.

Chairperson Gupta asked about the empty can policy.

Mr. Davis stated they are trying to prevent high risk drinking, and the empty cans need to not be excessive.

Senator Slattery acknowledged the University’s stance on high risk drinking games, he asked what would happen to people if they were not participating but were in the room.

Mr. Davis stated it went on a case-by-case basis, and the J-board system works well.

Chairperson Cardinal asked if paintball guns are considered weapons.

Mr. Gagnon stated there are village ordinances against them,

Senator Hughes asked if the ordinances apply to possession or use.

Mr. Gagnon stated it was for firing.

Ms. Zarczynksi asked about the domestic violence procedures.

Mr. Davis stated that they take them seriously and they go through a very rigorous procedure.

She then asked if they would be referred internally for counseling or for action or how that would go.

Mr. Davis stated that they encourage the victim to come forward and use all the resources on campus like the Special Hearings Board, but they can also bring legal charges against them, but they will be assigned someone to stick with them trough the process.

Senator Morgan asked if there was a time period after an act occurs where you cannot be prosecuted.

Mr. Davis stated that sometimes security is dealing with a bigger situation where they have to wait, but they take all complaints about Security very seriously. Mr. Davis reasserted J-Boards authority to hear the students’ cases and decide the punishment if any.

Senator Byrne asked if any progress had been made when informing the campus of sexual violence incidences on campus.

Mr. Davis stated that they are trying to put more information on the Internet. Mr. Davis stated people do need to be aware so that they may be safe.

Mr. Davis stated that he welcomed others to sit with him to figure out what works to help people stay informed.

Secretary Ryan stated that as our campus has expanded our blue light system has not, and she asked Mr. Gagnon to speak to that.

Mr. Gagnon stated we have 29 yellow call boxes and they are seeing what it would cost to add blue lights on all top of those. This should bring it back to where you can see one blue light from another. He stated that they are pricing it out for a capital request.

Senator Burg stated that earlier this year people have had issues with safewalks and asked if that problem has been addressed.

Mr. Gagnon stated it has been addressed and staff should only be asking name and location, so that they can find that person and so that they can log it. There should be no more clarifying questions.

Senator Cutler stated that as a first year she does not know the campus that well and she went to get a parking permit and she had trouble locating the office and if that could be addressed.

Mr. Gagnon stated they are not exactly sure how to address that.

Ms. Zarczynski stated that she heard some negative buzz with security and a negative response as to how to deal with domestic violence and training.

Mr. Gagnon stated he has not heard the buzz but that they go through training and the CA should not be the one to take charge of the situation, but it is Security’s job to put them in touch with the right people such as advocates or counselors.

Mr. Davis stated that they now have 2 new female officers who have training as sexual assault advocates.

She then asked if CA’s must go through training.

Mr. Davis stated that would be a question for residential life.

Student Delegate Thomas stated she is both a CA and advocate and there are different roles that each play. She added it is not mandatory to be an advocate but you do go through training to respond to that issue.

Senator Hughes asked if you could clarify state law and university policy to personal defense weapons.

Mr. Davis stated he knows that some people carry pepper spray to protect themselves but that things like brass knuckles are illegal,

Mr. Hughes asked about mase.

Mr. Gagnon stated in some cases and he could look into it.

Mr. Hughes stated that some outdoor activities call for weapons of some nature.

Mr. Davis stated it is more a problem concerning violent acts.

Senator Solomon asked how many security personal are patrolling.

Mr. Gagnon stated 1 for a day shift and 2 at night, but there could be three on but typically two.

Secretary Ryan asked if there is a student initiative to help with safewalks as there are only 2 security officers on call.

Mr. Gagnon stated that it is student safety who takes charge of that when they are on duty, and there is a downtown safewalk, but it hasn’t panned out to get the help of other organizations thus far.

Senator Byrne asked if downtown walks were also no questions asked.

Mr. Gagnon replied affirmatively.

Mr. Davis added that the call goes to a cell phone not security.

Senator Scanlon asked where the line is drawn for security to take care of an incident without a CA there.

Mr. Gagnon stated that like to see it as a collaborative effort. If it is something that the CA thinks it is something they can handle then that is done, but then Security will assist them.

She then asked it is more when Security responds first.

Mr. Gagnon stated it really works on a comfort zone and it is up to those involved.

Senator Pasipanodya stated he has heard a bit about a bus into town and back from the bars at night, and that the University has rejected that and he asked for Mr. Davis to speak to that.

Mr. Davis stated that is right and there is too much liability and the University is not taken on that. However if students wanted to be entrepreneurial and take that on that is ok.

Mr. Davis reaffirmed that the University will not take on the liability of transporting intoxicated students from one area to another.

Senator Morgan asked if someone is attacked there name is kept confidential, but is the attacker publicized.

Mr. Davis stated that if they are arrested their name will be in the paper, but in our system everything is confidential.

Senator Burg asked if there could be more communication between CA’s and Security officers.

Mr. Gagnon stated he did not think this was happening, and if CA’s are not being informed that they need to discuss that with RLC.

Vice President Sheppard asked what process Mr. Gagnon goes through when a complaint is brought.

He stated that he evaluates the situation and it is investigated and looked into, and officers could be disciplined or if it continues they could lose their job.

President Snedeker thanked Mr. Gagnon and Mr. Davis for coming and asked for a round of applause.

Mr. Davis thanked the Senate and welcomed more questions and stated they would be back in the spring.

B. Vice President of Senate Affairs- Adam Casler

Vice President Casler informed the Senate that he has been in contact with Susan Kramer, the coordinator of the SLU Energy Campaign. He stated that to date, the University has contributed $225 to the campaign. He reminded everyone that for every pledge card signed, SLU will give $5 to the campaign, which will be used to help research and implement new iniatives to help conserve energy on campus. Vice President Casler stated that he has lots of pledge cards, and encouraged Senators to pick them up on their way out from Chairperson Eisenhuth. Vice President Casler also stated that all items of business will now be available on the Thelmo website by Monday or Tuesday evenings. He urged Senators to check out the proposal before meetings. The Thelmo website address is: http://it.stlawu.edu/~thelmo

C.  Secretary – Molly Ryan

Secretary Ryan stated that she would like to thank Vice President Casler for compiling the minutes and Student Delegate Thomas and Treasurer Gupta for taking the minutes. She also reminded the Senate to stand and state their names and speak loudly for the accuracy of the minutes.

IV. Student Delegate Report

A.  Student Delegate to the Board of Trustees –Heather Thomas

Student Delegate Thomas stated that she is meeting with President Sullivan tomorrow and asked the Senate to please come speak to her if members have anything that they would like addressed.

V. Committee Chair Reports