CONTRIBUTING REPORTER
Student Government committees met Tuesday night and discussed a number of issues. Possible implementation of a plus/minus grading system, the writing of a student bill of rights and the placement of a fountain in front of the library were among the matters discussed.
The Judiciary and Academic committees are currently evaluating a plan to educate students on the honor code more effectively.
"The plan is to encourage faculty to put what they expect from the honor code on the syllabus at the beginning of each semester," said junior Scott Plumridge, the chairman of the Academic Committee.
His committee also discussed an emergency medical training course which may eventually be offered for credit. "I'm sure a lot of pre-med students would be interested," Plumridge said.
Committee members are currently researching the issue of grade deflation. Plumridge said he hopes that the committee will be able to compare its findings with data from other schools. Also, SG will take a poll in the near future to determine how students and the administration would react to a plus/minus system for grading. As of now, members are simply gathering information on the subject. Nothing has yet been proposed.
The Judiciary Committee brought up several long-term projects during the meeting. The student trustee selection process, the handling of honor code violations and the plan for basketball ticket distribution were discussed. Members are currently working out kinks in the process of selecting a student trustee.
The committee also discussed laptop-related honor code violations, and writing a Bill of Rights for accused students. Senior Matt Coleman, the committee co-chairman, said frequent reminders to students from their resident advisors of their continual honor code obligations would be highly beneficial. The committee has created a task force for the project. "Hopefully they'll have a solution out in five or six weeks," Coleman said.
Other possible bills include one requiring RAs to declare that they are RAs before confronting an offender, and one which would speed up the post-write-up notification process. "I really think the Bill of Rights will reduce some problems," said Coleman.
The Committee of Campus Life proposed a continual police patrol of Lot Q of Scales Fine Arts Center. Also, a registered dietitian may be hired to visit the campus one afternoon a week, and a proposal to use stickers marking low-fat and low-calorie foods in both Benson and the Pit was discussed. Junior Deborah Tyson, the co-chairwoman of the committee, said she believes these stickers would aid the dietitian in his or her assessment of campus food. The members are still compiling results from the survey on social climate.
The Physical Planning Committee plans hire a consultant to visit the campus to determine handicap accessibility, said junior Farrah Moore, the co-chairwoman of the committee. Committee members also will talk soon with the physical planners to discuss landscape and parking on Davis Field. In addition, the committee discussed a watery addition to the library. "We brainstormed on bringing up the issue again of a fountain in front of the library." Moore said.
Co-chairman junior Ryan Marsh and other members of the Appropriations and Budget Committee are planning a competition among the clubs and organizations on campus to promote pro humanitate, along with other university and community ideals.
The Student Relations Committee discussed a second student/faculty mixer to be held in April and a talent show with cash prizes for first and second places. The show's proceeds would be donated to a charity.