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BY JACQUELINE SMALL

In print | Published October 29, 2009

Dan Symonds ’11, the council’s financial policy representative, began the meeting with news regarding the $10,000 of grant money allocated to the library “to expand or increase the number of textbooks on reserve.”

Student Council President Rachel Bell ’10 pointed out that although $10,000 “is a lot of money … it doesn’t go very far since textbooks are so expensive.”

Student Council discussed ways to use the money most effectively, for example by using the money to primarily purchase books for introductory courses because these textbooks are among the most costly and are not used by individual students for very long.

Other suggestions included a textbook donation program, which could be managed by Student Council. In that scenario, boxes would be placed in each residence hall. A textbook rental system was also a possibility, but it was judged to be too complicated for practicality.

Members also pointed out that using older editions of textbooks would be cheaper, but the page numbers may be different.

They suggested that contacting Diane Anderson, the acting associate dean for academic affairs, could help to increase professors’ awareness that students may have different versions of the same text.

Students would then be able to give the students with older editions any extra information that they may not have.

There has not yet been a decision regarding this issue.

Safety updates

Following the safety walk taken two weeks ago, several new lights will be placed on campus over the next six weeks.

Two will be installed between McCabe and Willets and another will be placed outside the Women’s Resource Center. A fourth will be located between Danawell and Olde Club, taller than the current one so that it can be seen above the trees. Another will be stationed near the softball field.

Other suggestions for locations are still being accepted.

The council stressed that it’s important that students report lights that are out to Public Safety by naming either the location of the light or the serial number, which is located on the lamppost.

Regular safety practices must also be followed. Owen Redgrave, director of Public Safety, stressed that the blue light system is no more effective than having regularly spaced lampposts, and so it will not be implemented.

The council also considered ways to prevent door propping. Some suggested a fine for people caught leaving doors to dorms open. Because this might be difficult to enforce, Bell advised that door propping should, instead, simply be stigmatized.

The council also discussed implementing universal keys. If there were keycards, however, video cameras would need to be installed.

Although these cameras would only be consulted in case of emergency rather than monitored, council members expressed wariness about the potential privacy violations.

The council also discussed installing alarms that would sound when the door was left open too long, but its members decided this initiative would be too expensive.

Departmental senior advisory committees

Educational Policy Representative Esther Burson ’10 discussed the initiative to create groups of juniors and seniors who are majoring in each department.

They would function as a social support system, a resource for feedback on enrollment and departmental assets, and intermediaries between students and departmental chairs.

There would need to be a diversity of concentrations and of honors and non-honors students on each committee, she said.

Members expressed concerns about how the people of each group would be chosen, with some positing that elections could be held.

Departmental chairs are currently being consulted.

Financial decisions

Student Council had a meeting with Vice President for Facilities and Services Stu Hain to discuss the upcoming budget cuts, which will be implemented over the next three to five years.

The cuts were supposed to total $15 million dollars, but due to the careful planning of Sue Welsh, they have been reduced to $8 million.

So far, a variety of contingency plans are being debated without any major decisions. The first draft of potential cuts is due on Nov. 3 and will be made public Nov. 13. It will be available for revision if there are strong reactions.

The council stressed the importance of making the cuts sustainable over several years.

Members also voiced concerns that financial aid will be damaged, making it difficult for fiscally disadvantaged people to attend Swarthmore. Bell, however, reminded them that next to comparable institutions, the college is faring well.

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