New associate dean appears at Senate

Student senators were in high spirits throughout their Sunday meeting when the new Associate Dean of Student Life and Services William Stackman paid a visit. During the meeting, senators listened to Stackman's introduction as well as discussed the Outreach program, possible new administrative assistant positions in Senate.

Stackman, his wife Becca and 7-month-old daughter sat around the circle of seats with student senators throughout the first half of the meeting. As Stackman was introduced, senators applauded. "There's a lot in that clap," said Associate Dean of Student Life and Services Joe DiChristina.

Since Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk offered Mark Constantine the Associate Dean position despite the dean search's committee preference for Stackman, senators actively showed concern for Cole-Newkirk's decision. Stackman was chosen for the position, however, after Constantine declined the offer.

Senator sophomore Nicole Johnston encouraged Cole-Newkirk and DiChristina to hold a meeting for students and senators to discuss with administrators the search process for the position and the weight of student input in the process as well.

Presently the director of student activities at Tufts University, Stackman said he felt Oberlin was a perfect fit for him, personally and professionally. "I saw it as a great opportunity to grow and learn more," Stackman said, explaining his reasoning for accepting the position. He said to senators that he was very anxious to start his position in January. Stackman was in Oberlin last week to look for housing for his family.

Student Finance Committee (SFC) Treasurer Steve Van and Interim Assistant Treasurer Becca Barnes were also present at the Senate meeting. Van said that he had never met with Senate and he wanted to bring the "two fiefdoms" together. "I wanted to see if we could sit down and start working on something," Van said. Van added that he wanted Senate to help make student organizations aware of their fiscal standings.

Senators discussed the idea of creating one or two new paid administrative assistant positions in Senate. The senators who would take the job would be working with the internal secretary to help with administrative duties including photocopying, maintaining computer and printer, attendance, managing the Senate office and compiling and sending out the minutes of weekly meetings. If SFC would not allocate both positions, Senate would ask for one administrative assistant position, according to senator junior Dan Persky.

"I spend six hours a week doing random things that need to be done. There's just so much logistics," said senator sophomore Chuckie Kamm, who is the internal secretary. SFC will look further into the request later this week.

Senators met with SFC on Monday to submit the proposal for the positions. According to Persky, SFC has tabled the proposal and requested more information about the positions.

Members of the communication committee of Senate then presented the Outreach program to senators. Johnston, senator senior Claire Koczak, senator junior Nicholas Baumgartner, senator junior David Heafitz, senator junior Matthew Green, senator sophomore Jen Trieshmann and senator junior Florian Gerhardt are members of the committee. They asked Senators to sign up to conduct dorm raps around campus this week and during the semester.

"This is a good way to do your required outreach," Baumgartner said. According to the handbook, senators are required to reach out to the Oberlin community two hours every week in order "to understand the diverse opinions of the student body, and for even the most apathetic student to feel that the Senate is representing them."

Four dorm raps were scheduled for this week. Only two, however, were held because the other two were not prepared in time. "Senate is designed for senators to serve as representative of the student body and the only way to do that is for us to go out and find out what students think," Johnston said.

At the Dascomb Hall dorm rap last night, Green, Gerhardt and senator sophomore Bill Stevens talked to residents about an idea to create an International Studies major, office and program house, textbook prices, and dining service surveys. They said to the residents that they wanted to hear their views on student concerns.

The Communication committee is also planning an organization forum on Nov. 23 in Wilder. Two organizational seats are presently open. There has been a lot of dialogue to the effect that many views are not represented on Student Senate. We would encourage members of any organization who feel this way to run for these seats," Johnston said.

Senators in committees also shared with other senators discussions they had in their groups last week. They explained what important topics they discussed in their committees. One topic senator sophomore Joshua Kaye brought up was the Judicial Board's discussion about the appointment of students to the board. He said that Senate had previously given up its power to appoint students to the board itself. Kaye said Senate should possibly consider taking back its power because there is potential for board members to exercise subjectivity when appointing members on their own board. "I want to protect students from this," Kaye said.

College freshman Velia Lopez announced in the meeting that she is stepping down her position as chair of the Student Activities Committee. Senator sophomore Whitney Smith was elected to the position with 22 senators approving and one abstention.

During evaluations of the meeting, senators said they felt the meeting ran smoothly and efficiently. Persky said, "It was a wonderfully effective meeting. It showed that we have been all senators active in our work and it's not an elite driven organization."