SLC members uncertain who to chair

Sources think Gloria White to fill post

The status of the Student Life Committee (SLC) leadership is unknown by SLC members and administrators after last semester's unprecedented election of student and faculty co-chairs.

Student Senator Chapin Benninghoff, a junior, and Chris Howell, associate professor of politics, were elected co-chairs of SLC in November. Prior to this, a student had never served as chair of a faculty committee.

On Wednesday Charlene Cole-Newkirk, dean of student life and services, said Gloria White, associate dean of student academic services, will chair SLC this semester. Cole-Newkirk said she did not know if Benninghoff was still co-chair.

Howell is on leave this semester.

"It is my understanding that I am chair," White said. She said she is waiting for confirmation of this fact from the General Faculty, however.

Other committee members did not know the status of the committee leadership. Ellen Sayles, assistant dean of the Conservatory and SLC member, said she assummed White would be chair but had not heard so officially.

Dean of the college of Arts and Sciences Clayton Koppes said he did not know the status of the committee and that information about the committee's leadership should come from either President Nancy Dye or Cole-Newkirk

On Thursday night Dye said, "I think White is chair." Cole-Newkirk was unavailable for comment on Thursday.

On Thursday Benninghoff said he did not know his status on the committee. White said, "He is certainly still a member of the committee."

The minutes from the SLC meeting when Benninghoff and Howell were elected state, "Gloria White said she would be happy to chair the second semester." There is no mention of Benninghoff.

Sayles said that at the time she understood that White would become chair this semester.

However, Nathaniel Stankard, first-year student and member of the committee, said he understood that Benninghoff would be co-chair this semester unless the General Faculty found the situation to be against College regulations.