Uncategorized

CANNON FOUND AND PHOTOGRAPHED!!!!

The DOUGLAS CANNON!!!!!

sighted tonight!!!!

THE DOUGLAS CANNON WAS FOUND AT THE FOOT OF FOSS HILL!!!!

Hooded men and women, possibly alumns, had the cannon in the back of a truck. Some students took a picture with the cannon and I, Arya Alizadeh tried to steal it by wrestling the guards. The hooded men in the back of the truck out fought me and I was thrown from the truck. Sorry Freshman. We are looking for a pick-up truck with suspicious hooded folks in the back.

Opinion

Sitting on Both Sides of the Fence

It’s an interesting perspective to sit on both ends of the financial process. Being both a member of the SBC and an office assistant in the WSA Office, I frequently have the pleasure of helping student group leaders transition from the “requesting” phase to the “getting” phase. Based upon this, I want to share several thoughts from both perspectives that could make the financial process less daunting and frustrating.

In the SBC, our charge is to maximize our finite budget to help the student groups flourish on campus. When students meet with us, we do our best to meet their groups’ needs but are often faced with the challenge of trying to remain within our budget. This often forces us to ask hard questions, like asking leaders to prioritize their itemized lists of supplies, and so on. Often times, we find that leaders are obliging and accepting of this inevitable decision – a decision that no member of the SBC relishes or enjoys. Finally, we’ll approve the request, and it moves on to your SBC SmartKey account.

The office staff is there to help you get your money. Whether it is past income from your Income SmartKey account or new funds granted through the SBC, we want to make the paperwork and the fairly bureaucratic process as easy as possible for you. Keep in mind, the office staff and the SBC are separate entities, but the goal is the same: helping the student groups with the financial side so that you can focus your energy on your extracurriculars. I’ve seen some students get frustrated with the leaps and bounds sometimes needed to get their money, and with that I can empathize. However, what the students see is the tip of the iceberg, although we try our best to minimize the hassle on your part.

So what should student leaders do? On both sides of the fence, just be candid. If you have questions, ask questions. If you’re confused with the process, both the SBC and the office staff are there to guide you through. There is specific information required from higher-ups and we’ll do our best to show you what you need. But most of all: don’t wait. A not-so-small minority of groups tend to wait for months or even until the end of the school year before submitting receipts for reimbursement. Meanwhile, waiting can flood the WSA Office with paperwork, making it harder to resolve any potential problems, and it forces the SBC to need to audit the groups’ accounts to make sure money is allocated fairly. Keeping all of that in mind, the process should flow smoothly, and at least speaking for myself, I’m more than happy to help. Any questions, please feel free to contact the SBC at sbc@lyris.wesleyan.edu, the WSA Office at wsaoffice@wesleyan.edu, or me, Andrew Huynh, at ahuynh@wesleyan.edu.

Announcements

Campus Fire Safety Inspections

Campus Fire Safety conducts unannounced room inspections throughout the year to check all residences for prohibited items. Every student should expect to be inspected soon if they have not been inspected already this semester.

fire safety

A list of prohibited items can be found at Campus Fire Safety’s website.

It is important to note how fire safety inspections are conducted. Campus Fire Safety will knock on the door and announce themselves. If a student responds, the inspectors will wait to be invited in or for the resident to open the door. If no one answers, they open the door and again announce “Campus Fire Safety.” Once inside, Fire Safety will take an overall visual scan of the room and if any prohibited items are observed in plain view (on top of a dresser, on the floor, not in a drawer) an inspection form is filled out, a photo is taken, and the item is confiscated (if possible). If there are other unauthorized items found during inspections, Public Safety is called and they determine the appropriate action.

The most common violations on our campus are candles, incense, and used smoking materials. Make sure that these items are disposed of immediately.

If you have any questions feel free to e-mail Campus Fire Safety at firesafety@wesleyan.edu or me, Adam Ilowite at ailowite@wesleyan.edu

Uncategorized

Zipcar Launch Thursday

As part of the continuing effort to ”burst the Wesleyan bubble,” Zipcar, the world’s largest car sharing service, has arrived on campus.  We will officially be launching the cars this Thursday at 11:45 AM. The launch will take place between Usdan and the old Squash Courts. The permanent parking location for the cars is behind the Allbritton Center–a Toyota Prius and a Honda Civic are both available for use now!

Zipcar provides you with a convenient, economical and environmentally-friendly alternative to having a car on campus. Simply stated, its wheels when you want them––self-service cars you can use by the hour or day. Zipcar provides you the freedom of car ownership – the ability to get off campus for errands, entertainment or road trips – without the cost and hassle of owning a car. All reservations include fuel, insurance, parking, roadside assistance and 180 free miles per day of a reservation.

So––how do you join and what does it cost? All students (18+) can join Zipcar for only $35/year! You’ll also get $35 in free driving credit in your first month of membership. Reservations also include a low hourly or daily rate starting at $8 an hour or $66 a day.

For more information, and to join, go to www.zipcar.com/wesleyan This is an exciting new way to get off campus and we hope that students will take advantage of this great opportunity.

What: Zipcar Launch

When: Thursday, 11:45 AM

Where: Between Usdan and the old Squash Courts

Committee Spotlights

The SBC It Is A-Changin’

A frequent complaint about organizing bodies such as the Wesleyan Student Assembly is how much red tape one must cut through in order to make any real changes within its structure. Indeed, a formal, regimented assembly such as the WSA is full of committees, subcommittees and advisory committees that each have their own set of standardized practices. At times, this can feel like a logistical headache, even to WSA members themselves (or at least, to this WSA member).

With this in mind, I’d like to use this post to make an argument for one WSA committee that has done a remarkable job in the past several years at evolving to meet the changing needs of Wesleyan students— the Student Budget Committee, More commonly known as the SBC, this committee has changed for the better in a number of major ways since I joined it as a freshman in the fall of 2006. All of these changes were thought of by SBC members themselves or implemented with their direct input. They are outlined in the table below.

SBC Modus Operandi

THEN

NOW

SBC Meeting Location

190 High St. in the room in the back left corner with a lot of papers stacked in it. Usdan University Center, Room 104. The room with the projector and full multimedia equipment— and swivel chairs!

Method of Submitting Requests SBC’s Budget

Come to 190 High early. Fill out a paper form. Make 7 copies. Distribute to SBC members upon entering the room. Submit an electronic request via your e-portfolio under “WSA Tools and Applications.” Pat self on back for saving trees.

Student Activities Fee

$214 $270

Note: The student body voted in 2007 to approve an increase in the student activities fee in order to increase the SBC’s budget

SBC Budget, roughly $588,000 $740,000

Identity Month Funding (Ex: Latino Awareness Month, Black History Month, etc.)

Funds distributed on a per-case basis, which often lead to disparities between groups, raising questions of fairness and prejudice. Identity groups are encouraged to work together, and as a whole, the SBC guarantees at least $2,500 for the planning of events throughout the month.

Requests having to do with Music, Concerts, etc.

Come to the SBC, whose members may or may not be familiar with the band you’re trying to book and claim no musical expertise (beyond our familiarity with the Lady GaGa videos sometimes watched all groups have been seen.) Go to the Concert Committee (CC), which is responsible for funding students and student groups who are planning concerts at Wesleyan. The CC is made up of musically knowledgeable students with experience booking and organizing concerts on campus.

As you can see, the SBC has changed a lot over the past few years, but we’re always open to new suggestions. Have an idea for how to improve the SBC? Email us at sbc@lyris.wesleyan.edu.

Announcements

Eco-To-Go At Lunch!

The WSA Dining Committee, EON  and Bon Appetit are happy to announce the Eco-To-Go Program is now at the Usdan Marketplace!

The successful eco-to-go option that’s been at Summerfields since last semester is now available at Usdan for lunch. To get access to a reusable to-go container for the rest of your time here at Wesleyan, all you have to do is pay a one time fee of five points at Usdan Café, any time during the day except for peak meal times (11-2 and 4-5).

You’ll receive a keychain which can be traded for a container at Usdan for lunch and Summerfields for lunch and dinner. Bring back your dirty container anytime during lunch and exchange it for a keychain, which you can get a clean container with, fill with food, and so on, and so on.

This is a great way for to-go users to save money and reduce waste on campus, so get on it!

special thanks to David Thompson ‘11 for preparing this post.

Announcements

Help Plan the Social Justice Leadership Conference

The annual Social Justice Leadership Conference will be taking place in February this year. This event was developed by the WSA and Student Activities & Leadership Development (SALD) about three years ago, and since then has evolved to its current conference format.

diversity4

The goal of the conference is to educate people about social justice and how to apply it to their lives, including through activism. There will be many interesting sessions and workshops throughout the day intended to engage a large number of people from the Wesleyan community and beyond.

We are looking for folks interested in helping to plan the conference. As a committee we will be looking for students or student groups interested in leading sessions, coordinate logistics, and hopefully put on a social justice film series the week before the event.

There will be an initial planning meeting on Friday November 6 from 12-1 in the Registrar’s Conference Room in North College. If you want to get involved please come to this meeting! If you can’t make it email rweiss@wesleyan.edu.

Check out SALD’s newsletter about last year’s conference to learn more:  http://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2009/03/25/social-justice-leadership-conference-mar-28/

Helpful Tips

Wanna Change The World, or at least academic life at wes?

Hey Y’all,

The RAC (Registrar Advisory Committee) met for the first time a few weeks ago!!!
“Who gives a hoot?” you may say…

Well, in fact, YOU DO! This year we are discussing important issues that will affect each student’s everyday life, such as E-Portfolio, Pre-Registration, and Drop/Add policy.

We want to know how the students feel about all of these issues, and any others regarding course selection, classes, registration, etc.

Best part is…YOU NOW HAVE A WAY TO GET YOUR VOICE HEARD on these important academic issues.

Just email your questions, comments, concerns, or greatest wishes to:

ACAD@WESLEYAN.EDU

Faithfully yours,

The AAC (Academic Affairs Committee)

Announcements

Sign Up For Zipcar In Usdan Wed/Thurs!

zipcar-logoWSA members will be available in the Usdan Center on Wednesday the 28th and Thursday the 29th at lunch and dinner to sign people up to use our new Zipcars.

Zipcar is the world’s largest car-sharing service and provides students with a convenient, economical and environmentally-friendly alternative to having a car on campus.

Zipcar provides students with the freedom of car ownership–the ability to “burst the Wesleyan bubble” and get off campus for errands, entertainment, or road trips–without the cost and hassle of owning a car. All reservations include fuel, insurance, and roadside assistance.

Sound good? To join, all students 18+ will need a valid driver’s license and a credit card. Zipcar has agreed to waive the $25 registration fee, and all students get $35 in free driving the first month.

For more information, or to sign up, visit www.zipcar.com/wesleyan.

Helpful Tips

Want to Register Your Wood Frame Social Event?

Last year the WSA worked with the administration to allow students to have social events with more than 49 people in their woodframe backyards.42 fountain

Students are now permitted to have events with up to 75 people in their backyard, as long as it is registered. What’s great is that the event can be registered same day, as long as it is at least 3 hours in advance of the event and no later than 8 pm – making last minute gatherings easy.

Indoor parties are still capped at 49 – they don’t need to be registered but students are encouraged to do so.

To find out more details about this policy or to register an event check out the Wood Frame Event Registration website. This link can also be found in our website’s links section to the right.