StuCo looks at semester goals

In addition to the usual committee reports and class updates, this week's Student Council (StuCo) meeting took time to reflect on its goals for the end of the semester. Additionally, Lindsey Allen was announced as the new sophomore Vice President. The countdown to graduation stood, as of Tuesday night, at 56 days.

Sophomore President Simone Chen introduced Allen as the new sophomore Vice President. Allen was last year's social chair and was on the social board this year. Chen encouraged other Council members to get to know Allen if they didn't already.

The StuCo and SAC Contingencies stand well financially, especially following two recalls of previously allocated funds - one from Habitat for Humanity and the other from the Hopkins Science-Fiction Society. Budget hearings are completed, as is a budget meeting with Dean of Students Susan Boswell.

Class elections will be held Monday, April 22, from noon to 9 p.m. There will be a candidate informational meeting on Tuesday, April 2, at 7 p.m. in the AMR multipurpose room. For people who have concerns or suggestions about Board of Elections (BoE) regulations, there is an open forum in the works where these issues can be voiced. The BoE plans to make changes in its procedures and welcomes input.

Senior Class President Stephen Goutman discussed upcoming events for seniors. There will be a senior formal on April 19 or 20. The location of this has not been revealed. "Seniors, keep your eyes and ears open," was Goutman's directive. A roller-skating event is being planned and might occur on April 6.

Goutman mentioned an editorial in the B Section of last week's News-Letter entitled "Cheaters never prosper?" He has talked to Dean of the Faculty Daniel Weiss and Assistant Dean of Academic Advising John Bader and is working to create an ethics forum.

At this point Executive President Anuj Mittal requested that StuCo members give their opinions on goals to be reached for by the end of the semester. Senior Vice President Meredith Price hoped to "create nostalgia" for seniors, who would hopefully "appreciate Hopkins before they graduate." Senior Secretary/Treasurer Camille Fesche said it was "important to focus on...bringing a sense of tradition and bringing Hopkins together" as well as "fostering school spirit and school pride." Senior Representative Samantha Kanner made the point that "groups need to focus on nonalcoholic social events" and on trying to get people who don't usually participate in events to be involved.

Junior Class Representative Priti Dalal discussed the Hopkins Career Center Student Advisory Committee and pushed for more student involvement. Junior class Representative Omer Taviloglu said that he wanted to use allocated funds to "put a smile on everybody's face." Junior President Ravi Kavasery pointed out that "all classes need to communicate a hell of a lot more than they do now" to arrange social programming.

Freshman Representative Morgan McDonald discussed his interest in movement for an African Studies program. Faculty members are now involved in this process and McDonald said that by next year he'd "be very surprised if there wasn't something in place - either a department or a program." He also said that he thought StuCo should become more involved in the community instead of focusing all of its attention on campus life.

Mittal encouraged StuCo members to take up matters of interest to them to pursue and also to suggest anything that they thought to be a good idea. "Things are changing at Hopkins," he said. Mittal said that he wanted to make the best of the remaining six weeks in the semester.

Mittal's goals include increasing the Hopkins online presence, posting Baltimore events online and addressing security issues.