StuCo pushes for J-CASH expansion

This week's Student Council (StuCo) meeting announced the results of the recent elections, discussed plans for upcoming events and heard the president of Students for Environmental Action (SEA) speak about Loyola's plan to build stadiums in place of existing forest land.

StuCo President Anuj Mittal began the meeting with an announcement about the Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Awards, nominations for which are due this Friday. Professors and teaching assistants can be nominated for this award, and any student can formulate a nomination. "We need to be rewarding better teaching," said Mittal, "and this is the only example we have right now."

Jin Packard, president of SEA, briefly spoke about an issue that a concerned citizen had addressed at last week's StuCo meeting and encouraged council members to advertise and attend this Wednesday's town hearing on Loyola's intended expansion. The meeting, to be held at the Northern District Police Station, is the affected community's last chance to make its voices heard before a decision decides the fate of 71 acres of land that Loyola intends to purchase. Approximately 38 of these acres will be used for the creation of two 6,000-seat stadiums. Citizens fear the results of this plan, specifically the threats of alcohol use near a residential area, the disruptions related to late night games and the risk of exposure to toxins due to construction. While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to do preliminary tests on the area and evaluate the damage that could be done by this development, the results of these tests will not be available before the town hearing Wednesday night. Packard continued by stating that the members of the SEA will be at the hearing with a banner and would appreciate others to join them.

Mittal dispelled concerns about rumors that certain student activities would be moving off-campus. He acknowledged that there is an on-going discussion about the possibility of moving such activities as Spring Fair off-campus, but that these discussions will not come into actuality this year. As a result of this commentary, Mittal hoped that underclass StuCo members are now aware of this issue and will remain attuned to it in the years to come.

Mittal mentioned that administrative resolutions often pass unbeknownst to many people on campus, including StuCo members. An example of this was the recent resolution stating that all undergraduates should have an element of international exposure during their education at Hopkins.

Executive Treasurer Noel DeSantos gave his weekly financial report. The Student Activities Commission (SAC) Contingency currently has $26,716.03, an increase of $1,946.88 from the amount held at this time last year. The StuCo Contingency has $2,907.65, an increase of $132.65 from the amount held at this time last year. "I leave you with this," DeSantos said. "A girl is like a blossom, with pollen for just one man. A man is like a honeybee, gathering all he can. In order to do his duty, a man must be free, going from flower to flower. But never must a blossom go from bee to bee to bee."

Vice President of Administration Priya Sarin announced that the deadline for Culturefest applications was extended. Despite an information session and attempts to publicize by poster, not enough people had applied. Sarin encouraged anyone who was interested to turn in an application.

Junior Representative Chris Cunico gave the report of the Academic Affairs Committee. Plans are underway with the support of Dean Bader for a "Majors Fair." This fair will have student representatives for various departments available to discuss majors with students.

Freshman Representative Charles Reyner reported that "[Freshman Representative] Manu [Sharma], being the exemplary student representative he is, is tag-teaming the meal plan and J-CASH expansion." The modus operandi of this new plan to support J-CASH expansion is to urge StuCo members and, presumably, the student body, to go straight to the source of J-CASH expansion decision-making: the businesses. Students should enter businesses known to not accept J-CASH and ask, "Can I use J-Cash?"

Reyner also announced that there are plans to improve shuttle service in the works, as well as a move to request that students be allowed to remain in the dorms later than 6 p.m. on Friday nights before vacations. Similarly, he raised the idea that the dining halls or at least meal equivalency begin on the Sunday night that the dorms reopen, instead of forcing students to use J-CASH that night. Later, Senior Representative Samantha Kanner mentioned that resident advisors may oppose the idea of keeping dorms open longer because they are required to remain in the dorms until the last students leave.

StuCo members also discussed plans to project a movie onto a big screen in the upper quad. This event was tentatively arranged for May 1 or 2 and would perhaps involve a barbeque earlier in the day and music on the quad while the projector was set up. It then came to light that two separate student contingencies were planning this event separately and so further discussion between the groups will sort out the final plan.

Senior President Stephen Goutman made an announcement about next Tuesday night's event at McFadden's. Seniors are strongly encouraged to attend this event and will or already have received information about it.

At this point, former Sophomore President Bob Alleman showed up at the meeting and was greeted with yells of "make up your mind!" He was also informed that this particular meeting required commenters to rap.

Goutman continued his report by announcing that graduation ticket questions should be directed toward the Office of Student Events. Formal invitations have already been sent out. "It's got a letter from me ? kinda cool," said Goutman. In addition to the letter from Goutman, the invitation includes a list of events plus hotel and other pertinent information.

A housing commission is researching the possibility of adding more student housing in the future. Following a survey of campus preferences, a firm will provide an in-depth report on Hopkins' options. Hopkins should be privy to the results of this investigation within 60 days of next week. Considerations will include where students currently live, intend to live, how much they are willing to pay for housing and if there is significant interest in increased university-provided housing.