Connecticut College Digital Commons @ Connecticut College 1991-1992 Student Newspapers 2-18-1992 College Voice Vol.15 No.17 Connecticut College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/ccnews_1991_1992 Recommended Citation Connecticut College, "College Voice Vol.15 No.17" (1992). 1991-1992. 14. https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/ccnews_1991_1992/14 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Newspapers at Digital Commons @ Connecticut College. It has been accepted for inclusion in 1991-1992 by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Connecticut College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author. THE COL EVOICE Volume XIV, Number 17 Ad Fonte. February 18, 1992 Assembly debates credibility of SGA been in the past," he said. by Rebecca Flynn News Editor At the meetings, a call for Edmonds' resignation was de- Issues of Student Government bated, with consideration of mul- Association ineffectiveness and tiple issues, said Shanley ."[We dis- unfulfilled threats of impeachment cussed] which of our choices would or forced resignation bubbled to the be the least damaging and the most surface, as Assembly members productive," she explained. called three closed emergency ses- According to the C-Book, the • sions this week. current vice president would take " The meetings were called after over the duties of the president in The College Voice printed an article the event of impeachment or resig- last week reporting that Reg nation, and a new vice president ~.c::<Mike Cohen, John Roesser, and Megan Hughes at Thursday'S SGA meeting. Edmonds, SGA president, had re- would be appointed by two-thirds leased a confidential report to the Assembly majority, trustees urging the continuation of John Roesser, senator of the college's need-blind admis- Larrabee and co-organizer of the Two-year MIMIC funding sions policies and that student par- closed sessions, supported forced ticipation on administrative and resignation of the SGA president. academic cabinets were in jeop- "If we had [asked him to step program draws to a close ardy. down], it would have sent a mes- According to Colleen Shanley, sage that we are not going to toler- smaller number, so it appears that senator of Harkness and co-orga- ale this, that it is not representative Claire Gaudiani, president of !he by Carl Lewts college, announced the implemen- the need has probably run itself nizer of the emergency meetings, of the entire Assembly," he said. AssocIate News Editor out," said Gaudiani. "What the article did was to put Roesser expressed his belief that tation of MIMIC in December, Jeff Lesser, assistant professor of [SGA ineffectiveness] in our face the Assembly has been damaged by The move to diversify the cur- 1990. Funds were allocated to a specific number of grants to be history, received a MIMIC grant in and force us to reassess the year." a loss of Edmonds' credibility, riculum of Connecticut College available in a two year period. the first round. "It may be that the According to Shanley, some As- "There's been a lack of leadership may face a setback as the Mellon "When I announced it I announced need is being filled," he said, but sembly members expressed their all year, and this incident brought it Initiative on Multiculturalism in a zwo-jear program," she smd. argued. "1 think there's s1ways belief that SGA has lost credibility right to my attention, t. he said. lhe CunicuJum reaches lhe conclu- Funding for MfMIC has come room for new courses ." with the administration and respect Edmonds refuted this concern, sion of its two-year implementa- from a $200,000 grant from the Ruangsuwana said the need has with their constituencies. saying, "Any damage that might tion. not been ftIJed in the time MIMfC "I think it's hit rock -bottom ," ac- have oeen none to the credibinty of MIMIC has promoted diversity Mellon Foundation, awarded in knowledged Jim Moran, senior SGA would be taken care of by by awarding grants to faculty and March, 1990. Since the funds will has existed. "There are areas that really could class president, but he added thatall showing that the SGA is capable, students to create new courses or be exhausted after the fmal round of use more work," said Anadri branches of student government competent, and committed to tak- enhance existing courses. The approved courses, MIMIC is not Chisolm, a research student for a seem to have faced a general de- ing definitive action on issues." fourth and final round of proposals expected to continue. "As far as I know [MIMIC] has reached the MIMIC course. cline. "House councils [this year] Moran expressed support of from faculty are due on February end," said Judy execu- MIMIC encourages the develop- have not always been what they've See Edmonds, p.ll 21,1992. Kirmmse, tive assistant to the president and mentofcoursesthatleachstuden~ Affirmative Action officer. about underrepresented groups of Ratiya Ruangsuwana, chair of people. "Our curriculum needs Lecture examines feasibility academic affairs, said SGA will more courses on those issues," said soon be drafting a letter to Lesser. Gaudiani, urging her to continue "If there is further need, then there of general education goals MIMIC. will be further funding," said Gaudiani said there appears to be Gaudiani. gram in a lecture to the college veloped a successful, richer gen- a declining interest in MIMIC She said the effectiveness of by Lee Berendsen community. eral education program took a few among faculty. Each time grants MIMIC must be researched before The College Voice In the lecture, entitled "When years," she said. are offered, fewer faculty submit it can be continued. "We have 10 Carol Schneider, executive vice General Education Mailers," Connecticut College's Strategic proposals. take stock and assess ... the impact president of the Association of Schneider said it will take about Plan dictates that the changes will The first round of proposals, sub- of these funds extended to American Colleges, presented pos- five years to complete revisions to occur over a period shorter than mitted in February, 1991, had 17 MIMIC," she said. Ruangsuwana said, "From what I sible strategies for reshaping the general education at Connecticut two years. "I suggest the strategic acceptances. The number dropped have heard, it's very effective." college's general education pro- College. "Institutions that have de- plan may be a little too ambitious, if to five acceptances in the second that is the expectation," said round, submiued in May, and two According to Mabel Chang, chair Schneider. in the third round, submitted in No- of the Minority Student Steering She cited Earlham College, vember. Committee, MIMIC has had a ma- which has been continually evalu- "There have been fewer faculty jor positive impact on the curricu- ating and changing general educa- applying for it," said Kirmmse. lum. "I think it has done a lot," she tion during the past 25 years, as an "Each time there has been a See MIMtC.p. 9 example. Ratiya Ruangsuwana, chair of academic affairs, said Schneider made convincing.arguments indi- Index: cating that revising general educa- tion will take longer than previ- Features pp. 4-5 A & E pp. 12-14 ously expected. "If we want to revise general Chapel offers alternative Conn students shine in education. we have to review our spring break plans choreography,dance entire current system, from the ad- Comics pp. 6 & 10 Sports pp. 15-16 vising process to the courses that Swim team members fulfill distribution requirements to reach New Englands the integration of knowledge Q. Carol Schneider visited the college to discuss general education. See Requirements, p. 8 VIEWPOINT / CONNTHOUGHT -.. Secrecy undermines Student decision-making Assembly's credibility ell t b cornpromised The Student Governmenl Asui-jion doled lhedooncm WI no e lHXOUJIlabillty and participatory ~ this ...... asit held Ihree prime seasions &0 iroa lRIl V.p inftgblinr. As SGA presiden~ I must take some measure of respon_ displeasarewllb tbe SGA presideRl.and theAl5embly>s1adt Letter to the Voice: sibility for the shortcommgs of SGA this year; however or credibJ1ity. I havebeen assuredby the senior administration that the Student Govement Association relies on mo~ With threalsorlmpeacbmentand forc:edreslpllioneasiJy the unintentional sharing of the Financial Aid Policy than just one individual for its success or failure. SGA rolJlDllotrlhe lonauesorsome Assembly members,iI eemed StudyCommittee·s confidential report on Need Bhnd consists of six branches and many individuals. As ex- thaI dbsatlstaetlon had IlnaUy come &0 a bead, and seriOli~, Admissions will nol compromise the role of students ramification. loomed on tbe Itorbon. After hourS pected differences of opinions arise and are expressed or dosed; from Cabinets to committees in the governance struc- meeting .. howe.-u, Reg Edmonds, SGA pretlident,it stfll in~ throughout the various branches of student government. ture of theCollege. Itis importantto remember that I, place and p/ecIging to work at strengthening the While there are differences of opinions on who is ~..r:~i as well as many other students have shown the admm- efl'ectimJtSL .. ....;w;; culpable for the shortcomings of SGA what is not in istration, faculty, and staff through working Withthem nu.will be a dilYleult hindered ~liIl!ly dispute is that the Student Government Association fa" ~~~l!that students are trustworthy and deserve to be an private ~lurt or Jut week's deliberatiODS. ~:~!'II;j must continue and will continue to act on issues that Edmonds perf'orlll/llQ was put 1IIIcf«Ihe SCO~~".~c,,' integral part of the decision-making process of the College. One incident will not endanger this long and directly affect students. In the upcoming months the Student Government strong relationship.