VSA looks ahead to new year’s projects

Christopher Doscher Guest Writer

This Sunday, Sep. 2, representative from each housing area and class year met in the College Center with the Vassar Student Association(VSA) Executive Board for the year’s first Council meeting.
The majority of the meeting focused on approving some broad goals for the year. Many of these goals were specific, while others were more abstract and long-term. VSA President Sam Charner ’08 described the goals document as an outline for the Council’s guiding principles and priorities this year. “They are meant to give the student body leadership overall direction and spark discussion,” said Charner, “I hope we’ll be able to address all of the priorities in the document and we will work as hard as we can to do that.”

Goals for the year include improvements at the College-level, such as dorm renovations, and at the VSA leadership level—for example, the revamping of the VSA website. “As the leadership of the student body, the VSA Executive Board covers issues both relating just to the student body and to the College at a larger level,” said Charner, “We are involved in College policy and set our own policies such as those relating to student organizations.”

One of this year’s priorities is an Institutional Review, part of the re-accredidation process the College must undergo each decade. Charner and Vice President for Academics Summer’s-Grace Green ’09 will sit on that committee, along with faculty and administrators.

Members of the Executive Board will also oversee a student review of the Dean of the Faculty, Ronald Sharp, and a student review of Dean of the College Judy Jackson. In both cases, VSA Council intends to lead a thorough evaluation of the offices that they control and intends to make student voices heard in the reappointment and evaluation process, and members of the student body at large will participate in both committees.

Another major concern this year will be the upcoming renovations to the dormitories. Beginning next year, Davison House will be taken offline for an extensive remodeling. Similar renovations will occur over the next decade to Lathrop, Strong, and Raymond Houses.
The Special Committee on Dorm Renovations, formed last spring and chaired by Andrew Bennett ’09, will work closely with the architectural firms and contractors to ensure that students are represented on all major decisions. The student body leadership hopes to facilitate student input and understanding of this and other renovations to come. Bennett will also work with VSA Vice President for Student Life Morgan Warners ’08 to publicize renovation information to the broader Vassar community. This is a particular priority for Davison residents, who will be displaced from their current housing next fall.

The VSA Council will also send representatives to a joint committee focusing on the construction of a new integrated science facility, as well as possible renovations of the old ones. They are dedicated to including as much student input as possible in the new architectural designs.
Council will also perform an evaluation of Aramark, Vassar’s food service provider, whose contract expires this year. The VSA will promote more diverse culinary options for students and, according to their goals document, “whether or not the College contracts with Aramark or a competing bidder, the student body leadership will promote socially responsible sourcing and labor agreements.”

Other smaller topics were also set out as goals for the year. These include plans to simplify transportation within Poughkeepsie, increased accessibility for Poughkeepsie-area high school graduates to attend Vassar, and the creation of more late-night study spaces on campus.