Student life topped the Bowdoin Student Government agenda this week, as the body tackled academic advising, alcohol, and the judicial board in a three-hour meeting.
The contentious Community Response Committee finally materialized, as President Barry Mills gave his approval to a revised proposition that allows for its establishment, without his formal endorsement.
In addition, BSG also made a final decision to prohibit juniors returning from abroad from participating in an election to replace the 2008 representative.
With regard to the current advising program, the main problem, according to Vice President of Student Affairs Stephanie Witkin '07, is that there is no clear-cut procedure for students to change advisers or for potential advisers to be placed with students.
BSG President DeRay Mckesson '07 also pointed out that there is "no clear explanation of what advisers do."
"The first step," Witkin elaborated, "[is] to implement a system. [It's] completely unacceptable for a senior to graduate without an adviser in their major."
BSG members recognized that the most successful and profitable relationships with advisers stem from close personal interactions between the advisers and their students, and that a new system should actively work to promote the formation of these relationships.
"It's important to have an adviser who pushes us a little bit, [and] not be too dogmatic," said Vice President of Student Government Affairs Dustin Brooks '08.
It was also suggested that the new advising policy could include upperclassmen as advisors to first years, instead of professors.
"Some of the best advice I've gotten is from upperclassmen, [and it was] more valuable than the advice of the professor," said At-Large Representative Michael Dooley '10.
In response to several incidents of hard alcohol use among first years, BSG also discussed the presence of alcohol at Bowdoin and its role in social life.
BSG members expressed frustration that heavy drinking constitutes much of the social experience at Bowdoin, and offered mixed opinions about future efforts to change the situation.
"We can program all we want for non-drinking activities, [but] it's an uphill battle," said Inter House Council President Alex Lamb '07.
Witkin suggested that the "big divide between drinkers and non-drinkers stems from athletics and teams."
However, not all members shared that opinion, and some maintained that the alcohol problem is overstated.
"I'm not convinced that the divide [between drinkers and non-drinkers] is an actual problem," Vice President of Academic Affairs Burgess LePage '07 said.
Witkin added that it was important to make first years aware of the presence of Bowdoin security as a resource, rather than as a means of punishment.
BSG concluded its discussion regarding the eligibility of juniors returning from abroad to participate in a special election to replace Class Representative Erma Drigo '08. In a close vote of 10-13, it ruled to exclude juniors returning from a Fall 2006 semester abroad from running in the election.
All Class of 2008 officers attended the meeting to show their support for returning juniors, but BSG felt that it would be both unconstitutional and sloppy to change election rules now.
Class Representative Sam Dinning '09 supported the majority opinion that it would be "incredibly inappropriate to do this right before an election."
The election will proceed as originally planned, with election statements due Wednesday, February 14, with the election on Thursday, February 15.
BSG debated the merits of the confidentiality policy regarding the election of new members to the Judicial Board, which decides cases of student misconduct. The election proceedings begin February 5.
BSG expressed the importance both of the general student population and the BSG itself having more influence in the election.
Brooks described the closed election process as "the worst case scenario."
"My concern is a lack of public time. People need to think about these candidates," he said.
Witkin echoed this opinion, pointing out that "the biggest decisions of students' lives are made on the J-board, [but] it's not an open process."