Board meets for annual conference

Author: Polly Johnson

Over the February break, the Board of Trustees convened on campus for its annual meeting, a discussion on the future direction and pertinent issues for the College. Although little was voted on during this specific meeting, two important issues were at the forefront of the discussion - the planning and construction of the Donald E. Axinn '51 Center for Literary and Cultural Studies, to take over the location of the old Starr Library, and the College's comprehensive student fee. Also discussed was the general future plan for the College, a topic which, according to President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz, was one of the most valuable topics of the board's gathering. In short, according to Liebowitz, the Board "discussed the direction the plan sets for the College and specific recommendations that were of greatest interest to board members. It also discussed how the board will continue providing feedback throughout the spring."

The most important decision to come out of the meeting regarding the Axinn Center was the decision to keep the project moving forward. The College received approval, according to Liebowitz, to "start demolition on parts of the building, which will keep things moving rather than hold things up."

The comprehensive fee was the second issue of high importance. The student Comprehensive Fee Committee presented a slew of information to the administration, which is under pressure to have a final number before March 20.

Adam Irish '08.5, a member of the Committee, explained some of the issues that the students presented to the Trustees. Aside from recommendations regarding the College's endowment, budget deficits and faculty and staff salaries - the Committee "proposed that faculty salaries increase by seven percent while staff salaries increase by 3.5 percent" - the Committee discussed issues that hit even closer to the lives of students. In a survey on the comprehensive fee distributed during January, the Committee "found that there was a general happiness with the facilities on campus, namely the academic and social buildings. However, the residential buildings were an issue of concern, especially senior housing. That was something we recommended the Board pursue," said Irish.

Additionally, Irish said, the committee "highlighted the fact that the Snow Bowl doesn't check passes and that that needs to rectified." Finally, the Committee "recommended that Rehearsals Café in the Center for the Arts be downsized because it uses a ton of money and 80 percent of the students surveyed said they never had been." An element of surprise from the survey was that "a surprising number of people were not opposed to having a parking fee. We recommended that fee at $50 a semester." A last issue, which has caused great controversy among students when it has been recommended in the past, was the suggestion to close Proctor Dining Hall on the weekends, a decision the Committee "decided would be wise and prudent."

Alison Thaung '06, chair of the Comprehensive Fee Committee, was pleased with the presentation. "I thought that the presentation overall was very successful, mainly because we did a lot of research in our report. [Executive Vice President and Treasurer] Bob Huth is passing along the report to the administrative council," Thaung noted.

Overall, the meeting of the trustees simply furthered planning that is already in the works. Construction will soon begin on the Axinn Center, while the Board will review the planning strategies in its May meetings, according to Liebowitz.