Attendance:
2. Meeting with Mike: Computers (Jen): Jen shared information from Mike's recent meeting with student leaders, with answers about access to computers. The Technology Exploration Lab will be open to all UW students because of its being funded by the Student Technology Fee. ISchool students will have priority however. The necessary changes in computer lab use are also coming into focus: using specialized software will probably take priority vs. more mundane things like word processing, which can be done in other labs on campus or at home. there was a question about the ratio of students to computers.
3. Booksale (Lisa): Lisa announced that planning for the annual booksale will begin soon, having been held off due to a shortage of storage space for the books. The sale is ALISS's annual fundraiser and is scheduled for week 5 or 6 of winter quarter. More official announcements for a planning committee and solicitation of donations will be made later. [Note: announcement for committee volunteers was made on ichat 11/17].
4. Committee Representation (Lisa): Lisa has been working with Danielle, after a meeting with Mariko, Lynnea and Danielle, on student representation on faculty committees [Note: nominations were collected November 1-November 8 with a very good turnout. Appointees will be announced November 13]. Tamara reported on her valuable experience on the Curriculum Committee, and Pam informed the group about GPSS's work including lobbying for student concerns in Olympia.
5. Gala Celebration (Tamara): Tamara Pesik, student representative on the Gala Celebration Task Force, promoted the Gala Celebration on January 6, encouraging everyone to get decked out and in party mode: there will be a band and great food. She noted that student volunteers will be needed to assist in various capacities, but that shifts would not take up the whole evening. This would allow students to help out and enjoy the party.
6. SLA Tour (Pam): Pam encouraged people to attend
the October 27 SLA visit to Seattle Regional National Atmospheric and Oceanic
Administration
(NOAA) and National Marine Mammal libraries.
7. Discussion: Signage/Building Concerns (All): During open discussion, one item of concern was the interesting, and often confusing, layout of Mary Gates Hall, including the West end stairwell not providing access to the 4th floor, but limited signage indicating so; and the maze-like route to the iSchool via the same entrance. Jen volunteered to email about signage at stairwells. Jill noted that there was a campus-wide signage committee.
8. Feedback on AR-15s (Pam, All): Another hot topic around the table was the recent controversy about the UWPD's alleged decision to switch to AR-15s vs. shotguns. Pam said that GPSS had formulated a resolution against the use of the AR-15s, noting the lack of confidence in the UWPD to act objectively towards students, faculty or staff of color. A UWPD officer spoke at the GPSS Senate Meeting and explained that they were assessing the weapons situation. Shotguns, which are kept in each squad car, shoot broadly and spread out, and could possibly not be precise in a dense situation. Regular Seattle police officers do not have AR-15s, however; the only force with automatic weapons is the Seattle SWAT team. The question was raised whether UWPD were to receive the same training as SWAT officers. Most students were of the sentiment that the change in weapons feels like an escalation, and not that the officers had the guns but that they might possibly use them without thinking. The UWPD had clarified that the decision to acquire AR-15s was not firm, and that more feedback was being gathered.
9. Discussion: Scheduling (All): Concerns regarding
the scheduling of classes came up during open discussion. The issue
of having to round out a 9-unit load with a 1-unit class was mentioned,
and the desire to have more 1-unit classes in this case was expressed.
The time conflict between some sections of 530 and 540 was noted.
Room shortages were noted as a factor that was beyond the School's control,
being a campus-wide issue. Students expressed a desire to be notified
of interdisciplinary offerings, perhaps having a webpage listing eligible
classes for an upcoming quarter, in addition to the email announcements
that go out.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Spagnolo
ALISS Secretary
Prepared November 17, 2000.