Howdy ya’ll! So last week Student Government had an executive meeting to discuss some ideas and issues for the summer. Our goal was the get a head start on making sure your voices and concerns would be readily heard and handled before the school year started. Besides being a super cool meeting filled with the coolest people, we narrowed down our ideas into three categories. Reviews, the Cafeteria, and Security/24 Hour Access
REVIEWS
The first of which was brought up at a perfect time to get things handled before next year. One of the concerns brought up was the fact that the Entertainment Arts Department did not conduct Freshman reviews this year. Instead, Freshman were required to attend the 9am-9pm Senior Exit Review for their department. While Student Government felt that it was beneficial for all people within that department to attend, and see how the exit reviews are done, we also feel as though it was an absolute necessity for the EA freshman to have a review.
Despite the fact that they may not have work solid enough to show in the limited amount of space Entertainment Arts has to exhibit, and also would be showing predominately foundational work, it is still an important step in their CCS career. The initial student review prepares you for your subsequent reviews, and going on into a sophomore review with no idea of how it is conducted is just a bad idea, and in fact, we feel would put them behind other departments who get them started immediately. The Executives will be contacting the EA student government representatives, David Firth, and Juliet McCurry, and asking them to find out how the majority of the EA student body feels about the decision, and whether or not they would like to overturn that policy.
Also, on the subject of reviews, all department representatives will be having meetings to discuss reviews one on one with their department administrators and chairs. There are times when the outcomes and expectations of reviews are never discussed with Freshman students. So to avoid this confusion, we will instead try and get the information out ourselves, as students to students.
THE CAFETERIA
The second issue we discussed was the Cafeteria. Now I know that this has always been a hot button issue for our student body, as the Cafeteria has only been in its second year of operation, and things will be needed to be ironed out for quite some time. Natasha Guimond, President of the Student Government, has personally taken to trying to solve the issues within the cafeteria, so if you have a question or concern, please email her.
One of the ideas we threw around was the concept of using your flex dollars for vending machines. Now a days, the technology to use a credit card or student ID for a vending machine is readily available, and having that at a cafeteria with exceptionally limited hours would give students options to eat using the money on their cards.
Another idea has been one thats been passed around for two years now. Expanded hours. Student Governments Executives are unanimous in our opinion that the cafeteria should be open longer than the current hours. More could be said about this issue, but there should be no case made about it. Many schools have 24 hour dining options, and with the traffic the Cafeteria receives, it should offer food to students regardless of the time. Students paid for it, and sometimes we have to work late on projects that require us to stay up after 11.
SECURITY/24 HOUR ACCESS
The final issue is a difficult one. However, Security has always been a strong point in the appeal to CCS. We are an exceptionally safe school within an area that many attest to the instability of. The security team is what keeps us safe, and I applaud the job that they have done. However, like many issues within our school, a problem most students feel with security is within the area of communication.
One thing we feel would better the students would be a posted schedule of 24 hour openings and closings with specific dates during the times of midterms and reviews. It is rare that 24 hour access is notified to students. Sometimes it is done through department administrators, sometimes through signs, and most of the time we are notified after it started…. or not at all.
On the subject of 24 hour access, we also feel as though it would be in CCS’ best interest of 24 hour access was during the last three weeks of the winter semester. Rather than having 24 hour access during finals week and then review week, we feel that students would benefit from having 24 hour access during the week BEFORE as well.
Also, people stealing mice or keyboards from the TC lab.
A. STOP DOING IT.
B. Those things need to be locked up just like in any other computer lab.
C. Security, use your SECURITY CAMERAS to reprimand those people who steal them.
I for one do not appreciate it when I sit down in the basically brand new computer lab and find no mouse, and my keyboard is so encrusted with syrup from soda or crappy food that I can’t use the Tab, Q, W, E, A, S or D buttons. There is an absolutely no food or drink policy in every lab. If you’re hungry, go to one of the numerous tables or lounges in the TC, Kresge, or Walter B buildings. Once you’re done, compute to your hearts content.
Another idea student government brought up is the idea of security cameras. While we know it would be expensive to install cameras in all the classrooms of the Kresge, Walter B, and TC buildings… we feel as though it would be beneficial to an extreme degree. Firstly, it would reduce security concerns for students using labs after hours. Secondly, there should be no opposition to it, as there is nothing students should be doing in cameras that shouldn’t be views by a security camera.
Lastly, we felt as though the administrators of Security are here during normal business hours, around 7-4. Students are here from 8-10. It would be in the students best interest if the three security administrators had staggered shifts. If a security administrator was here at all times during building hours, issues of security would be able to be solved after 4pm.
~Just some ideas for you kids! If you have any questions, would like to add some stuff, or would just like to chat about cool things… please contact us at ccsstudentgovt@gmail.com
Zachary Ares, Secretary
CCS Student Government Executive
zares@collegeforcreativestudies.edu
