Duke Student Government passed a resolution in support of the proposed short-term illness policy Wednesday night, in anticipation of today's vote at a joint meeting of the Arts and Sciences Council and Engineering Faculty Council.
DSG Vice President for Academic Affairs Avery Reaves presented the resolution to the senate, enumerating the insufficiencies of the old dean's excuse policy and the advantages of the new policy. The illness notification policy would allow students to submit excuses for missed exams or classwork using an online form instead of requiring documentation of illnesses from Student Health and a formal excuse from deans.
The joint councils' vote has been delayed twice this year, once due to a lack of quorum and once due to Hurricane Isabel, and Reaves said it was now especially important that the student body voice its support of the new policy.
"It's based on integrity, it gives students greater responsibility, and it is more consistent with the Community Standard," said Reaves, a senior. He claimed that the student body overwhelmingly favors the proposal.
Reaves's remarks followed a presentation from the Honor Council, the members of which discussed both the proposed short-term illness policy and the Community Standard.
Honor Council Chair Robert McDonald, a junior, explained the importance of the non-toleration clause of the Community Standard, which orders students to report instances of academic dishonesty they observe. He said the council's eventual goal is to establish self-scheduled exams for students.
Honor Council Vice Chair for External Affairs Benjamin Morris, a senior, followed McDonald by describing various outreach initiatives, including a collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Honor Court, discussions about the Community Standard with freshman FOCUS groups and Honor Week, which will take place in the spring.
IN OTHER BUSINESS: Senators elected Drew Steinberg as Class of 2004 whip, Avery Capone for the Class of 2005, Brandon Goodwin for the Class of 2006 and Megan Smith for the Class of 2007.
DSG voted to approve the Travel and Tourism Club's charter request and to formally recognize the Chinese American Intercollegiate Conference.
Senators also voted to accept amendments to DSG by-laws, including a new requirement that each senator on a committee proposing a resolution obtain five signatures from his constituency in an effort aimed at improving students' knowledge of DSG resolutions. A resolution approving computer upgrades for the DSG office passed as well.
Finally, the senate approved Student Organization Finance Committee statutes granting additional funding to Phi Beta Sigma fraternity for its annual Blue and White Charity Ball, Sigma Chi fraternity for its annual Derby Days, the Black Student Alliance for its Homecoming concert and the Self Knowledge Symposium for its upcoming programming.
The senate also heard a special presentation from Sheila Curran, director of the Career Center, and a first reading of proposed changes to basketball tenting policies from Head Line Monitor Donald Wine, a senior.
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