Loud noises cannot put the brakes on Campus Council--a good thing for the group in charge of planning the Last Day of Classes.
The seemingly endless drilling sounds coming from the nearby library renovations did not keep President Anthony Vitarelli from putting forth his "pretty ambitious agenda" during the council's first meeting of the semester Thursday night.
Some of the items Campus Council plans to address this spring are extensions of successes achieved during the fall. Having already granted independent students the right to reserve common spaces, Campus Council will now work with Duke Student Government to allow independents to register events.
Vitarelli said another goal is to ensure that the implementation of the new annual review process is successful. A letter regarding the modified process--somewhat altered since it won the council's approval last semester--should be on the way to student groups in the next few days.
The council faces new challenges as well. Among the policy questions soon to be under consideration are the current system for delivery of packages by courier companies, housekeeping issues and the status of intellectualism in dorms.
The other two items on Vitarelli's agenda are the meeting's major topics of discussion: Last Day of Classes and fall opening. Under the leadership of seniors Mark Pike and Tamara Wilson, the Last Day of Classes committee is beginning to make preparations, considering possible bands and locations. A survey intended to provide information and collect feedback will arrive in students' e-mail inboxes next week. Organizing funding from the University and external sources is another of the tasks ahead of the committee.
Possible changes in the schedule for fall opening are a pressing issue brought before Campus Council by Eddie Hull, director of Residence Life and Housing Services. Although Hull was unable to be at the meeting, Vitarelli read a statement by the director outlining the proposal that West Campus move-in be shortened from a week to four days.
The proposed modification would not affect Central Campus students or freshmen, nor would students with permission to arrive early see any change.
A shorter West Campus move-in period would make staffing easier during fall opening, noted Hull. In addition, there might be fewer drug- and alcohol-related incidents before the start of classes.
Campus Council members had many objections to the proposed change, citing difficulties such as heavy traffic and the effect on students' quality of life. The council will consider a draft of a resolution at its meeting next week.
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