Here’s what went down at the very lengthy March DSC meeting last night.  Highlights included a rather tense discussion with Provost Chase Robinson about possible plans to move the 5th floor student spaces to the library basement, plus announcements about the triumphant return of the Middle East Studies Group, the introduction of discount tickets to the Angelika film center, and upcoming meetings on GC restructuring.

Provost Robinson, along with chief librarian Polly Thistlwaite, took questions about a recent grant proposal submitted to New York state asking for $1.2 million for a new student services center.  One plan for the $$ involves moving the 5th floor DSC offices and conference rooms to the basement of the library, and using some of the 5th floor space to create offices for retired faculty.  The DSC unanimously adopted a resolution last month affirming its claim to the 5th floor spaces.

• Robinson emphasized that the GC has not yet received the award.  Additionally, the grant proposal did NOT include specific plans,but instead only “vague aspirational language”
  • A DSC rep read part of the proposal aloud, and indeed there was no mention of the basement.
• Should the GC receive the funding, Robinson suggested 2 possible scenarios:
  • (1) The administration returns the $$.
  • (2) They go “back to the drawing board,” considering student reluctance
    • For example, perhaps consider using the library basement for a Writing center and the new Office of Career Planning
• However, Robinson was unwilling to state that moving the DSC space is off the table
  • He said that we are “wasting our time” if there’s no willingness to move, and that he is unsure how much latitude there would be in using the money in other ways
• Robinson also said that plans to “liberate this space” on the 5th floor were made under the assumption that “space is fungible.”  He said that the square footage of the student space would not change, even if it is moved to another location.
  • He also suggested that moving the student space to the library would make it more accessible.
    • DSC reps voiced concerned that the library basement has no sunlight, and moving the student spaces there could create problems for library traffic patterns and for students attempting to study quietly, etc.
  • Robinson said that the library basement is currently underutilized “dead space,” and that the administration has been receiving a great deal of pressure from CUNY central to put it to better use.
    • DSC reps mentioned that perhaps the problem is basement’s cave-like atmosphere and lack of functional computers and printers.
  • Polly Thistlewaite said that no disrespect to students was intended, as the library is the “heart of the institution.”

In other news:

• If you don’t have health insurance, please chat with the DSC Health and Wellness, rep, Monique Whitaker.  There might be low-cost options available, including ways to obtain NYSHIP.
  • Monique also reminded us to protect our backs by wearing backpacks, not 1-shoulder bags.  Also, check out the new Health and Wellness poster series and remember to eat more almonds, because they are awesome.
• The discount movie passes for the Anjelika will be $7.50.  As with the $6.50 AMC passes, you will need to pay by check or money order.

• The Middle Eastern Studies Group has been rechartered.  If you expressed interested, you should be receiving an email soon about elections for the group’s 3 co-chair positions.

• Stop by room 5495 on Monday afternoons between 2 and 4pm for free coffee, tea, snacks and condoms.

• Technology fee update:
  • The technology dept. is now tracking how many pages you print/semester (hence the new password requirement).
  • Last fall, over 2 million pages were printed.  Usage ranged from 1 page to more than 14,000 (!)
  • There will be no cap next year on the number of pages you can print.  However, the idea of a quota has been quite popular among administrators at various tech meetings, so stay tuned.
• Upcoming meetings on GC restructuring:
  • The townhall meeting on GC restructuring (including those new fellowship packages) will be this Tuesday, March 19 at 7pm in the cafeteria.  Some of you have expressed interested, so let’s meet in the dept. lounge for a few minutes before heading up.  The first hour of the town hall will be designated for departments to talk individually, before then converging as a larger group.
  • The DSC ad hoc group on the new fellowships will be meeting on Monday, March 25th at 12pm to put together a petition (they’ll create a google document that anyone can sign).  All are welcome.

• And finally, the next DSC party will be held after our next plenary meeting on April 19th (so likely around 8pm).  Hope to see you all there.

As always, please let us know if there are any concerns you’d like us to bring up at the next meeting, and keep in touch about how you’d like us to spend our program’s activity fee $$.  We still have a few hundred dollars left for the semester.

Best,

John and Flan