McCardell Presides Over Last Town Meeting of Year

Author: Samuel Wilson

On Monday evening, President John McCardell, various members of the faculty and staff and students, including members of the Student Government Association (SGA) met in the Ross Fireplace Lounge for the final Town Meeting of the year.
The Town Meetings have served as an open forum for discourse between the administration and the student body. Topics discussed Monday included the prospective weekends, the possible elimination of Advanced Placement (AP) credits, the smoking policy in dormitories, expanding the enhanced access system to class buildings and the racial diversity of the faculty.
McCardell first thanked the student body for helping the prospective weekends, held the past two weeks, go smoothly. He pointed out that the incoming first-years will be from the biggest applicant class in College history and, consequently, will be the most selective class ever.
"The students and family felt well and warmly received. I am confident that the weekends showed the College at its very best," he said.
Fahim Ahmed '03 posed the first question to McCardell, asking if the administration held a stance on the possible elimination of AP credit. McCardell responded by saying that the administration has no position and would leave the issue to the faculty for a vote.
Robert Schine, dean of the Faculty and Curt C. & Else Silberman Professor in Jewish Studies, explained that the proposal before the faculty would limit AP courses to placement. Students would no longer receive course credit.
Several students asked about the smoking policy and why the administration was not doing more to curb smoking in dormitories, claiming it is a safety hazard.
"I am not sure that proscribing behavior on people when the law does not proscribe a behavior is a good thing," McCardell said, and pointed out that he was speaking "very personally."
Ben LaBolt '03, student co-chair of the Community Council, applauded the administration for working with the student body on the issue of smoking on campus. He said that such a change would need to originate within the student body with strong support.
"At no point did more than one-third of the students support a smoking ban on campus," LaBolt said.
"We have come to a defensible place, but the debate will continue," McCardell said.
Sam Rodriguez '04 asked if any chance existed to extend the enhanced access system to class buildings, such as Bicentennial Hall or Warner Science Building.
Assistant Treasurer and Director of Business Services Thomas Corbin said that the College plans to install access card readers in the athletic complex, the larger peripheral residences and the new library. However, to renovate the existing class buildings would be expensive. The possibility exists though that the College may someday adopt the access cards completely, eliminating the need for keys.
A question about the College's commitment to a more diverse faculty was brought to the floor and McCardell responded that it is a serious concern for the College. It has been easier for the College to attract a diverse student body because the undergraduate commitment is only for four years, while for faculty the commitment may be for life. The remoteness of the College compared to schools in major metropolitan areas makes it more difficult to attract faculty.
McCardell concluded the meeting by expressing his pleasure with the town meetings this year. He thanked the SGA and expressed his eagerness to continue the meetings next year.