MIDDBRIEFS

Author: KATIE FLAGG AND CAROLINE S. STAUFFER

SGA proposes universal wireless Internet access

The Student Government Association (SGA) voted 13-0-1 Sunday to support the "Remaining Technologically Competitive" bill that was introduced this week into the Senate. The bill, authored by Feb Senator Dean Atyia '08.5 and co-sponsored by Wonnacott Commons Senator Eli Berman '07.5 and Junior Half Year Senator Dan Saper '06, proposed that the College's student body and administration cooperatively implement a plan to create a campus-wide wireless network.

"In order to sustain Middlebury's reputation as a high-profile liberal arts college, the school must remain technologically competitive with its peer institutions," the bill reads. The bill proposes that technological competitiveness can be achieved by implementing wireless Internet access on a campus-wide scale - a move that is "becoming the norm at colleges and universities across the country," according to the SGA's bill.

"In order to research the issue," said Atyia, "I tried to find out how common wireless networks are on college campuses across the country. I found that many liberal arts colleges and universities [that fall into the same category as Middlebury] have wireless networks, and of those that don't, many have plans for implementation."

The bill also proposed to draft a petition asking students to declare support for the implementation of a universal wireless Internet network. Atyia cited the "huge sentiment" among students for wireless as a key factor in his decision to write the bill. The bill also promotes transparency, both in the development and implementation of any plan to create a wireless network on campus.

Currently, wireless Internet access is available in only limited areas on campus - including the Grille and the new Library.



College introduces new wage scale for students

The Human Resources and Student Employment Office announced last Friday that next fall will see the implementation of a new student wage program. The new program will update a system executed in 2001 that was designed to parallel staff payroll policies. The program to be effective next fall, however, will resolve the challenges caused by the current system, leveling the playing field for all offices on campus that utilize student employees extensively. The new wage scale will also, most importantly, simplify and clarify the current system.

The new wage scale will be determined by a set of criteria including skills required, necessary experience or training and levels of independent work, mental activity and accountability for students. Base pay hourly wages will be divided into three gradations - general, skilled and specialist levels.

Base pay wages will range from $7.50 per hour for general positions - such as office assistant, library assistant and dining employee positions - to $9.00 per hour for specialist-level work. Under the new wage scale, student employees will also qualify for a $0.25/hour yearly wage increase.

In order to avoid pay cuts for current student employees, those students hired prior to next fall will retain their current pay rate for the duration of their employment.

Under the new wage scale, student wages will remain above the average rate paid to student employees at similar college campuses in New England.



Grad move-out date to be reconsidered

Student Community Council member Jimmy Hickey '05 submitted a proposal to increase the amount of time seniors are allowed to stay on campus after graduation at the Council meeting Monday afternoon.

Currently, students have to check out at noon on the Monday following graduation. Hickey proposed to allow students to remain until noon on Tuesday, granting a total of 48 hours to pack up and clear out. "It seems like the faculty and staff are really friendly for it," Hickey said.

He noted, however, that it took three months for the move-out time to be increased from 10 a.m. until noon, and therefore the 48-hour increase proposal will not be fully addressed until next year. Reservations included constraints on the custodial staff, which is responsible for post move-out cleanup and needs to be contracted well in advance.