Members: President Simmons, Provost Kertzer, Russell Carey, Mike Chapman, Marisa Quinn, Anthony Cokes, David Cutts, Marida Hollos, David Sheinberg, Michael Stein, Elmo Terry-Morgan, Alison Cohen, Michael Glassman, Lauren Kolodny, Joseph Bush, Christina Purpura, Jeremy Boyd, David Margolius, Carin Algava, Nancy Fjeldheim, Geoffrey Greene, Sarah Sharpe, Kisa Takesue, Damon Rarick, and Guy Sanchez were in attendance.
Katherine Bergeron, Christopher Bull, John Cassese, Stephen Foley, Chi-Ming Hai, Mark Ramadan, Kathleen Rossi, David Bloom, and Emma Simmons were unable to attend.
President Simmons began the meeting by asking members of the Council to introduce themselves. Several new members were in attendance.
The minutes of the April 10, 2007 meeting were approved.
Walter Hunter, Vice President for Administration and Chief Risk Officer, gave an overview of Brown's Emergency Notification InCampus Alert System (MIR3) which in the event of an emergency is able to deliver two-way advisories and instructions to students, faculty and staff via telephone, email, blackberry, cell, or text messaging. He demonstrated one capability of the system by asking members of the Council to turn on their cell phones. Those whose phones rang heard a recording from Mr. Hunter when they answered their phones. He reported that Brown is also planning the installation of an outdoor emergency siren warning system on the main campus. It is expected to be operational by the end of the year.
Margaret Klawunn, Associate Vice President of Campus Life and Dean for Student Life, followed Mr. Hunter with a review of the resources available to students, faculty, and administrators who have concerns about the well-being of a student. In general, reports about students of concern go to the Office of Student Life. The Offices of Psychological Services and Health Services, and the Department of Public Safety also manage crisis response. Ms. Klawunn reported that the Office of Student Life is developing web pages that will provide information on what to do when one has concerns about a student.
Beppie Huidekoper, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, reported that the University is committed to setting an explicit goal for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. The goal will be based on last year’s total square footage of campus buildings. She announced that the Sidney E. Frank Foundation had made a gift of $200,000 to support new, comprehensive environmental initiatives at Brown. The gift combined with an allocation of $150,000 from the Office of the President, will be used for a proactive community outreach and awareness program. Ms. Huidekoper posed the question of who should own the program. One of the suggestions was to have the Swearer Center oversee and coordinate it.
Mike Chapman, Vice President for Public Affairs and University Relations, and Tim Leshan, Director of Government Relations and Community Affairs, reviewed proposed new guidelines for political activities. The guidelines are being revised to clarify current policy in order to be more transparent, to expand the current student-based policy to faculty and staff, and to ensure that Brown is abiding by the law regarding its 501(c)(3) non-profit status. The use of university facilities and resources, candidates and campaigning and fund-raising restrictions are among the topic areas in the proposed new guidelines. There was discussion regarding the complexities involved in interpreting some of the topic areas included in the guidelines.
Due to time constraints, the opportunity for members of the Brown Community to address the Council was deferred.
The next meeting of the Brown University Community Council will be held on November 13, 2007 from
4:00 – 5:30 pm in Leung Gallery, Faunce House.
Respectfully submitted,
Catherine Pincince
Secretary of the Brown University Community Council