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ComCil Minutes
October 8, 2008
Members Present: Jonny No, Tim Noble, Dennie Eagleson, Nic Viox, Molly Thornton (Chair), Chelsea Martens (Co-CM), Corri Frohlich (Co-CM), Carole Braun, Lincoln Alpern
Guests Present: Ellen Borgerson, Jessie Clark, Jeanne Kay
Approval of Minutes
Formal Action: ComCil moved to approve the minutes from its October 1st meeting with the following sentence change: Molly stated that from the meeting it was resolved to value “student participation that can be credited as community service.”
In favor:7 / Opposed: 0/ Abstention: 1
ComCil Membership Appointment
Brief: Chelsea informed ComCil that Scott had to resign from ComCil due to a timing conflict, but that Bob Devine who was elected to ExCil but unable to meet at ExCil’s time voiced interest in sitting on ComCil. Chelsea stated that it has been past practice for ComCil to appoint members to vacant seat.
Formal Action: ComCil moved to accept Scott’s resignation and to appoint Bob Devine.
In favor: 6/Opposed: 0/ Abstention: 2
Hiring CM Replacement for Spring 2009
Brief: Molly informed ComCil that Corri Frohlich, one of the two Co-Community Managers will be leaving at the end of December 2008 and ComCil needs to start the hiring process for a new Co-CM. Chelsea suggested that seeking creative ways to accrue applications. Chelsea suggested that the ComCil Chair put a call out to the alumni list serves. Chelsea proposed that ComCil make some qualifications such as having experience directly related to being CM or working closely with a CM. Tim recommended clarifying what the CM will get such as his/her salary. Dennie wanted to outline the CM job description and what skills are needed. Chelsea and Corri said they would work on a job description for next week’s ComCil. Tim said Nonstop has a litany of events going on and there is no Events Manager to run around with equipment. Tim said he has been taking on this duty and its not sustainable and needs to be addressed. Chelsea said that no one from Nonstop Presents has approached CG about having a relationship with CG, but normally not all events at the College have been managed by CG or run by CG, but that defining CG’s relationship with larger Nonstop events is important. Chelsea suggested that Tim, a Nonstop Presents Representative and CG sit down to figure out a solution. Corri explained that the situation is also complicated by the fact that currently Chelsea’s position is half-time CG and half-time Admissions, although she works more than half time for both positions. Tim stated there are funds from Foster’s salary and that it’s crucial that if we have funds that are available that we invest them in human capital. Chelsea asked ComCil, “how can we engage someone who would be a quality CM, who’s not already involved in this effort/work”. Chelsea suggested brainstorming a list of individuals who would be ideal candidates and send them personal invites.
ComCil members discussed the validity of hiring another CM rather than holding an election. Tim proposed that because of short time frame ComCil hire a CM. Ellen recommended talking to Duffy as a way to reach out to chapters. Ellen said there may even be alumni who would be willing to do the job for free.
Molly agreed to put out an announcement before next ComCil saying ComCil is looking for a new CM. Corri and Chelsea agreed to work on the CM job description and get clarification on the budget. Dennie said it might be useful to start creating the structure to have en election for CM for the future. Jeanne reminded ComCil that there isn’t a budget for next term and that there is no certainty that there will be a summer term. Chelsea said ComCil gets into an ethical question about advertising for a job when we aren’t certain about its funding. Tim said this question touches on the fundamental ambiguity of our collective situation, and that he doesn’t know if there is any resolution to it, but that we should probably forge ahead. Corri said we should clearly state the confines and uncertainty of our organization’s future to any candidate. Carole said the whole world is touch and go and that this position could appeal to a lot of people. “Ellen Borgerson seconded that statement and offered that that Yellow Springs is a good place to ride out the depression. Jonny stated that all those who work at and participate in Nonstop share that level of risk.
Formal Action: ComCil moved to suspend the Leg. Code and hire a partial-year CM position to begin January 1st and to last through the end of summer 2009.
In Favor: 7/ Opposed:/ Abstention: 1
Honor Code Review
Brief: Molly passed out the latest trail version of the Honor Code. Molly began the Honor Code conversation by stating that the document was not to define behaviors and consequences but to serve as a value statement from which policies and guidelines are derived. Jeanne explained the process in which the Honor Code was crafted. Conversations around values and ideals were initiated at orientation and construction of the document continued by a subcommittee. It was later presented at Community Meeting and put on the community list serve to get feedback. The subcommittee which consisted of James Russell, Jessie Clark, Molly Thorton and Jeanne Kay only received 2 emails for feedback and they tried to incorporate most of the feedback. Chelsea lauded those who worked on the document and said it would be a good opening page for the Survival ‘Zine. Molly clarified that this is being presented to ComCil to be approved as an official document and will not be going to ExCil for further approval.
Tim said the word “individuals’ contexts” is hard to read. Jeanne said this was discussed amongst the subcommittee but they felt that if they changed the wording it would change the meaning of the sentence. Molly clarified that that part means “for each individual person’s context is taken into account.” Jonny also felt the phrasing was a little awkward. Corri voiced frustration with the content of the conversation saying that this was not supposed to be wordsmithing session during ComCil since the subcommittee gave the community several venues and opportunities to edit and work they did beforehand. Tim said that ComCil should not rubber stamp any document just for an expeditious process.
Dennie suggested a graphic solution to the document might help read more fluidly. Molly wanted to emphasize that the Honor Code is a living document and it is meant to be revised. Some voiced concern that it was too broad or too general and that not everyone would understand our terms. Jeanne said the more we water it down and make it mainstream the less meaning it has and that the subcommittee wanted to use terms that are very to the point and precise as opposed to more general phrases. Ellen stated that it seemed like all of the concerns that were voiced today in ComCil were discussed by the subcommittee and that she imagines later on if a community member has questions about it there will be venues for discussion. Chelsea stated that bringing this document to someone else invites conversation and that this document provides opportunities for teachable moments and discussions to explain who we are. Carole asked if we needed to add a section about personal responsibility. Molly said she thinks this does ask for specific responsibility from individuals.
Formal Action: ComCil moved to approve the Honor Code as presented by the subcommittee.
In favor: 8/ Opposed: 0/ Abstention: 0
Who Qualifies as a Community Member
Brief: Molly handed out a document that was created over the summer by Dave Bishkoff ’08 and Foster Neill 07′. The document outlines CG membership rights and fees and CG brought this to ComCil to use as a starting point for conversation.
Dennie asked how the current CG fee was decided. Tim said there has been inconsistency in regards to who has to pay for what service and part of that is because this is a two month old program. Corri said that this term any amount for a CG fee would be arbitrary because all of CG’s budget is subsidized by the CRF. The total fee (tuition plus CG Fees) for full time students is $1500. Chelsea said as of right now we are keeping participation in CG activities free to everyone. Chelsea asked ComCil to consider CG’s relationship to part time students and various constituencies that want to have involvement with Nonstop. Chelsea gave the example of ComCil decided that only faculty, staff and students can sit on ComCil, so local and/or non-local alumni cannot. Molly suggested writing up a who, where and when to help talk about these categories.
Tim said one of the largest issues is that the idea of community has kind of exploded and that over the last year more alumni have been involved in deep ways. Tim also said he received a complaint from a part time student that she was getting too many emails and just wanted to take a class, “I’m not a member of community but I am a supporter.” Ellen said we could decide that part time students could opt into the community or we could decide that it is someone who has made a fulltime commitment to Nonstop. Ellen said there is a strong subset of alumni who feel they should be members of this community. Ellen said it is important for the community to define itself. Molly felt very strongly that part-time students need to be part of the community and abide by the community’s agreements and standards. Chelsea said that part of this is figuring out people’s relationship to the governance structure. Chelsea referenced the Alumni Honorary CG Membership program from last year. Last year CG offered alumni the option to pay a small amount to become a alumni community which gave them an opportunity to plug into what was going on, receive the Record, free access to CG events and contribute to Antioch but did not give them voting privileges. Chelsea said it is important to make a distinction between a community member and an ally. Chelsea was hesitant to give voting privileges to those who are not here because the community members who are on the ground have to deal with the consequences of vote but those who are not here receive the privelege of voting but none of the responsibility of living with the decision. Chelsea said alumni contributions and involvement are very important, but there needs to be distinction between community members and allies. Jeanne suggested dividing Dave and Foster’s spreadsheet into three categories: power, responsibility and access. Jeanne stated voting rights and decision-making should be restricted to full time students and participants but that responsibility in complying to community standards should be for all community members. Ellen agreed but added that anyone who participates in Nonstop should have to agree to community standards but doesn’t necessarily have to be a community member.
Tim said it is “screwy” to waive the CG fee for anybody and specifically pointed out that part-time faculty don’t have to pay while full time do in Foster and Dave’s spreadsheet. Tim stated one of the reasons so many people became involved and donated to CG was because they felt an allegiance to CG and wanted be able contribute to CG’s health in a an unhealthy period. Ellen mentioned that the Alumni Board also felt a very strong allegiance to CG and was able to donate to CG by simply checking a box on a pledge form.
Jeanne Kay brought to ComCil’s attention to the fact that during the summer a proposal to add an alumni seat on ComCil had been approved and that it needed to be approved a second time for it to continue since it is a Leg. Code change. The issue was tabled over the summer because a census could not be reach. Jeanne stated that the people who make the decisions should be the ones who live with the consequences. Molly voiced concern about making a divide between part time students and full time students. Lincoln brought up the question of space and whether or not these policies only apply if and when we are on Antioch’s campus.
Dennie asked ComCil how we should go about engaging people with our documents and culture. Dennie asked if faculty should take a day to orient students to the community standards and documents, but wasn’t sure how comfortable faculty would feel doing so. Ellen said there really needs to be an “opt-in” option. Ellen went on to say that orientation is important but there should be a group of people who orient others to these documents and who could visit classes.
Dennie suggested that ComCil table this conversation as it was getting late. Molly said before next meeting, she would put together a proposal for a community member definition. Chelsea volunteered Tim and herself to work on this project with Molly. Chelsea also said that ComCil will try to meet between 4:00-5:30 in respect to everyone’s very busy and hectic schedules this term.
Nonstop Honor Code
We are an organic community of life-long learners, re-envisioning education as a non-commodifiable experience. A Nonstop education unites theory with practice so that our knowledge contributes to the empowerment of others.
As an institution committed to the radical deconstruction of oppressive social systems, we envision ourselves in solidarity with a network of movements fighting for social justice on a local and global scale. In order to reconcile the needs of each individual with those of a cohesive community, we participate in shared governance as a genuine and holistic endeavor that promotes cooperation and non-hierarchical organization.
We derive intellectual freedom from academic integrity, rigor, and innovative thought. Through constructive exchange, consensual interactions and the recognition of individuals’ contexts, we create safe spaces for growth.
Nonstop is an enduring institution that embodies sustainability within social and natural environments. Designed as an ever-evolving, fluid body, we make wise use of resources and take responsibility for creating balanced relationships based on mutual respect.
