Hawken Senate minutes – 10/17/2011

Students present: Larry Fulton, Zach Voigt, Hunter Moeller, Swetha Karethi, Miles Bloomenkranz (visitor), Isabella Todaro, Sophie Kerman, Will Moscara, Adil Menon, Aric Floyd.  Absent: Senkfor

Faculty present: Harris, Brennan, Heflin, Desmond, Agar, Weiskopf, Tate, Kim Samson, Yudovina.  Absent: Rabe, Hayes.

Minutes by Mr. Tate

Introduction of student senators

Kim Samson:

I’d like to figure out what different groups do.  Are Senators like class reps?  I’d like to find the group by which I can run things by.  Some schools have a school president (not my intention) but I would like to increase my student contact for student input.  I would love some help with that.  My talk from last Thursday morning (alcohol at school events) would normally have been presented to a smaller group of students prior to addressing the entire student body.

Question: If you were me, what group of questions would I go to?

Question: What issues have the senate been working on recently?  What issues are you planning on addressing in the near future

I have no items for you yet.

Zach – makes sense for us to be a representative body (because we are elected).  We would have a  good perspective on what needs to happen and what is happening.

Difference between Senate and house leaders?

Will – House leaders more tuned in to the house rather than individual grades – we represent more of the school as a whole.

Bella – our job is more to set school policy rather than social issues.   There are lots of people in the community that hold leadership positions – a comprehensive idea is polling from different leadership organizations.

Mr. Harris – last year we worked with the Hawken “Jurga” – to deal with the integrity code (house leaders, senators, HIC, other students, faculty) to represent diverse views.

Adil – House leaders may be best for informing students.  They are more in tune with the students (reaching students).  They seem to be more in tune with the day to day vibe of the school.

Sophie – House leaders are more elected so that your house can do well (school spirit) – organizing events, planning things, but not necessarily as a representative

Zach – house leaders have a more public face – information distribution.  We (the Senate) meet in a dark room and have discussions that people don’t really pay attention to.  We influence policy, house leaders distribute information to all

Larry – Not really 100% accurate to have groups of “senators” and “house leaders.”  Each representative knows their grade better than the other leaders.  House leaders are good for information.

Ms. Samson – I might have actually chosen the House leaders for the Thursday discussion first – they have the public face, and the forum to help make a cultural shift.  However, 6 months down the road, it’s evident that there is no cultural shift (still drinking, bringing alcohol).  In that case, I might come to this group to address that issue.  At some point, the rules associated with dances were made by the Senate.  I really believe in cultural shift.  Until the country deals with bringing drugs into the country, we will cope with this all the time like every other High School.  I believe that Hawken can shift their behavior better than most teenage populations in the country.  I am opposed to breathalizers.  I would get more chaperones, asking more faculty to come, closing the gates at games – any number of possible solutions to the problem (most of which compound the problem because it creates a game instead of changing the culture).  Would this, the Senate, be the best place for this place?

Senators agree that it would.

Ms. Samson – I would have liked to know for sure a good process prior to talking to student body.

Mr. Harris – House leaders have a more vocal presence (in house meetings and school meeting).  We only meet during activities and do not have a public voice at class meetings or house meetings.

In 2008, Mr. Peters asked for a list of recommendations (not policy) from the Senate.  Mr. Harris presented the document from 2008 that was produced by the Senate.

Ms. Samson – I’m very interested with these recommendations.  There is a lot of talk around breathalyzers in the country (I am not in favor).

Will – US is now using a breathalyzer for each student at after-school events.

Ms. Samson – I would like to change the culture.

Mr. Harris – Review of the proximity rule (not clearly understood by community).  This was a separate resolution in 2008.  Not fully implemented yet.  That’s the kind of thing we do?

Ms. Samson – Do you feel as if I have an understanding of what you do?  Sometimes I need student input.  I get lots of adult input.

Miles – I think we could re-brand the proximity rule in a better light, especially when dealing with this situation.  We are trying to change the culture rather than the policies.  A rebranded explanation of that (moral, honor responsibility as a Hawken student) could actually be accepted. 

Zach – If someone just explained the idea of the proximity rule (allowing people to excuse themselves) it would get better reception now from the community.

Miles – We understand (this is a restatement of principles we already hold to.)

Bella – At the US game, there were hundreds of students present.  Do all of the students actually leave?

Ms. Samson – if drinking was in the stands, does everyone leave the US game?  The assumption was that the drinking was happening in smaller groups of people, not in the midst of the entire student body.

Mr. Harris – We should discuss this with Mr. Harris and the HIC – this falls under there educative responsibility (Proximity rule).

Will – Because the cultural change has not yet happened, a re-hammering of the proximity rule may be premature.

Bella – the proximity rule is still considered somewhat of a joke – not really taken seriously still.

Ms. Samson – It probably doesn’t work because the HIC isn’t going to put everyone present at the US game on trial.  The cultural shift is that people make the decision not to drink before they even show up at the game.  Proximity rule would more apply to those students that are part of a group of 3-5 in the parking lot – those not involved need to leave.

Miles – Avoid the word proximity – reteach the culture.

Aric Floyd – If you are with someone that is doing something self-endangering, you’re not going to leave your friend in that situation alone (in danger).  My friends have mentioned their concerns around this concept.

Mr. Harris – that is articulated in the policy (if I can leave without endangering myself or my friend.)

Ms. Samson – this conversation emerged from me asking about what students do I seek out for input.

Hunter – The peer leader groups should be a group of students that you (Ms. Samson) also consult with.  They have a great influence over the freshmen and long-term cultural shift.

Ms. Samson – could the Senate offer up a list of things that they are currently working on.