A Farewell Address

The following was sent to the DCGA Updates Email List. To subscribe to receive updates, click here and press "send."

Fellow Denison Community Members,

As many of you know, my term as Student Body President ended just over a week ago at the DCGA Inaugurations. Before passing this email list onward, though, I felt it appropriate to send a concluding email with some final updates and acknowledgements.

First, for those of you who were following the Oswalt Resolution (requesting that Licking County Prosecutor Kenneth Oswalt reconsider the effects of mandating the reports of sexual assault victim names to law enforcement), it passed a vote of 37-0. I was able to speak with Prosecutor Oswalt, and he is very interested in speaking before the Student Senate to address concerns raised, and I anticipate that the new Senate -- once established -- will take him up on his offer.

Second, I want to recognize student organization Deaf Culture Awareness Club, faculty member Audrey "Wondergirl" Anton, as well as students Becky Fink, Molly Finn, and Audrey Gross. Each were recognized for modeling the ideal of "active citizenship" enshrined in Denison's mission statement at the first ever DCGA Citizenship Awards last week. They will have information regarding their accomplishments in the DCGA glass case in Slayter Union, and I encourage you to check it out.

Finally, I want to thank you for receiving weekly student government updates and remaining aware of campus affairs. I remember first creating this list in August of last year as a response to breakdowns in communication that resulted in students protesting in front of Doane during Finals Week of Spring 2009. At that time, I don't think I could have ever believed that a nearly a third of students would be voluntarily subscribed to it. When I campaigned for the office DCGA President, I had a vision of a not just a student government but a true students' government -- one that enables any student to have voice and make Denison a better place; through your involvement within campus discourse in subscribing to these emails, you have helped this vision come alive. I truly cannot say how happy that this makes me. Thank you so much.

This year has been whirlwind of activity for the student government: we started weekly tabling rotations so that students could interact more frequently with their representatives; we allocated our $800,000 student activities budget to student organizations without backlash for the first time I've seen in my time at Denison; we revived Buzzy the

Buzzard as our unofficial mascot, bolstering Denison spirit; we hosted the first ever Ohio Student Government Leaders Conference, creating a network of student governments across Ohio that we can now use as a resource in years ahead; we completed a comprehensive overhaul of governing documents, including the passing of a new DCGA Constitution by student body referendum with 95% voting in favor; we broadened the agenda and authority of our Academics Committee, creating a flexible and dynamic Policy Committee better suited to responding to student needs and desires; we greatly increased the number of food options in the dining halls for students with food allergies; we expanded "Trayless Tuesdays," reducing waste by transitioning into a more sustainable trayless cafeteria; we rezoned parking to more efficiently use space on campus; we brought held open forums with security officers to improve our relations; we have a proposal for gender neutral housing that will hopefully be brought into action in the fall of 2011; we asked the teaching faculty to adopt the new "P" general education requirement to outfit our community members with skills and perspective that will help us all succeed in our increasingly diverse community, and they heard us and passed the motion; and we asked the administration to make student safety a priority in disciplinary cases, supporting the adoption of Medical Amnesty which is used frequently as students get help for themselves and others.

My most moving memory of our student government, though, is when I received a letter in my Slayter Box from an international student in the mail. The letter was addressed to this student, and it was informing her that she, along with other international students, would not receive the financial aid she needed to study off campus next semester as she planned. She had placed it in my mailbox -- the words "Please help us!" scribbled at the top of the letter. I met with this student, and guided her to write a draft of a resolution to be brought before the Student Senate. This draft was taken into the Rules Committee and Academic Committee, and eventually was passed through our Senate with unanimous consent. Together with the faculty, we were able to persuade the top administrators to reverse their decision; today, this student is studying off campus in part because of our student government and the efforts we made.

I mention our accomplishments because all that has been done this year could not have been possible without community members like you taking ownership of your student government, and I would like to once again thank you for your involvement. I truly hope that you continue to keep aware of campus affairs and are never afraid to make changes that will improve our campus. I encourage you to also thank your representatives for their service this year; they worked hard to make Denison a better place for those who will follow us, and I know that I am tremendously grateful for their time and dedication.

While I am passing this email address on to newly inaugurated DCGA President Robert Moore, please do know that you can always feel free to contact me at my other Denison email, brisso_h@denison.edu. It truly has been an honor, a pleasure, and a privilege to serve a student body that has been my family for all of my time here at Denison. I could not be more proud of our student body, all that we have accomplished, and all that we will continue to accomplish. Once again, thank you all so much for everything.

Yours in Service,

Eric "Harry" Brisson

Student Body President, 2009-2010
Denison University

Congratulations to DCGA President Robert Moore!

Photos credits: Audrey Gross

New Opportunities to Become Involved in Campus Governance

Fellow Denison Community Members,

Several student positions have opened up on committees critical in shaping campus policies. If you are looking to address some of the university's most pressing and difficult issues, please send an email to one of your representatives so they can nominate you during a session of Student Senate. If you have any questions regarding the role and responsibilities of a specific committee, feel free to contact the chair of the committee. Committees with coming vacancies are listed below.

University Council (Chair: Dr. Dan Gibson)
Campus Affairs Council (Chair: Eric 'Harry' Brisson)
Student Enrollment and Retention Committee (Chair: Dr. Dosinda Alvite)
Security Committee (Chair: Ed Hebb)

These committees bring students, faculty members, and administrators together to discuss challenges facing the university, and it is important that the student body be well-represented in these discussions. Involvement in campus governance is rewarding, and I certainly recommend it to any and all who are interested.

Your Representative,

Eric "Harry" Brisson
Student Body President

New Parking Map Approved

Fellow Denison Community Members,

Chief of Security Garrett Moore and the rest of his office recently approved the student-led Parking Task Force's recommendations, rezoning Denison's parking map to allow first years to park in the lower Brownstone lot and sophomores to park in the back lots behind Crawford. Be sure to thank the committee for their time and effort: Ben Hobbs, 2010 (Chair); Kara Lemarie, 2011; Ramon de la Rosa, 2012; Mario Zepeda, 2013; and Mary Lindsay, Office of Campus Security.

This effort shows how students can affect change on campus when they organize their interests and work with the administration. If you are interested in learning about how you can work to create the changes you would like on campus, please contact me at dcgapresident@denison.edu.

The new map can be found on Denison's website here.

Your Representative,

Eric "Harry" Brisson
Student Body President

Task Force on Student Parking

Fellow Denison Community Members,

In response to concerns raised regarding the zoning of parking spaces on campus, I have decided to create a Task Force on Student Parking to review the current parking map and propose any changes to the Campus Affairs Council for approval. If this is an issue in which you take interest, please take the time to apply for this committee using the link below. Even if you do not want to see change in the zoning of parking spaces on campus, it is still in your interest to apply to be heard. This is an opportunity to design the parking policy you would like to see on our campus.

To apply, simply fill out an application online by clicking here. The deadline for applying for this committee is this Friday at 4:30pm. Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding this committee.

Your Representative,

Eric "Harry" Brisson
Student Body President

Get Involved in Student Government!

Fellow Students,

As President, I am responsible for appointing several key positions that serve the student body in various ways. I have designed online applications for these positions, and I would encourage you to fill out forms for any of the positions that interest you. Links to these forms are listed below.

DDay Chair
Executive Secretary
Elections Chair
Webmaster

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at dcgapresident@denison.edu.

Thanks!

Your Representative,
Eric "Harry" Brisson

Council and Committee Student Appointments

Fellow Denison Students,

Tomorrow (Tuesday, January 26th), the DCGA Student Senate will be appointing student representatives to the various Denison councils and committees that create and shape policy for our university. If you are interested in serving on one of these committees, please attend tomorrow's Senate meeting at 6:30pm in the Burton Morgan Lecture Hall.

The committees to which we will be appointing student representatives are listed below:

Campus Affairs Council
(4 appointed student representatives)
Meeting Time: TBD

This council provides an opportunity for a mix of Administrative Staff, Students, and Faculty to come together cooperatively to design recommendations to the Administration regarding student judicial processes, student publications, athletics, intercollegiate games, musical, dramatic and literary clubs, fraternities, sororities and other student affairs, residence halls, campus dining, student health and safety, and the general social life of the institution.

University Council
(3 appointed student representatives)
Meeting Time: TBD

This council advises the President on policies relating to the following: (1.) personnel, enrollment, and financial matters within the University, and oversee the implementation of those decisions, including all Administrative Staff, Supportive Operating Staff, and Faculty positions; (2.) student enrollment, retention, and financial aid; and (3.) annual budget, development, finance and management. The University Council takes an active role in long-range planning for the University.

Academic Affairs Council
(3 appointed student representatives)
Meeting Time: Tuesdays, 3:30pm-5:00pm

This council reviews all matters relating to curriculum and educational policy and recommend actions to the Faculty for approval. Included among the areas to be reviewed by the Council are the following: degree requirements, programs of study (e.g., General Education, major and minor requirements, concentrations), new courses proposed to be offered on a continuing basis, academic standards (e.g., reviewing and making policies regarding student academic standards, admissions, probation, dismissal, and readmission), and academic support services (e.g., library, academic computing, and academic services).

Committee on Residential Life
(3 appointed student representatives)
Meeting Time: Thursdays, 1:30pm

This committee is responsible for the following: (1.) reviewing and advising the administration on major residential life policy decisions, subject to legal, financial and other constraints; (2.) making recommendations to the Campus Affairs Council on matters regarding residential life; (3.) responding to requests from the Campus Affairs Council for consideration of issues, proposals, long-range plans, etc; and (4.) reporting regularly to the Campus Affairs Council on issues considered.

Dining Committee
(6 appointed student representatives)
Meeting Time: Wednesdays, 2:30pm-4:00pm

This committee is responsible for the following: (1.) reviewing and advising the Campus Affairs Council on major dining policy decisions, including various dining providers and making recommendations regarding contract negotiations and proposals, subject to legal, financial, and other constraints; (2.) seeking advice from the DCGA Senate on dining matters of shared concern to students; (3.) making recommendations to the Campus Affairs Council on matters regarding dining; (4.) responding to requests from the Campus Affairs Council for consideration of issues, proposals, long-range plans, etc; (5.) and reporting regularly to the Campus Affairs Council on issues considered.

The appointees for this committee must include one varsity athlete, one vegetarian, one international student, and three omnivores.

Security Committee
(4 appointed student representatives)
Meeting Time: TBD

This committee is responsible for the following: (1.) reviewing and advising the Campus Affairs Council on security policy decisions; (2.) seeking advice from the DCGA Senate on security matters of shared concern to students; (3.) making recommendations to the Campus Affairs Council on matters regarding security; (4.) responding to requests from the Campus Affairs Council for consideration of issues, proposals, long-range plans, etc; and (5.) reporting regularly to the Campus Affairs Council on issues considered.

Personnel Committee
(1 appointed student representative)
Meeting Time: Wednesdays, 1:30pm-3:00pm

This committee is responsible for the following: (1.) reviewing and recommending to the University Council modifications of all policies and procedures relating to affirmative action, hiring, and benefits of all persons employed by Denison; (2.) reviewing and recommending to the University Council modifications of all policies and procedures relating to contract renewal, promotion, and dismissal of all employees except Teaching Faculty; (3.) and reviewing and evaluating all requests for new positions and continued need for replacement of persons in existing positions; (4.) establishing guidelines for contraction and expansion of existing positions; and (5.) making recommendations regarding these matters to the Provost, Director of Human Resources and University Council.

Student Enrollment and Retention Committee
(2 appointed student representatives)
Meeting Time: Select Wednesdays, 2:30pm-3:30pm

This committee is responsible for the following: (1.) establishing policies and overseeing the implementation of the University's admissions, financial aid, and retention programs and (2.) collecting and evaluating information regarding the long-range outlook for Denison's admission and retention programs, and making recommendations to the University Council.

Information Technology Advisory Committee
(2 appointed student representatives)
Meeting Time: Fridays, 11:30am-12:30pm

The Information Resources Advisory Committee shall advise the Provost on matters relating information resources and technology within the University and oversee the implementation of those decisions, including: (1.) the policies of and resource allocations for academic and administrative computing services; (2.) the policies of and resource allocations for the Library. The Information Resources Advisory Committee shall take an active role in long-range planning for the future development of information resources and associated technology. The Information Resources Advisory Committee shall report regularly to the University Council on actions taken and issues under consideration.

If you have any questions about these positions you can contact each committees' chair, which can found at the Denison Governance Directory.

Your Representative,

Eric "Harry" Brisson
Student Body President



All information regarding committees (with the exception of security committee) taken from the Campus Governance chapter of the Denison University Faculty Handbook 2008-2009.

Medical Amnesty Policy Instituted

Fellow Denison Community Members,

At the start of this semester, the Medical Amnesty policy crafted last year in Campus Affairs Council was put into effect. The text of the current policy can be found online, and there will be presentation and a Q&A session at the beginning of tomorrow's Senate (Tuesday, January 18) from Vice President of Student Affairs Sam Thios. Please attend if you have any questions or concerns about this policy. It is the hope of our student government that this new policy will improve the safety of students on our campus.

Your Representative,

Eric "Harry" Brisson
Student Body President