Community Council 1991-92

1991
On February 20th, the Constitutional Review Committee looked over governance structures at Hampshire. Looking back to the original Hampshire College Constitution, it is clear that Community Council and Academic Council were to be parallel policy-making bodies, each in its own sphere, with the faculty (in the form of the Faculty Meeting) retaining the right to veto any decisions. Stan Warner, currently on Community Council, thinks it very important that Council be maintained as the policy making body as opposed to the Dean of Students Office taking over that function. We agreed that this was reasonable. We also looked at the Constitution, and agreed that the sections on the Houses could just be deleted. On March 12th, over 300 students signed a petition opposing a new housing plan which would have changed the inputting process in the mods. Even though the plan is approved by Community Council, Director of Housing Sussan Noushadi recalled the plan under the condition that Council would later accept a more lenient plan.

A revised Constitution was unveiled on March 31st, with modifications made to the section on Community Council: Article III: Community Council

The Community Council shall be responsible for matters relating to the quality of life on campus and the well-being of the College community. Such responsibilities shall include determination of social policy, regulation and funding of student organizations, and determination of standards for remaining in the community (other than those determined by the Educational Policy Council) as embodied in the Code of Student Conduct and the Norms for Community Living. Changes in policies such as housing, health and safety that are detailed in Non Satis Non Scire (exclusive of fees) shall be proposed and administered by the Dean of Students with the advice and consent of Community Council. Community Council shall also serve as an advocate for student concerns; pursue or create Task Forces to undertake whatever short-term investigations are needed to explore community-related issues; and initiate and encourage innovative solutions to perceived problems....[p.2]

[The Proposed Constitution drafted by the Constitutional Review Committee was ratified by the Senate and Community Council, with the exception of the preceding paragraph describing the powers of Community Council, and the relation of Council to the Dean of Students Office. This version of the Constitution disappeared into conference committee, and was never heard from again, at least in the time period covered in this volume of the Documentary History. A new Constitution was approved by the Trustees in 1998.]