SMALL-TOWN STARBUCKS Starbucks Corporation announces it will bring a cafe to Greencastle Images on page 8
Indiana’s Oldest College Newspaper
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012
DENIAL
unaware
confused edgy frustration
hidden
unaware PARTY CULTURE
hush hush normalized
apathetic
volatile
Campus forum generates hope for a new definition By DANA FERGUSON news@thedepauw.com
In the midst of the Code TEAL campaign, which has flooded campus in teal colored signs as well as a series of statistics pertaining to sexual assault on DePauw’s campus, around 75 students entered the Union Building Ballroom Sunday night eager to be heard. The guided conversation, mediated by Dean for Student Life Dorian Shager, sought to address what the climate is like on campus with respect to sexual assault, why the climate is that way and how to go about changing the climate. The conversation ranged in topic from what the exact definitions of sexual assault and consent are, whether the drinking scene at DePauw causes
a greater presence of sexual assault, and the difficulties for survivors who decide to come forward. Shager said the conversation was a productive one though it did not yield a definite solution. “At times the conversation can be difficult when you’re talking about sexual assault, but I think they did a really great job,” Shager said. Logan Meek, a junior, commented early on in the discussion that many men do not find themselves in situations in which they assault another individual, but they are unaware of how to help those who may become involved in those situations. “My fraternity may be creating this monster and I don’t know what I can be doing to stop that,” Meek said. Bystander intervention techniques were suggested to combat
some of the occurrences in addition to making sure as an individual entering sexual contact with someone else that consent is issued by both parties. An issue that created some debate between many attendees was whether men and women should dress, act or consume alcohol in a certain way in order to protect themselves and others from being sexually assaulted. Many women, including event organizer and Women’s Center Intern J.C. Pankratz, argued that individuals should be able to wear whatever they choose, act however they choose and consume the amount of alcohol they choose while still feeling safe. “When I go to a party, why am I
Forum | cont’d on page 4
VOL. 160, ISSUE 43
Student government plans to make over allocations board, assess other goals By ABBY MARGULIS news@thedepauw.com
As the school year comes to a close, student government is working to finish putting goals into action and to finalize changes for the upcoming year. Student government met on Sunday evening to discuss the Government Evaluation Committee (GEC) report and to discuss other business. The final GEC report has been produced this semester to implement further changes to improve the student government as a whole. The report focuses on three areas: allocations, student representatives and the executive board. Student body president Charles Pierre said the report has been well executed and that the government has taken another look at the allocations board specifically to make improvements. “We realized we initiated a lot of programs and white papers, but students want to be informed. We are rechecking and addressing the allocations process that wasn’t addressed in the first report,” Pierre said. The allocations board was thoroughly scrutinized and will undergo extensive changes for improvement. The biggest change will affect all new organizations — in order for allocations to better adhere to their budget and avoid running out of funds in the
future, they will be creating a tier system which will rank organizations according to how much money the can receive, based on their funding needs. The goal of the tier system is to avoid clubs asking to be recognized with no intention of needing funds and then later asking for funds, which the allocations board does not have the means to supply. The tier system will force clubs to petition for funds, which the allocations board would then have to approve. Student government also plans to have more open communication between the allocations board and rest of the government to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Finally, the student government plans to make allocations board a more formal operation by implementing a formal training process for all of its members. Aside from discussing proposed changes to the allocations board, student government also discussed their desire to become more open with the student body as to what the are working on in accomplishing. While student government is creating many new goals, this semester they have already accomplished many previously set goals. Within the next two weeks, two of student government’s
DSG | continued on page 5
CHANGES DISCUSSED FOR NEXT YEAR’S STUDENT GOVERNMENT - Implement tier system to prioritize funding for student organizations - Improve allocations board by formally training members
- Aim for open communication between allocations board, organizations, and student government