The minutes for the May 13th SGFC meeting are posted here.

Graduate students will have the opportunity to meet with Vice President/Dean of Students Kim Goff Crews in the afternoon/evening of May 19th.

The first meeting will take place from 12-1:30 in Social Sciences 122.

The second meeting, from 5-6 PM, will take place in the Business School Room 010 before that night’s Graduate Council Meeting.

Open Forum on Gender Neutral Housing

Hosted by College Council and Inter-House Council

Wednesday, May 14th

6:30 PM in Stuart 102

College Council and Inter-House Council will host the Director of University Housing, Katie Callow-Wright, and members of Inter-House Council’s Gender Neutral Housing Committee. Please come out to ask questions of the committee and to show your support for this initiative on campus. There will be a second forum on May 28th, hosted by IHC and CC.

Free Food

Questions? Contact benbejamin@uchicago.edu

Maroon coverage about the delay here and about the likely approval here.

CORSO Meeting
May 6th, 2008
Mintues

Attending: Christian Brockman, Jay Kim, Matt Kennedy, Kathryn Benesh, Tal Kopan

I. Sodalitas Presentation/Q&A
A. Presentation
1. We don’t want to limit the group to just publication
2. We’d like to have a more informal forum for ideas
-include publications, but also a blog, meetings, study/discussion groups with writers, readers and professors
B. Q&A
1. Why have your own publication if emphasis is on fostering community? It’s difficult for publications to get funding.
-it’s very difficult for undergraduates or anyone to get published, particularly if you just have a brief idea or discussion-starter; there’s just no forum for it
2. Would you benefit more from an academic or publications advisor?
-an academic advisor would probably be more helpful, but crossover is possible too
C. Discussion
1. This sounds like a fantastic idea for undergraduates
2. It isn’t CORSO’s job to deny RSOs based on difficulty of future funding
3. Individual student goals/desires vs. student life improvement?
D. Motion to approve RSO: (4-0,0) PASSED

II. Oeconomica Presentation/Q&A
A. Presentation
1. Majority of group’s time would be devoted to research, working with faculty
2. RSO used to exist; economics department has asked for a revival
3. Most of what we do is interact with professors, have seminars/workshops
5. This is explicitly different from publications about consulting/finance; more about theoretical research and topics less commonly taught/studied
6. UChicago should be a center of such activity, with its economics reputation
B. Q&A
1. Is this research in itself or for the end goal of publication?
-right now it’s research for its own sake
-we expect to publish, but it isn’t the main focus
-department likes to see examples of undergraduate research
2. What sort of publication would you see down the line?
-at most twice a year, since it’s a journal with a small base
-old group published and ~80 page academic journal
3. Will you be working with the economics department to find other publishing outlets for students?
-department already does that to some degree, but there are few/no undergrad publication opportunities
C. Motion to approve RSO: (4-0,0) PASSED

III. RSO Applications
A. Chicago Public School Support Network
1. Comments
-support for students from CPS who come here
-sponsorship of schools for recruiting purposes
-specific programming? New contributions? Already a lot of different existing outreach programs
-appears to be tied to overall University recruiting initiative
-do they really need RSO funding? – social instead of community service?
-would it be better as a subset of the admissions office or OMSA?
-doesn’t seem like the best way to create a support network
-maybe we should discuss this with Wallace
2. Motion to approve RSO: (3-1,0) PASSED
B. UChicago Maya
1. Comments
-they would be a unique addition
-this would be more technical/competitive than just about fun
-if they have enough participation there’s no reason to stop them
2. Motion to approve RSO: (4-0,0) PASSED
C. Stop, Drop, and Raas
1. Comments
-any current members can change by-laws, not just officers?
-another competitive dance group
2. Motion to approve, with recommendation to make amendment process more democratic: (4-0,0) PASSED
D. SDS
1. Comments
-how is it different from other social justice groups?
-it’s a national organization for radical social change; specifically not about electoral politics
-anything about nonviolence? Considering history of organization
-can’t deny based on political/social beliefs
2. Motion to table, pending more information from group: (3-1,0) PASSED
E. Management of and Investment in Colonies and Resource Operations (MICRO)
1. Concerns
-Invite us to the LAN parties!
-Order of the Blistered thumb?
-Incorporate all video games?
-Related games
2. Motion to table pending more information: (3-1,0) PASSED
F. Cotton Gin
1. Comments
-concerns that it is not unique from other creative writing publications
-the group could just write, and then submit to other groups
2. Motion to deny RSO status: (4-0,0) PASSED
G. Reading Novels Out Loud
1. Comments
-Just funding for food?
-Are the by-laws complete?
2. Motion to table, pending resubmission with bylaws: (4-0,0) PASSED
H. Colleges Against Cancer
1. Comments
2. Motion to approve RSO: (4-0,0) PASSED
I. COUCH
1. Comments
-sounds similar to Woodlawn Initiative, Puppet Posse
2. Motion to deny RSO status: (3-0,1) PASSED
-Note: If you would like to reapply, we would like to hear about the differences between your group and groups that sound very similar.

College Council Meeting
May 7th, 2008
Minutes

I. Retail Committee
A. Presentation by Bill Michel
1. Right now in the process of formulating recommendations, would like to get feedback from students
2. Final recommendations will be shared with community as well
3. Initial findings: student perception of retail opportunities largely dependent on where they live – ie, students living around campus mainly stick to 55th and 57th . 55th seems to be a major dividing line. North/South and East/West divide
4. Initial findings: price sensitivity; desire for a basic clothing supplier, late-night or 24-hr food/entertainment, mix of local and national retail
-retail suggestions: Target, 24-hr diner/cafe, thrift store, on-campus convenience store
5. Need to consider space/location limitations; some things just may not be feasible to have in Hyde Park
6. Initial recommendations: more publicity/marketing to spread awareness of existing retail and amenities; a clearer connection between 53-55-57 (bus routes and a walkable corridor); cultivating an independent/alternative character to the neighborhood retail offerings
7. Contact committee members with any thoughts or ideas

B. Discussion / comments
1. Students living in east Hyde Park probably wouldn’t object to a retail center further west, since they have to go that way to campus
2. Changes due to closing of the Shoreland and opening of new dorm?
3. Students with car access tend to just leave Hyde Park completely
4. Also depends on season – people won’t want to walk as far in winter
5. Other ‘satellite dorms’ may be affected once the Shoreland is closed
6. Few people cut through Nichols Park to get to 53rd, due to safety concerns
-would it be feasible to just put a patrol car there and an emergency light?
7. Students will still live in the Shoreland area even after the dorm itself closes
8. Price sensitivity varies widely across individuals
9. Treasure Island is perceived as pretty much the same as the Co-op for prices, though it’s nicer/cleaner
10. A 24-hr place should be within reasonable walking distance – maybe on 55th
11. In regards to national/local mix, bookstores here are a good example: Borders as well as the Seminary Co-op and Powell’s, so all niches are filled
12. The type of store is important in deciding between local vs. national – ie a local coffee shop but national electronics chain
13. Bookstore and Bart-Mart are pretty good for convenience store type needs
14. A movie theater in Hyde Park – not necessarily a megaplex, but something that will show new releases
-administration has been trying to make a deal with movie theaters unsuccessfully for years
-there was once a movie theater, but it wasn’t popular with the neighborhood and eventually shut down
15. What connections are there between retail and security committees?
-they are working independently, but integrated as part of an overall investigation of quality of life
16. Distance is a very limiting factor when walking to/from grocery stores
17. Should keep in mind that there are always students who won’t take advantage of pedestrian culture and prefer to leave Hyde Park for retail

II. SGFC Recommendations
A. Motion to approve: (11-0,0) PASSED

III. Other Business
A. Eve Ewing on the security committee
1. We submitted our report to President Zimmer at the end of last quarter
2. We met with President Zimmer today to discuss the report
-impressed by his willingness to implement changes, and quickly
3. Report and Zimmer’s response will be available by the end of the month
-some measures will be implemented by the end of this year, beginning of next year
B. Jarrod Wolf’s updates
-Jarrod is currently in Springfield lobbying; thinks it will be successful
-Metra discount will probably be implemented in the fall
-CCC meeting next week in the Gleacher Center
-new issue: textbook prices
C. Possible discussion with IHC about gender-neutral housing

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will deliver the Thomas Garrigue Masaryk Lecture on Democracy in the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel on Tuesday, May 13th, 2008.

Before her address, Albright will sign copies of her latest book, Memo to the President Elect: How We Can Restore America’s Reputation and Leadership, from 2:00 to 3:30pm at the University Bookstore.

Free and open to the public. No registration required.

Co-sponsored by the Prague Committee of the Chicago Sister Cities International Program and the Czech government.

For details, visit http://chicagosociety.uchicago.edu/upcoming-events.htm.
Portrait by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

The minutes for the May 6th SGFC meeting are posted here.

MAB Presents the Summer Breeze Music Festival 2008!

Featuring:
Cake
Talib Kweli
Andrew Bird
The Cool Kids

Hutch Courtyard
Saturday, May 17th
5:15pm [Doors at 4:45pm]
$15 advance, $20 day of show for students
$20 advance, $25 day of show for faculty/staff

This year’s festival will also feature FREE Kraft Foods Deli Creations sandwiches, FREE Red Bull Energy Drink samples, FREE Fuze Beverages samples, and FREE raffles - including weekend passes to the Summer Camp and Lollapalooza music festivals.

Tickets will go on-sale starting Wednesday, April 30th in the Reynolds Club from 11am - 3pm and continuing weekdays until the date of the show.

University of Chicago ID is required to purchase / pick-up tickets.

**University of Chicago students, faculty, and staff CAN bring guests that do not attend the University of Chicago. We will NOT be checking IDs at the door.

If you’re interested in volunteering for the show, please email mabvolunteer@gmail.com.

Each year, outstanding RSOs, events, and publications are recognized by the Committee on Recognized Student Organizations (CORSO) and honored for their work at the Student Leader Awards Reception. This year there will be SEVEN awards:
* Outstanding RSO Award
* Outstanding NEW RSO Award
* Best Event Award
* Best Publication Award
* Best Funding Award
* Best RSO/ Event You’ve Never Heard of Award
* The People’s Choice Award

To nominate an outstanding RSO, event or publication for an award, please submit the application by 5:00 p.m., May 12th. Completed applications should be sent to sg-corso@listhost.uchicago.edu.

To vote for the People’s Choice Award click here.