IN ATTENDANCE: Gayle Kees, Jill Tooley, Amey Blackburn, Steph Burton, Jessica Thoreson, Simon Zelazo, Pam Buchanan, Annie Ruvolo
PLEASE NOTE: Minutes are combined from both the Tuesday and Wednesday meetings. Minutes also posted on Facebook’s “Commuter’s United!” group
1. SHARKY’S RENOVATION
• get rid of the foosball table
• move pool table so that it’s lengthwise & closer to chalkboard wall
• we’re getting a good-sized refrigerator (smaller than an apartment-sized one but larger than a mini-fridge)
• a network printer will be installed – laptops will be able to print from it as well
• we’re getting 2 new computers, in addition to the two we already have set up
• we’re getting a round table
• the fridge & microwave will be set up to the right of the doorway (as you walk in)
• the wall cabinet in the back of the room will be gone
• we will need shelves (for stationery supplies, books, magazines, etc.)
• the C4 Committee will be meeting soon & they’re planning on getting new signs posted so students will know where we are
• we’re keeping the high top tables & stools
• we’re moving our old green plaid couch down to Sharky’s
• we can buy fabrics and re-upholster the couches & chairs
• a request for a coffeemaker (and possibly a watercooler?) was made AND we will use money from our budget to provide coffee, tea, creamer, sweeteners, etc.
• we will request more desk lamps
• Jessica suggested her boyfriend (an artist) could design something to cover up the shark
• the clocks will reflect the time accurately
• we’re getting rid of one of the coat racks
• we will not be using the kitchen (it was determined that commuter students should not bear the responsibility of cleaning it if other students are also using it)
NOTE: SOME THINGS WILL TAKE TIME TO CHANGE… we can get the round tables in as soon as possible, but a lot of things may take up to 2 weeks or more so please be patient with staff as they make this transition with us.
ALSO, THE BUILDING MONITORS WILL BE TOLD TO LEAVE SHARKY’S UNLOCKED… if the room is locked, please go upstairs to the 3rd Floor to ask Celia Norcross or Annie Ruvolo for the key to open it. Please keep in mind that there is costly equipment in this room, so it may be locked occasionally for security reasons…
NO ONE IS PURPOSELY LOCKING US OUT.
2. PROGRAMMING IDEAS
• WE’RE PUTTING OUT AN OPEN CALL TO ALL COMMUTERS FOR ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS
o A Suggestion Box Will Be Located In Sharky’s
• Have a “While You Were Out” Design Contest
send out an announcement to all students asking for decorators & interior designers to redesign Sharky’s for us, once we pick the winning designers
• Freight Yard Pub Night (Simon can be the Designated Driver)
• Movie Night or “Dinner & A Movie” once a month
o proposed schedule: the last Wednesday & Thursday of the month @ 5pm
o order pizza (from Moulton’s?) or just have popcorn and get a movie for free from the Library – low cost, but very social gathering
• Commuter Luncheon, to be scheduled soon, happening in Bowman 1st Fl. Lounge
• Open House Kick-Off for Sharky’s (to be scheduled once renovations have finished)
o Invite All Faculty, Staff and Students (family & friends too?)
• The Activities Fair was Thursday, September 13th in the Quad
o Commuter Advisory Board had a table facing Bowman Hall, near its entrance.
o We gave away buttons & cups (imprinted with our logo)
o Many faculty & residential students visited our table, which proved our heightened awareness on campus
o About a dozen commuter students signed up for CAB
o 1 faculty member signed up in hopes of us launching a carpool directory
NOTE: Our biggest challenge seems to be when to have events & how often to have events… Suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
3. CONCERNS & QUESTIONS
• Some commuters still don’t know they’re commuters
• Create a Vision for CAB
o want to feel less alienated & out of the loop
o want commuters (& non-trads) to come together more, and with residential students
o want to see “barrier” gone
o suggestion: have mandatory commuter student meetings at the beginning of each semester, just as residential students have mandatory dorm meetings
• Establish Carpooling
• Have Sharky’s open all year long, especially during summer semesters
