Minutes of the MIT Dormitory Council meeting of May 11, 2009 In attendance: Michael Poon, Random Hall, outgoing DormCon treasurer Preeya Phadnis, Random Hall Lyla Fischer, Random Hall president, incoming DormCon vice president Cody Daniel, Senior House president, incoming DormCon risk management chair Andy Wu, Baker House EJ Emeagwali, Baker House Aziz Albahar, Baker House, incoming DormCon president Britni Ihle, Baker House president James Torres, Burton-Conner, outgoing DormCon president Michael Berry, Burton-Conner president, incoming DormCon dining chair Nathan Pallo, East Campus president, incoming DormCon risk management chair Josh Bails, East Campus vice president Rachel Meyer, East Campus, incoming DormCon treasurer Geoffrey Thomas, Next House, DormCon secretary, incoming DormCon dining chair Sandhya Ramakrishnan, McCormick, incoming DormCon housing chair Karl Wolff, Phoenix Group president Absent: Simmons Hall MacGregor House New House Baker REX budget proposal Baker is seeking $1000 to cover a lighting controller ($90), a lighting truss ($120), two colorstrips ($230 each), and two scanners ($150 each). EJ: We'd like new lighting equipment. We're one of the more social dorms and want to throw a lot of parties. We're here as REX chairs, because we want to use this over REX, but we're asking on behalf of all of Baker government. This is something that can be permanent; we expect at least 30 parties over the next 5 years. Andy: We haven't asked for money in 2 or 3 years; I think last time we asked is when we needed a police patrol for the piano drop. We've already set our facilities and social budget, so it's unlikely we'll be able to budget for this entirely. Andy: There's a controller to connect to other things, and a truss that goes over the DJ. Then we have a colorstrip with different colored LEDS that can do different strobe effects timed to music. We're asking for two three-foot-long ones. Then the scanner, which is like a spotlight that flashes across the room. This one does 18 different colors; we're also asking for two of these. Andy: The house budgets about $1500 for REX, and that covers existing things. Facilities we've used for furniture and kitchen repairs, and that money is gone. Preeya: Dormcon gives about $2000, $3000 for the parties we sponsor during REX. Is there a reason you don't want this to come out of that? Much of what we offered last year didn't get spent. EJ: Possibly. While this would be a component of our REX party, it would also be more permanent and would be used for all of Baker's parties in the future. Nathan: Have you tried renting from E33? Britni: We throw enough parties that it would be worth owning them. Lyla: We shouldn't penalize them for wanting to own them rather than keep renting for events. Nathan: Have you tried [some technical term]? It's a little cheaper than [other technical thing] that you proposed. Andy: We'd be open to that. Rachel: I think Simmons is also considering getting lighting from the MPR. They haven't approached DormCon, yet. We may not be able to afford lighting for everyone... Geoffrey: Can we split between the dorms? Britni: We often lend stuff to other groups who ask; we lent to the UA for Wellness Week. We currently don't charge for renting, although we might change that to cover damages. EJ: The main thing we want is the controller and the truss. Preeya: You can work out with the other dorms you're doing the REX party with to cover more lighting equipment. [$400 given to Baker for controller and truss and towards lights] REX James: I've been having trouble contacting Emilio about early return dates. Cody: I heard that he contacted Housing, and they didn't have dates for him. I can get in touch with him again. [ed.: Emilio e-mailed us the next day, yay. Early return dates are 8/21, 8/24, and 8/27. If your dorm's REX chairs didn't get info from him, send an e-mail etjasso] Dining James: The Blue Ribbon report should be on Dean Colombo's desk by now. Preeya: We should make it clear we don't know what recommendations are there. James: We voted on it! Preeya: Over the weekend we voted on each recommendation. It was very broken down, even numbers were separate from proposals. We don't actually know how anyone else voted, but any recommendation that has less than 75% voting yes will not be in the recommendations, but will be under "things that merit consideration" in the appendix. James: The official report I'm sure will be sent out. SLOPE Aziz: Meeting Thursday at 4pm. Sandhya, Preeya, Lyla, and I are going. Cody: SLOPE is a pretty mysterious body to me. I don't understand what they do. Preeya: "Student Life And Orientation Planning Committee". Um, wait. "... Events"? This has everyone who's responsible for orientation and REX; us, IFC, administrators, and so forth. Cody: Do they also set the rules for REX, like the Recruitment Agreement? James: No, that's a subcommittee, with us and IFC. Inauguration of new officers Next meeting will be scheduled in the fall term.