Minutes 11.29.17/Agenda 12.06.17

Post date: Dec 6, 2017 2:23:47 AM

Agenda 12.06.17

• 1. Approval of Minutes

  2. Reports

  3. Council Members in Common Ground Motion

  4. Dress Code Motion

  5. Assessment Under Absent Teacher Motion

  6. Notes and New Business

Council Minutes 11.29.17

“The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.” -Mark Twain

1. Approval of Minutes

2. Reports

• • Treasurer:  Council fund=$6369.71. Co-curricular currently= $5200, but will go down after UNICEF and Rock Climbing Club allocation.

  • Secretary: Senior alternate and sophomore alternate can vote.

  • DSB: Had comments about Course Evaluation Standardization Motion. Feel it should include section about how much effort student put into class.

  • Admin: Working on MLK day.

  • Curric: Discussed having survey about homework and possibility of block schedule.

3. Dress Code Motion

• • Can have bra strap showing and pants lower on waist as long as it is in adherence to policy and student is wearing pants.

  • In original wording, same punishment as minor infraction. Discussed with Administration whether dress code violation is equivalent with cutting class, etc.

  • Under wording, student could just wear underwear if it is necessary to only have genitals covered. May need to bring back old wording where it states that a shirt and pants are necessary.

  • Most questions about dress code are answered in new wording. Address most common problems with dress code across the country, but could appear as being wordy.

  • Not inherently sexual or disrespectful to show belly button. Adding layer of “taboo” that is not necessary by banning.

  • Need to have more discussion as a school about point under what “Students Cannot Wear” stating “Clothing with images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment on any protected class.” For example, how should the school respond to a student who is wearing a political shirt and making other students uncomfortable?

  • Do not believe that cutting class is equivalent to violating school dress code.

I move to strike the word “belly buttons”

• • No reason for student to hide belly button. Something that everyone has and is not offensive. Should not be considered suggestive.

  • Not considered advertently sexual, midriff exposure is the most common complaint for dress code violation. Other students feel uncomfortable with belly buttons showing. Striking word would still be in spirit of motion.

  • Should discuss belly buttons in Common Grounds before deciding to strike.

  • Question if you take out belly button is how much does a student have to cover up midriff.

  • School’s function is to show how students should act at work. If student does not want teacher to show up in shirt that does not cover up belly button, students should not be showing up in a shirt that does not cover their belly button either. Makes some people uncomfortable to see belly button.

I move to refer this motion to the Curriculum Committee.

• • Would like to see reach out to student body to see opinion on different parts of motion, particularly belly buttons.

  • Motion Passes

4. Meeting Adjourns