A suggested ease between student-community relations was the focus a "very productive" meeting between Turtle Creek Apartments community manager Francis Schmuhl, Senate Community Relations Chair Josh Pasquesi and Student Body President Lizzi Shappell, Pasquesi reported at Wednesday's Senate meeting.
The meeting focused on Turtle Creek's approach to the eviction clause of South Bend's disorderly house ordinance and their relationship with the Indiana Excise police, he said.
Though the ordinance calls for eviction after the first offense, Turtle Creek's approach gives students a warning rather than an immediate eviction, Pasquesi said.
"They are changing their policy and now they have a one-warning policy, where if you get in trouble with the police ... you will be sent a warning letter," he said.
Schmuhl said the new policy seems to be working, Shappell said, and that Turtle Creek has had a quiet fall.
"[Turtle Creek] has experienced [the new warning policy] working, which we think is a vast improvement from last fall," she said.
Shappell and Pasquesi asked Schmuhl about the rumor that Turtle Creek had called in the Excise police earlier in the semester, Pasquesi said. Schmuhl "debunked" that rumor, he said.
The other chairs reported to the groups the tasks their committees are working on.
Lyons senator Mariana Montes, vice chair for the Senate Residence Life committee, said they are working on enabling all vending machines on campus to take Domer Dollars.
"We should have functioning machines all over campus, so we are trying to get that fixed," Montes said.
Academic Affairs Chair Jim Grace told the senators to expect a resolution on clocks in all the classrooms at the meeting next week. He said his committee has also begun working on the possibility of proposing a business certificate for students in Arts and Letters and adding a global health minor.
Gender Issues Chair Ashley Weiss updated the senators on the progress her committee has made with the eating disorders conference planned for February.
"We've contacted over five hundred university departments across the country that would have an interest in presenting on this issue," Weiss said.
They have also secured the involvement of departments and groups from within Notre Dame, she said. The exact schedule, advertising strategy and budget are still being finalized.
Social Concerns chair Sheena Plamoottil asked senators to survey dorm residents at their next hall council meetings to ask them whether they know what rector funds are, if they know what an ombudsperson is, and if they have seen posters for ombudspersons.
