Editor,

This semester, ASWC representatives will make important decisions that effect students’ Whitman experience. ASWC reps need to hear from students at the Town Hall this Thursday at 7 in the Reid Ballroom!

 The Town Hall is an open forum for all Whitman students, and one way ASWC is attempting to better gauge student interests. Please come voice your opinion on three major issues before participating in our open forum.

These three issues will be on the agenda:

Changing the Academic Dishonesty Policy – ASWC representatives have learned that Whitman’s current policy on plagiarism has caused unnecessary strife in students’ and professors’ lives. At the Town Hall, ASWC reps will present some of the troubling stories caused by the rigid plagerism policy––which requires a failing grade for even for honest mistakes––and ask students for input on crafting a new policy.

GoPrint and printer accessibility: The Whitman community has seen a massive overhaul of the printing system in the last two years. The GoPrint system now charges students for printing in order to eliminate paper waste and cut down school costs. A representative from WCTS will be at the Town Hall to discuss the new system and respond to any questions, comments, or concerns. Furthermore, at ASWC we are concerned with students’ ability to easily access printers around campus. ASWC reps have made it their goal to increase printer accessibility, and want to know where students need new printers most.

The Alternative Voices Distribution Requirement: Whitman students are currently required to fulfill the AV Requirement. However, there has been no comprehensive, written account of the goals of the requirement or the kinds of classes that should count for it. This year, the General Studies Committee has drafted such a document and hopes to implement it for academic year 2010-2011. The ASWC reps will present their work on the issue, and hope for student input on the future of AV.

In the coming months, ASWC will take action on each of these issues and the campus community will be affected by the choices student representatives make. That’s why we want to hear from lots of students this Thursday at the Town Hall!

-Russ Caditz-Peck ’10, ASWC Communications Director and Will Canine ’10, ASWC Student Advocacy Coordinator