Complete Report - Task Force on Campus Culture
Members on the Task Force on Campus Culture
Trustees
Patricia K. Applegate '74
William H. Browne '67
*Charles G. Carey '76
Christopher Clifford '67
John A. Golden '66
Mark H. Hayes '98
Robert W. Jones '72
Charles Karelis
Bruce Morser '76
*Karin B. Mueller '94
Jane L. Pinchin
Gergory A. Threatte '69
Ralph F. Verni '64 (chair)
*Resigned for Personal Reasons before completion
Students:
Virginia Crowe '02
Christian B. Johnson '02
Leanne Teager '03
Holly Teliska '02
Faculty:
Timothy A. Byrnes
Constance D. Harsh
Margeret Maurer
Bruce W. Selleck '71
Staff:
Michael A. Cappeto
James E. Leach
Janet A. Little
Staff to the Task Force:
James Terhune
Kim Waldron '81
Highlights from the Task Force on Campus Culture
The Task Force recommends:
- that the University maintain consistent oversight and
standards of governance of all residential units, including Greek-letter
houses. Most members of the Task Force recommend that Colgate acquire
all Greek-letter residential units as soon as feasible to facilitate
their efficient operation and ensure standards of safety, amenities
and appearance.
- that the university not permit the establishment
of any more new Greek-letter organizations.
- promotion, outside the Greek-letter system,
of opportunities for students to organize social functions
within their residential units.
- moving sophomore rush from September to February
to give sophomores more time to bond with each other as well as to establish
themselves at Colgate before having to select the major commitment of
joining a Greek-letter organization for the rest of their Colgate experience.
- that pledging, currently referred to
as “new member education,” be banned.
- that upper-class residential houses,
including Greek-letter organizations, incorporate the elements
of the Residential Adviser system.
- that seniors be required to live in their respective
Greek-letter houses, space permitting.
- reaffirmation of the recommendation of the 1990 Special Committee on Residential Life (SCRL) that Colgate provide sufficient housing so that no more than 250 students would reside off campus.
In addition to the above recommendations, the following were recommended by many members of the Task Force:
- half of the members of the Task Force recommend that
membership in Greek-letter organizations and residence
in houses be a matter of election by students through
the campus residential life system, not selection by existing members.
- a majority of the members of the Task Force recommend that membership in Greek-letter organization that maintain residential houses be coeducational.