University Life Council
Minutes of Meeting
November 12, 2008
Lecture Center 31J
Present:
Michele Forte, Andrew Haas, Eric Hardiman, Igor Kuznetsov, Elaine LasdaBergman, Randall Craig, Brenda Seckerson, Zakhar Berkovic, Dan Smith (Chair)
Guest:
Jennifer Manganello, Assistant Professor of Public Health
Meeting Commenced at 1:00 pm.
Based on previous minutes of October 8, there was one correction of ‘208’ to ‘2008’. Minutes were
approved as corrected.
Chair’s Report: reported on Interim President Philip’s request to nominate members for a Budget
Advisory Group with the names of 12 faculty and staff to be forwarded to him by the Governance
Council. Members of the B.A.G. would be selected by President Philip to advise him on budget
decisions, but he would make the final decision.
Committees
B. Seckerson reported that Health, Safety and Well-Being met on November 4, but did not elect a
chair. The Committee heard from Ms. Filo, from Public Safety on the 70/20/10 ratio that 70% of
students victimized by crime nationally were alone, 20% victimized by crime were in a group of
two, and 10% of students victimized were in groups of greater than two. The Committee would
hear from the Counseling and Health Ctr on hours of operations at the next meeting.
Residential Life Committee met on 11/11/08. elected a chair Zakhar Berkovic, and will discuss
graduate student on-campus housing at its next meeting.
The remainder of the meeting was given over to Assistant Professor of Public Health, Jennifer
Manganello who presented three second hand smoke campaigns her students had produced for her
fall 2008 class. Points made about media campaigns:
1.
Reach more people
2.
Less expensive
3.
Educate with a message
4.
Campaigns are less personal
5.
Difficult to measure success
6.
Effective enforcement MUST accompany any campaign to ensure compliance
7.
Need Kick-off event
8.
stakeholders must be consulted on the campaign (non-smokers and smokers)
9.
the campaign must have visible, palpable administrative support
“No Butts About It”
Students noticed that UAlbany
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Suggested
1.
2.
3.
4.
Has outdated signage (showed photos)
ashtrays less than ten feet from buildings (documented with photos)
No uniform message about smoking policy displayed
No signage at Campus Center
There is a national standard for distance from buildings (need reference), and UAlbany
may not meet the standard.
distance cited in policy was possibly inadequate
provides inconsistent messages (‘No-smoking’ sign next to an ashtray on podium, photo)
No visible enforcement
Unclear whether administration supported policy
Use a logo (‘Scooby-Do Great Dane’) as consistent with approved signage
clearly identified message and method of enforcement
Administration visibly support a campus-effort
add message to orientation packets, parent orientation, involve health center, preand post-campaign survey to judge success
Professor Manganello took questions, and was gracious in offering to provide additional advice as
the Council considered it options with regard to the policy.
After the presentation a member of the residential life committee mentioned that an Indian Quad
worker mentioned that the number of alcohol containers was larger than in the past, yet Incident
Referral Forms were down for the year. Second, someone noted there had been three fights in the
Campus Center Commons.
Next Meeting: To Be Determined
Meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dan Smith, Chair