BRIEF: Student leaders meet over weekend

The students, representing a variety of undergraduate and graduate organizations, discussed campus diversity, safety and security, relations with the administration and lack of adequate classroom and performing arts facilities. Graduate student activist A.T. Miller, who helped plan the Penn Tower Hotel retreat, said yesterday that the meeting was intended to "open the lines of communication" and set a collaborative agenda. Miller would not say what specific actions the group will take. Social Planning and Events Committee Vice Chairperson Roz Evans said that she will organize the representatives' ideas and suggestions before approaching administrators with specific demands. Evans said the informal atmosphere of the all-student retreat gave leaders a safe environment to air concerns without fear of alienating administrators. "We could talk about issues like administrative support without worrying about repercussions from certain administrators," Evans said. She said she plans to send letters to President Sheldon Hackney, Provost Michael Aiken and Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson outlining the initiatives proposed at the retreat. Miller said that the idea for the retreat stemmed from undergraduate and graduate student coordination on the 250th Student Committee. A similar weekend retreat was held last semester, where leaders voiced a need for further collaboration. Evans said she hopes leaders continue to hold similar retreats once each semester. -- Andrew Libby

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