Policy Proposal

					      December 4th 2002
“Random Threats From A Guy With Way Too Much Time.”

	Greetings fellow Policy Students; 

	I am hoping that this bulk e-mail attachment will create some of the necessary topics, or conflicts, to get the ball rolling on a few issues. This paper is meant to be a series of ideas that I’m hoping other people will pick up on over the course of the next few weeks ‘till the end of the semester. Not all of these ideas are mine, and some people may not like the idea of anyone “representing” the group on some (or all) of these issues. If you have any problem with any part of any of these projects contact meas soon as possible, as I do not know which projects will be started soon – I’m very impatient, and will run off on a tangent without notice. You’ve been warned.
- Morgan

1. SOB Logo

Background:  The two year-old, yet un-ratified SOB’s still need a logo. Apparently Uriah has a copy of the approved logo from 2001. Other people said that they would make some sort of suggestion box, to be put in the EA 3040 room, in which people could drop off ideas for a logo. Then, some sort of body could choose the best from the entries. 

What I’m Going To Do If Nobody Stops Me: Make the aforementioned box, plus a title page and wait a week or two for entries. Then run off the two “finalists” in a charity race in the hallway of 3rd floor EA. There would be two boxes on the ground – people can vote by placing a canned good in either of the boxes, and at the end of the week, the one with the most cans wins. The food is then donated to the foundation of our choice.

2. EA 3040

Background: Somebody granted us this room. It was supposed to be the room for the Econ Lab Instructors, Barry and Judy, but that fell through, although they still reserve rights to use the computer.  In the near future, space will become an issue (it always is), and we all know that the first thing to go will be student rooms.  In the interest of creating a SOB/Policy “identity”, I’m picking up an idea put forth by Brownsey about a year ago. I propose that we make a push to name the room after former MRC instructor, and Canadian federalism expert, Donald V. Smiley. (1921 – 1990) He was a predominant expert on Canadian federalism, was the Professor Emeritus at York, and has a really catchy name. What more do you want?

What I’m Going To Do If Nobody Stops Me: After speaking to someone, who we will call “Fike Mellows” to protect his identity, I learned that this can be a surprisingly touchy subject. Any name change needs to be granted by the Board of Governors, and they see the new buildings as potential billboards for corporations – revenue generators. Thus, I’m planning on getting letters of support from the SOBs to lobby the faculty, which are onside already. These letters of support can be used to lobby outside support, like businesses, politicians, or The Smiley Foundation. This should go on until it reaches the B of G’s. Personally, I think that the B of G’s should be contacted as individuals first, then as a whole a week or so later, so as not to usurp their agenda. 

 3. Tuition Fees For DFS

 Background: The DFS cost a lot of money - about $1450 or so, depending if you “grandfathered” or not. Nobody really understands this model, even in Career Services. Earlier attempts at reducing the facility fees to DFS students have fallen short of their goal.  McFadden, Kane and myself have picked at some of the numbers, and have spoken to MRCSA, to no real avail. (Though, to be fair, nobody’s had anytime to do much.)

What I’m Going To Do If Nobody Stops Me: Contact the other applied degree programs, as well as a representative form MRCSA. Then set up a meeting regarding the following:
-	A DFS is 15 credits, thus we are charged for 15 credits by MRC, plus a facility fee. 
-	If the DFS (ABA) is not recognized by other institutions as being “real” credits, we should not be paying this $ per credit rate, or anything close to this rate. 

This should be done through the SA, as there may be a very real fear of repercussions.

4. Internet Site
	Background: The only thing I love doing more than making bad Internet sites, is saying that I’ll make a bad internet site and not doing it. 

	What I’m Going To Do If Nobody Stops Me: Send Rosemary a headshot picture of yourself, and mini-bio (or DFS description) for the Policy web site. If people do not do this, I will do it for the entire group. Nobody wants that to happen.

5. Computer for the EA Room

	Background: The computer in the EA room is not ours. The printer is off-limits. We have two computer desks that are facing the opposite direction of the power source! Someone has promised us two computers in the department (Though nobody is sure who, or even which department) and maybe Internet. Sometime. Maybe when the desks are moved. Sara said that she’d bring in her old printer to use, if people pitch in for ink refills, maybe.

What I’m Going To Do If Nobody Stops Me: First, I’m going to move those desks. Really, they have no power. One of them has a reading lamp, with no power, which has been sitting there for a week. This isn’t inefficient, this is insane.

	Then: I will find an old, crappy, computer that will “work” for the “time-being.” The nice thing about 486s is that nobody will ever steal them.

	Then: I will ask people for a voluntary donation to the Common Ink Well campaign to pay for ink re-fills. Assuming project this goes over well, there might be a chance to repeat this method to get some money for other “public goods” such as specific text books, magazine subscriptions, office supplies or curtains. 

 	

Thank you for your time and patience. I really hope somebody contacts me, because I’m sure there are major flaws with each and every project idea, and I really don’t have that much time.

Cheers,

 Morgan Pendleton

See: www.geocities.com/deadmoosehead for the latest version of this post

— If you know of someone who is in MRC’s Policy Studies program, or is somehow associated with the program, and does not have a copy of this, please send it to them. —