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IHC Minutes: October 18, 2005

meeting called to order in Chandler

1. The IHC discusses the Caltech administration's recent efforts to modify the alcohol policy.
   • The administration wants to expand the alcohol policy because they are concerned that some situations are not currently covered.
   • The IHC is concerned that there is ambiguity in what constitutes a "public area" and what constitutes an "event" in the current policy.
   • General Counsel would like no Institute money to be spent on alcohol for undergraduates (or, at least, that there be tighter controls). They consider all House dues to be Institute money.
   • An informal survey of the House presidents suggests that most alcohol purchased in Houses is purchased informally, not using House money.
   • The administration would like some students to sit on a new committee that will be reviewing the alcohol policy. The IHC will appoint two or three of the House presidents for this role once the time committment and number of students required is better known.
2. The IHC discusses the Caltech administration's recent efforts to modify the fire policy.
   • The administration would like an intermediate penalty to impose for fire policy violations. Currently, they feel that the only penalties the CRC can assign in such cases are either slaps on the wrist or suspension/expulsion.
   • They are considering penalties such as levying fines or assigning community service.
   • The IHC feels that the levying of fines is inappropriate given the administration's policy of insisting that all CRC violations are Honor Code violations. Honor Code violations must be dealt with in a manner consistent with the philosophy of the Board of Control -- that is, the response must nullify any unfair advantage and protect the Caltech community, but should not be intended as punishment.
   • The IHC is also concerned about the size of potential fines, and wonders to what use such money would be put. Peter reports that $500 was discussed as a potential maximum fine, and the idea of giving the collected fines to RA's was floated.
   • The IHC is also concerned about the broader issue of CRC and Institute policy violations being treated as de facto Honor Code violations, when it seems likely that this is not always appropriate.
3. Tom Mannion has requested that the IHC have a dinner meeting at his House to discuss activities during the first week after Rotation.
   • He may want to talk about possible hazing or alcohol violations during House initiations and welcoming activities.
   • The IHC discusses possible safeguards that would convince the administration that the Houses are not hazing or otherwise mistreating freshman during this period (or any other initiation activities later in the year).
   • For example, it might be desirable to have each House have an upperclassman or two present during such activities whose specific role is to ensure that no freshmen are becoming distressed or uncomfortable during such activities.