The Department of Community Living announced yesterday that it is rolling out its Community Council system to all on-campus quads this year. Students elected to this “hall government” system will be responsible for advocating for students who live in their same quad on quad-related issues and creating programming for their quads at least once a semester. 

In a Google Doc attached to the email announcing the new system,  DCL explained that “the mission and purpose of Community Councils is to provide programming and advocacy efforts within our residence halls to improve our residential community.” The doc also explains the functions of the different Community Council positions.

In an email to the Justice, Director of the Department of Community Living Tim Touchette explained that the Community Councils have been in development for the past two years and that a final part of the program will be implemented next year. “We piloted this program in Deroy in 2014 with the first Hall Council; the following year we had Hall Councils in both first-year areas. Each year we had great success in the depth of involvement and programming initiatives that came out of each Hall Council,” Touchette wrote. 

“Most campuses have some type of Hall Government system in place and this is our Brandeisian version of just such a program,” Touchette added. 

While Community Council positions are, at the moment, individual to the residency area, next year DCL plans to introduce a “central democratically elected student body” that unites all of the hall governments. The tentative name at the moment for this last stage is the “Residential Student Association,” according to Touchette.“At most universities, resident student organizations provide a large degree of student input into residence life policies and procedures – it’s somewhat unusual that Brandeis has lacked this kind of student organization,” Touchette wrote. 

While DCL has informed the Student Union President of the ongoing project for the past two years, Touchette wrote that the system “is in no way meant to compete with the Student Union,” and he instead hopes that Community Councils and the Student Union will work together on projects. Touchette wrote that he imagines one student could hold a position on both the Union and a Council, though he emphasized that Community Councils are meant exclusively for concerns related to one’s residence hall. Student Union Vice President Paul Sindberg ’18 could not be reached for comment by press time. 

Moreover, unlike a Community Advisor, Community Council positions are unpaid, student volunteer positions. While CAs have obligations to the University — such as enforcing rules and safety procedures — Community Council members will advocate for students to DCL in order to improve on-campus living. 

Positions within the Community Council system include a president, who will run meetings and serve as an official representative of their quad; Administration, Community Engagement and Recognition vice presidents; and an Executive Board, which will attend meetings, plan events and participate in Council programming. Community Councils will also have an Advisor, whose position is not outlined in the document sent by DCL.