President Sam Stanley hosted a conference to relay his positions on several important campus issues to student media outlets. While more thorough articles are in the works, here is a snapshot of the most important topics discussed at the conference.
Topic: Melville Library renovations
Answer: Construction will be moved to the Central Reading Room over the summer after the North Reading Room is complete. The Central Reading Room is set to be done by fall but there isn’t a set date.
Topic: Diversity initiative plan
Answer: Stony Brook Administration is planning on releasing a diversity initiative plan sometime next week on efforts to improve recruitment for minority students, retention rate as well as an emphasis on broader sensitivity training.
Topic: Improving student athlete experience on campus
Answer: Stanley wants to use his position on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors to help student athletes have more freedom scheduling their classes and offering them opportunities to study abroad.
Topic: Zika Virus on Long Island
Answer: Dr. Stanley said “Stony Brook students shouldn’t be worried at all.” The recent cold weather does not allow for any live mosquitoes to transmit the virus. Students who have recently travelled to South America should talk to their physician.
Topic: Smoking Ban
Answer: The effort right now is focused on educating students and changing the campus attitude towards smoking. He plans on reaching out to building supervisors to enforce the smoking ban on students and employees. There are no plans to involve law enforcement, but the student judiciary may be involved.
Topic: Hockey Club
Answer: There are no current plans to incorporate the club into student athletics. It doesn’t make economic sense due to the expenses of hockey as well as the lack of support at the national college level.
Topic: Fire safety regulations
Answer: Buildings built with cinder-block construction do not need comprehensive sprinkler systems because those buildings are unlikely to have fires that spread due to the concrete structures.
Topic: Chicken with egg whites and cashews
Answer: He loves them with “interesting sauces.”
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