[229] in UA Senate
Re: Recording of mailing list discussions
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Paul Baranay)
Thu Oct 29 18:59:01 2009
In-Reply-To: <20091029124120.j2k96h0aowwsg8ow@webmail.mit.edu>
From: Paul Baranay <pbaranay@MIT.EDU>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:58:27 -0400
To: Samantha G Wyman <swyman@mit.edu>
Cc: Owen Derby <oderby@mit.edu>, Catherine Olsson <catherio@mit.edu>,
UA Senate <ua-senate@mit.edu>
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Yes, as others have mentioned, ua-senate@mit.edu is publicly archived (as of
last year) -- you can view the bill that created this set-up at
http://web.mit.edu/ua/senate/UAS40/passed/40%20UAS%2012.2%20Bill%20to%20Reform%20UA%20Mailing%20Lists.pdf
I apologize if this was not more clear to the incoming Senators.
To address what Catherine's comment that "discussions we have here on the
mailing list won't turn up in any official records" -- one could argue that
the archive of ua-senate@mit.edu is, itself, a record of UA business. That
said, I feel that it's commonly understood that the mailing list is used for
both formal and informal discussion, and it's usually clear what level is
meant.
I ultimately agree with Catherine's overall point that making reference to
mailing list discussion during the Senate meeting can be a good idea, so
that the Secretary-General can note this in the minutes and that future
generations of UA members will know to consult the mailing list archive.
Cheers,
Paul
On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 12:41 PM, Samantha G Wyman <swyman@mit.edu> wrote:
> Paul,
>
> I thought you mentioned on retreat that all of the discussion on the
> mailing
> list is publically archived. Is that not the case? Or were Catherine and
> Jonte talking about something different?
>
> -Sammi
> BC Senator
>
>
> Quoting Owen Derby <oderby@MIT.EDU>:
>
> Well, I wasn't thinking any specific, but what I have in mind when I say
>> "forum" is more like a community discussion board, such as
>> http://www.phpbb.com/ or others. I would imagine it would be part of the
>> website, where proposed ammendments and any other discussions would take
>> place in a thread and would be available for all with access to see.
>> Although I must admit I haven't looked into the hosting side of it much;
>> I've only ever been a user of such forums. Of course, there are lots of
>> things to consider before implementing it, especially security, but it's
>> something that would seem to naturally lend itself to the sort of
>> discussions which have been taking place on the UA email lists.
>>
>> If it's never been brought up before, I think it's something worth
>> discussing at the next meeting?
>>
>> -Owen
>>
>> On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 12:26 PM, Paul Baranay <pbaranay@mit.edu> wrote:
>>
>> To the best of my recollection, the idea of using a forum has not been
>>> brought up in the Senate. Owen, are you suggesting a separate forum for
>>> discussion on topics, or some sort of Slashdot-like integration with the
>>> existing website?
>>>
>>> Best,
>>> Paul
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 12:21 PM, Owen Derby <oderby@mit.edu> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hello,
>>>>
>>>> To go off this, I've had one question since I started on Senate (for
>>>> those
>>>> of you who don't know, I'm filling the 6th spot for fraternity senators
>>>> and
>>>> I just started Monday). Why doesn't the UA have some kind of forum site
>>>> where these discussions can take place and be recorded? I know I'm new
>>>> and
>>>> all, so perhaps this has been previously discussed and discarded, but if
>>>> someone could enlighten me that'd be great.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Owen Derby
>>>> Fraternity Senator
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 12:09 PM, Catherine Olsson <catherio@mit.edu
>>>> >wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>> Jonte asked me the good question today of "does all the discussion on
>>>>> the
>>>>> mailing list get recorded somehow?", and I'd thought I'd mirror my
>>>>> response
>>>>> here for others who have the same question, and for those who might
>>>>> have a
>>>>> better answer to also chime in.
>>>>>
>>>>> As far as I can tell, discussions we have here on the mailing list
>>>>> won't
>>>>> turn up in any official records unless we reference them in meetings
>>>>> (which
>>>>> will appear in the minutes) or turn our ideas into legislation.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thus I recommended to Jonte, and recommend to any of you who have the
>>>>> same question, that if you think it's important that future generations
>>>>> understand some portion of the reasoning and context behind what we're
>>>>> discussing (a lot of which goes on in the mailing list) you can preface
>>>>> any
>>>>> remarks you make in Senate with "As we discussed on the mailing list,
>>>>> <context>." before making whatever point you have.
>>>>>
>>>>> Just a thought =)
>>>>> - Catherine, Random Hall Senator
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
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Yes, as others have mentioned,=A0<a href=3D"mailto:ua-senate@mit.edu" targe=
t=3D"_blank">ua-senate@mit.edu</a> is publicly archived (as of last year) -=
- you can view the bill that created this set-up at=A0<a href=3D"http://web=
.mit.edu/ua/senate/UAS40/passed/40%20UAS%2012.2%20Bill%20to%20Reform%20UA%2=
0Mailing%20Lists.pdf">http://web.mit.edu/ua/senate/UAS40/passed/40%20UAS%20=
12.2%20Bill%20to%20Reform%20UA%20Mailing%20Lists.pdf</a><div>
<br></div><div>I apologize if this was not more clear to the incoming Senat=
ors.</div><div><br></div><div>To address what Catherine's comment that =
"<span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-family: arial, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">discussions we have here=
on the mailing list won't turn up in any official records" -- one=
could argue that the archive of <a href=3D"mailto:ua-senate@mit.edu">ua-se=
nate@mit.edu</a> is, itself, a record of UA business. =A0That said, I feel =
that it's commonly understood that the mailing list is used for both fo=
rmal and informal discussion, and it's usually clear what level is mean=
t.</span></div>
<div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"arial, sans-serif"><span clas=
s=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: collapse;"><br></span></fo=
nt></div><div><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; ">=
</span><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"arial, sans-serif"><span cl=
ass=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: collapse;">I ultimately =
agree with Catherine's overall point that making reference to mailing l=
ist discussion during the Senate meeting can be a good idea, so that the Se=
cretary-General can note this in the minutes and that future generations of=
UA members will know to consult the mailing list archive.<br>
</span></font><div><br></div><div>Cheers,</div><div>Paul<br><br><div class=
=3D"gmail_quote">On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 12:41 PM, Samantha G Wyman <span d=
ir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:swyman@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">swyman@m=
it.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p=
x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Paul,<br>
<br>
I thought you mentioned on retreat that all of the discussion on the mailin=
g<br>
list is publically archived. =A0Is that not the case? =A0Or were Catherine =
and<br>
Jonte talking about something different?<br>
<br>
-Sammi<br>
BC Senator<div><div></div><div><br>
<br>
Quoting Owen Derby <<a href=3D"mailto:oderby@MIT.EDU" target=3D"_blank">=
oderby@MIT.EDU</a>>:<br>
<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p=
x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Well, I wasn't thinking any specific, but what I have in mind when I sa=
y<br>
"forum" is more like a community discussion board, such as<br>
<a href=3D"http://www.phpbb.com/" target=3D"_blank">http://www.phpbb.com/</=
a> or others. I would imagine it would be part of the<br>
website, where proposed ammendments and any other discussions would take<br=
>
place in a thread and would be available for all with access to see.<br>
Although I must admit I haven't looked into the hosting side of it much=
;<br>
I've only ever been a user of such forums. Of course, there are lots of=
<br>
things to consider before implementing it, especially security, but it'=
s<br>
something that would seem to naturally lend itself to the sort of<br>
discussions which have been taking place on the UA email lists.<br>
<br>
If it's never been brought up before, I think it's something worth<=
br>
discussing at the next meeting?<br>
<br>
-Owen<br>
<br>
On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 12:26 PM, Paul Baranay <<a href=3D"mailto:pbaran=
ay@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">pbaranay@mit.edu</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p=
x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
To the best of my recollection, the idea of using a forum has not been<br>
brought up in the Senate. =A0Owen, are you suggesting a separate forum for<=
br>
discussion on topics, or some sort of Slashdot-like integration with the<br=
>
existing website?<br>
<br>
Best,<br>
Paul<br>
<br>
<br>
On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 12:21 PM, Owen Derby <<a href=3D"mailto:oderby@m=
it.edu" target=3D"_blank">oderby@mit.edu</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p=
x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Hello,<br>
<br>
To go off this, I've had one question since I started on Senate (for th=
ose<br>
of you who don't know, I'm filling the 6th spot for fraternity sena=
tors and<br>
I just started Monday). Why doesn't the UA have some kind of forum site=
<br>
where these discussions can take place and be recorded? I know I'm new =
and<br>
all, so perhaps this has been previously discussed and discarded, but if<br=
>
someone could enlighten me that'd be great.<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
Owen Derby<br>
Fraternity Senator<br>
<br>
<br>
On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 12:09 PM, Catherine Olsson <<a href=3D"mailto:ca=
therio@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">catherio@mit.edu</a>>wrote:<br>
<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p=
x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Hi all,<br>
Jonte asked me the good question today of "does all the discussion on =
the<br>
mailing list get recorded somehow?", and I'd thought I'd mirro=
r my response<br>
here for others who have the same question, and for those who might have a<=
br>
better answer to also chime in.<br>
<br>
As far as I can tell, discussions we have here on the mailing list won'=
t<br>
turn up in any official records unless we reference them in meetings (which=
<br>
will appear in the minutes) or turn our ideas into legislation.<br>
<br>
Thus I recommended to Jonte, and recommend to any of you who have the<br>
same question, that if you think it's important that future generations=
<br>
understand some portion of the reasoning and context behind what we're<=
br>
discussing (a lot of which goes on in the mailing list) you can preface any=
<br>
remarks you make in Senate with "As we discussed on the mailing list,<=
br>
<context>." before making whatever point you have.<br>
<br>
Just a thought =3D)<br>
- Catherine, Random Hall Senator<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br>
</div></div>
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