The Social and Community Concerns Committee discussed future plans and other campus concerns for this year’s Social Concerns Forum at its meeting yesterday. The forum will be in the Snack Bar area of Bollinger Student Union April 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

“We (the committee) will have a panel of faculty and staff to answer student questions,” Jacinda Bonvillain, chair of the committee, said.

Dr. Eugene Dial, dean of Student Life, will be the master of ceremonies.

The panel will consist of Bob Evans from Sodexho-Marriott; Dr. Joanne Ferriot, vice president of Student Affairs; Dr. Obie Hill, dean of the college of education; Michelle Caruso, director of the Counseling Center; Michael Matherne, director of Campus Recreation and Glenn Froisy, maintenance manager.

The committee also discussed potential topics to debate at the forum.

One topic that will be addressed is the altering of the school calendar, and the omission of fall break due to the Saints Training Camp held on campus.

The University’s plans for a wellness center is also a potential topic.

Other subjects for debate may include the absentee policy, cheating, drug and alcohol use, eating disorders, physical and sexual abuse, homosexuality, sexual harassment and school spirit.

“We have a box in the library where students can place campus concerns and at our meetings, we address these concerns,” Bonvillain said.

The committee also discussed solutions for a student’s concern taken from the box in the library.

The student’s written concern stated that many students living on campus do not have cars, and rely on getting rides or walking to off-campus locations.

Many students walk to Rouses, where there is not enough shoulder on Audubon Drive to walk safely.

On rainy days, the parking areas in front of the stadium are too muddy and students have to walk on the shoulder of the street.

A student suggested making a sidewalk from the parking area of Betsy Charamie Ayo Hall along Audubon Drive to Rouses.

The committee decided to call Dr. John Lajaunie, director of facility planning, about this issue.

Lajaunie told the committee that constructing a sidewalk along Audubon Drive would be a job for the city of Thibodaux.

A floodlight from the back of the stadium that looks out on the open field may be installed for safety reasons.

The University is looking into developing this area with the city in the next five years, Bonvillain said.

Students with concerns about the campus can leave a note in the campus concerns box in the Library or attend a Social and Community Concerns Committee meeting.

The next meeting will be March 21 at 2:30 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Family and Consumer Science building.

“We would love to have students participating in our discussions,” Anke Tonn, committee member and assistant librarian, said.