A hostile campus environment inhibits the UA's sense of community connection, said about 50 students, faculty and administrators at yesterday's Campus Climate Assessment Discussion organized by the Dean of Students Office.

Saundra Taylor, vice president for student affairs, said, "Climate plays a critical role in life at the university.

"We need to create a blueprint for how to improve and how to make (the university) a better place," she said.

With some members scrambling on the ground with markers and butcher paper, scribbling their ideas, the six interactive discussion groups discussed new ideas and goals that would help create a more "user-friendly" campus climate.

Although each of the six groups functioned differently, many student leaders helped faculty and administrators understand their roles and concerns as students.

"We want to understand what the student experience is and how it's been over time," said Associate Director of Residence Life Eddie Hull to his group.

The Dean of Students Office will conduct a student survey over the remainder of the semester to supplement information already gathered on campus climate.

"We're trying to look at what the campus climate is and how it feels for students," said Melissa Vito, dean of students.

The last survey, which was conducted in 1990 and focused on racial issues, determined that minority students did not feel connected with events on campus, Vito said. Four cultural resource centers now help support diversity on campus.

Vito said she hopes this survey will help provide more information from all types of students ranging from those with disabilities to non-traditional students to freshmen.

"We need to understand the context of how students' lives are impacted," said Carol Thompson, associate dean of students, explaining the purpose of the survey.

Jeff Cramer, president of Sigma Chi and finance senior, said he appreciated the concern of the university administration.

"They're trying to put the students first," he said, adding that he has not had positive faculty and administrative relations in the past.

"As a student, we're not put first even though it's really our university," he said. As a specific example, Cramer said, the best seats at basketball games are usually given to the faculty.

Spokespersons for each group agreed that students feel they are not a priority on campus.

"We need to listen to the student voices," Thompson said.

Thompson said the survey will be repeated every student generation, which is four to five years.