Student Government Organization (SGO) Vice President Michelle Oliveros-Larsen '02 presented a letter on theme house funding.
"This year, the houses each received an increase of $1500," she said. "We felt that this was an ineffective method of promoting good events. Some houses aren't using the money at all."
The executive council suggested a return to the previous system, placing these $1500 allocations into a common fund from which the houses can request additional funding, creating a budget oversight for theme houses.
"We hope that this will lead to the houses planning better events in order to get more money," Oliveros-Larsen said.
SGO President Steve Ruckman '01 presented a letter suggesting changes to the theme house constitutions. "Part of the original theme house plan was that the houses would present programming to the College. We feel some of the houses aren't living up to this," he said.
The executive council's recommendation was for houses to require their members to plan some programming or face expulsion from the house.
SGO Recording Secretary Jonathan Krause '01 presented the executive council's letter on the application process, noting that theme houses could presently "abuse their privileges and invite their friends into the house to bring up their application numbers and to fill open spaces."
Instead, the executive council suggested, "all house applications would be submitted through the dean of housing, where they will be held until the deadline," said Krause. "That way, house leaders won't be able to boost their numbers by inviting their friends to apply after the deadline passes."
SGO Corresponding Secretary Amy Summerville '02 presented the letter addressing space allocation to theme houses, which suggested that all houses be subject to competitive space allocation.
"If a house starts to lose interest, then it should lose space," she said, "either to a more popular house or to general room draw slots."
SGO Treasurer Ben Armour '01 presented the final letter, on categorization of theme houses. "Theme housing is broken down into academic, cultural and alternative lifestyle housing. We feel that this distinction is not clear enough to the College community."
The letter also calls into question the value of separating all members of a certain major (for academic housing) or interest into a single house, especially at a small college.
At the meeting, the Senate also discussed the upcoming executive council elections, the SGO survey and the role of first-year senators-at-large.
Ruckman said that because some people were concerned with the small sample size for the annual SGO survey, the survey might in some way be included in the upcoming executive council election. "Numbers are down slightly from what we've expected," he said. "Laptops will be set up in the campus center atrium for the executive council election, though."
Ruckman called the spring election "the real test" of the online voting system. "Turnout is usually the highest for the executive council election."
Zeeya Jamal '02 voiced the concern that "the survey was just too long," and that most would be unwilling to answer it again. Ruckman noted that the survey would likely be optional in the coming election.
J. Ashley Ebersole '01 suggested, "if it's optional, then most people won't do it at all. We probably won't really increase our sample. And if it's mandatory again, we might deter voters. If we won't see a measurable increase [in response], I don't see the point of repeating it."
Katherine Vondy '02 suggested placing table tents in Valentine to advertise the executive council elections. Ruckman emphasized that "there will be table tents."
The Senate, "recognizing the unpredictability of the timing of the Amherst College spring recess," unanimously approved an amendment to its constitution, changing the date of the executive council elections to "no later than the end of the first full week of April." Previously, the election was required to be held before April 1.
Adam Lessler '01 introduced a letter he had drafted on behalf of the Senate which commended the physical plant for its snow removal efforts.
"They were out working when I was leaving the library fairly late, and were there early the next morning when I left for class," he said. "They went above and beyond this time, and I want to recognize what they've done." The letter was approved and will be sent to the physical plant.
Dan Geldon '04, Tim Jones '04 and Tom Scott-Craig '04, the Senate's three first-year senators-at-large, presented to the Senate their feelings on the role of their newly-created position.
"In the general sense, it's good to have more freshman representation in the Senate," said Geldon.
"I wish it could have been more active, more directed," said Scott-Craig.
Geldon added, "There's not much we've been doing. We didn't know what we could be doing."
Jones suggested the possibility that a first-year senator-at-large be allowed to sit on a committee. "I think we'd be more involved that way."
James Orraca-Tetteh '02 suggested that a first-year senator-at-large be placed on the Trustee Advisory Committee on Student Life, a committee on which he serves. "We have to represent issues important to first-years, but they're not even on the committee," Orraca-Tetteh said. "Freshmen make up one quarter of the student body, so we can't just ignore them."
Summerville said that "we have little say in how many people we can put in each committee, and they usually have to be filled before freshmen get here."
Ruckman added that the first-year senators-at-large were not assigned to committees because "we were worried when we created the position that freshmen wouldn't have the experience necessary to participate on committees." Jones suggested that they be allowed to sit on committees at least after one semester at the College.
Jun Matsui '03 suggested that first-year senators-at-large be "strongly recommended to undertake some SGO project with some upperclass members of the Senate. It would be a good way for them to demonstrate initiative," she added.
Geldon closed the discussion, noting that "it's beneficial to have extra freshman voices in the Senate," and that it was important for freshmen to have a "place where we can raise issues from our class."