After the Report of the Treasurer, Doss took the floor and distributed a three-page proposition, "The First Annual Amherst/Williams Hullabaloo: The Recommencement of an Old Tradition and the Beginning of a New One," to the senators.
Doss told the AAS that this Thursday evening, he and other members of the Commission on Culture would stand up on the tables in Valentine and ask students to travel to Williams on Friday. At midnight, Doss would send an email to all professors explaining the event and a possible lack of attendance in classes. The students would step onto buses to Williams College at 8 a.m. the following morning.
Each of the 18 buses, transporting 1,000 students and headed by a "Hullabaloo Marshall," would have various missions. These would range from placing apples on the desks of Williams professors to acts such as toilet papering Chapin Library.
Three rules, enforced by Hullaballo Marshalls, would restrict the Hullabaloo activity: no violence, no vandalism and no theft.
"The event is needed to boost school morale," reads Doss' proposal. "It must make students excited to be here together, as a part of something bigger than themselves, and take stock of why they are here and what they want out of their precious few years (or what remains of them) at a brilliant moment in their lives."
When debate on the issue began, most people seemed opposed to the idea, citing worries such as vandalism and safety. "This defines vandalism," said Senator Blake Sparrow '04. "I doubt there is little we can do to prevent fights from breaking out."
Others asked why an event intended to foster a sense of spirit on this campus had to take place on the Williams campus. "There is nothing mischievous enough on this campus that people would do," Doss replied. "The reason this thing is controversial is the reason it would work."
Senior Senator Ali Sacks said that while she was in support of promoting a sense of cohesion, she couldn't "support canceling class for something recreational."
Others, such as budgetary committee member Geoff Walter '04, worried about the Hullabaloo damaging the reputation of the AAS. "Is this the type of culture and morale we want to spread in our inaugural year?" he asked.
After about 20 minutes of discussion, sentiment changed as more people voiced support for the Hullabaloo. "How many people really love this place?" asked budgetary committee member Ali Hassan '05. " I think the proposal is something that has a little moxie."
"We are trying to go over there and raise a sense of cohesion," said Carlyn Lamia '03. "It is an awesome event."
Formal debate ended after 30 minutes. After much back and forth and the possibility of amendments to the proposition, the motion to uniformly deny funding came to a vote. The motion failed by one vote, effectively giving Doss a chance of being funded.
Last week, Doss asked the budgetary committee for $9,247.05 to fund the Hullabaloo, which he told them would consist of toilet papering, chalking and putting up banners. He did not present the Committee with the "missions." The committee then made a recommendation to the AAS to give Doss $3,065.36, which would cover the costs of eight buses, chalk and some food.
Looking back, Doss said, "we wouldn't have been able to do it with that money. It wouldn't have worked with just 400 students." Because Doss had stressed all along that the Hullaloboo needed to be a campus-wide event, he decided to ask the AAS for the original sum of $9,247.05.
After continued debate on how to resolve the funding question, senators became restless. Over two hours after the Call to Order, budgetary committee member Mike Flood '03, who had earlier called the funding "an inappropriate way" to spend that much money, made a motion to adjourn. The motion was called to a vote and passed, 12 to 11, effectively destroying immediate implementation of Doss' plan.
Despite this apparent setback, Doss will continue to work to build College morale. "Please rest assured that your Commission plans to go forward in building fresh ideas and an exciting program," he said.