Debate centered on the $15,000 requested by the Social Council (SoCo) to fund an Egyptian-themed social event called the Sphinx Party, as well as Friday concerts and a Themes of Amherst event. SoCo representative Eric Osborne '04 was present to answer questions about the request.
The senate first considered a motion to provide resources for the Themes of Amherst event which would be held at the Triangle and the theme houses. After brief discussion, the senate passed the motion unanimously.
Next, the senate debated and approved funding for the Sphinx Party, once a College tradition but forgotten in recent years. Osborne stressed the need for additional funds for the event. "[SoCo] can do our parties for less money-but that's why they're all the same," Osborne said. The Sphinx Party would feature a well-known band, an ice sculpture and possibly even belly dancers, according to Osborne. The party will be in Hamilton Dormitory and open to the entire campus.
Luke Swarthout '04 asked that the request be recommitted to the BC so that SoCo could submit an itemized list of Sphinx Party costs.
Unlike other campus organizations, SoCo, along with Program Board, is not required to detail its expenses or provide contracts prior to receiving checks. Wallace clarified the issue by noting that SoCo would have to issue check requests for each expense related to the Sphinx Party, thereby eliminating the possibility that SoCo would have money left over from party allocations. "If it was any other club, [the BC] would have said no [to the request for funds]," Wallace added.
Other senators emphasized the AAS's trust in SoCo as a campus organization with integrity. To many, the $6,000 SoCo requested was a paltry sum compared with the $28,000 the AAS approved last year for the Spring Formal.
The Sphinx funding was approved by a 10-7 vote, with two senators abstaining.
The last issue, funding for Friday concerts, was recommitted to the BC for weekly approval rather than a block grant since each concert requires significantly less planning than events like the Sphinx party.
President Ryan Park '05 asked the senate to create an ad hoc committee to research an honor code, which the College currently does not have. Senator Mihailis Diamantis '04 motioned for the creation of a six-member committee that will provide monthly reports to the AAS. The motion passed unanimously.