Treasurer Paris Wallace '04 read a statement outlining a charge of misrepresentation against the ski team. According to the statement, "On multiple occasions ... [the] ski team has asserted that it was required, by its league, the USCSA, to send 10 men and 10 women to each of its competitions. After consultation with a representative of the ski team and the USCSA executive vice president, I have determined that there is no such requirement in existence. This discovery undermines the basic assumptions [that the team was required to bring 20 people] ... used when deciding upon this club's budget."
BC member and ski team president A.J Korytoski '04 defended the ski team's statements. "My perception of league rules was that if we have a roster large enough to field 10 men and 10 women, then we were required to do so," he said.
Senator Mihailis Diamantis '04 motioned to cut the ski team's tournament fee recommendations in half. "We would be generous to give them five men and five women, and we'd be solving all of these other clubs' problems," he said. "If there are going to be cuts made, the ski team does not need 10 men and 10 women to just get by."
"As a senator and a BC member, I'm insulted and outraged that a club would mislead us in this way … I feel like A.J. used his position on the BC and the senate. I am going so far as to ask you [Korytoski] to step down," said BC member Molibi Maphanyane '06. Other senators echoed Maphanyane's disgust.
Parliamentarian David Scherr '05 apologized at the meeting on Monday, Dec. 1 meeting for the lack of decorum. "There is absolutely no reason for such an ugly tone to permeate a student government meeting. We must hold ourselves to higher standards," he said.
"A.J.'s personal integrity in all his capacities, whether senator, BC member or president of the ski team, ought to stand unblemished," said senator Jin-young Kim '05. The personal nature of these comments upset some senators.
After the meeting, Korytoski clarified his position. "The information that I presented ... I still feel is an accurate representation of the ski team; [it] was in no way an attempt to undermine ... the budgetary process. The ... discussion ... seems like an attempt to cultivate reasons to take money away from club sports," he said. He felt he "was seemingly put on trial for an honest mistake."
Last year the ski team did not field 20 skiiers because the roster was not big enough. This year it has more than 20.
A motion to reduce the ski team recommendation to $0 failed, while the original motion to cut tournament fees in half passed on a 16-10 vote. The budget was decreased from $7,860 to $3,930.
President Ryan Park '05 discussed The Amherst Hamster, informing the senate that the editors of The Hamster had written an "official code of conduct" under which they agreed to operate to regain the trust of the student body. He claimed that it was "the start of a more cohesive relationship" founded on the rules outlined, which prohibit The Hamster from naming students and from publishing pornographic material.
BC member Matt Vanneman '06 was not convinced that The Hamster deserved funding, however. "One of the reasons I did not vote to fund The Hamster was because I think it's dumb. I stand by that," he said.
Soon after, though, a motion to allocate $475 to The Hamster passed 14-12, giving The Hamster enough money to publish one black-and-white issue.
Senator Roz Foster '05 motioned to fund the Amherst Republicans $300 for their firearms safety activity, which allows 50 students to spend a day at a shooting range. The activity did not initially receive funding because, according to Wallace, the club had failed to submit an itemized budget for the trip.
"I really don't care if you all like the Republican party, conservative ideals, or firearms safety and the second amendment," said Amherst Republicans president Theodore Hertzberg '04. "I would prefer it if ... you funded this event based on what it brings to this campus."
He argued that the "outrage" students felt last year upon learning that the senate had funded the trip lead to a campus-wide "lively debate" that legitimated its future funding. The motion to fund the firearms safety activity passed overwhelmingly.
Senators also provided La Causa with $300 for a party taking place after Interterm, but refused to fund A Further Room, citing its infrequent publication and heavy reliance on writing from students within the English department.
The senate raised the allocation to the ballroom and swing dancing club $200 to provide instructional classes.
The senate approved the spring budgets with few senators dissenting.
Park voiced a desire to veto the motion to vote on the recommendations. Vice President Elan Ghazal '05 asked the sergeant-at-arms, Maphanyane, to remove Park for disrupting the vote. The constitution does not authorize the president to disrupt a vote, though it does allow him to veto a final vote. He was not removed from the meeting and decided not to veto the final vote.
Park explained his reasoning. "The reason I got so worked up ... was because I felt that the senate ignored ... concerns about the 'time-sensitive' nature of the snowboarding team's request. This doesn't ... mean ...we should have funded them, but I feel that we owe it to the student body to ... discuss every ... concern that comes our way."