Treasurer Paris Wallace '04 presented the amendment to the MGF that added FLICS, the organization that purchases film rights from a clearinghouse to show recently-released films in Keefe Campus Center each weekend.
Senator Rania Arja '06 and President Ryan Park '05 attempted to also add The New York Times program and the Bradley Airport shuttle to the MGF, but their amendment failed. "[Adding Arja's and Park's programs] would be opening the door to putting the spring formal in the master general, or the Amherst College Pre-Business Seminar," Wallace said. "FLICS is a much more proven program that has lasted over time."
Arja later received senate approval to spend $2,400 of the newly-created $6,000 senate fund on the spring break Bradley Airport shuttle.
Wallace presented the weekly discretionary funding recommendations of the budgetary committee (BC). Wallace informed the senate that, assuming that the spring formal would pass the school-wide referendum, only $23,739.44 of this semester's $52,452.50 discretionary fund would be available for the rest of the semester before this week's allocation.
Members of the Cuba Delegation petitioned the senate to amend the BC's recommendation of $0 of their $2,500 request to $1,300.
Thirteen College students will travel to Cuba over spring break to deliver medical supplies and to gather first-hand information for senior theses and a documentary project. Wallace explained the BC had recommended $650 for the trip, but he had deemed the request unconstitutional when he learned that only College sophomores, juniors and seniors could apply to attend the trip, which he believed violated the anti-discrimination clause in the constitution.
Senator Christian Sanchez '05 and Maria-Martin Castro '04, members of this year's delegation, explained that due to complicated international visa procedures, an age requirement precludes most freshmen from participating. "We pride ourselves on being able to make this trip available to all students," said Castro. She explained that students could re-apply each year, and most students are eventually able to go.
Some senators disagreed, arguing that the delegation discriminated against freshmen. "This is pretty clearly an arbitrary exclusion," said senator Matt Vanneman '06, after reading aloud the line of the delegation application that specified that only upperclass students could apply. The senate voted 19-10 to allocate the BC's recommendation of $650.00 to the Cuba delegation.
Senators discussed dropping the BC's recommendation of $1,540 for the Amherst College Outing Club's ski trip to $0, but the amendment failed.
Park introduced the constitution of the Five-College Coordinating Board, which is comprised of the presidents of all five colleges. Vice President Elan Ghazal '05 expressed concern at the wording of the constitution, which would allow the board to later change its constitution without consulting the five college student government. The constitution also requires the AAS to contribute $500.00 annually to the board's operating budget. "I'd like you guys to consider what you're getting yourself into," Ghazal said to the senate.
The senate did not pass the constitution. Park expressed his disappointment to the senate. "The fact that we didn't pass this is actually a pretty big embarrassment to the College," he said. The other four colleges have already ratified the constitution.
Park announced that after speaking with Director of Physical Plant Jim Brassord, the College plans to install ashtrays in front of every residence and academic building because of the smoking ban. He also reported that after explaining students' concerns about the new phone service to Dean of Students Ben Lieber and President Anthony Marx, administrators still are not considering the installation of an on-campus network that would connect residential and administrative phone lines.