Kimmie Weeks '05 asked the senate to allocate $3,437 to help fund YAI's Month of Peace. "Youth Action International requested $3,437 for a poster campaign, a publication they hope to [produce] and speakers," explained AAS Treasurer Paris Wallace '04. The main part of that request was $2,000 to pay for Malaika Sanders, who is scheduled to speak on April 7 as the keynote speaker for the Month of Peace and Activism.
Sanders is the executive director of 21st Century, an advocacy group which focuses on the importance of the need for human rights regardless of government policy toward a group of people.
Senator Matt Vanneman '06 motioned to reduce the proposed allocation of $2,000 to $1,500, eliminating the $500 Weeks had requested to cover Sanders' travel expenses. Vanneman argued that the senate rarely funds travel expenses and encouraged Weeks to seek funding from other organizations such as the Amherst College Program Board, or from various administrative funds.
During the discussion about the proposed allocations for Sanders' speech, Senator Mihailis Diamantis '04 questioned whether Sanders actually was scheduled to present a lecture since YAI had no contract from Sanders. Wallace responded that requiring a contract in order to allocate money for speakers was somewhat paradoxical. Wallace explained that it is hard to convince a speaker to sign a contract to speak unless payment was guaranteed, but payment could not be guaranteed without first requesting funds from the AAS and other organizations. Wallace also mentioned the precedent of allocating funds without a contract. "We definitely, definitely have funded things without contracts," said Wallace. "It is a good faith contract." The amendment to reduce the allocation for YAI from $2,000 to $1,500 passed.
Weeks also asked for $500 to pay for Beatrice Biira, the closing speaker for the Month of Peace event. "Beatrice Biira is the beneficiary of Heifer International, which provides livestock to people in poor countries," said Weeks.
There was some debate about the acceptability of approving the $500 allocation because Biira indicated to Weeks that she plans to donate her payment to Heifer International.
Ian Shin '06 thought that the AAS had decided that it would not directly donate money to charities.
Senator Ethan Davis '05 responded, questioning the role of the AAS in choosing how speakers spend the money they earn. "It was my understanding that student government shouldn't regulate what speakers do with their money," he said. The senate approved the amendment to allocate $500 for Biira's speakers fee.
Jake Maguire '07 asked the senate to give him $100 for a trip to Honduras over spring break. "I am looking to go on a spring break trip run through Mercy House," said Maguire. In Honduras, Maguire will aid in construction projects and in the functioning of a free hospital.
Maguire just recently found out that he could go on the trip and needs to obtain funds quickly. He explained his need for $100 from the AAS. "The airfare is $472. Food and lodging [are] $150," said Maguire. "This $100 would go to food and lodging."
Wallace questioned Maguire's request because the Budgetary Committee (BC) had not seen it first.
Vice President Elan Ghazal '05 noted that Maguire's late request for funds was acceptable because Maguire received such short notice about the trip. "This is a time sensitive issue and we can make an exception for that," said Ghazal.
Diamantis questioned the expenditure of $100 for one person's spring break trip. "We made it our policy that we don't pay more than $60 for spring break trips," he said. However, according to Ghazal, the senate paid $100 per person for the Habitat for Humanity trip. The senate voted to give Maguire the $100.
Several class councils met after the meeting to discuss projects for the semester. Senator Rania Arja '06 also raised the issue of the AAS website's current non-functional status, which Secretary Di Shui '06 will work to address.