Senators conducted a lengthy debate on the ski team's request for a $6,030 appropriation to cover its Interterm training and competition fees, eventually approving the budgetary committee's (BC) recommendation for the full amount. The team requested funding to pay the competition fees for seven skiers' of each gender rather than the required minimum of three because in order for its score to count, the team needs six skiers to finish each race. Competitive skiers, however, must take more risks that sometimes lead to disqualification.
Senator Josh Stein '08 supported the allocation. "Policy at Amherst dictates that the Senate fund club sports," he said. "This is a much larger issue than just the ski team. However, it would be wrong to make an example of the ski team. Thus, we must fund them now, and look for other funding avenues in the future."
Senator Dan Reiss '05 opposed the allocation. "The ski team has done a very poor job finding external funding," he said. "I'd like to see the request cut in half."
Professor History and Women and Gender Studies (WAGS) Margaret Hunt spoke in support of funding Facing the Pain of War, a presentation sponsored by the history and WAGS departments as well as the College Democrats and Republicans. She appealed to the Senate because the budgetary committee did not recommend funding the event. Treasurer Ian Shin '06 explained the recommendation. "It was not considered an event with major student organizational effort or participation," he said. "It's not a student event."
Hunt countered, saying that Shin was incorrect. "The decision not to fund is based on incomplete information. There is intense student involvement in organization," she said. "It deserves support, especially support in the general vicinity of $400."
Marco LoCascio '07 agreed. "Students are clearly involved in the presentation of the event," he said. "In talking to students, the issues of war and the possibility of a draft are on people's minds." The senate allocated $200 each to the College Democrats and the College Republicans to co-sponsor the event.
Russell Kornblith '06, co-chair of the College Democrats, requested $400 to pay gas fees for the club's trip yesterday to the University of New Hampshire. "We have 90 people going in 18 cars," he said. "This weekend we took 25 people to New Hampshire in seven cars. Our gas fund is broke."
Senator Spencer Robins '08 supported the appropriation. "Amherst has a reputation for political apathy," he said. "This will work against that." The AAS approved the allocation.
The AAS voted to postpone its response to The Hamster's request for $1,139. "They have done some restructuring and soul-searching," said Shin. "They have instituted standards against targeting individuals, making allusions to porn, and printing slander or libel, and that satisfies past objections for the BC."
Senator Elan Ghazal '05 agreed that the Senate should fund The Hamster. "I don't see why we can't give them what they ask for," he said. "It would be micromanaging. If they have made the investments of time and effort to turn it around, we should put our money where our mouth is."
Park announced that a plaque would be mounted at the end of this semester or the beginning of next semester in Valentine Dining Hall in honor of the late Robert "Gramps" Keyes, a 30-year employee of the College who died on Oct. 6.
Park also explained that the Interterm committee plans to organize alumni-sponsored programs and internships. The committee is also discussing the possibility of offering financial incentives to faculty to teach classes on campus during Interterm.
The financial aid committee hopes to host a meeting of all NESCAC athletic directors and admissions officers to discuss financial aid and to make recommendations to their respective college presidents.
Park announced the possibility of a high-profile speaker visiting campus in the future to talk about post-election politics. "We're considering Bob Woodward and Al Franken," said Park.