The Republicans' firearms trip provoked debate as it has in the past. Senator Josh Stein '08 proposed an amendment to cut funding for the trip. The purpose of the trip is to provide an educational opportunity to talk about responsible gun ownership. Stein opposed funding events related to guns. "Promoting the use of guns is not something I can vote for," he said. Senator William Havemann '07 responded. "I do not think we can let our own ideology affect our vote," he said. The amendment to cut funding for the Firearms awareness trip did not pass.
Senator Robert Cobbs '06 recommended that the senate not fund the ski team. "My objection to the ski team is that it is such a prohibitive and expensive sport," he said. "I do not believe the scholarship program proposed by the team could provide students with enough money to race. Until I can comfortably believe that anyone can come to Amherst and ski without spending an arm and a leg, I will not vote for this."
Senator Marco LoCascio '07 defended the ski team. "I do not think it is fair to punish one specific sport because it is expensive," he said.
Cobbs emphasized that his objection to funding the ski team is based on the exclusivity. "The issue is not who is on the ski team but who has the opportunity to ski," he said. "You can do crew by paying dues; you cannot ski by only paying the ski team dues. You need $1,000 for equipment. Either we fund the team fully enough so that students do not have to pay out of pocket, or we say skiing is too expensive for the student body to fund." The senate did not pass the amendment to cut funding for the ski team.
Padraic Gerety '07 represented both the fencing and the Isshinrya karate clubs at last night's meeting. His primary concern for the fencing club was that the Budgetary Committee failed to recommend $180 to the team for three new electric foils. Gerety explained that new foils are extremely necessary for competition. "We need extra foils so that we do not have to worry about them breaking during competition," he said. In the past the fencing team has had to repair foils in the midst of a match. The amendment to allocate money for new foils passed unanimously.
After the senate voted in favor of allotting money to the fencing team, Gerety asked that the senate allot $540 to Isshinryu karate to pay for 12 testing fees at $45 each. Senator Spencer Robins '08 disagreed with providing the club money for testing fees. "The point is that some students can afford this," he said. "If we pay it now we are just guessing that 12 people need this aid."
Gerety protested that the precedent of the AAS had always been to pay for this fee. "This would be an extreme shock," he said. "If you fail this test you are telling everyone that you just do not care about karate. If you do not study, you do not get your belt. This is a team event. It is about how much we can put into it as a team." The senate ultimately passed the amendment to provide the $540.
President Ryan Park '05 introduced a Special Projects Fund to the Master General Fund. Currently the only expenditure of the Special Projects Fund is the Newspaper Readership Program, the program which currently provides The New York Times newspapers to students free of charge in Valentine Dining Hall.
With the inclusion of the Readership Program in the Master General Fund, the spring 2005 AAS operating budget is $305,978.75. The budget consists of the $135,266.00 in the Master General Fund, $130,712.74 for club allocations and $40,000.00 available for discretionary funding.
Vice President Dave Scherr '05 told the senate that starting next semester, all senators must follow a new alcohol attendance policy. The policy stipulates that any senator who attends the meeting drunk will receive an absence. "There is plenty of time to get drunk at this college," said Scherr.