Dan Korea, chief engineer of WAMH, was at the meeting to explain the need for replacing, fixing and purchasing production equipment. Part of the reason that WAMH needs immediate funding is to broadcast MC Chris Ward live from campus this Sunday. Ward is a writer and producer for Adult Swim. Due to under-funding, malfunctions and stolen equipment, WAMH has not been able to host a live performance since 2002. Some of the equipment necessary to make the current production studio function includes cables, headphones, power cords, amps and direct interface boxes.
Senator Jacob Thomas '07 sparked the debate about allocating such a large sum of money. "WAMH brings a lot to this campus," he said. "They are chronically under-funded."
Some students argued that there is no way to tell how many students listen to WAMH. "I have no idea how many people listen to WAMH," said Senator Spencer Robins '08. "I think this is something we should think about."
Robins was further distressed by WAMH's request for immediate funding. "I am a little bothered by the idea that because an event is coming up we absolutely need to fund [WAMH]," he said. "It feels like we are being pressured into funding."
Senator Avi Das '07 countered this argument. "The claim of giving out money based on popularity seems unfair," he said. "This is something that is important to the campus and to the school at large."
Senator Richa Bhala '07 expressed her concern with allowing the AAS to make such enormous capital investments without first assuring that proper security measures are in order to protect the equipment. "I have a problem with these huge capital investments that have no guidelines for insurance," she said. "It is almost irresponsible. I am glad we have someone here today who is watching over WAMH."
Korea explained that new security measures such as forced sign-ins and locked cabinets have been implemented in the WAMH office and seem to be effective.
Debate then centered on the issue of putting the WAMH funding to a referendum. Typically, any discretionary funding for a single event costing more than $10,000 must go to a school-wide referendum. However, the equipment WAMH requested was not a "single event," thus a referendum was not necessary. The final amount allocated was only $9,460, almost $1,000 less than the initial request.
The senate approved the rest of the budget which included: $1,034 to support Kimmie Weeks '05's mission for child soldiers and $108 to the China Awareness Organization for a night when people can learn to play Chinese games.
Senator Rob Cobbs '06 then proposed a resolution calling for textbook publishers to adopt less exploitative marketing practices. The resolution is a part of MassPIRG's effort to reform the textbook industry. Cobbs expressed concerns about the bundling of separate goods such as workbooks, CDs and textbooks as one product at exorbitant prices. Cobbs explained that, according to MassPIRG, in the 2003-04 academic year, students spent an average of $898 on books.
The senate also approved $500 for Scrutiny, a publication which devises and releases course evaluations. The senate's only objection was that, since Scrutiny is an academic endeavor, the money should come from a source other than the AAS.
Luke Murumba '05 raised the issue of the parking problem. Murumba, who lives in Cohan dormitory, informed the senate that the Alumni Parking Lot is often empty, yet students are forbidden to park there. The senate then approved a resolution to ask the administration to look into the possibility of opening up the Alumni Lot to student parking, at least on a trial basis.
Vice President Dave Scherr '05 removed Steven Hollister '05 from the senate for exceeding the absence limit. He also announced that since three senators from the class of 2006 will be abroad in the spring, the senate will hold an election early next semester to fill the openings.