The senate discussed this week's discretionary allocations. Treasurer Richa Bhala '07 spoke about the Budgetary Committee's (BC) rationale concerning the recommended allocations. The senate immediately approved the discretionary BC recommendations, following her explanation.
The AAS then turned its attention towards the approval of spring club budgets. Bhala announced that four clubs were not even considered mainly because they didn't "follow the rules" that AAS requires. FLICS was not considered because the group failed to meet with a BC representative. Men's Volleyball, Art of Living and Amherst Local Food Initiative were not considered because they are not "recognized" groups on-campus. Bhala also noted that the Amherst Feminist Alliance never submitted a budget, even though they met with a representative.
Senator Avi Das '07 motioned to remove $2,000 from WAMH's budget, allocated for a concert. As a WAMH representative, he felt the club could pursue the funds through discretionary channels. He also informed the senate that WAMH did not have a definitive answer from a specific band on whether or not it would be playing at the College. "I can't in good conscience take this money," he said. The money was unanimously removed from WAMH's budget.
By removing this $2,000, Bhala explained that they would fall out of the constitutionally set percentages. Club budgets for any given semester must represent 43 percent, ±3 percentage points. Before this money was removed, the BC recommended 40.06 percent of the total amount on the lower end of the spectrum. After removing WAMH's $2000, the budget represented only 39.45 percent, a value out of the necessary range. Bhala advocated distributing the money to clubs, but Das wasn't sure if that was the right way to proceed. He pointed out that the BC deliberated for hours discussing these numbers. Without that sort of deliberation, he felt as though there was not a fair way to distribute it. "If we think we could give the money away via more equitable means, that would be fine, [but we can't]," he said. Das favored changing the constitutional percentages.
Senator Rob Cobbs '06 motioned to amend the pertinent bylaws to say "except for spring 2006." He explained that this change would allow this budget to be passed, but would not alter long-term percentages. "This case is exceptional, not the rule," he said. Senator Mira Serrill-Robins '06 was against this change. "It makes a mockery of the constitution," she said.
Senator Paul Nielson '09 then motioned to amend Cobbs' proposal to remove the phrase "except for Spring 2006" and to change the "wiggle room" from 3 percent to 5 percent. Das explained that the BC recommended numbers had just happened to fall to the bottom end. As a result, this change would not impact how the BC recommends its funds. Cobbs, however, was not so sure. "We have to seriously consider what this is going to do to the way we run our finances." Senator Josh Stein '08 spoke against both motions. "By doing either, you undermine the document the AAS is founded on," he said. Nielson's motion passed, altering Cobbs' amendment to a 5 percent change in the "wiggle room." However, the motion to put this amendment into the constitution failed.
The AAS then decided to fully fund a Men's Project speaker with an additional $1,800. The sailing coach received another $150 more and the AAS allocated the Amherst College Democrats an extra $25 for posters. The AAS then approved the spring 2006 club budgets.
President Michael Simmons '06 asked how the AAS felt about passing a resolution endorsing Carleen Basler's tenure. Simmons felt that Basler's appointment as a Latino studies professor was important to have at the College. Das, however, was uncertain whether the AAS should do this. "Senators endorsing professors is a tricky line," he said. "At certain times, senators should not enter the faculty sphere." Cobbs, Andrea Gyorody '07 and Raj Borsellino '08 agreed. "This is completely out of our jurisdiction," Borsellino said. It was then decided that, due to the late hour, Simmons would send a resolution via e-mail and an e-mail vote would be taken.