Treasurer Richa Bhala '07 mandated that all senators and students interested in receiving funding attend a meeting this Friday at 3 p.m. in order to discuss the allocation of discretionary funds.
Senator Daniel de Zeeuw '08 next reported that the Committee on Priorities and Resources (CPR) is one week away from finding childcare options. Senator Jordan McKay '07 reminded all senators that the event in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. will be held this Friday. Regarding plans for the new library, Senator Mira Serrill-Robins '06 reported that outlining plans for the library were currently underway, and Senator Julie Kim '08 concluded committee reports, explaining that the ad hoc committee had been met with success.
Vice President Noah Isserman '07 addressed the conflict concerning the open meeting of the Committee on Academic Priorities (CAP), to be held by President Tony Marx on Feb. 27. AAS President Michael Simmons '06 explained that Marx hoped to receive a large amount of student suggestions and feedback at the meeting.
Discussion concerning the selection of a new athletic director followed Simmons' appeal. A committee in charge of filling the current vacancy has been formed, with two spots reserved for student representatives. Katharine Roin '06, who had already served on an external review committee of the entire athletic department, petitioned the senate to approve her nomination for one of the student committee spots. Her petition was unanimously approved by the AAS members. Following this appointment, Senator Patrick Benson '08 was awarded the second committee slot.
Bhala then addressed this week's BC recommendations. The discretionary fund consists of approximately $58,000, but that number is likely to increase by $15,000-20,000. This week, Beyond Bodies received a requested $210 for a lecture and publicity costs, Indoor Soccer received $560 to partake in a league in Northampton, and Gender Project was initially denied a $10 request for publicity costs, but was ultimately given the funding.
Senators next debated the allocation of $120 to purchase team uniforms for the badminton team. Senator Samantha Siegal '08 motioned to reduce the amount to $90, suggesting a different t-shirt company that could make the uniforms for less. Senator Rania Arja '06 countered, stating that members of the team had clearly done their research and found a suitable company and should therefore "be let to do their own thing." Senator Charmel Maynard '07 agreed that it would be a "nice gesture to start off with," and that if additional interest in badminton arose, more funding could be allocated in the future. Senator Avi Das '07 concluded the debate, stating, "I realize that there's a desire to cut costs whenever possible, but they did their research. Let clubs run themselves." The BC Recommendations then passed.
Senator David Gottlieb '06 next requested that $200 be allocated to the College's Trivia Team to attend a College Bowl at Yale University, and the decision was committed to the BC. De Zeeuw then motioned that $160 be allocated for food for two more focus groups for the Career Center. The motion was unanimously approved.
The meeting then turned to a discussion of campus life. Simmons commented on a recent conversation with Marx and a faculty member, in which concern over the social life at the College and its dependence on alcohol was expressed by both faculty members. He stated, "The College is looking to us to improve social life here."
Simmons then proposed to conduct a discussion to gather suggestions on how to improve the social scene. Senator Austin Yim '08 noted that the Heath and Wellness Center was working on producing several non-alcoholic events this year. Simmons expressed the overall feeling that Social Council, Amherst College Board Program and the Campus Center had done a lot but could do more. Senator Tim Zeiser '07 suggested forming some kind of Amherst Social Group, wherein students come to a reserved room with pizza, cookies and refreshments to discuss a chosen topic. Bhala noted, however, that only a "self-selecting group" of students attend these lectures and events, and that perhaps "costless ideas" such as sub-free events in the Friedmann Room would be more effective.
Das questioned why the College does not follow peer institutions, such as Williams College and Wesleyan University, in providing students with alcohol in a safer environment. Senator Andrea Gyorody '07 concluded the meeting by stating that whether one drinks or not, the campus community must enable all students to socialize in a safe, comfortable environment, devoid of peer pressure and universally fun.