The proposal suggests donating $30,000 to student programming and $70,000 to financial aid. Based on careful examination of budget cuts to identify programs that can help, the AAS identified several programs that, while beneficial to the entire College community, could be cut without the AAS gift.
Possibilities for the student programming funding include buying eco-friendly travel mugs to replace the disposable cups at Valentine Dining Hall, paying for TYPO and the free condom distribution by the Health Center and funding events held by Residential Life for students who do not return home during Spring Break.
Most of the debate centered on whether the other portion of the gift, the $70,000, should be used to support financial aid or another important need of the College, such as hiring professors.
The proposal to donate the majority of the gift to financial aid stems from the fact that accessibility to students, regardless of income, is a core value of the College. Many felt that the gift will have the greatest impact if used for financial aid. AAS President Nick Pastan ’09 believed that the student body should consider giving the money to financial aid because “the AAS is here to support students.”
This proposed gift is unusual in that the students can send a powerful statement about where the student body’s priorities lie. Charles Tanenbaum ’09 noted “how fundamentally this can change how the students on the campus are viewed” in the eyes of trustees.
The Senate will vote on the proposal after input from students. This was solicited at the meeting with the Trustees on Feb. 17, and will also be heard at the open meeting for students on Feb. 22 in the Cole Assembly Room. After the Senate vote, the proposition will be sent to referendum for the entire student body to vote on.