StuCo changes SAC funding policy
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StuCo President Manish Gala congratulated StuCo members on their work last semester. He highlighted their accomplishments, citing the movement of Spring Fair back to the freshmen quads, exam recycling, the use of the Internet to inform the student body, specifically through the Web site, safety and lighting improvements around campus and Charles village and the Upperclassmen housing initiative.
Gala then told members there were still things that needed to be accomplished during this semester. He explained that the meal plan would be changed after this semester and that StuCo should find out what students want and develop a new meal plan.
Treasurer Elise Roecker presented a change in the structure of the StuCo and Student Activities Commission (SAC). Roecker explained that the SAC is running low on funds because of the increase of student groups on campus; there were 15 new groups added just last semester.
The SAC restructuring would take the money for the StuCo class groups formerly given directly to the SAC and put the money in the StuCo account. Such groups as the Milton S. Eisenhower (MSE) Symposium, Wonderflix, Hopkins Organization for Programming (HOP) and Spring Fair will be placed directly under the StuCo, eliminating the need for such groups to answer to both StuCo and the SAC.
"Under the current plan there is a lot of double-counting," said Gala. "This new proposal will correct that problem."
Roecker added that "the logistics still need to be worked out, but the plan will definitely be positive." She also added that this would be a change in the bylaws and not in the Constitution.
Roecker described a major problem being large groups, such as the MSE symposium, collaborating with small groups to produce programs for which the small groups end up paying. There is in fact an account for collaborations between groups which is not being used to serve its purpose, according to Roecker.
Vice President for Institutional Relations Noel De Santos explained that the new structure will "delineate the lines of accountability" and eliminate "technical redundancies." He stressed that the StuCo encourages collaboration between groups, but that the revisions will more clearly "separate funding sources."
Roecker encouraged StuCo members to look at the SAC Web site at http://SAC.stuco.org. She announced that the General Assembly meeting will be held in Schaffer 3 on Monday.
Charles Reyner, the chair of the Homewood Student Affairs (HSA) Committee, announced an upcoming trip in which several students would accompany Dean of Student Life Susan Boswell to Lehigh University to look at their meal plan options.
The Board of Elections (BoE) will be holding elections for the Executive Board on March 4, and these will once again be online elections.
The Hopkins Organization for Programming (HOP) plans to increase its activities this semester, starting with the Henry Rollins show planned for February 9. They will also be setting up a consistent schedule of activities which will occur at E-level, including a possible concert series.
The senior class is also planning on utilizing E-level for senior nights and is also planning a senior week to be held between the end of finals and commencement. These activities would include whitewater rafting, community service, beer-tasting, a Senior formal and a Dorm Night, in which students would be together with their freshmen dorm-mates.
The administration has also approved a beach party to occur in May. Pre-commencement festivities are also planned for the day before graduation, including a family picnic, guest lectures, tours of the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA), and a parent versus seniors game of volleyball.