[2618] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: [Mit-talk] Upcoming UA Issue - Student Group Property Ownership
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Adam Seering)
Tue Oct 17 09:39:23 2006
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.4.62L.0610170840540.22110@dodecahedron.mit.edu>
From: Adam Seering <aseering@mit.edu>
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2006 09:38:07 -0400
To: Alexander J Werbos <awerbos@mit.edu>
Cc: ua-senate@mit.edu, mit-talk@mit.edu, senior-house@mit.edu
Errors-To: mit-talk-bounces@mit.edu
Hi all,
Well, I don't understand the specific issue at hand. However, it
seems to me that the answer is obvious: The student group owns what
the student group buys. The student group isn't buying things for
the use of the UA (I assume?), so there really isn't any leeway
inherent in that.
If the UA provides money to a student group with explicit conditions
attached, and the student group violates those conditions, then the
group is responsible for reimbursing the UA for whatever amount it
spent, because it spent that money that it was in fact not able to
spend legally and reimbursement is the direct "undo" path. This, of
course, means no retroactive changes in what's OK to do with money;
conditions are attached at the time of giving.
In theory, if both the student group and the UA agreed that it'd
count as a reasonable equivalent payment, the student group should be
able to give the object that they purchased with the money to the UA
instead.
If the UA doesn't like how a student group is using its money, it
can stop giving said group money in the future. It was a bad
investment; sorry, but, oh well.
This is all just a straightforward interpretation of relatively
simple common standards. What's the complication here?
Adam
On Oct 17, 2006, at 8:58 AM, Alexander J Werbos wrote:
> Hello Everyone,
>
> Last night, in the course of the UA Senate meeting, the issue was
> raised
> of who exactly owns certain student group property. While the UA is
> forming a group to address the specific situation, I believe it is
> necessary to take the time to form a general, formal policy about such
> ownership. To that end, the senate will be discussing the issue in a
> special session next week (along with a few other things).
>
> To prepare for the meeting, I want to understand the community's
> view on
> this issue.
>
> Who exactly owns student group property?
> If it is determined (through extensive deliberation, this is not a
> deicision to make lightly) that a student group is using space or
> property
> inefficiently, can the UA (or agencies it has representation through,
> like the ASA) reallocate it?
>
> What if the student group has its own sources of income? On the one
> hand,
> they are making the money themselves. But on the other, would they
> have
> been able to earn that money without the association with MIT
> provided by
> the ASA?
>
> We're not proposing to set up the UA/ASA in a tyranically
> micromanaging
> position, snatching red swingline staplers from groups that are being
> irksome. But, rather, trying to create a process or policy whereby
> student groups that
> are unfairly or inefficiently using resources might have those
> resources
> reallocated in a way that better serves the common good. Or perhaps a
> policy that specifically says that this should not permissable, if
> that is
> what people want.
>
> I would greatly appreciate student feedback on this issue,
> particularly
> before the UA discussion session on Monday the 23rd. For those of
> you that
> are representatives, I would ask that you consult your constituencies
> individually.
>
> -Alex Werbos
> UA Senator from Senior House
> _______________________________________________
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> MIT-talk@mit.edu
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