[2619] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: [Mit-talk] Upcoming UA Issue - Student Group Property Ownership
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Alexander J Werbos)
Tue Oct 17 10:01:33 2006
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2006 09:59:35 -0400 (EDT)
From: Alexander J Werbos <awerbos@mit.edu>
To: Adam Seering <aseering@mit.edu>
In-Reply-To: <CF4DD814-CA66-4846-B96E-579AE02F9C49@mit.edu>
Cc: ua-senate@mit.edu, mit-talk@mit.edu, senior-house@mit.edu
Errors-To: mit-talk-bounces@mit.edu
On Tue, 17 Oct 2006, Adam Seering wrote:
> This is all just a straightforward interpretation of relatively
> simple common standards. What's the complication here?
I don't think it is that obvious at all. Consider that a large part of
the current allocation system is based on communal principles. Space may
be allocated as the ASA sees fit. We're attempting to see if that analogy
continues to other property.
Student groups are special organizations. They are not given money for
their private use, but rather to enhance undegraduate life as a whole.
Since student group money can't really be given to
individuals but rather has to benefit the student body in general (or at
least allow all who are interested equal access to benefits), is it really
so much of a leap to say that property does not belong specifically to a
group of people or arbitrary label, but rather to the undergraduate
community as a whole?
We're not trying to set up the UA as some sort of feudal organization,
demanding tribute of materiel from student groups. We're trying to
make sure that all the resourecs available to student groups are used in
the best manner possible. If a group uses a lot of Institute money to
purchase equipment, and then lets it moulder in a locker somewhere, isn't
it our duty to give that equipment to a group that would use it?
If, however, people think that such reallocations are always a bad idea,
we can make that the policy. But I really think that is going to lead to
inefficient usage of student resources.
-Alex
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