[2621] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: [Mit-talk] Upcoming UA Issue - Student Group Property Ownership
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jacob Faber)
Tue Oct 17 10:35:56 2006
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2006 10:33:55 -0400
From: "Jacob Faber" <jacob.faber@gmail.com>
To: "Alexander J Werbos" <awerbos@mit.edu>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.4.62L.0610170948020.22110@dodecahedron.mit.edu>
Cc: ua-senate@mit.edu, Adam Seering <aseering@mit.edu>, mit-talk@mit.edu,
senior-house@mit.edu
Errors-To: mit-talk-bounces@mit.edu
Alex brings up good points. It's really about accountability. I was
never on finboard, but anecdotally, I can say there is misuse of
funds. Groups buy the same things year in and year out, and it's a
waste of money. Also, inventory "disappears". It might be a pain,
but the UA should have better records of group spending and inventory
because ultimately, it's the UA who purchases it.
On 10/17/06, Alexander J Werbos <awerbos@mit.edu> wrote:
> 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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--
Jacob W. Faber
Phone: 857.928.2838
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