[113] in UA Senate
Re: UA budgeting principles
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Rachel E Meyer)
Thu Oct 15 01:06:15 2009
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:06:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: Rachel E Meyer <remeyer@MIT.EDU>
To: Jason Scott <jascott88@gmail.com>
cc: Alexandra Jordan <amjordan@mit.edu>, hwkns@mit.edu,
Adam Bockelie <bockelie@mit.edu>, Janet Li <jli12@mit.edu>,
Paul Youchak <youchakp@mit.edu>, Catherine Olsson <catherio@mit.edu>,
Andrew Lukmann <lukymann@mit.edu>, Alex Schwendner <alexrs@mit.edu>,
"Alex Dehnert (UA Treasurer)" <ua-treasurer@mit.edu>,
ua-senate@mit.edu, ua-discuss@mit.edu
In-Reply-To: <77a604f90910142156u4d65451du65c062686d344c29@mail.gmail.com>
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1. Ok, I'll just assume that it's a complete coincidence that there=20
have been 2010 events with JetBlue sponsorship. And, for what it's worth,=
=20
that was just one example. There's also other things from free rings for=
=20
RingComm members to preferred seating at Senior Ball for council members=20
and friends.
2. Where? I can't seem to find it on your website, maybe I'm just=20
sleep-depped.
-Rachel
On Thu, 15 Oct 2009, Jason Scott wrote:
> 1. Let's not go by hearsay. I got perks from JetBlue as an intern for the=
m last year. (lol. wow at that rumor though)
>=20
> 2. Our budget is public knowledge. You can see it at any time. :)
>=20
> Best,
> Jason
>=20
>=20
>=20
> On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 12:53 AM, Rachel E Meyer <remeyer@mit.edu> wrote:
> 1. Just to be repetive... =A0the UA: Senate, Exec, /14/ standing co=
mmittees, and /5/ ad-hoc committees (for a total of 21 bodies of at least
> 5-8 people) spends less than 6k on food per semester. =A0This is ve=
ry different than even 20 people involved in a class council and related
> committees spending 30k on food.
>
> Also, in the Financial Policy Review Committee (FPRC) report it is =
stipulated that committees must announce all their meetings and make
> the food they get available to anyone who wants to show up for the =
meeting. This is very important to me. =A0 I know that I could go to
> roughly any UA meeting to listen to the discussion and share whatev=
er food the committee might have ordered.
>
> One more point on this matter: this is what is /budgetted/ for food=
, not what is actually spent. =A0Food expenses are fairly hard to predict
> and these budgets are upper limits, normally a lot less is actually=
spent.
>=20
>
> 2. =A0I'd like to look at the class council budgets before making a=
ny comments about how they are superior to the UA operating budget simply
> because they don't budget for meeting food.
>=20
>
> 3. =A0A question to Jason and other class council members to which =
this might apply, what about the perks you get? =A0I hear that corporations
> like JetBlue give some pretty lush deal to council presidents/membe=
rs for sponsorship deals with respect to council events. =A0Could you
> clarify about such perks?
>=20
>
> -Rachel
> (ASA President, HistComm Chair, FPRC member)
>=20
>=20
>
> ps - short committee meetings? =A0My committee meeting today was re=
latively short tonight - just over 3 hours! =A0(and that was after an exec
> meeting, and some weeks I have another meeting or two before or aft=
er those)
>
> pps - and this doesn't begin to account for out-of-meeting committm=
ents. For example, this weekend alone, some of the UA officers spent
> more than /40 hours/ working on a report. =A0And this isn't even wa=
y out of the ordinary.
>=20
>=20
> On Thu, 15 Oct 2009, Alexandra Jordan wrote:
>
> I agree with Hawkins. The UA is a large organization, that cumulati=
vely puts in hundreds of hours for the undergrads per week, with
> some individuals
> putting in well over even a normal 40 hour work week during the mor=
e stressful periods (example: Exec officers and the Budget Task
> Force position
> pieces, example: DPC report compilation). Providing basics (like fo=
od, a productive meeting space, etc.) for people to perform work
> on behalf of 4,000
> students is completely within reason. If you're looking to cut fat =
out of the budget, it shouldn't be at the expense of the quality
> of working
> conditions for the people who are representing undergraduates to th=
e administration to make life better at MIT. I also would agree
> with Ashley's
> assessment that student groups probably should fund certain events =
or capital expenditures from other means, not only to ensure
> sustainability and
> longevity of the group, but also because many small student group e=
xpenses benefit even fewer people than the UA food expenditures
> we're discussing.
> I also think it's relevant to recognize that the work of the UA is =
on behalf of all undergrads, whereas many of the groups we fund
> benefit and
> represent extremely small segments of the population.
>
> Alex Jordan
>
> On Oct 15, 2009, at 12:17 AM, Daniel Hawkins wrote:
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0This argument neglects the differences in size between t=
he UA and the senior class council, the difference in budget size, and
> the
> =A0 =A0 =A0difference in man-hours of work.=A0 How often does the s=
enior class council meet?=A0 How long are the meetings?=A0 Surely none of
> them are like
> =A0 =A0 =A0the 9.5-hour senate meeting we had at the end of last se=
mester...=A0 I think you're comparing very different things here.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0-hwkns
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 12:07 AM, Jason Scott <jascott88=
@gmail.com> wrote:
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0I don't generally respond to these threads, =
but I just feel somewhat strongly against food at meetings.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Not once in our four years has our council s=
ponsored food at our meetings. If having food at meetings is so important f=
or
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0efficiency, can people not simply bring thei=
r own food to the meeting?
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0I'm a strong believer in having committee me=
mbers being rewarded for hardwork/planning. But I think that 14% of a budge=
t
> spent
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0on the committee members themselves, is some=
what excessive.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0How would people react if last year's senior=
class council spent over $30K on food for only 8 people?
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0-Jason
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 11:58 PM, Adam Bocke=
lie <bockelie@mit.edu> wrote:
> =A0 =A0 =A0I would disagree. =A0Being part of a committee/senate/an=
ything else in the UA is a lot of work, and most people are already busy
> =A0 =A0 =A0with other activities. =A0Having money to spend on food =
for a meeting means that people can focus on getting work done, not on
> =A0 =A0 =A0searching for food between =A0meetings. =A0People on com=
mittees are dedicated, and I don't think that food is generally an
> =A0 =A0 =A0incentive. =A0But, I do think that food helps make meeti=
ngs more productive.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0Janet Li wrote:
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0I really like Catherine's idea of the collec=
tion jar for food for Senate meetings. I also agree with Paul that it
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0doesn't seem all that necessary to have so m=
uch of our budget go towards providing food at committee meetings.
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0People on committees should be dedicated eno=
ugh to not need food as an incentive to come to meetings, anyway.
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0---
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Janet Li
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Baker Senator
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0MIT Class of 2012
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Dept. of Biological Engineering
>=20
>
> On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 11:07 PM, Paul Youchak <youchakp@mit.edu <m=
ailto:youchakp@mit.edu>> wrote:
>
> =A0 =A0A few comments:
>
> =A0 =A0A quick calculation for this years budget makes the cost spe=
nt on
> =A0 =A0food for meetings for various committees (and poland spring =
water)
> =A0 =A0to be 5675 dollars which is 14% of our budget. =A0This seems=
to be a
> =A0 =A0pretty large sum and percentage. =A0Saving this money and gi=
ving it to
> =A0 =A0Finboard would be quite significant.
>
> =A0 =A0I understand the logic in moving the Senate elections to the=
fall so
> =A0 =A0that Freshmen could participate. =A0This being said, I think=
it would
> =A0 =A0be worth considering revising this and moving the elections =
back to
> =A0 =A0the Spring. =A0We could withhold a few open Freshman seats t=
o be run
> =A0 =A0with the class council (independent of living group) allowin=
g for
> =A0 =A0their inclusion in the fall as well. =A0This process should =
allow
> =A0 =A0Senators for the coming year to be involved in the budgeting=
process
> =A0 =A0and any other events which might be taking place. =A0For ins=
tance this
> =A0 =A0would have allowed for the Senators to help the Exec on the =
task
> =A0 =A0force report this year and get involved in other projects as=
soon as
> =A0 =A0the school year begin. =A0Returning senators would also feel=
a greater
> =A0 =A0obligation to be involved instead of waiting for the fall se=
ssion to
> =A0 =A0start.
>
> =A0 =A0I, being a new Senator this year, do feel that I have relati=
vely no
> =A0 =A0idea what is going on for these discussion and because of it=
do not
> =A0 =A0feel it is my place to question the judgment of those who kn=
ow much
> =A0 =A0more about the topic than I.
>
> =A0 =A0back to work,
>
> =A0 =A0Paul
>=20
>=20
>=20
>
> =A0 =A0Catherine Olsson wrote:
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0I strongly agree with Alex S's sentiments that we sh=
ould favor
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0putting money towards student groups instead of our =
own
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0initiatives. I think at the very least, as Andrew br=
ought up, we
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0should hold ourselves to the same standard as Finboa=
rd holds
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0student groups (which will be easier if Finboard's s=
tandards
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0become more clearly stated and publicized as recomme=
nded by the
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0FPRC). If we don't hold ourselves to the same standa=
rds as the
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0groups we're withholding money from, then it seems c=
lear to me
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0that the money is not going to its best use.*
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Thanks, Andrew, for the relevant history. Would it m=
ake sense
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0for us to extend the period of the summer budget thr=
ough the
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0second meeting of the subsequent fall's Senate sessi=
on? It seems
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0like this would prevent money from being spent befor=
e the fall
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0budget is approved, as happened with Athletics Weeke=
nd and other
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0expenditures this cycle.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0I would also be in favor of putting a collection jar=
out at
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Senate, Exec, and committee meetings so that we can =
pay for some
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0of our own food. I greatly appreciate having food at=
Senate
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0meetings, as it means I don't need to worry about fi=
nding dinner
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0on an evening which is already very busy. However, p=
aying a few
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0bucks for the food I eat so that we aren't entirely =
taxing the
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0student body for meals most of them don't eat (even =
though
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0they're welcome to) seems very reasonable. Other stu=
dents who
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0come to meetings would still be able to eat the food=
and would
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0be encouraged to chip in, too. Does anyone else agre=
e?
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0I'm very glad we're discussing this issue. Given tha=
t next
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0term's budgeting is starting soon, I think now is ex=
actly the
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0right time to pull our thoughts together.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0- Catherine Olsson, Random Hall Senator and Senate
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Representative to Finboard
>=20
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0*It should be noted that much of the funding denied =
to student
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0groups by Finboard is because the groups' proposals =
seem not
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0well-planned-out or not worth the money (such as t-s=
hirts), not
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0_because_ Finboard doesn't have enough money. But if=
Finboard
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0had more money, we could relax some of our guideline=
s, enabling
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0us to fund more conferences, fund capital such as co=
stumes and
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0musical instruments more than our current caps, fund=
more
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0travel, enable groups that maintain a library (such =
as MITSFS
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0and Anime Club) to acquire more new material, and al=
low groups
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0who wish to hold a vast number of events to hold all=
their
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0events and not just some.
>=20
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Andrew Lukmann wrote:
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0If Alex's sentiments are shared by a number =
of other new
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0senators... it might be time to re-investiga=
te the timing of
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0future budget approvals as well.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0History:
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0In the somewhat distant past (6-7+ years ago=
) Senate was
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0elected in the Spring with the incoming UA P=
/VP. As a
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0result, the incoming Senate and the incoming=
administration
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0worked together to compile and approve a bud=
get before the
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Summer. However, with a number of changes to=
the living
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0group constituencies, most importantly Fresh=
men on Campus,
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0the decision was made to move Senate electio=
ns to the Fall
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0to allow freshmen to vote (and run in) the S=
enate contest.
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 From what I recall, the first year of this =
change, the Fall
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0budget was actually voted upon by the outgoi=
ng Senate,
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0allowing the administration to have a comple=
te and approved
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0budget to operate on over the summer, during=
orientation and
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0during the Fall term. This, however, served =
to largely
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0hamstring the newly-elected Senate regarding=
financial
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0policy until at least the Spring budget was =
discussed in
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0December. As a result, this was altered (abo=
ut 5 years ago)
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0to the current arrangement where the outgoin=
g Senate (in the
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0spring) grants an advance for the administra=
tion to utilize
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0over the Summer/Orientation which is disburs=
ed by the
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0ExecComm in lieu of Senate. Then the Fall bu=
dget is taken up
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0and approved by the new Senate when it is fi=
nally assembled
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0and called to order by early-mid October.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Problems:
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0It seems that in an effort to address proble=
ms of the past,
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0we in past UA administrations (and past sess=
ions of Senate)
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0have helped to create new problems. It seems=
that even
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0though the intent of moving Fall budget appr=
oval to the Fall
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0was to empower new Senators, this has been l=
ess than
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0effective. New senators are just beginning t=
o find their way
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0and are reticent to question the wisdom of a=
budget handed
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0to them by more experienced officers like th=
e President,
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Treasurer and (often) Speaker. Situations ar=
e also
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0encountered where the executive assumes that=
certain
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0budgetary line items will be approved and pr=
eemptively
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0spends the money (such as Athletics Weekend)=
, effectively
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0circumventing Senate's oversight responsibil=
ity. Not having
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0an approved budget until mid October also ha=
mpers the
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0ability of the Executive and it's Committees=
to engage in
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0activities and programming early in the term=
=2E
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0If other people in the UA agree that this is=
an important
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0enough issue, I encourage you to re-investig=
ate the
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0possibility of making changes in the budget =
calendar and
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0taking a closer look at the pros and cons of=
different
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0options. In the end, the balance will almost=
always be
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0between empowering the current (or most rece=
ntly) elected
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0representatives and having an experienced en=
ough group of
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Senators calling the shots that they can ser=
ve as a
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0meaningful check against executive overreach=
ing or "mission
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0creep."
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Yours in the UA,
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Andrew L.
>=20
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Alex Schwendner wrote:
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0I would like to advocate that our bu=
dgeting goal should
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0be to allocate
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0more money to student groups. Here's=
why:
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Our goal, as the Undergraduate Assoc=
iation, is to make
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0things better
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0for undergraduates. When it comes to=
money, this means
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0that we should
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0see that money gets spent on the thi=
ngs which most
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0benefit MIT
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0undergraduates. This might mean that=
we spend the money
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0ourselves or
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0this might mean that we give it to s=
tudent groups who
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0can use it.
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0There are plenty of student groups w=
ho do wonderful and
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0amazing
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0things. All of us can think of stude=
nt groups which get
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0much of their
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0funding from the UA which have made =
our time at MIT more
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0worthwhile.
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Our goal, as the UA, should not be t=
o do awesome things,
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0but rather to
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0see that awesome things get done.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Sometimes, of course, this will mean=
that we should
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0spend money on
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0projects conceived by the UA and som=
etimes this will
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0mean that we
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0should give money to student groups.=
However, there is a
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0natural,
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0institutional bias toward spending t=
he money ourselves.
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0We need to
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0fight that bias. Since we, the UA, g=
et first crack at
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0the money, it's
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0easy to think of cool things which w=
e can do with the
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0money while
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0forgetting about the very real and v=
ery cool things
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0which student
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0groups will *not* be able to do with=
out that money. We
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0can see this
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0"mission creep" in UA funding in the=
way that the money
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0allocated to
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0UA committees has increased in past =
years. Yes, the UA
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0does more with
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0the increased money, but it is not a=
lways clear that
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0it's spent better
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0than it could be spent by student gr=
oups. The standards
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0which hold for
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0receiving funding from the UA genera=
l budget should be
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0analogous to
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0the standards which hold for receivi=
ng funding from UA
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Finboard. I
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0will note that while UA committees r=
eceived basically
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0everything that
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0they asked for in the Fall UA budget=
, student groups
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0which applied to
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0UA Finboard received less than 30% o=
f their requests in
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0the most
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0recent funding cycle.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Therefore, during the Spring 2010 bu=
dgeting process, I
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0intend to push
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0for allocating more money for studen=
t groups. Projects
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0which we choose
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0not to fund from the UA general budg=
et can seek funding
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0through UA
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Finboard, from LEF or ARCADE, from t=
he MIT
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Administration, or from
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0other funding sources.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Please discuss.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Alex Schwendner
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 12:52 AM, Al=
ex Dehnert (UA
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Treasurer)
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0<ua-treasurer@mit.edu <mailto:ua-tre=
asurer@mit.edu>> wrote:
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0As several people ha=
ve pointed out, the UA
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0spends quite a bit o=
f money on
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0events (about a thir=
d of last semester's budget)
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0and focused projects=
(like
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0PLUS --- about a ten=
th of last semester's UA
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0budget). As Andrew L=
ukmann
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0pointed out last wee=
k, committees are spending
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0almost twice as much=
in Fall
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A02009's budget as in =
Spring 2007's budget.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Unfortunately, it is=
now a little bit late to
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0make major changes t=
o the
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Fall 2009 budget. La=
st week's meeting was
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0intended to allow th=
at, and we
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0spent a great deal o=
f time on it then. I also
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0solicited feedback l=
ate Friday
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0night (or really Sat=
urday morning), and didn't
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0receive any. Of cour=
se, you
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0are well within your=
rights to amend the budget
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0at this point. (Thou=
gh
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Athletics Weekend ha=
s already happened, so I'd
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0rather you didn't am=
end
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0that...)
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0However, the Spring =
2010 budget has not begun
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0being compiled. In p=
reparing
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0the the Fall 2009 bu=
dget, I (and I believe
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0committee chairs and=
the Special
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Budgetary Committee)=
generally followed
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0precedent as to even=
ts and amounts.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0In some sense, there=
are (at least) two options
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0for guiding principl=
es to
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0take in producing th=
e budget:
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0(1) Many of the UA-r=
un events are more useful
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0than the events and
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0programming (Finboar=
d-funded) student groups
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0would spend the mone=
y on
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0(2) Alternatively, t=
hat events and programs such
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0as Athletics Weekend=
or
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0PLUS aren't worth ta=
king the money away from
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0those student groups
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0We've recently been =
defaulting to the former
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0guiding principle. H=
owever, I
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0would encourage the =
Senate to seriously consider
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0which is preferable =
and
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0pass appropriate leg=
islation indicating a
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0preference.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0I would be *thrilled=
* to have such guidance, and
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0would happily incorp=
orate
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0it into next semeste=
r's budget. (I warn you,
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0however, that commit=
tee chairs
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0will probably be ask=
ed to begin budgeting in
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0about two weeks.)
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Thanks,
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Alex Dehnert
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0UA Treasurer
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0
>=20
>=20
>=20
>
> --
> Adam Bockelie
> 801.209.7233
> <bockelie@mit.edu>
>
> Massachusetts Institute of Technology
> Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
> Class of 2011
>=20
>=20
>=20
>
> --
> Jason Alexander Scott
> Class Council President
> MIT Class of 2010
>=20
>=20
>
> __________________________________
> Alexandra Jordan
>
> MIT 2011
> Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science
> Political Science
>
> amjordan@mit.edu
> 916.813.7740
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> --
> Jason Alexander Scott
> Class Council President
> MIT Class of 2010
>=20
>=20
>
---1257051904-1445204505-1255583165=:18566--
