[123] in UA Senate
Re: UA budgeting principles
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Paul Baranay)
Thu Oct 15 02:32:43 2009
In-Reply-To: <f645609e0910142313r470e05a0p15aba4350165c48f@mail.gmail.com>
From: Paul Baranay <pbaranay@MIT.EDU>
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:32:10 -0400
To: Janet Li <jli12@mit.edu>
Cc: Alexandra Jordan <amjordan@mit.edu>, Alex Dehnert <adehnert@mit.edu>,
hwkns@mit.edu, Jason Scott <jascott88@gmail.com>,
Adam Bockelie <bockelie@mit.edu>, Paul Youchak <youchakp@mit.edu>,
Catherine Olsson <catherio@mit.edu>, Andrew Lukmann <lukymann@mit.edu>,
Alex Schwendner <alexrs@mit.edu>, ua-senate@mit.edu,
ua-discuss@mit.edu
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On that note, I have occasionally wondered about how to best publicize
meetings to the student body at large. Currently, there are three major
(electronic) mechanisms for communicating:
1) undergrads@mit.edu -- used sparingly; reserved for important / major
announcements; recently, seems to have been used for plenty of events (PLUS,
Athletics Weekend, Fall Festival) but not for meetings
2) ua-senate@mit.edu + request for Senators to send to dorm/FSILG lists --
inefficient, but personalized by dormitory
3) ua-discuss@mit.edu -- not, itself, very well-publicized; mostly used for
discussion, not announcement, as the name would imply; possibly too
high-traffic for some people; has recently become somewhat defunct, thanks
to the existence of ua-senate-listeners@mit.edu
Is it reasonable to start using some sort of "ua-announce@mit.edu" list,
which would receive less traffic than ua-senate or ua-discuss, but more
traffic than undergrads@mit.edu? Looking at Mailman, there is actually a
list called exactly that -- however, it hasn't been used since 2005. (
http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/ua-announce/)
If anyone is especially interested in this, I encourage you to draft
legislation. A possible model is Alex's bill creating the listeners lists
from last year:
http://web.mit.edu/ua/senate/UAS40/passed/40%20UAS%2012.2%20Bill%20to%20Reform%20UA%20Mailing%20Lists.pdf
We can also discuss this on Retreat, which will include plenty of time for
brainstorming ideas about legislation.
Best,
Paul
On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 2:13 AM, Janet Li <jli12@mit.edu> wrote:
> Do you think that the average undergraduate really checks online to see
> when UA meetings are? I'm pretty sure that emails reach far more people.
>
> Also, what do you mean that "Senators represent far fewer people than
> executive committee members"? Isn't there specifically one Senator from each
> dorm and even ones representing fraternities, sororities, and the off-campus
> population? I thought that the POINT of the Senate was to try to represent
> the vast majority of the undergrads, in order to have everyone's perspective
> on each issue.
> ---
> Janet Li
> MIT Class of 2012
> Dept. of Biological Engineering
>
>
> On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 1:55 AM, Alexandra Jordan <amjordan@mit.edu>wrote:
>
>> I would say that meetings for Senate and committees are equally advertised
>> online (committees have public google calendars announcing all meeting dates
>> on each web page), with the only difference in advertising coming from
>> emails from Senators to constituents, which varies on a case-by-case basis.
>> It would be impractical for every committee to email the undergrads list
>> before each meeting.
>> I also think it's important to note that Senators represent far fewer
>> people than executive committee members, who essentially represent the
>> entire student body.
>>
>> Additionally, I'd argue that committees tend to deliver tangible results
>> to the student body (look at any of the active committees like DPC,
>> Athletics, Special Projects, etc., who have all completed large projects
>> recently that benefit the entire undergraduate population) that more than
>> encompass the value of food and office resources utilized by said
>> committees.
>> I agree that standardizing funds for food per person is reasonable.
>>
>> Alex Jordan
>> Panhel Senator
>> Chair, Committee on Sustainability
>> Member, Committee on Dining
>>
>>
>>
>> On Oct 15, 2009, at 1:21 AM, Janet Li wrote:
>>
>> Senate meetings are more broadcast to undergrads than committee meetings
>> are, at least in my experience. As an example, last year, when I wasn't on
>> the UA, the food did actually provide me with an incentive to come to some
>> of the Senate meetings and listen to the guest speakers, etc.
>>
>> Anyway, to complement Paul's numbers, there are indeed serious
>> discrepancies in how much committees budget for food, from $400 total for
>> 5-person meetings (Dining), to $135 total for 5-person meetings (Space
>> Planning). At least we could standardize how much money we spend on food
>> across all committees.
>> ---
>> Janet Li
>> MIT Class of 2012
>> Dept. of Biological Engineering
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 1:11 AM, Alex Dehnert <adehnert@mit.edu> wrote:
>>
>>> If Senate chooses to ask that I do that, I'd ask that you either:
>>> (1) Also ask me to remove food from Senate budget (I'm not sure if you
>>> were counting Senate as a committee)
>>> (2) Come up with a *really good* justification for why Senate deserves it
>>> more.
>>>
>>> ~~Alex
>>>
>>> Janet Li wrote:
>>>
>>>> I know I'm new, but I just think that committee meetings are generally
>>>> short
>>>> enough that no one should go too hungry during them... it does seem a
>>>> little
>>>> absurd to me that 14% of our budget goes to food to feed OURSELVES.
>>>> Sure,
>>>> the UA works hard and all, but we do it because we WANT to help the
>>>> undergrads. And I just don't see how we're helping and serving them by
>>>> using
>>>> 14% of our enormous budget to pay for our own food. I would like to
>>>> suggest
>>>> that we remove food from all of the committees' budgets in the future...
>>>> does anyone else agree at all?
>>>> ---
>>>> Janet Li
>>>> Baker Senator
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 12:33 AM, Alexandra Jordan <amjordan@mit.edu>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I agree with Hawkins. The UA is a large organization, that cumulatively
>>>>> 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 more
>>>>> stressful periods (example: Exec officers and the Budget Task Force
>>>>> position
>>>>> pieces, example: DPC report compilation). Providing basics (like food,
>>>>> 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 the
>>>>> 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
>>>>> expenses
>>>>> 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
>>>>>
>>>>> benefit MIT
>>>>>>>> undergraduates. This might mean that we spend the
>>>>>>>> money
>>>>>>>> ourselves or
>>>>>>>> this might mean that we give it to student groups who
>>>>>>>> can use it.
>>>>>>>> There are plenty of student groups who do wonderful
>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>> amazing
>>>>>>>> things. All of us can think of student groups which
>>>>>>>> get
>>>>>>>> much of their
>>>>>>>> funding from the UA which have made our time at MIT
>>>>>>>> more
>>>>>>>> worthwhile.
>>>>>>>> Our goal, as the UA, should not be to do awesome
>>>>>>>> things,
>>>>>>>> but rather to
>>>>>>>> see that awesome things get done.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Sometimes, of course, this will mean that we should
>>>>>>>> spend money on
>>>>>>>> projects conceived by the UA and sometimes this will
>>>>>>>> mean that we
>>>>>>>> should give money to student groups. However, there is
>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>> natural,
>>>>>>>> institutional bias toward spending the money
>>>>>>>> ourselves.
>>>>>>>> We need to
>>>>>>>> fight that bias. Since we, the UA, get first crack at
>>>>>>>> the money, it's
>>>>>>>> easy to think of cool things which we can do with the
>>>>>>>> money while
>>>>>>>> forgetting about the very real and very cool things
>>>>>>>> which student
>>>>>>>> groups will *not* be able to do without that money. We
>>>>>>>> can see this
>>>>>>>> "mission creep" in UA funding in the way that the
>>>>>>>> money
>>>>>>>> allocated to
>>>>>>>> UA committees has increased in past years. Yes, the UA
>>>>>>>> does more with
>>>>>>>> the increased money, but it is not always clear that
>>>>>>>> it's spent better
>>>>>>>> than it could be spent by student groups. The
>>>>>>>> standards
>>>>>>>> which hold for
>>>>>>>> receiving funding from the UA general budget should be
>>>>>>>> analogous to
>>>>>>>> the standards which hold for receiving funding from UA
>>>>>>>> Finboard. I
>>>>>>>> will note that while UA committees received basically
>>>>>>>> everything that
>>>>>>>> they asked for in the Fall UA budget, student groups
>>>>>>>> which applied to
>>>>>>>> UA Finboard received less than 30% of their requests
>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>> the most
>>>>>>>> recent funding cycle.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Therefore, during the Spring 2010 budgeting process, I
>>>>>>>> intend to push
>>>>>>>> for allocating more money for student groups. Projects
>>>>>>>> which we choose
>>>>>>>> not to fund from the UA general budget can seek
>>>>>>>> funding
>>>>>>>> through UA
>>>>>>>> Finboard, from LEF or ARCADE, from the MIT
>>>>>>>> Administration, or from
>>>>>>>> other funding sources.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Please discuss.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Alex Schwendner
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 12:52 AM, Alex Dehnert (UA
>>>>>>>> Treasurer)
>>>>>>>> <ua-treasurer@mit.edu <mailto:ua-treasurer@mit.edu>>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> As several people have pointed out, the UA
>>>>>>>> spends quite a bit of money on
>>>>>>>> events (about a third of last semester's
>>>>>>>> budget)
>>>>>>>> and focused projects (like
>>>>>>>> PLUS --- about a tenth of last semester's UA
>>>>>>>> budget). As Andrew Lukmann
>>>>>>>> pointed out last week, committees are spending
>>>>>>>> almost twice as much in Fall
>>>>>>>> 2009's budget as in Spring 2007's budget.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Unfortunately, it is now a little bit late to
>>>>>>>> make major changes to the
>>>>>>>> Fall 2009 budget. Last week's meeting was
>>>>>>>> intended to allow that, and we
>>>>>>>> spent a great deal of time on it then. I also
>>>>>>>> solicited feedback late Friday
>>>>>>>> night (or really Saturday morning), and didn't
>>>>>>>> receive any. Of course, you
>>>>>>>> are well within your rights to amend the
>>>>>>>> budget
>>>>>>>> at this point. (Though
>>>>>>>> Athletics Weekend has already happened, so I'd
>>>>>>>> rather you didn't amend
>>>>>>>> that...)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> However, the Spring 2010 budget has not begun
>>>>>>>> being compiled. In preparing
>>>>>>>> the the Fall 2009 budget, I (and I believe
>>>>>>>> committee chairs and the Special
>>>>>>>> Budgetary Committee) generally followed
>>>>>>>> precedent as to events and amounts.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> In some sense, there are (at least) two
>>>>>>>> options
>>>>>>>> for guiding principles to
>>>>>>>> take in producing the budget:
>>>>>>>> (1) Many of the UA-run events are more useful
>>>>>>>> than the events and
>>>>>>>> programming (Finboard-funded) student groups
>>>>>>>> would spend the money on
>>>>>>>> (2) Alternatively, that events and programs
>>>>>>>> such
>>>>>>>> as Athletics Weekend or
>>>>>>>> PLUS aren't worth taking the money away from
>>>>>>>> those student groups
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> We've recently been defaulting to the former
>>>>>>>> guiding principle. However, I
>>>>>>>> would encourage the Senate to seriously
>>>>>>>> consider
>>>>>>>> which is preferable and
>>>>>>>> pass appropriate legislation indicating a
>>>>>>>> preference.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I would be *thrilled* to have such guidance,
>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>> would happily incorporate
>>>>>>>> it into next semester's budget. (I warn you,
>>>>>>>> however, that committee chairs
>>>>>>>> will probably be asked to begin budgeting in
>>>>>>>> about two weeks.)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>> Alex Dehnert
>>>>>>>> UA Treasurer
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Adam Bockelie
>>>>>>> 801.209.7233
>>>>>>> <bockelie@mit.edu>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Massachusetts Institute of Technology
>>>>>>> Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
>>>>>>> Class of 2011
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Jason Alexander Scott
>>>>>> Class Council President
>>>>>> MIT Class of 2010
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> __________________________________
>>>>> Alexandra Jordan
>>>>>
>>>>> MIT 2011
>>>>> Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science
>>>>> Political Science
>>>>>
>>>>> amjordan@mit.edu
>>>>> 916.813.7740
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>> __________________________________
>> Alexandra Jordan
>>
>> MIT 2011
>> Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science
>> Political Science
>>
>> amjordan@mit.edu
>> 916.813.7740
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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On that note, I have occasionally wondered about how to best publicize meet=
ings to the student body at large.=A0 Currently, there are three major (ele=
ctronic) mechanisms for communicating:<br><br>1) <a href=3D"mailto:undergra=
ds@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">undergrads@mit.edu</a> -- used sparingly; res=
erved for important / major announcements; recently, seems to have been use=
d for plenty of events (PLUS, Athletics Weekend, Fall Festival) but not for=
meetings<br>
2) <a href=3D"mailto:ua-senate@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">ua-senate@mit.edu=
</a> + request for Senators to send to dorm/FSILG lists -- inefficient, but=
personalized by dormitory<br>3) <a href=3D"mailto:ua-discuss@mit.edu" targ=
et=3D"_blank">ua-discuss@mit.edu</a> -- not, itself, very well-publicized; =
mostly used for discussion, not announcement, as the name would imply; poss=
ibly too high-traffic for some people; has recently become somewhat defunct=
, thanks to the existence of <a href=3D"mailto:ua-senate-listeners@mit.edu"=
>ua-senate-listeners@mit.edu</a><br>
<br>Is it reasonable to start using some sort of "<a href=3D"mailto:ua=
-announce@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">ua-announce@mit.edu</a>" list, wh=
ich would receive less traffic than ua-senate or ua-discuss, but more traff=
ic than <a href=3D"mailto:undergrads@mit.edu">undergrads@mit.edu</a>?=A0 Lo=
oking at Mailman, there is actually a list called exactly that -- however, =
it hasn't been used since 2005. (<a href=3D"http://mailman.mit.edu/pipe=
rmail/ua-announce/">http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/ua-announce/</a>)<br>
<br>If anyone is especially interested in this, I encourage you to draft le=
gislation.=A0 A possible model is Alex's bill creating the listeners li=
sts from last year: <a href=3D"http://web.mit.edu/ua/senate/UAS40/passed/40=
%20UAS%2012.2%20Bill%20to%20Reform%20UA%20Mailing%20Lists.pdf">http://web.m=
it.edu/ua/senate/UAS40/passed/40%20UAS%2012.2%20Bill%20to%20Reform%20UA%20M=
ailing%20Lists.pdf</a><br>
<br>We can also discuss this on Retreat, which will include plenty of time =
for brainstorming ideas about legislation.<br><br>Best,<br>Paul<br>
<br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 2:13 AM, Janet Li <s=
pan dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:jli12@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">jli1=
2@mit.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=
=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; p=
adding-left: 1ex;">
Do you think that the average undergraduate really checks online to see whe=
n UA meetings are? I'm pretty sure that emails reach far more people.<b=
r><br>Also, what do you mean that "Senators represent far fewer people=
than executive committee members"? Isn't there specifically one S=
enator from each dorm and even ones representing fraternities, sororities, =
and the off-campus population? I thought that the POINT of the Senate was t=
o try to represent the vast majority of the undergrads, in order to have ev=
eryone's perspective on each issue. <br clear=3D"all">
<div>
---<br>Janet Li<br>MIT Class of 2012<br>Dept. of Biological Engineering<br>
<br><br></div><div><div></div><div><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Thu, Oct 1=
5, 2009 at 1:55 AM, Alexandra Jordan <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailt=
o:amjordan@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">amjordan@mit.edu</a>></span> wrote=
:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, =
204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div style=3D"word-wrap: break-word;">I would say that meetings for Senate =
and committees are equally advertised online (committees have public google=
calendars announcing all meeting dates on each web page), with the only di=
fference in advertising coming from emails from Senators to constituents, w=
hich varies on a case-by-case basis. It would be impractical for every comm=
ittee to email the undergrads list before each meeting.=A0<div>
<br><div>I also think it's important to note that Senators represent fa=
r fewer people than executive committee members, who essentially represent =
the entire student body.=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Additionally, I'd =
argue that committees tend to deliver tangible results to the student body =
(look at any of the active committees like DPC, Athletics, Special Projects=
, etc., who have all completed large projects recently that benefit the ent=
ire undergraduate population) that more than encompass the value of food an=
d office resources utilized by said committees.=A0<div>
<br></div><div>I agree that standardizing funds for food per person is reas=
onable.=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Alex Jordan</div><div>Panhel Senator</d=
iv><div>Chair, Committee on Sustainability</div><div>Member, Committee on D=
ining<div>
<div></div><div><br><div><div><br></div><div><br><div><div>On Oct 15, 2009,=
at 1:21 AM, Janet Li wrote:</div><br><blockquote type=3D"cite">Senate meet=
ings are more broadcast to undergrads than committee meetings are, at least=
in my experience. As an example, last year, when I wasn't on the UA, t=
he food did actually provide me with an incentive to come to some of the Se=
nate meetings and listen to the guest speakers, etc.<br>
<br> Anyway, to complement Paul's numbers, there are indeed serious di=
screpancies in how much committees budget for food, from $400 total for 5-p=
erson meetings (Dining), to $135 total for 5-person meetings (Space Plannin=
g). At least we could standardize how much money we spend on food across al=
l committees.<br clear=3D"all">
---<br>Janet Li<br>MIT Class of 2012<br>Dept. of Biological Engineering<br>=
<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 1:11 AM, Alex D=
ehnert <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:adehnert@mit.edu" target=3D"=
_blank">adehnert@mit.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, =
204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> If Senate choose=
s to ask that I do that, I'd ask that you either:<br> (1) Also ask me t=
o remove food from Senate budget (I'm not sure if you were counting Sen=
ate as a committee)<br>
(2) Come up with a *really good* justification for why Senate deserves it =
more.<br> <br> ~~Alex<br> <br> Janet Li wrote:<br> <blockquote class=3D"gma=
il_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0=
pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div><div></div><div> I know I'm new, but I just think that committee m=
eetings are generally short<br> enough that no one should go too hungry dur=
ing them... it does seem a little<br> absurd to me that 14% of our budget g=
oes to food to feed OURSELVES. Sure,<br>
the UA works hard and all, but we do it because we WANT to help the<br> un=
dergrads. And I just don't see how we're helping and serving them b=
y using<br> 14% of our enormous budget to pay for our own food. I would lik=
e to suggest<br>
that we remove food from all of the committees' budgets in the future.=
..<br> does anyone else agree at all?<br> ---<br> Janet Li<br> Baker Senato=
r<br> <br> <br> On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 12:33 AM, Alexandra Jordan <<a h=
ref=3D"mailto:amjordan@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">amjordan@mit.edu</a>> =
wrote:<br>
<br> </div></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1=
px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"=
><div><div></div><div> I agree with Hawkins. The UA is a large organization=
, that cumulatively<br>
puts in hundreds of hours for the undergrads per week, with some individua=
ls<br> putting in well over even a normal 40 hour work week during the more=
<br> stressful periods (example: Exec officers and the Budget Task Force po=
sition<br>
pieces, example: DPC report compilation). Providing basics (like food, a<b=
r> productive meeting space, etc.) for people to perform work on behalf of<=
br> 4,000 students is completely within reason. If you're looking to cu=
t fat out<br>
of the budget, it shouldn't be at the expense of the quality of workin=
g<br> conditions for the people who are representing undergraduates to the<=
br> administration to make life better at MIT. I also would agree with Ashl=
ey's<br>
assessment that student groups probably should fund certain events or<br> =
capital expenditures from other means, not only to ensure sustainability an=
d<br> longevity of the group, but also because many small student group exp=
enses<br>
benefit even fewer people than the UA food expenditures we're discussi=
ng.<br> I also think it's relevant to recognize that the work of the UA=
is on<br> behalf of all undergrads, whereas many of the groups we fund ben=
efit and<br>
represent extremely small segments of the population.<br> <br> Alex Jordan=
<br> <br> </div></div><div><div></div><div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote=
" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0=
.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, =
204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> <blockquote clas=
s=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margi=
n: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 benefit MIT<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 un=
dergraduates. This might mean that we spend the money<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 ourselves or<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 this might mean th=
at we give it to student groups who<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 can use=
it.<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 There are plenty of student groups who do wond=
erful and<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 amazing<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 things. All of us can think of student groups which get<br> =A0 =A0=
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 much of their<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 funding =
from the UA which have made our time at MIT more<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 worthwhile.<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Ou=
r goal, as the UA, should not be to do awesome things,<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 but rather to<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 see that awesome =
things get done.<br> <br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Sometimes, of course,=
this will mean that we should<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 spend money on<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0=
projects conceived by the UA and sometimes this will<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 mean that we<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 should give money =
to student groups. However, there is a<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 natu=
ral,<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 institutional bias toward spending the money o=
urselves.<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 We need to<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 fight that bias. Since we, the UA, get first crack at<br> =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 the money, it's<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0=
easy to think of cool things which we can do with the<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 money while<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 fo=
rgetting about the very real and very cool things<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 which student<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 groups will *not* be =
able to do without that money. We<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 can see t=
his<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 "mission creep" in UA funding in the=
way that the money<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 allocated to<br> =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 UA committees has increased in past years. Yes, the=
UA<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 does more with<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 the increased money, but it is not always clea=
r that<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 it's spent better<br> =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 than it could be spent by student groups. The standards=
<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 which hold for<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0=
=A0 receiving funding from the UA general budget should be<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 analogous to<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 t=
he standards which hold for receiving funding from UA<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 Finboard. I<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 will note that whil=
e UA committees received basically<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 everythi=
ng that<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 they asked for in the Fall UA budget, student =
groups<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 which applied to<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0=
=A0 =A0 =A0 UA Finboard received less than 30% of their requests in<br> =
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 the most<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 recent=
funding cycle.<br>
<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Therefore, during the Spring 2010 budgeti=
ng process, I<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 intend to push<br> =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 for allocating more money for student groups. Projects<=
br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 which we choose<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0=
=A0 not to fund from the UA general budget can seek funding<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 through UA<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Fin=
board, from LEF or ARCADE, from the MIT<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Adm=
inistration, or from<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 other funding sources.=
<br> <br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Please discuss.<br> <br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Alex Schwendner<br>
<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 12:52 AM, Alex De=
hnert (UA<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Treasurer)<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 <<a href=3D"mailto:ua-treasurer@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">u=
a-treasurer@mit.edu</a> <mailto:<a href=3D"mailto:ua-treasurer@mit.edu" =
target=3D"_blank">ua-treasurer@mit.edu</a>>><br>
wrote:<br> <br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 As several peo=
ple have pointed out, the UA<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 spends quite a bit of money on<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 events (about a third of last semester's budget)<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 and focused projects (like<br>=
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 PLUS --- about a tenth of last=
semester's UA<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 budget).=
As Andrew Lukmann<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 pointed =
out last week, committees are spending<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 almost twice as much in Fall<b=
r> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 2009's budget as in Spri=
ng 2007's budget.<br> <br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
Unfortunately, it is now a little bit late to<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 make major changes to the<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Fall 2009 budget. Last week=
9;s meeting was<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 intended to=
allow that, and we<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 spent a=
great deal of time on it then. I also<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 solicited feedback late Friday<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 night (or really Saturday morn=
ing), and didn't<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 receiv=
e any. Of course, you<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 are w=
ell within your rights to amend the budget<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 at this point. (Though<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Athletics Weekend has already =
happened, so I'd<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 rather=
you didn't amend<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 that.=
..)<br> <br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 However, the Sprin=
g 2010 budget has not begun<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 being compiled. In preparing<b=
r> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 the the Fall 2009 budget, I =
(and I believe<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 committee ch=
airs and the Special<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Budget=
ary Committee) generally followed<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 precedent as to events and amo=
unts.<br> <br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 In some sense, t=
here are (at least) two options<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0=
=A0 for guiding principles to<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 take in producing the budget:<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 (1) Many of the UA-run events =
are more useful<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 than the ev=
ents and<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 programming (Finbo=
ard-funded) student groups<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
would spend the money on<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 (2) Alternatively, that events=
and programs such<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 as Athle=
tics Weekend or<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 PLUS aren&#=
39;t worth taking the money away from<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 those student groups<br>
<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 We've recently been d=
efaulting to the former<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 gui=
ding principle. However, I<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
would encourage the Senate to seriously consider<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 which is preferable and<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 pass appropriate legislation i=
ndicating a<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 preference.<br>=
<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 I would be *thrilled* to =
have such guidance, and<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 wou=
ld happily incorporate<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 it into next semester's bu=
dget. (I warn you,<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 however,=
that committee chairs<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 will=
probably be asked to begin budgeting in<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 about two weeks.)<br>
<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Thanks,<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Alex Dehnert<br> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 UA Treasurer<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> </blockquote>=
--<br> Adam Bockelie<br> 801.209.7233<br> <<a href=3D"mailto:bockelie@m=
it.edu" target=3D"_blank">bockelie@mit.edu</a>><br>
<br> Massachusetts Institute of Technology<br> Department of Civil and Env=
ironmental Engineering<br> Class of 2011<br> <br> </blockquote> <br> <br> -=
-<br> Jason Alexander Scott<br> Class Council President<br> MIT Class of 20=
10<br>
<br> <br> </blockquote> =A0__________________________________<br> Alexandr=
a Jordan<br> <br> MIT 2011<br> Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science<br=
> Political Science<br> <br> <a href=3D"mailto:amjordan@mit.edu" target=3D"=
_blank">amjordan@mit.edu</a><br>
916.813.7740<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> </div></div></blockquote> <br> <=
/blockquote> <br> </blockquote></div><br></blockquote></div><br><div> <span=
style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helv=
etica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weig=
ht: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; =
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style=
=3D"word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:=
Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font=
-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: =
0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><div st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word;">
<div>__________________________________</div><div>Alexandra Jordan</div><di=
v><br></div><div>MIT 2011</div><div>Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Scien=
ce</div><div>Political Science</div><div><br></div><div><a href=3D"mailto:a=
mjordan@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">amjordan@mit.edu</a></div>
<div>916.813.7740</div><div><br></div></div></span><br></div></span><br> </=
div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div>=
<br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br>
--0016e6d7e6a39927440475f371fc--
