[488] in UA Senate
Re: Proposed New Business
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Daniel Hawkins)
Mon Mar 29 11:51:12 2010
Reply-To: hwkns@MIT.EDU
In-Reply-To: <4BB0C6DA.8040709@mit.edu>
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:51:07 -0400
From: Daniel Hawkins <hwkns@MIT.EDU>
To: Catherine Olsson <catherio@mit.edu>
Cc: UA Senate <ua-senate@mit.edu>, Sammi Wyman <swyman@mit.edu>,
Tim Jenks <tjenks@mit.edu>, Alex Dehnert <adehnert@mit.edu>
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I agree with catherio. What happened with LEF/ARCADE and PSC? Is someone
from MIT EMS going to be at the meeting so we can ask them questions?
Besides agreeing with general objections about this request as a whole, I'd
like you all to look under Publicity, at the Infinite Corridor Projector Ad
item. 4 days at $50 each does NOT equal $300. I'm going to assume this is
an error, and not budget padding, because under Miscellaneous they made a
similar error in the opposite direction. 50 t-shirts at $9.75 each, plus
$45, does NOT equal $337.50.
It looks to me like they didn't pay much attention when writing this budget=
,
and that frustrates me a lot. I plan on voting against this outright.
-hwkns
On Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 11:27 AM, Catherine Olsson <catherio@mit.edu> wrote=
:
> As a concerned constituent, I have some thoughts if you'd consider
> entertaining them:
>
> The group wrote in their request, "We are requesting money from LEF/ARCAD=
E
> funding as well as from PSC. We have not heard from either organization
> yet." Why haven't they heard from LEF/ARCADE? If they really haven't,
> perhaps Senate should put pressure on LEF/ARCADE to give them an answer
> before Senate considers this bill.
>
> It seems to me like this bill should not be approved, since we have clear=
ly
> told them that they can't keep expecting Senate to be their funding sourc=
e
> on a recurring basis. Also, I believe that Senate discretionary should no=
t
> be used to fund events that could/should go through funding boards, and
> certainly should not fund events rejected by funding boards, since the
> funding boards have way more of the big picture of funding requests, and
> more experience.
>
> If Senate is finding it too hard to spend our discretionary money on
> worthwhile things, I think more of it should get budgeted to Finboard.
>
> - the peanut gallery
>
>
> Sammi Wyman wrote:
>
>> Here is the funding request- Thanks for your patience everyone.
>>
>> If there are specific line items you disagree with or you think the
>> request is for too much money, I encourage you to propose an amendment t=
o
>> eliminate certain line items, rather than just voting to give them no
>> funding. I've presented the funding request exactly as it was submitted =
to
>> me.
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mar 29, 2010, at 3:41 AM, Tim Jenks wrote:
>>
>> Thanks for the insight Alex.
>>> Sammi, do you have a budget for this event, so we can see a breakdown o=
f
>>> what the money would be spent on?
>>>
>>> My initial impressions are that this is a *lot* of money, especially to
>>> be recurring by precedent, when there are other channels through which
>>> funding can or should be obtained.
>>>
>>> --Tim
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 1:59 AM, Alex Dehnert <adehnert@mit.edu <mailto=
:
>>> adehnert@mit.edu>> wrote:
>>>
>>> While considering this bill, I encourage the Senate to consider:
>>>
>>> =3D=3D Discussion of a similar bill last year =3D=3D
>>>
>>> The discussion we had of a similar bill by the same group last
>>> year (pages 7--8 of
>>> http://web.mit.edu/ua/minutes/UAS40/2009-03-16.pdf). Some
>>> particularly relevant comments, in my mind, include:
>>>
>>> * Keone Hon: Because you got it last year, it=92s an indication you
>>> likely won=92t this year because coming to the UA for funding isn=92=
t
>>> supposed to be recurring.
>>> * The discussion of alternate funding sources. I will note that
>>> MIT-EMS applied to LEF and Finboard for this allocation cycle.
>>> * The request from Senate is identical in amount to the request
>>> from LEF (though I don't recall what we decided, and I can't seem
>>> to find records anywhere).
>>> * The Finboard application didn't really talk about MassCPR much,
>>> though it was mentioned. All expected expenses should be included
>>> in Finboard applications. The relevant line item in the Spring
>>> allocations was "CPR classes $500".
>>>
>>> =3D=3D FPRC report =3D=3D
>>> The Financial Policy Review Committee's report, which Senate
>>> approved just last meeting
>>> (http://web.mit.edu/ua/committee/fprc/report/latest/report.pdf,
>>> especially chapter 3, "Senate-managed funds" --- pages 17--19)
>>>
>>> * "As a result, Senate=92s discussions of discretionary usage are
>>> often undirected. Over the past few semesters, many discussions
>>> rehashed the same sort of philosophical points. Further, the lack
>>> of clarity in what Senate Discretionary aimed to fund prompted
>>> concerns that those coming to and receiving money from Senate
>>> Discretionary were those who knew Senators, rather than those
>>> with the best ideas. Clarifying the purpose and intended uses
>>> should both allow discussions to be shorter
>>> and less repetitive, and give those uninvolved in the UA greater
>>> confidence as to when the Senate Discretionary Fund is a good
>>> source of funding."
>>> * "In light of the above, the FPRC recommends that Senate
>>> Discretionary Fund focus on funding the following:
>>> * Unique requests from students or student groups that do not
>>> meet Finboard regulations but either:
>>> 1. Benefit a large portion of the entire undergraduate student body
>>> [...]
>>> * Unforeseeable events or initiatives run by student groups
>>> (Note: This does not include any events which the group could
>>> have handled during a regular Finboard cycle, if the group had
>>> been better prepared.)"
>>>
>>> =3D=3D Budget for the event =3D=3D
>>>
>>> Unfortunately, this seems to be missing from your email. Do you
>>> have one that you could forward.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I'd encourage you to discuss the bill via email.
>>>
>>> I'll be at Senate for any in-person discussion of this proposed
>>> bill. Should you choose to consider it (which I believe requires
>>> 2/3 vote due to the late notice), I'd be happy to provide any
>>> historical or financial perspective I can, especially if you
>>> provide an indication of what you'd like in advance so I can do
>>> any relevant research.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Alex Dehnert
>>> UA Treasurer
>>> Interim Chair, UA History Committee
>>>
>>>
>>> On 03/29/2010 01:18 AM, Sammi Wyman wrote:
>>>
>>> Sorry this is late, guys, but I just got the funding request
>>> and the event is on April 4th, so I plan to bring up this
>>> bill as new business tomorrow.
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> =3D
>>
>
>
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I agree with catherio.=A0 What happened with LEF/ARCADE and PSC?=A0 Is some=
one from MIT EMS going to be at the meeting so we can ask them questions?<b=
r><br>Besides agreeing with general objections about this request as a whol=
e, I'd like you all to look under Publicity, at the Infinite Corridor P=
rojector Ad item.=A0 4 days at $50 each does NOT equal $300.=A0 I'm goi=
ng to assume this is an error, and not budget padding, because under Miscel=
laneous they made a similar error in the opposite direction.=A0 50 t-shirts=
at $9.75 each, plus $45, does NOT equal $337.50.<br>
<br>It looks to me like they didn't pay much attention when writing thi=
s budget, and that frustrates me a lot.=A0 I plan on voting against this ou=
tright.<br><br>-hwkns<br><br><br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Mon, Mar=
29, 2010 at 11:27 AM, Catherine Olsson <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"ma=
ilto:catherio@mit.edu">catherio@mit.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; borde=
r-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">As a concerned co=
nstituent, I have some thoughts if you'd consider entertaining them:<br=
>
<br>
The group wrote in their request, "We are requesting money from LEF/AR=
CADE funding as well as from PSC. We have not heard from either organizatio=
n yet." Why haven't they heard from LEF/ARCADE? If they really hav=
en't, perhaps Senate should put pressure on LEF/ARCADE to give them an =
answer before Senate considers this bill.<br>
<br>
It seems to me like this bill should not be approved, since we have clearly=
told them that they can't keep expecting Senate to be their funding so=
urce on a recurring basis. Also, I believe that Senate discretionary should=
not be used to fund events that could/should go through funding boards, an=
d certainly should not fund events rejected by funding boards, since the fu=
nding boards have way more of the big picture of funding requests, and more=
experience.<br>
<br>
If Senate is finding it too hard to spend our discretionary money on worthw=
hile things, I think more of it should get budgeted to Finboard.<br>
<br>
- the peanut gallery<br>
<br>
<br>
Sammi Wyman wrote:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; borde=
r-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;"><div class=3D"im"=
>
Here is the funding request- Thanks for your patience everyone.<br>
<br>
If there are specific line items you disagree with or you think the request=
is for too much money, I encourage you to propose an amendment to eliminat=
e certain line items, rather than just voting to give them no funding. I=
9;ve presented the funding request exactly as it was submitted to me.<br>
<br>
<br></div>
------------------------------------------------------------------------<di=
v class=3D"im"><br>
<br>
<br>
On Mar 29, 2010, at 3:41 AM, Tim Jenks wrote:<br>
<br>
</div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex;=
border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;"><div class=
=3D"im">
Thanks for the insight Alex.<br>
Sammi, do you have a budget for this event, so we can see a breakdown of wh=
at the money would be spent on?<br>
<br>
My initial impressions are that this is a *lot* of money, especially to be =
recurring by precedent, when there are other channels through which funding=
can or should be obtained.<br>
<br>
--Tim<br>
<br>
<br></div><div><div></div><div class=3D"h5">
On Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 1:59 AM, Alex Dehnert <<a href=3D"mailto:adehner=
t@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">adehnert@mit.edu</a> <mailto:<a href=3D"mai=
lto:adehnert@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">adehnert@mit.edu</a>>> wrote:=
<br>
<br>
=A0 =A0While considering this bill, I encourage the Senate to consider:<br=
>
<br>
=A0 =A0=3D=3D Discussion of a similar bill last year =3D=3D<br>
<br>
=A0 =A0The discussion we had of a similar bill by the same group last<br>
=A0 =A0year (pages 7--8 of<br>
=A0 =A0<a href=3D"http://web.mit.edu/ua/minutes/UAS40/2009-03-16.pdf" targ=
et=3D"_blank">http://web.mit.edu/ua/minutes/UAS40/2009-03-16.pdf</a>). Some=
<br>
=A0 =A0particularly relevant comments, in my mind, include:<br>
<br>
=A0 =A0* Keone Hon: Because you got it last year, it=92s an indication you=
<br>
=A0 =A0likely won=92t this year because coming to the UA for funding isn=
=92t<br>
=A0 =A0supposed to be recurring.<br>
=A0 =A0* The discussion of alternate funding sources. I will note that<br>
=A0 =A0MIT-EMS applied to LEF and Finboard for this allocation cycle.<br>
=A0 =A0* The request from Senate is identical in amount to the request<br>
=A0 =A0from LEF (though I don't recall what we decided, and I can'=
t seem<br>
=A0 =A0to find records anywhere).<br>
=A0 =A0* The Finboard application didn't really talk about MassCPR muc=
h,<br>
=A0 =A0though it was mentioned. All expected expenses should be included<b=
r>
=A0 =A0in Finboard applications. The relevant line item in the Spring<br>
=A0 =A0allocations was "CPR classes $500".<br>
<br>
=A0 =A0=3D=3D FPRC report =3D=3D<br>
=A0 =A0The Financial Policy Review Committee's report, which Senate<br=
>
=A0 =A0approved just last meeting<br>
=A0 =A0(<a href=3D"http://web.mit.edu/ua/committee/fprc/report/latest/repo=
rt.pdf" target=3D"_blank">http://web.mit.edu/ua/committee/fprc/report/lates=
t/report.pdf</a>,<br>
=A0 =A0especially chapter 3, "Senate-managed funds" --- pages 17=
--19)<br>
<br>
=A0 =A0* "As a result, Senate=92s discussions of discretionary usage =
are<br>
=A0 =A0often undirected. Over the past few semesters, many discussions<br>
=A0 =A0rehashed the same sort of philosophical points. Further, the lack<b=
r>
=A0 =A0of clarity in what Senate Discretionary aimed to fund prompted<br>
=A0 =A0concerns that those coming to and receiving money from Senate<br>
=A0 =A0Discretionary were those who knew Senators, rather than those<br>
=A0 =A0with the best ideas. Clarifying the purpose and intended uses<br>
=A0 =A0should both allow discussions to be shorter<br>
=A0 =A0and less repetitive, and give those uninvolved in the UA greater<br=
>
=A0 =A0confidence as to when the Senate Discretionary Fund is a good<br>
=A0 =A0source of funding."<br>
=A0 =A0* "In light of the above, the FPRC recommends that Senate<br>
=A0 =A0Discretionary Fund focus on funding the following:<br>
=A0 =A0* Unique requests from students or student groups that do not<br>
=A0 =A0meet Finboard regulations but either:<br>
=A0 =A01. Benefit a large portion of the entire undergraduate student body=
<br>
=A0 =A0[...]<br>
=A0 =A0* Unforeseeable events or initiatives run by student groups<br>
=A0 =A0(Note: This does not include any events which the group could<br>
=A0 =A0have handled during a regular Finboard cycle, if the group had<br>
=A0 =A0been better prepared.)"<br>
<br>
=A0 =A0=3D=3D Budget for the event =3D=3D<br>
<br>
=A0 =A0Unfortunately, this seems to be missing from your email. Do you<br>
=A0 =A0have one that you could forward.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
=A0 =A0I'd encourage you to discuss the bill via email.<br>
<br>
=A0 =A0I'll be at Senate for any in-person discussion of this proposed=
<br>
=A0 =A0bill. Should you choose to consider it (which I believe requires<br=
>
=A0 =A02/3 vote due to the late notice), I'd be happy to provide any<b=
r>
=A0 =A0historical or financial perspective I can, especially if you<br>
=A0 =A0provide an indication of what you'd like in advance so I can do=
<br>
=A0 =A0any relevant research.<br>
<br>
=A0 =A0Thanks,<br>
=A0 =A0Alex Dehnert<br>
=A0 =A0UA Treasurer<br>
=A0 =A0Interim Chair, UA History Committee<br>
<br>
<br>
=A0 =A0On 03/29/2010 01:18 AM, Sammi Wyman wrote:<br>
<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Sorry this is late, guys, but I just got the funding reques=
t<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0and the event is on April 4th, so I plan to bring up this<b=
r>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0bill as new business tomorrow.<br>
<br>
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Thanks!<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</div></div></blockquote>
<br>
=3D<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
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