The Student Assembly will focus this term on giving students a voice in the College's financial policies, as well as expanding student input in other policies, such as the College's minimum wage and the future of the Dartmouth Plan.
"Budget concerns are the top priority," Assembly President Jon Heavey '97 said. "How are student funds appropriated? That is the main thing," he said. Heavey said he is not taking classes this term so he can devote time to Assembly projects.
Assembly Vice-President Chris Swift '98 said students should have a louder voice when it comes to the appropriation of funds. "I think students would like to play an active role," he said.
"As far as budget decisions go," Heavey said he does not expect major changes until a significant number of students get together to stand up to the current finance policy.
"A lot of things ... will take five to six years ... we need some kind of vehicle for students to take on projects that are five years long," Heavey said.
"The biggest argument against student input [into College finance decisions] is the transiency of the student body," which limits their input into long term College decisions, Heavey said.
Heavey said he hopes for tangible progress in guiding and limiting the use of College money that comes from the students.
Swift said people involved in making financial decisions seldom hear from students regarding issues such as inadequate heating in the Choates residence hall cluster and problems in the basement of Wheeler residence hall.
Swift said more money could be directed towards issues that are important to students if the people involved in making financial decisions were aware that students are complaining.
"These people don't know that," Swift said. "They're not hearing it directly from students," but through other parties.
Swift said he will be looking into the issue of minimum wage for students working at the College.
"I'd like to see it at $5.75," Swift said, pointing out that Stanford University's minimum wage is $8 an hour, in an area with a cost-of-living similar to Hanover.
The College's current student minimum wage is $5.55.
The Assembly will also examine how the Dartmouth Plan affects student social life at the College, Heavey said.
The Assembly's Vice President of Communications, Jonah Sonnenborn '99, said the Assembly also hopes to inform newer students about the College's plans for north campus expansion.
An additional project, Heavey said, will be expanding the weight room. "We have funding to buy new equipment."
