The Student Assembly last night made plans for a "symbolic" fund-raising campaign that will ask students to donate five or 10 cents toward renovating the Kresge weight room.
Assembly members hope the "Will to Be Well Campaign" will complement the $8,500 the Assembly already donated to challenge the administration to make further renovations.
So far, no matching contributions have been made.
Students also will be asked to sign a letter to College President James Freedman and the College's Board of Trustees requesting higher budgeting priority for issues of student life.
The letter states, "In light of the ... $158 million that students contributed toward the $336 million operating budget last year, why should I have to contribute nickels and dimes toward short term renovation of the weight room?"
The Assembly will offer students the chance to sign the letters and donate money in increments of five or 10 cents, either in cash or through their Dash card's discretionary account at tables in Thayer Dining Hall and outside the weight room starting Thursday.
The campaign is intended to run for at least two weeks.
Assembly President Jon Heavey '97 said the campaign attempts to focus the student voice on asking Trustees to shift money towards the Dean of the College's office for use in student life issues.
Heavey said that if the College shifts only one percent of its operating budget it will amount to $3.4 million.
"What I'm hoping, ideally is that some alumni out there realize that" despite the success of the College's recent Will to Excel campaign, the money generated "isn't trickling down" to students, he said.
The resolution that created the campaign asks the Trustees to add student life to its list of five budgeting priorities, which includes maintaining need-blind admissions, offering competitive faculty salaries, providing academic support, maintaining facilities and offering endowed professorships.
The resolution states that publicity efforts "will be undertaken to maintain the pressure to incorporate Student Life into the priorities of the College dedicated to excellence in the Undergraduate Experience."
Jonah Sonnenborn '99, chair of the Communications Committee, said last night's resolution shows the Assembly is dedicated to making student life a budget priority.
Heavey said the campaign is not limited to students at the College.
"Anyone who has a nickel is welcome to sign the letter," he said.
