Student Body President Molly Stutzman outlined plans for an $11,500 increase in the Student Assembly's annual budget last night, calling the Undergraduate Finance Committee's generosity "a vote of confidence."
"Last year, the SA provided many more services, such as off-campus wireless and the SA dining guide, and Tom Dent cabin has also been a big success," Stutzman said. She estimates that improvements for the cabin will absorb $5,000 to $6,000 of the budget.
"We would like to buy some furniture for the cabin, which will have to be treated to be fire-resistant, and we'd also like to add a TV and possibly a Blitz computer to the cabin," Stutzman said.
The rest of the surplus, however, will allow the Assembly to continue such programs as the reduced-fare buses offered direct to New York and Boston over holidays. The funds will also be used in the Assembly's collaboration with DTV.
Student Body Vice President Michael Newton '04 hopes that more money will ease the financial tension that usually limits activities by the end of Summer term. "Because our budget has to go for four terms, the sophomores usually struggle by the end of the summer, but hopefully not this year," Newton said.
An increase in funding will also help further one of the Assembly's larger goals --to make more of an impact within the student community. "My ultimate goal is to have students see us as a resource, and the more money we have, the more outreach we can afford," Stutzman said. "We have big ambitions, and more money will help."
Also during Tuesday's meeting, the Assembly discussed goals for the upcoming year, such as improving relationships between students and faculty. Dean of Student Life Holly Sateia was a guest speaker, using her time to give an overview of the Assembly's history and its function in the administrative decision-making process.
In other business, Chris Bateman '05 was re-elected to the assembly's Membership and Internal Affairs Committee, which selects and organizes students for all college committees. "He did a great job last term, and I valued his input," Newton said.
