In a move that has caused some outcry on campus, the Spanish and Portuguese and sociology departments two weeks ago contributed department funds to send a group of students to an anti-war protest.
On Jan. 18, a group of 53 students traveled to the National Mall to attend the largest anti-war rally since the Vietnam era. The "Why War" initiative organized participation at the College, chartered an overnight bus to reach Washington, D.C. and oversaw logistical details of the trip. Organization leaders told The Dartmouth that they solicited funds for the trip from numerous establishments on campus.
"I sent out a blitz to chairs of departments asking if they would be willing to directly sponsor students," said Alex Kirigin '06, one of the trip's organizers.
The Spanish and Portuguese department contributed $200 and the sociology department supplied $100, according to Kirigin.
"Basically, that money was going to any students who couldn't afford" the $30 bus fare charged by "Why War," Kirigin said.
According to department chairs interviewed by The Dartmouth, most academic departments brought the request up at their weekly or biweekly administrative meetings. Two responded, making what Spanish and Portuguese department chair Marsha Swislocki called "small contributions."
There are few legal restrictions on the usage of department funds, which are generally allocated after a vote of the full department. However, many chairs expressed reluctance to use department money for political purposes.
"We don't fund things that are straight political activism," government department chair Michael Mastanduno said. "We would certainly fund an academic approach to the topic -- for example, we might fund a panel."
French and Italian department chair John Rassias said that his department has never funded student activism. "I don't think that's ever come up," he said.
Some professors saw contribution towards the trip in a more positive light. "I'm encouraged by seeing students involved in political activities," classics department chair Roger Ulrich said.
Officials in the Spanish and Portuguese department confirmed that $200 in departmental funding -- dispensed after a vote of the full department -- was used to help send students to the protest.
"We feel that we're encouraging student participation in the democratic process," Swislocki said.
The Dartmouth was unable to contact members of the sociology department for comment.
Student opinion was similarly divided, with most expressing some reservations over department subsidy of the protest.
"I'm definitely against the war, but I don't think that departments should in any way fund something like that. A protest has nothing to do with Spanish," Chris Moscato '05 said.
Some community members cited the College's current financial difficulties and the possibility of layoffs in the near future as reasons for their opposition to the funding of the trip.
"We're in a budget crisis," Allison Caffrey '06 said, "and we probably shouldn't be spending money on stuff like that."
Other members of the College community praised the contributions.
"I see no reason why it would be inappropriate for a department to give. I think that's what college money is for," Stephen Brown-Klinger '05 said.
"Why War" organizers told The Dartmouth that the trip cost $3,300. A substantial portion of the outlay, approximately $1,200, was underwritten by the Committee on Student Organizations, which frequently funds recognized student groups. Funding for the trip was provided through the Dartmouth Greens, an organization recognized by COSO.
"Why War" organization leaders also approached the Dean of the College for funding, but the Dean's office declined to contribute.
