Council Approves Grants Package Of Nearly $41,000

Following more than three hours of debate, the Undergraduate Council last night overwhelmingly approved a fall semester grants package worth nearly $41,000.

The grants are to be distributed among 103 campus organizations. The total package exceeds the amount allocated for distribution by the Finance Committee by more than $800, with the extra money to come from funds the council awarded last year that were never collected.

The council received requests for more than $200,000 in grants, according to Finance Committee Chair Melissa Garza '94. Garza said the amounts awarded were determined by each group's demonstrated need.

But Kirkland House representative Jennifer W. Grove '94 said that the council's grants process is flawed.

"We need more money and it needs to be distributed in a different fashion," Grove said. "Large groups should get more money and [Phillips Brooks House] groups in particular should get more money."

Grove said that she and finance committee member Sourav Goswami '96 would move in the next few weeks for the Council to increase its annual fee from $20 to $50 per student.

Harvard's fee is the lowest in the Ivy League, according to Grove, with Cornell University charging its undergraduates $55 and most schools charging between $92 and $100.

Unconventional Grants

Besides the usual recipients of funds in the biannual appropriation--including various campus ethnic groups, political organizations and student publications--the council awarded $15 to the Harvard Zoso Club for Led Zeppelin appreciation and $86.95 to the Harvard Snowboarding Club for the purchase of a snowboard.

The Varsity Basketball Cheerleaders were awarded nearly $150 for the purchase of 16 pom-pons and the Rugby Club received $520 for the purchase of rucking pads.

Goswami said that he suffered a serious neck injury playing rugby last year because he was not wearing the pads.

In addition, the Texas Club of Harvard received $65 to fund a barbecue. The group's stated purpose, according to Garza, is to provide a social forum for "students from Texas and those who want to be from Texas."

Several grants prompted lengthy debate. The Council passed a motion to double the $350 that had been recommended by the Finance Committee for the Harvard Speech and Parliamentary Debate Society.

It also awarded $450 to Diaspora, a journal of Black culture, overruling the Finance Committee's recommendation of no funding. The council increased funding for the Phillips Brooks House Mission Hill After-school Program from a recommended $221.25 to $431.25.

But most motions for funding beyond what the Finance Committee had recommended did not win the full council's approval.

The failed amendments included a motion by Adams House representative Gian G.Neffinger '93 to increase funding for the HarvardIndependent Music Society, of which he is amember, from $350 to $675, as well as motions toincrease the allocations for the Harvard RadcliffeDance Company, the South Asian Dance group, andHarvard People magazine.

A motion by Currier House representative DavidL. Hanselman '94 to halve the more than $700awarded to the Varsity Football Cheerleading teamfor the purchase of six women's sweaters failed.

"It's a disgrace that we have cheerleaders whoaren't well-dressed," said Eliot Houserepresentative Rico Reyes '93 in support of thegrant.

A motion by Currier House representative DavidA. Aronberg '93 to eliminate funding for theHarvard Republican Club failed, as did a motion byNorth House representative James L. Doak '94 todiscontinue funding of Lighthouse magazine.

Another motion by Doak to change the council'sfunding of the annual Rock for Shelter concertfrom a grant to a loan also failed.

Despite criticism of the grants process byGrove, Garza said she was pleased with theevening's accomplishments.

"Every year we seem to walk out of this roomwith a negative attitude toward the FinanceCommittee and that does disappoint me," Garzasaid. "Please remember that the Finance Committeedoes one hell of a job."

Also last night, the council passed a billfunding a free airport shuttle bus service to runprior to winter break

A motion by Currier House representative DavidL. Hanselman '94 to halve the more than $700awarded to the Varsity Football Cheerleading teamfor the purchase of six women's sweaters failed.

"It's a disgrace that we have cheerleaders whoaren't well-dressed," said Eliot Houserepresentative Rico Reyes '93 in support of thegrant.

A motion by Currier House representative DavidA. Aronberg '93 to eliminate funding for theHarvard Republican Club failed, as did a motion byNorth House representative James L. Doak '94 todiscontinue funding of Lighthouse magazine.

Another motion by Doak to change the council'sfunding of the annual Rock for Shelter concertfrom a grant to a loan also failed.

Despite criticism of the grants process byGrove, Garza said she was pleased with theevening's accomplishments.

"Every year we seem to walk out of this roomwith a negative attitude toward the FinanceCommittee and that does disappoint me," Garzasaid. "Please remember that the Finance Committeedoes one hell of a job."

Also last night, the council passed a billfunding a free airport shuttle bus service to runprior to winter break