U.C. Cuts Budget for Freshman Formal

The Undergraduate Council passed all eight resolutions--including a controversial plan on funding this spring's freshman formal--it brought to the table in a four-hour meeting.

The council, which traditionally allocates funds in advance to its Freshman Caucus and is then compensated from ticket sales from the event in March, only has $13,336.80 available in its committee fund this year, according to council Treasurer Edward B. Smith III '97.

The formal in the original bill would have cost $15,500. It was amended to cut the council's contribution by $2,800.

Because the allocation would still take most of the committee's fund, Campus Life Committee Co-chair Rudd W. Coffey '97 proposed an amendment to the bill authorizing the council to pay for the event out of the pool allocated to student groups for the spring semester.

The amendment sparked much debate about the measure's constitutionality. Many council members observed that disagreements formed strongly along partisan lines between members of the Progressive Undergraduate Council, many of whom contested the measure and the rest of the council which supported it.

Smith said borrowing the money from the Finance Committee's grants money would be financially irresponsible.

"It makes me very nervous to start messing with money we don't exactly have," Smith said.

According to council Vice-President Brian R. Blais '97, the core of the issue rested on the existence of the formal.

"Either we make the loan from the grants funds or we eat up the committee fund." Blas said "I couldn't vote in good conscience to eat up the committee fund, so we have to make the loan."

Both the amendment and the resolution passed with little opposition.

For the first time, Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 made an appearance at the council meeting, making remarks and fielding questions from council members.

Council President Robert M. Hyman '98-'97 said he hopes Lewis will make the visit a weekly event, thus fostering closer ties between the council and the administration.

Other measures passed last night included a bill supporting a Philips Brooks House Association (PBHA) rally on Thursday, endorsing the organization's efforts to become "more rational, autonomous and unified."

Another sponsored publicity for a University-funded "model mugging" information session to expose students to campus security issues.

The council also approved funding for an airport shuttle service before winter break, set to take place on Monday, December 18, Tuesday December 19 and Wednesday, December 20.

Bills were also passed calling for student representation on the Committee for Ethnic Studies and anonymous AIDS testing at University Health Services.

Plans for an information session on the randomization of the upperclass housing lottery were authorized, calling for University administrators to justify their decision to first year students.

Finally, the council authorized a holiday drive called "Pinch the Grinch" to raise money, toys, clothes and other goods for local charity organizations.