UC Gives $44,016 To Groups

The Undergraduate Council approved a package of grants last night that will give $44,016.80 to student groups.

Organizations ranging from the Irish Cultural Society to Mr.J's Midnight Croquet underwent a rigorous application process to receive grants from the council's grants fund, which totals more than $100,000.

During the fall semester, members of the council's finance committee--one of three standing commitees--reviewed applications and interviewed student groups that wished to receive grants.

According to finance committee chair Robert S. Schwartz '00, representatives tried to help student groups reduce their costs.

Though the average grant request was for $810, an average of only $266 was alotted to the 110 groups that received grants for both year-long and fall semster funding.

Since groups that earn money from their activities cannot apply for regular grants, a set amount of money is available to them for specific and one-time initiatives. Six groups 1were awarded these project-based grants.

Among groups that received project-based grants are Kuumba, HAND and the Harvard Undergraduate Society for Neuroscience.

The grants package passed with only three negative votes after a lengthy debate on whether to strike an ad hoc grant to the Alternative Senior Gift Fund.

The group established an escrow fund last year for seniors who wanted to with-hold money from the University until it reaches its own goals for a diverse faculty.

Last spring, the Fund had asked for an ad hoc grant to pay the photo copying and labeling costs required to inform seniors about their alternatives.

Opponents of the grant--sponsored by C. Thomas Brown '99, Eric M. Nelson '99 and Beth A. Stewart '00--said the council should not support an organization that withholds funds that would otherwise contribute to the general University budget. They likend the grant to one to a group whose purpose was to "burn down Hollis Hall."

This group is lobbying against people who give money to Harvard which Harvard gives to students," Nelson said. "We can't give student money to a group that exists to stop people from giving money to students."

In other business the council passed a resolution to reform eligibility requirements for student-faculty standing committees.

The bylaws change allows any under graduate to run for positions on the standing committees on the Core, House Life and College Life.

The resolution also requires the vicepresident of the council Student Affairs Committee (SAC) to keep track of delegate's attendance at standing committee meetings. Delegates will be required to report to SAC before each standing committee meeting.

The council also passed two recommendations to the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD).

First the council recommended that HUPD distribute laminated cards with safety information to every undergraduate rather than the current cardboard cards.

Then it passed a resolution asking HUPD to adopt an anonymous method for students to report harrassing incidents, known as Student-Police Awareness Reports.

Lastly, the council recommended that additional bike racks be placed at locations around campus such as the Science Center, Lowell House and the Barker Center.

Last night was the last meeting of council president Lameelle D. Rawlins '99. Price and Rawlins ceded the gavel to Stewart and Samuel C. Cohen '00, who will be president and vice-president, respectively, next semester

Among groups that received project-based grants are Kuumba, HAND and the Harvard Undergraduate Society for Neuroscience.

The grants package passed with only three negative votes after a lengthy debate on whether to strike an ad hoc grant to the Alternative Senior Gift Fund.

The group established an escrow fund last year for seniors who wanted to with-hold money from the University until it reaches its own goals for a diverse faculty.

Last spring, the Fund had asked for an ad hoc grant to pay the photo copying and labeling costs required to inform seniors about their alternatives.

Opponents of the grant--sponsored by C. Thomas Brown '99, Eric M. Nelson '99 and Beth A. Stewart '00--said the council should not support an organization that withholds funds that would otherwise contribute to the general University budget. They likend the grant to one to a group whose purpose was to "burn down Hollis Hall."

This group is lobbying against people who give money to Harvard which Harvard gives to students," Nelson said. "We can't give student money to a group that exists to stop people from giving money to students."

In other business the council passed a resolution to reform eligibility requirements for student-faculty standing committees.

The bylaws change allows any under graduate to run for positions on the standing committees on the Core, House Life and College Life.

The resolution also requires the vicepresident of the council Student Affairs Committee (SAC) to keep track of delegate's attendance at standing committee meetings. Delegates will be required to report to SAC before each standing committee meeting.

The council also passed two recommendations to the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD).

First the council recommended that HUPD distribute laminated cards with safety information to every undergraduate rather than the current cardboard cards.

Then it passed a resolution asking HUPD to adopt an anonymous method for students to report harrassing incidents, known as Student-Police Awareness Reports.

Lastly, the council recommended that additional bike racks be placed at locations around campus such as the Science Center, Lowell House and the Barker Center.

Last night was the last meeting of council president Lameelle D. Rawlins '99. Price and Rawlins ceded the gavel to Stewart and Samuel C. Cohen '00, who will be president and vice-president, respectively, next semester