Council Money Helps, Not Judges, Group Goals

Although we appreciate the interest expressed by Joyce K. McIntyre ’02 in student group funding (Column, “Money Poorly Spent,” April 2), we strongly disagree with her claim that Harvard student groups are over-funded. McIntyre argues that the Undergraduate Council, among other granting organizations, “should use a strict test of educational merit and community contribution when making decisions about grants.” This is not an appropriate approach for the council.

The council’s constitution charges:“The Finance Committee shall foster and coordinate student activities by way of supporting student organizations which promote student interaction” (Article III-Section 1.1). The Finance Committee seeks organizations that promote student interaction, evaluates their campus impact, assesses their needs and provides them with appropriate funding. It is not our place to judge the merits of students’ activities. In fact, funding all student groups is so essential to the Council’s mission that the constitution requires at least 60 percent of the annual budget to go to this purpose.

Many of the campus’s largest and most active organizations, for example the Catholic Students Association, Chinese Students Association and Black Students Association might fail to “contribute to the educational goals of the University,” as McIntyre desires of funded student groups. However, they undeniably have a significant impact on hundreds of students. Does our critic want to eliminate the funding of these groups? We think the more than 2,000 members of these groups would object. The groups McIntyre labels less “worthy” deserve the funding that is supported by their termbill fees. Not all activities should take place in the library or over a problem set. We should be proud to fund groups that provide avenues for students to pursue their interests.

Gregory R. Friedman ’04

and Eric J. Powell ’04

April 2, 2002

The writers are finance committee chair and treasurer of the Undergraduate Council.