Spring Grants Package Approved

The Undergraduate Council last night approved its first spring grants package absent funding for the Asian American Christian Fellowship (AACF), citing the need for a committee to investigate discrimination in the organization’s constitution.

The AACF’s sister organization, the Harvard-Radcliffe Christian Fellowship (HRCF), came under scrutiny from the College in January 2003 after allegations arose that its constitution violated the College’s non-discrimination policy.

Both groups’ constitutions require officers to make declarations of Christian faith. After ruling that the HRCF constitution violated the non-discrimination policy, and as such could not apply for funding from the council, the College reversed its decision in April of last year.

At that time, the College ruled only on HRCF’s constitution.

But at last night’s council meeting, the list of student organizations that were receiving grants under the spring grants package did not include AACF, which must await a decision from a council policy committee.

Council member and former Finance Committee (FiCom) chair Joshua A. Barro ’05 introduced an amendment to add AACF to the list.

Barro was joined by council member Justin R. Chapa ’05 in questioning the lack of consistency in excluding the AACF from funding.

“We’ve set the precedent of funding this group in the past, and we’re about to do an about face,” Chapa said.

Chair of FiCom Teo P. Nicolais ’06 said that a policy committee will meet to determine a sustainable solution to the issue of funding.

“We need to look into a long term solution to stop funding or continue funding,” said Nicolais.

A member of FiCom who asked not to be named said that he believes that consistency of council policy and not ideology over freedom of religion will drive the policy committee’s decision.

“It’s an issue of technicality, not ideology,” said the committee member, who predicted a decision will come within the next week.

Also unsuccessful at last night’s meeting were amendments seeking to increase the grant size for the Harvard Classical Club’s semester banquet from $140 to $300, eliminate funding of the Seinfeld Club and decrease the funding of the Crimson Dance Team from $700 to $500.

An amendment seeking to authorize funding for the Pforzhiemer House video club, which allows all students to rent videos for $10 per semester, failed as well.

The Harvard Magic Society will receive funding after an amendment passed to grant the magicians $60 for supplies.

This first grant package of the Spring semester passed by a final vote of 37-3, with one abstention.

The council also supported the creation of an Information Technology position that was proposed by council President Matt W. Mahan ’05 in his inaugural address last week.

Several council members raised concerns over the accountability of the new position, after the designer of last year’s council website abdicated responsibility when the site crashed during elections.

Co-sponsor of the bill Oulu Wang ’06 emphasized that the primary focus of the new position will concentrate on the website.

“Our goal is to make the website functional,” said Wang, who is also the council’s treasurer.

In other business, the council committed the Spring 2004 House Committee Funding Program Act to the Campus Life Committee, which did not meet this past week. In addition, the council voted to reauthorize $5,000 for movie nights in the spring semester, with an amendment to keep the price at $1 per undergraduate for each event.

Mahan also announced the appointment of various cabinet positions, including: E.E. Keenan ’07 as parliamentarian; Eric P. Lesser ’07 as city of Cambridge liaison; John F. Voith III ’07 and Matthew J. Glazer ’06 as first-year social committee liaisons; Justin R. Chapa ’05 as press secretary; Allison I. Rogers ’04 as sustainability liaison; and Clay T. Capp ’06 as student groups liaison.

—Staff writer Jeffrey C. Aguero can be reached at aguero@fas.harvard.edu.