A Boost to Student Life

The Student Life Fund is back once again after a semester-long leave of absence. The $50,000 fund, which comes from Dean of the College Evelyn Hammond’s discretionary fund, is slated for use by student organizations that wish to travel domestically and House Committees that plan to throw events. Spending on student life is a good cause, but this particular direction might not yield the highest returns for the general student population. While the Dean deserves praise for reinstating the program, we believe it should be reserved only for student groups, with no provision for HoCos.

Student-run organizations serve as the center of Harvard life for many, providing unmatched opportunities and generating countless friendships among their members. However, many of these groups struggle to finance their day-to-day activities. Student organizations deserve additional monetary support, and would therefore benefit from exclusive access to the Student Life Fund. On the other hand, ensuring that HoCos receive supplemental checks that go toward house formals and other activities should not be a priority for the College.

In the past, the Undergraduate Council determined how money from the Student Life Fund would be distributed. However, Dean Hammonds has announced a change: University Hall will now take on this responsibility. While we agree with Dean Hammonds that the UC is not the appropriate body for the task, we remain concerned about the lack of student input in the fund’s appropriation. To correct this, the administration should ensure that a student representative is included in the decision-making process. Specifically, a committee should determine the funds’ distribution—emphasizing transparency—with an undergraduate member always in attendance.

Despite these concerns, we are pleased that Dean Hammonds chose to devote a portion of her discretionary budget to the Student Life Fund this semester, and hope she continues to reaffirm this choice in the future.