1996 v24 i17

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SGA deliberates SocComm's Movie Channel funding request by Dave Koelle Editor-in-Chief

The W PI Social Committee recently requested special funding from the Stu­ dent Government Association to pur­ chase new video equipment for the SocComm Movie Channel. The spe­ cial funding was discussed at last Tuesday’s SGA meeting. The request was first approved, then reconsidered, leaving SocComm members confused about the fate of the movie channel. The initial request from SocComm was $7000, to cover the cost of five new VCRs and a controller. The origi­ nal VCRs which the SocComm Movie Channel currently uses were donated by the Instructional Media Center. The equipment is “ beyond repair,” and in order for the channel to operate prop­ erly, new equipment must be purchased. SocComm had not considered purchas­ ing new VCRs when it devised its bud­ get for the 1997 fiscal year. SGA currently maintains a reserve of $13,579.03, which will be added to when the social fee and tuition moneys from this year’s students comes in. SG A has the power to distribute this reserve money as it sees fit when orga­ nizations come to the Association with special funding requests. Early in the SGA meeting, the re­

students, everyone gets to see the movie be equal to three Sunday night movies, quest was brought down to $3500, and channel for at least one year. or a Coffeehouse show, or a Pub show. only four VCRs would be purchased Senator Justin Sprague noted that Senator Greg Snow suggested that instead of five. This price considered SocComm has a line item for repairs, SocComm’s request is less than 2 % of four VCRs at $500 a piece, each with a which was initially set at $4100, and their entire budget, which is equiva­ controller of $120, and shipping fees. eleven to twelve thousand dollars in lent, he said, to $25 of a $ 1000 budget. Any request over $50(X) is considered a other categories not specific to a com­ Senator Jennifer M. Johnson noted capital request, and requires a twomittee. SocComm said that some of the that off campus students are unable to thirds vote of the Senate in order for the $4100 had already been spent request to be approved. on needed repairs to other The Class III Organiza­ equipment, such as damages tional Class Finance Com­ IS e n a to r lie n P e tro l said that i f th e m otion microphones and the projec­ mittee (O C FC ) approved were not passed, the g e n e ra l fe e lin g aro u n d tors in Perreault Hall, and SocComm’s request. Spe­ cam pus w ould be “ S G A is m ore co n cern ed would not be sufficient tocover cial funding requests must about leg islatio n a n d paperw ork th a n the stu­ the price of the new equip­ first pass through the OCFC dents. ” ment. The other money is for before they come up for con­ operational expenses. sideration at an SGA meet­ Petro stated that S G A ’s ing. The Class III OCFC noncommitment to supply SocComm watch the movie channel. She sug­ handles the finances of all Class III with the money they need to operate the organizations, which are program-pro­ gested that SocComm take the neces­ movie channel seemed to go against sary money from their current budget viding organizations (other Class III and request special funding when they organizations include Masque, Peddler, SGA public relations; he said that if the motion were not passed, the general need it to do more shows, which would Newspeak, WPIR, Bacchus, and oth­ feeling around campus would be “ SGA ers). The Appropriations Committee be more campus-wide. Belli replied is more concerned about legislation that it would be hard to request special of SGA voted 3-1 against the motion. and paperwork than the students.” funding for an undetermined act, since SocComm claims that the price of The question was called, and a roll SocComm would need the money be­ the equipment cannot come from their fore it could sign any contracts. call vote was taken. The final result $103,517 budget. Some members of was nine ayes, five nays, and six ab­ Sensing that the Senate’s vote to­ SGA felt that it would be possible to do stentions. The motion carried. At this wards this motion would be unfavor­ so, referring to the fact that at the end of able, Senator Ben Petro stated, “ I think the last fiscal year, SocComm had six point, S G A president Matthew Friemuth suggested that the many visi­ to take this away from future classes is to seven thousand dollars left in its tors who attended the meeting to sup­ selfish of us” — with the exception of budget. SocComm president Kim Belli the current senior class and transfer port the move channel may leave. stated that the cost of these VCRs would

Part II: The trouble begins Six abstentions is a lot, noted some members of the Senate, and a motion to reconsider the funding request was passed. It was felt that many Senators did not have enough information lo make an informed decision about the funding request. There was a motion to table the request, but this was not enter­ tained. Senator Seth Kintigh said that the $4100 in SocComm’s repair line could be used; this is not an emer­ gency, he stated. Senator Jon Chaillet stated that it was not a good idea to pass the funding request motion and then reconsider it after the support­ ers had left. Senator Jennifer Reese said that SG A can’t just give money to everyone, and there must be some control over the budget. Senator Johnson noted that further discus­ sion at this meeting would do any good. Senator Sprague moved to table the motion until next week. Aftermath It is important for people to realize that the special funding request which SocComm has made to SG A has not been denied. It has been tabled for further discussion. At tonight’s meet­ ing, the funding request will be one of the items which will be discussed.

Record number of students attend Global Opportunities Fair by Jason O. Papadopoulos News Editor

The third annual Global Opportuni­ ties Fair, Tuesday, September 24th, Alden Memorial Hall, attracted an esti­ mated record of 600 visitors, according to the Office of Global Programs. Four­ teen different countries, eleven project locations and eight exchange universi­ ties were represented at the fair. “ From our perspective it was a great success” said Marche Haddad, Associate Direc­ tor of the Global Programs Office, and

director of this year's Global Opportuni­ ties Fair. The W PI Global Perspective Pro­ gram came along with the adoption of the W PI plan, more than 25 years ago. The first exchange agreement wits signed in 1973 with “City College", London, United Kingdom. Washington, D.C. was selected in 1974 as the location for the first off campus residential project center. In 1987 the first overseas resi­ dential project center was setup in Lon­ don. Now 30% of undergraduate stu­ dents at W PI will study off campus

before they graduate. "W c are also the national leader in ‘Study Abroad’ for science and engineering majors” said Haddad. According lo her, only about 2 % of U.S. undergraduate college stu­ dents have a ‘Study Abroad’ experience compared to the 30% base for WPI students. Haddad reasoned that “ stu­ dents with a technological edge are most likely to work abroad". An increasing number of employers have said thal it is important for them to have employees thal have already gained a global per­ spective or work experience.

One more save for WPI

At the present time WPI has project centers in Costa Rica, Denmark, Ger­ many, Holland, Italy, Puerto Rico,Thai­ land, the United Kingdom, the United States, and in C Term. India will be added to the ever-growing list. W PI also has exchange agreements with some of the finest and most reputable institutions in Canada, Germany, Holland, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Swit­ zerland. Although the project centers and exchange programs can encompass a Sufficiency, IQP. or MQP, most stu­ dents complete their IQPs during the visits. The average IQP program lasts for 7-8 weeks during which a group of WPI students work closely with at least one W PI faculty member, a local coordinator and a project sponsor. There arc some plans for new project centers, and on average a new project center has been added to the list every second year the exchange programs seems to be lagging behind. Partly due to the misconception of what exchange programs are many students avoid pur­

suing the opportunities that lay hidden there. Unlike the project programs, exchange programs last for a semester or a whole year, and the students travel and study independently, without an accompanying W PI faculty member. Haddad also pointed out that students have the misconception that off-cam­ pus project programs and exchange programs are more expensive than nor­ mal schooling at W PI and in a survey distributed to attending students of the Global Opportunities Fair, Haddad stated that 9 out of 10 students said that financing was the major reason for not pursuing one of the programs. “ Pro­ grams are not expensive" said Haddad, ‘The cost is very similar to attendance at W PI” . Additional financial aid is also available to help with any extra financial costs that may arise. Referring to the misconception that conflicts with their academic program at W PI might arise, Haddad said that if students "plan ahead, there should be no reason why this should be a problem.”

We’ve Got Your Goat! The W P I Rugby team is pleased to announce the “ GetYour-Goat-Back” competition. W e w ill be giving the Goat away to the class with the most school spirit. How w ill we know who has the sp irit? Good question. The attendance at our home games has been a little low. So what better way to im prove our attendance and increase awareness about lesser known club sports, than by giving the Goat to the most creative and most willing-to-watch-a-good-game-of-rugby class? So, the class w ith the best attendance at our first home game (O ctober 5th, vs. Babson) and with the best banners (good banner « extra people) w ill get the Goat.

NEWSPEAK STAFF PHOTO / ED CAMERON

Last Wednesday, the M en’s Soccer team came from behind in the second half of their game against M IT to end the game with a tie, 2-2.

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Tab le

SGA Letters from the Candidates See page 9

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N ew s .......................................................................... 2, 7 Sports............................................................................. .? Arts & Entertainm ent..................................................... 4 letters to the Ed ito r ........................................................ 6 Computing ......................................................................7 Announcem ents............................................................. 7 V

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ontents Graduate Student O rganization ...................................... 7 Student Government Association ........................... 7, 9, 10 Club C o rn e r ........... ................................................... 8, 9 Com ics ......................................................................... 11 C lassifieds .................................................................... 11 Police U )g .................................................................... 12 J


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