Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) held its Wednesday meeting this week in Smith Union's Morrell Lounge in an attempt to promote transparency and engage the student body. Over the din of ping-pong balls, espresso machines, and student chatter, BSG managed to careen through a Common Good Day budget proposal and discuss study abroad language requirements.
This meeting was the first time BSG has convened in Smith Union, according to BSG President Dustin Brooks '08.
Students were divided over the Common Good Day proposal, in which the Community Service Resource Center (CSRC) requested $500 to cover the cost of snacks offered to volunteers at the end of Saturday's events. By a vote of 11 to nine, with three abstentions, BSG approved the proposed funds.
Supporters of the bill argued that providing the money would help BSG cement a positive role in the community.
"This is something we really should support," said Kata Solow '10, vice president of BSG affairs. "This is what Bowdoin's all about."
Opposition came from Class of 2010 Representative Rutledge Long. "I'd rather see that $500 go to a legitimate charity," he said. "This is $500 for snacks?snacks."
Students who shared Long's opinion reminded the group that BSG had already given the CSRC with $1000 for T-shirts.
Putting the debate in perspective, Vice President of Student Organizations William Donahoe '08 said that "in this instance, because they are in a jam, I say we should help them."
"It would be terrible to stiff them at the last minute," he added.
Clark Gascoigne '08 underscored the last minute nature of the request, claiming that "this happens all the time...people always come up to us last minute asking for money."
Ben Freedman '09 helped Donahoe balance the discussion.
"We need to be cautious of the budget we're working with," he said, "but we also need to branch out into the community and co-sponsor events."
Early in the discussion, BSG Treasurer Nicole Willey '08 motioned to trim the $500 allocation to $250. Voting 11 to 13, with one abstaining, BSG rejected the cut.
"I think it would be wrong for me to completely deny the funding of an event I support," Willey wrote in an e-mail to the Orient, "but conversely I think it was irresponsible of the BSG to allocate $500 of its very tight budget."
Brooks was positive about the outcome. "It was good to see the group think carefully about the expense, but also about the great value of Common Good Day for so many students," he wrote in an e-mail.
BSG also discussed proposed language requirements for students wishing to study abroad. Bowdoin has contemplated mandating two semesters of language study for students who want to study in a non-English speaking country.
"The reasoning is that students are going to places and not getting the full cultural experience," Willey said.
Many students, however, found the idea absurd.
"This policy completely encourages people to go to English speaking countries," said Sam Dinning '09.
Long added, "they're putting more of an iron fist down and telling us what we have to study."
Sam Kamin '08 offered support, claiming that "the intent is important."
He felt that there must be "some form of regulation and rigidity" in order to ensure that Bowdoin degrees are as equivalent to each other as possible.
Willey concluded the discussion by reminding students that these changes would not take effect for several years and would not impact current Bowdoin students.
Similar to the evening's discussions, BSG responses to the use of Smith Union as a venue were mixed.
"I really like the accessibility that meeting in the Union gave us," Brooks said. "The acoustics and setup were a challenge, but it was really encouraging to see people stop and listen for a few minutes as they passed by."