Early notification can alleviate term bill surprises

Almost all of us have received bills for dorm damage in some form or another. Some of the charges are attributed directly to us, but the majority of the fees are small ones charged to everyone in a dorm because no one came forth to claim responsibility or because a resident counselor (RC) couldn’t figure out who was the culprit. Someone has to get charged, so the “blame” gets diffused across the entire dorm. Sure, it’s not the end of the world when one is charged $0.86 for someone else’s party c

Gerety's nine years leave

Gerety has maintained and strengthened Amherst’s flagship status, increasing both student body and faculty unity, through such moves as the reinstitution of a “common first day” freshman orientation in 1997. We all know of and applaud his skill in fundraising-the endowment having almost tripled during his term-firmly securing the College’s financial future. The increased funds ensured that strict departmental cuts are currently unnecessary and made possible the renovations of Fayerweather and th

Formal budget in desperate need of spring cleaning

The price tag of this “big-ticket” event stands at $28,000-or at least that is the amount allotted by the Association of Amherst Students. Questions have been raised about the expense of the event, especially in light of two essential facts: last year’s Spring Formal cost $18,000, and all of the money in the rollover fund from last semester has been allocated to this one event. Granted, the money is surplus, but surely, a more equitable distribution can be designed to benefit a wider range of or

Should colleges bother to take a stance nowadays?

There is no doubt that this war is very different from any other conflict in American history. Moreover, the relationship between the government and its constituents has changed: the main interface has become the media. Despite the recent frenzy of protest, there seems to be a greater reluctance to speak out as a nation. Thus, we acknowledge that in this more subdued environment, coupled with the current regard for academia, a statement made by Amherst, or any other institution of higher educati

Title IX necessary but needs more revision

Title IX was originally created to prevent gender discrimination in schools. As it specifically pertains to athletics, it would ideally give schools the flexibility to select sports based on interest, geographic importance, budget limits and gender ratios. While such laws do step on the toes of some, they are necessary for the “greater good.” If not the government, no one else has the strength to effectively counter discrimination. Last Thursday, Bush’s Commission on Opportunity in Athletics re

Affirmative action is the most effective solution

Officially, it is the set of public initiatives designed to help eradicate discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or nationality. It is most commonly exercised in education admissions and hiring in the workplace. Recently, it has resurfaced as a political bone of contention with the Supreme Court’s decision at the end of last year to review the constitutionality of the University of Michigan’s affirmative action programs. In mid-January, the White House itself took a stance, filing a

Dialogue imperative before major changes

One would think the Physical Plant would know better by now. The Little Red Schoolhouse has, after all, a well-known history of being constantly defaced. Every year, the College must use funds to repair the building from the damage wrought upon it by residents of its surrounding buildings. Why, then, would any reasonable person move a playground to the middle of the social dorm quad, adding to the risk that money will have to be spent on potential repairs? Perhaps all Physical Plant needed was

Trustees must consider big picture before breaking ground

With the trustees’ decision to raze Milliken and build a new dorm in its stead, we have the unique chance to play with the look of the campus. The current problem with the social dorms and with Milliken is a disparity in building styles. So now, before settling on a particular design for Milliken, the trustees should have a comprehensive idea of what they wish the rest of the Quad to look like, instead of haphazardly building whatever looks good at the time. There is nothing wrong with bringing

College need not be more liberal with conservative voices

The fact that conservative beliefs are underrepresented is not the issue-they are, without a doubt. A small Massachusetts liberal arts school is bound to be disproportionately liberal; students applying here take that into account, as do potential faculty members. The question is whether the administration should care and whether there should be a concrete effort to increase awareness of conservative issues on campus. The hope behind coming to an open, intellectually-stimulating college like Am

Spectator controversy frames scrutiny of SFC policy

When assigning a budget for an organization, the SFC takes into account its function on campus, its previous work and its future plans. However, when an organization decides, mid-term, to drastically change its mission statement, it undermines the SFC’s role. The SFC should have a consistent rule to deal with this sort of contingency. Creating a procedure for mid-semester mission changes, based on the review and recognition/funding policy that every club goes through at the beginning of each se

Scouts' Honor

Boy Scout officials on all levels of bureaucracy are giving us to believe that this is a happy compromise. Maybe in the short run-but the lurking fact remains that for all its chumminess, the BSA can exert firm control on the Great Trails Council in several meaningful ways; for example, several positions in the Great Trails Council require membership in the BSA and the concomitant commitment to remaining “morally straight.” The apple doesn’t fall as far from the tree as it might claim. That obs

Doctoring Diversity

Irrespective of practical considerations, our ideal faculty would reflect the racial composition of the student body, which in turn would reflect that of the country. That our faculty’s racial diversity matches that of U.S. Ph.D.s only means we’re not behind the curve, and recent hiring trends-of the 22 faculty tenured in the last five years, 19 have been white-threaten to slide us back if they continue. But practical considerations are never far away. We are a college with high standards and a