Volume CXXXIII, Number 5 October 10, 2003 f

College houses expand 2004-2005 budget
SETH GUITERMAN
STAFF WRITER

With nearly twice the budget for next year, college houses will be able to plan more events like this catered dinner at Macmillan yesterday evening. (Nancy Van Dyke, Bowdoin Orient)

A successful student-led initiative to improve the ability of the college house system to serve as a versatile hub for activity on campus has led to the increase of the house budgets to $15,000 for the 2004-05 academic year.

With many students feeling that the house system is 2003-10-10ly in a slump, vice-president for student affairs Graham Jones '04, and vice-president for student government affairs, Daniel Schuberth '06, spearheaded a campaign to increase the budgets so as to expand the variety of activities the houses are able to carry out. With the help of Dean of Student Affairs Craig Bradley and the enthusiasm of President Barry Mills, the plan has been approved and will go into effect as soon as the necessary funds can be raised.

The house budgets are about $7,500 per year, and 2003-10-10ly can be used for any type of expense with the exception of alcohol. These same regulations will continue to govern the budgets, but the additional $7,500 will only be available for three types of activities under the blueprint designed by Jones and Schuberth. The plan breaks down the means by which the money can be spent into three major categories: academic/cultural/intellectual, athletic, and miscellaneous.

"I really feel like the houses are ready to take the next step. I also think these new funds will really help them achieve that," said Jones.

The designers of the blueprint hope that the first type of programming will encourage the houses to expand their planning to include events such as lecture series, and trips to museums and plays.

"Quinby has a great lecture series," said an enthusiastic Schuberth, "and now every house will have the means to plan programming like that."

Jones also envisions the athletic category to include things such as intramural sports jerseys, trips to see professional games in either Portland or Boston. The miscellaneous portion is intended for additional house improvements and upkeep that is not possible under the 2003-10-10 budgetary restrictions.

The plan requires $2 million to be raised from generous donors. The administration hopes to utilize house leaders in the fundraising so that alumni can get a good sense of how the new funds will enable the system to expand its horizons and improve.

Those who are involved with the house system are clearly thankful for the effort put in by the student government officers and administrators.

President of the Inter-House Council, Mark Lucci '04 said, "They [Jones and Schuberth] have put in a ton of effort and thought to this matter. We would not be at the point we are now without their vision, planning, and lobbying. I look forward to seeing their project succeed-if anyone can get it done it's them."

Just the thought of the new funds has clearly jumpstarted tremendous enthusiasm from 2003-10-10 house leaders and residents.

"The new funds will really help the houses to expand the type of activities that we can do. I think that with a wider range of events a lot more people will be able to find a niche in the house system and upper-class involvement will also increase," said Baxter House President, David Noland '04.

The fundraising is expected to be successful and the money will be available to the houses beginning in September.

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