2008 Woodie Awards
SGA Beat
Senators Discuss Nine Org Charters
Elizabeth Snyder
Issue date: 4/21/05 Section: News
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The two-and-one-quarter hour Senate meeting this Tuesday involved primarily lengthy discussions on chartering organizations. Four organizations presented charters to Senate: Society of Automotive Engineers, Youth Action International, Sophia's Draft and Students for the Ethical Treatment of Prisms.
Senate rejected a motion to charter Students for the Ethical Treatment of Prisms (STEP). Senator Fran Kingsbury '07 said: "The organization prides itself on its focus on humor. The organization recently wrote the Amherst city manager a letter requesting the letter 'H' from Amherst to be to the city of Northampton, which they believe is missing an 'H.' The city-manager responded that he did not believe it was in his authority to give away the 'H' from Amherst, but did agree to give Northampton the 'H' from his own last name. Upon hearing this news, Northampton mayor Clare Higgins rejected the 'H' and responded that the organization should do better things with its time, such as collecting food for the hungry."
Senators held a lengthy discussion about chartering this organization. The organization did not want money that is usually allotted to organizations by being chartered, they just wanted the benefits that come from being recognized, such as free copies. Senators commented that chartering this organization would set a precedence for what an SGA charter is and means. Senators also worried that the humor of STEP may offend some people and organizations.
"The charter is really funny, so keep it," said Katie Chase '07. "However, I think that recognition is right for your org."
One senator brought up the point that the Senate did not grant charters to the Persian Club or Knitting Needs, so passing a charter for STEP would reflect poorly on Senate.
STEP has a livejournal; the username of their livejournal is smith_step.
Mandy Smithberger and Gabrielle Thal-Pruzan, both '08, presented a charter for Sophia's Draft, an online blog for coverage and discussion of Smith, Northampton, regional, national and international news. Senate voted to allow senators to go home and look at the website and vote on the organization charter by email. The web address for Sophia's Draft is www.sophiasdraft.com.
Senate rejected a motion to charter Students for the Ethical Treatment of Prisms (STEP). Senator Fran Kingsbury '07 said: "The organization prides itself on its focus on humor. The organization recently wrote the Amherst city manager a letter requesting the letter 'H' from Amherst to be to the city of Northampton, which they believe is missing an 'H.' The city-manager responded that he did not believe it was in his authority to give away the 'H' from Amherst, but did agree to give Northampton the 'H' from his own last name. Upon hearing this news, Northampton mayor Clare Higgins rejected the 'H' and responded that the organization should do better things with its time, such as collecting food for the hungry."
Senators held a lengthy discussion about chartering this organization. The organization did not want money that is usually allotted to organizations by being chartered, they just wanted the benefits that come from being recognized, such as free copies. Senators commented that chartering this organization would set a precedence for what an SGA charter is and means. Senators also worried that the humor of STEP may offend some people and organizations.
"The charter is really funny, so keep it," said Katie Chase '07. "However, I think that recognition is right for your org."
One senator brought up the point that the Senate did not grant charters to the Persian Club or Knitting Needs, so passing a charter for STEP would reflect poorly on Senate.
STEP has a livejournal; the username of their livejournal is smith_step.
Mandy Smithberger and Gabrielle Thal-Pruzan, both '08, presented a charter for Sophia's Draft, an online blog for coverage and discussion of Smith, Northampton, regional, national and international news. Senate voted to allow senators to go home and look at the website and vote on the organization charter by email. The web address for Sophia's Draft is www.sophiasdraft.com.