Reflections on retreat:
- Were sorted into committee groups
- Was nice to split into group and hearing everyone’s thoughts about needs
- Ainsley: Talked about culture and energy – want communication
- Whitt: Student Affairs talked about unity and community
- Alex: great to see everyone get concrete ideas down and plans for the year
Introduction: Katie Toro-Ferrari:
- Works for Student Affairs. Oversees student engagement and leadership. Will be at assembly meetings and plans to stay after. Wants BSG to be a functional space where people can get in touch with admin. She wants to be a resource for us
Proposals
- Reverse Trick-Or-Treating
- Go around dorms on Halloween, knock, say reverse trick-or-treat, and give piece of candy
- Cost would be $700: $500 of candy, $50 of goodies, and $150 of goodie bags (if people don’t answer the door)
- This would come from $7500 fund
- Already have group of people to distribute
- Between 5:30 and 8pm on 10/31
- Elliott: That’s a lot of money. Maybe just first years and sophomores?
- Hanako: Candy will be appreciated by everyone. Doesn’t think it’s exclusive to underclassmen
- Shumaim: Agreed. But spending 10% of the pool on the first proposal might be a lot. Is there another way to cut down on costs?
- Some people might not want it at all. Could it be reworked to people coming to get candy if they want it?
- Giovanna: Fun because it’s a surprise and people aren’t expecting it. Defeats the point to have to go somewhere
- Concerns about timing. Perhaps earlier in the day? 3-6?
- Giovanna: 75% of people were in their rooms last year in first year bricks
- Are there other events that this money has historically been used for?
- Essentially anything not thought of yet
- Shuttles for breaks came out of this money last year
- Also Sold at Coe
- Members of BSG showing up is nice. Good opportunity to get our face out there
- Is there a way discretionary funding could be put towards this (250 each for committee leaders)? That way, we would be preserving the $7500
- What if we take $500 from the $7500 and the other $250 from discretionary?
- Could include a print or sticker; QR code that links to comment or suggestion box
- Proposal adjusted to $450 from proposal bucket and the rest from discretionary funding
Proposal passes
Conversation on Raising Tuition
- Elliott: Bowdoin raised tuition by 5.8%, which outpaces inflation. Highest percentage increase in 20 years. Board of Trustees meeting next week that Harper and Elliott will attend. Wants to bring up tuition in a respectful way to get some justifications for the increases
- How does the percentage increase compare to other schools?
- Elliott: Doesn’t know. Matt Orlando says it brings us aligned with peer schools
- Elliott individually meeting with him next Wednesday
- Could poll the student body on opinions on tuition rise? Asking them what they want us to say about this
- Elliott: This is the start of a longer, ongoing conversation. Thinks there is time for BSG to form own referendum on this
- Aidan: Probably trying to match experience and services at peer schools. There has also been financial volatility in last year, which is another reason for the school to maybe be concerned
- Max: Student activities fee has risen – covers clubs and club sports
- Eve: Reread the mission statement to them during the meeting, emphasizing the common good. Lots of people say they are here because of financial aid
- Calvin: Wants breakdown of where the increase/costs have come from
- Elliott: When thinking about where cuts might be able to be made, things about talks and events that don’t get a good turnout
- Chase: Is on a budget committee that Matt Orlando has started and has been learning basic facts about the budget e.g. ⅔ of operating budget is salaries
Breakout into Committees
Last announcements:
- Alex: If interested in being part of the meeting with Matt next Wednesday, talk to Elliott. If want to hand out candy on Halloween, talk to Giovanna