SGA backs Katrina Relief Week

Author: Annie Onishi

On Sunday, Oct. 30, the Student Government Association (SGA) met to discuss Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, grade inflation, lowering the temperature of all buildings on campus and installing printers in residence halls.

Isabel Yordan '07 provided the SGA with an update on the plans for the upcoming Hurricane Katrina Relief Week. Yordan asked the SGA for its support and manpower for the events, which start Nov. 6. The Relief Week will raise funds for Frederick Douglass High School in New Orleans, a public high school that will not be able to open until next January. Events will include a traditional New Orleans jazz funeral remembrance ceremony, concerts, Cajun dining and an auction. The SGA unanimously voted to provide whatever support necessary to make Hurricane Katrina Relief Week successful.

According to SGA President Eli Berman '07.5, the Relief Week is "the biggest issue on the table right now [...] There was very little argument over providing support to this cause." The main goal for the Relief Week will be to generate high student interest and involvement. Berman said, "Student-wide support is a great thing."

Francie Kammeraad '08, chair of the Student Educational Affairs Committee, headed the sub-committee on grade inflation and presented a survey to the SGA for approval. The survey seeks to determine the extent to which Middlebury students are concerned about grade inflation. The initiative was started over the summer at the Bread Loaf faculty meeting, where a six-person committee was assembled to tackle the issue of grade inflation. The unanimous SGA approval was the last step before distribution, and pending some minor changes, the survey will be distributed soon.

Another order of business was a presentation by representatives from the Sunday Night Group, an on-campus coalition of environmental groups. Thomas Hand '05.5, a representative for the coalition, proposed to lower the temperature of buildings on campus by two degrees, which could save the College up to $40,000 annually. The group is seeking student and SGA support for the initiative, and submitted a survey for approval. The SGA questioned the usefulness of a survey and suggested a trial period in its place. Eventually, the survey was sent back to the group for adjustments in the questions' specificity.

Sophomore Senator Max Nardini gave a brief report supporting the installation of printers in the basements of residence halls, and the SGA voted to form an ad hoc committee to take on that issue.

Senators Juana Thomas '09 and Adam Irish '08 then sought and received approval for a resolution to help combat the cost of textbooks to Middlebury students by pressing the faculty to adhere to stricter requisition form deadlines.