CAROLE NOUJAIM Emily Bronkesh-Buchbinder ’00 addresses the WSA at their first meeting on Sunday night in PAC.

WSA’s First Meeting of Year Introduces Campus Issues By Becky Trout News Editor On the same day that voters chose a new party to take control of Germany, the new Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) held their first meeting of the year. President Bill Wilson ’99 welcomed the approximately 35 attendees at Sunday’s meeting, and thanked the frosh for their campaigning efforts." There are a lot of things going on at North College that we may or may not be able to influence," Wilson said, citing the debate over the University’s slogan and several other current issues.

Wilson added that if the existing WSA committees do not address this year’s relevant issues, he hopes to form ad hoc committees that will.

Following introductions, the discussion turned to the division of the 1998-99 budget. David Dean ’99, the acting treasurer of the Student Budget Committee (SBC), explained the results of the September 17-20 budget hearings.

The WSA receives funds from the College Body Tax to support all registered student groups. Each group must send a representative to announce and justify their annual budget request before the SBC. The SBC then allocates the amount of money its members feel is actually required by the group while considering the overall budget.

Some of this year’s largest fund recipients were the Film Series, the Head Residents, Second Stage, the Senior Class and WESU.

"Budgets were tight this year because we went into debt last year," Dean explained.

According to Dean, the WSA accumulated a debt of $120,000 over many years, but that debt is now down to $60,000 and will be paid off next year.

Dean explained that cuts are made to a group’s requested allocation depending on how unclear the group’s future plans are. Dean also reminded members that new groups beginning during the year often require supplemental funds. The WSA then voted and approved the budget.

The next item on the agenda was to elect chairs for each of the WSA’s internal committees. Before the nominations, Andrew Calica ’01, reviewed the role of each committee.

Candidates, who could nominate themselves, gave brief speeches before leaving the room for the voting. Calica was elected as the head of the Coordinating Committee, and Dean was elected SBC treasurer.

According to Wilson, other election results included Community Outreach Committee: Jenny Ma ’01, Facility Affairs Committee: Khadine Bennett ’99, Finance and Facilities: Chuck O’Neil ’00, and Educational Policy Committee: Allegra Jones ’99.

The WSA meets every Sunday at 8 p.m. in the basement of the PAC. The meetings are open to all Wesleyan students.