Minutes of May 10, 1995 ASA Executive Board meeting
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The meeting was devoted to consideration of the proposal for a combined
funding board.  Doug stated the advantages of having a single board
distributing funding from all sources at MIT.  Further, he said that many
departments distribute funding to groups outside their area and might be
convinced to give the money to the combined board.  The combined board
would help to reduce overlap and prevent groups from receiving money
from both the UA and the GSC.

The GSC had certain specific problems with the proposal as well as general
problems.  The GSC felt that the board was too large and thought that an
8-member board would be better.   Both Doug and Russell noted that there
were people who believed that there should be even more ex officio officers
on the board.  Also, Russell stated that corruption becomes easier in a
smaller board.  The GSC also noted that people could not sit on the GSC
board if their groups were requesting money and expressed concern that
this might create a conflict of interests.  It was mentioned that nearly
all undergraduates who might consider sitting on the board will be members
of some student groups.  

The GSC also wanted time to get their own funding board in order and stated
that they did not want to lose the recognition that they currently get for
their funding.  They said that the combined board was unlikely to occur in the
near future and that there is a significant chance it will not happen at all.
Everybody expressed a desire to move slowly in any event.

Doug also brought up the fact that the GSC receives much less money than
the UA for funding student groups.  Kent proposed that it would be better
if all student groups and funding were treated equally without regard to
grad/undergrad.  The GSC opposed this, citing the fact that most of the
GSC's name recognition is due to funding and also that graduate groups
would tend to get shortchanged if the funding were combined.  It was
suggested that the GSC talk to Dean Smith and/or his successor about
getting more funding.

Toward the end of the meeting, Russell and Bonnie talked about going
over the results of the UA budget comps with the GSC to prevent double
funding.  Afterwards, they decided to do so.