Often I’ll read something in The Daily Free Press and I think, “Oh, I should respond to that” but rarely do. However, when I picked up yesterday’s newspaper, I was extremely upset by a letter about the Allocations Board (“AB’s choice for vice chairman needs reconsideration,” p. 7).
In the last year, the AB has gotten this horrible reputation, and, to be honest, I’m not sure why. The AB is composed of some of the nicest, level-headed and honest people here on campus. Out of the entire e-board, Soren Hessler and Jen Quigley are some of the finest people I know. I have the opportunity to work with the Allocations Board as a work-study employee in the Student Activities Business Office, but like many of you, I’m also part of a club that requests AB funding. Any time I’ve ever had a question about funding, the board has taken the time to go over its policies with me, help me figure out what can be funded and what can’t and has listened patiently to what I presented them. Each time, the board’s decisions have been fair and clear, and if I have a question or issue, they are always willing to re-look something or show me what to do differently next time.
Perhaps some students don’t know these people as well as I do or have not even just made an effort to attend one their meetings. At the meetings it’s clear they all have put in a lot of time thinking about each funding request. But two people always stand out for their knowledge of student life on campus and hard work: Soren and Jen.
They spent all summer going through every student account, and they make an effort to get to know the student groups and make fair decisions every single time. Thank God Soren is still vice chairman because it means the AB will continue to have the very hardest working and best people making decisions about our undergraduate fee. While Soren may not physically be at the meetings, you can bet he will know more about the funding requests than any one else.
The AB is not this big, bad organization that everyone wants to make it seem. It’s not corrupt; in fact, it’s the complete opposite. So if you’re curious about how it works, attend a meeting instead of writing a letter to the Free Press bashing people you don’t even know.
Vanessa Porter
CAS ’08
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