The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate has not yet chosen a recipient for this year's Light on the Hill award, an honor which in the past has recognized noted alumni Hank Azaria and Bill Richardson.
Senate President Eric Greenberg said yesterday that the delay partly stems from a change in the selection process and this year's late freshmen senate elections.
The outgoing ex-vice president traditionally chooses the award's recipient, so Greenberg would have made the decision, but he said his role as president has limited his time. He is now working with senator Bill McCarthy, chair of the special events committee, to pick the recipient.
"I think it will work better in the long run," Greenberg said. "I thought it might be a better idea to move it into special projects, but still have the ex-vice president help out."
He said that more students will be involved with the selection process, especially the new senators.
The Light on the Hill committee will meet for the first time next week. Greenberg plans to divvy up most of the work between the freshmen senators on the committee, to "give them the opportunity to work with people outside of the University," he said.
In previous years, most former vice presidents ran for the presidency, lost, and resigned from the Senate. But Moira Poe (LA '01), TCU vice president two years ago, opted to chair the special events committee after losing her presidential bid.
Last year's committee presented the Light on the Hill award to eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam, who donated $10 million to the school two years ago.
The Omidyars, like many past recipients, were chosen in October and given the award in November. Greenberg said this year's ceremony will take place next semester, but would not speculate on the recipients. "We have to keep it secret till we know to whom the award will be given," he said.
The Senate hopes to announce the recipient before spring break.
The fact that the award has not yet been chosen does not reflect on its legacy, Greenberg said. "We just chose to do it differently this year," he said.
Established eight years ago, the Light on the Hill is awarded to an alumnus who has contributed to society in a substantial way. Recipients have come from diverse fields - along with actor Azaria, former US Secretary of Energy Richardson, and the Omidyars, New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzburger Jr. and astronaut Richard Hauck have been honored.
"Basically, it's someone who we feel has made a significant contribution, off the Hill, to society," Greenberg said.
Though the Light on the Hill is not necessarily given every year, Greenberg said the Senate plans to award one Light on the Hill and one Rising Light on the Hill this year. Last year, it awarded two Light on the Hills.
The Rising Light on the Hill was instituted in 1999 and is meant to recognize an alumnus on the path towards more significant achievements. Two years ago, the Senate gave the award to singer and lyricist Eden White, who sang with the Jackson Jills when she attended Tufts.
