LCS discusses fundraising restrictions

Members of the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate held a meeting Monday night to further discuss a new bylaw that has student groups, particularly the Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS), worried about their ability to make charitable contributions.

The issue at hand is the a new bylaw stating that "any organization which does not budget income for an event may not sell tickets or charge money in exchange for admission to the event."

One major event that this bylaw would affect is the LCS semiformal. Under the bylaw, LCS members would be unable to collect money for ticket sales for the formal even if the revenue went entirely to charity, because the event is funded with student activity fees. The Senate considers selling tickets an example of "double-charging" students.

After much debate at an earlier meeting, senators decided that further discussion on the bylaw and LCS's options was necessary. Senators sent an e-mail to all Tufts student groups informing them of the meeting, though members of only two student groups -- LCS and the Amalgamates -- attended the gathering. The No Homers Club was also represented, as Senator Josh Belkin is a member.

Despite the publicity, there was some confusion over the purpose of the meeting. Members of LCS thought that the meeting was mandatory for all student groups and were disappointed by the sparse turnout.

At the meeting, LCS representatives pointed out that the programs to which they donate funds have grown dependant on their contributions. If LCS is unable to financially support these programs, Tufts students may see a significant drop in volunteer opportunities, they said.

But senators are not convinced that the bylaw will have such a dramatic effect. "I don't foresee a huge change in LCS's ability to donate from this bylaw," Senator Cho Ling said. Much of the meeting was dedicated to discussing how groups affected by the bylaw can maintain present donation levels.

As an example, Belkin cited the No Homers Club's success with using suggested donations at two of their events, the Charity Dodgeball Tournament and Simpsons Trivia in Hotung Cafe. Only three attendees at the dodgeball tournament and two at the trivia night refused to make donations.

But LCS President Lisa Fishlin worried that LCS's suggested donation system might be less successful since it would ask for more money. In response, Belkin noted that a crucial part of using suggested donations is explaining where attendees' money will be going.

Students involved with LCS continued to look for ways around the bylaw, however. Given that the LCS semiformal and the Faculty Waits on You Dinner are both established traditions at Tufts, exempting them from the bylaw "would not be out of line," former LCS President Katie Elder said.

An exception for LCS is a possibility, according to Senate Treasurer Ben Lee. Though this bylaw is a clarification of an existing rule, "bylaws are not rigid. If LCS has trouble next year, then an exception doesn't seem unreasonable," Lee said. LCS has already changed its budget for the next academic year to comply with the new bylaw.

But complete contentment on both sides may not be possible, according to Lee. "LCS isn't going to be convinced that this bylaw is great and the Senate won't be convinced that the bylaw's effect will be detrimental," he said. Members of both LCS and the Senate, however, seem fairly satisfied with the meeting's results and both sides agreed that the meeting represented "a positive discussion."

Given that the meeting was "more useful than any other conversations about the bylaw," LCS will now reevaluate its plan of action, Fishlin said.