A fund set up by the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate in order to provide money for non-alcoholic social events sponsored by campus student groups will be put to use this semester.
The $5,000 Student Life Fund is in addition to a $3,000 fund for non-alcoholic events that has been distributed by Health Services each semester since Fall 2004.
The Student Life Fund was an initiative born out of several meetings with administrators who cited an alcohol problem on campus, TCU President Dave Baumwoll said.
"One way to address this problem was to give students more to do, thereby improving the quality of student life," he said.
Baumwoll said that the amount is less than ideal but that it is still significant as it marked the beginning of support for an important program. "The $5,000 for this semester is a starting point and we plan to work hard to increase that amount for next fiscal year," said TCU Treasurer Jeff Katzin.
"This is an encouraging and crucial sign on behalf of the administration to commit resources to the student body and say 'we support student life on campus and would like to contribute some resources to reflect that,'" Katzin said.
The Student Life Fund will be controlled by a committee consisting of Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, Head of student activities Jodie Nealley, Baumwoll, Katzin, and TCU Asstistant Treasurer Harish Perkari. This committee will be responsible for allocating this money to grant applicants.
Over the next several months, Baumwoll intends "to lobby administrators to give as much as possible to this fund so that it will hopefully end up at around $20,000 to 25,000... in order to offer a way to increase and improve programming on campus."
According to Director of Drug and Alcohol Education Services Margot Abels, Health Services granted mini-grants to a number of student groups last semester. These groups included Sarabande, the Young Entrepreneurs, the Japanese Culture Club, Tufts Christian Fellowship, the Class of 2008, University-based radio station WMFO, the Crafts House, the Thai Club, the TCU Senate and the Monty Python Club.
Abels explained that there are "a ton of applications" currently in review for this semester. Each group must complete an application that fits the guidelines put together by Health Services.
"The fund set aside by Health Services has been enthusiastically received and has resulted in several well-thought out applications and events from very diverse student groups and organization," Director of Health Services Michelle Bowdler said. "We've been very impressed and pleased with the outcome."
"It is wonderful to have money to support alcohol-free programming," Abels said. She noted, however, that care should be taken to avoid any activities that might promote drinking before and after an event.
"The Fall Ball was intended as a safe and fun student event, but there were more TEMS (Tufts Emergency Medical Service) calls than usual all through that night," Abels said.
The popularity of the Health Services program shows that there is enough interest for a Senate fund. "This Student Life Fund should take the Health Services fund to the next level," Baumwoll said.
Katzin said the Student Life Fund has the potential to be a resource for student organizations, as the fund sponsors alcohol-free social, academic, cultural and religious programming.
"I hope that this fund encourages groups to think of new, unique activities to plan, knowing that there is another source of co-sponsorship out there," Katzin said.
