Parliamentarian Robert Joseph, a sophomore, announced at last night's weekly Tufts Community Union (TCU) meeting that the body will hold a constitutional convention to discuss changes to the body's governing documents before the semester's end. Joseph said enough elements were up for change that the document would look significantly different after the convention.
A special election to be held tomorrow on Webcenter will fill the sophomore Senate seat vacated last month. Sophomores Dylan Saba and Abby Tresalus are the two candidates.
The Senate approved $961 in funding for the annual Parade of Nations out of over $1000 requested for the event following a lengthy debate. The multi-cultural performance is traditionally hosted by the International Club (I-Club), which has had its budget frozen and lost access to funding because of a series of financial missteps that have left the club $9,000 in debt, according to sophomore TCU Treasurer Matthew Roy. The I-Club instead approached the Allocations Board in collaboration with the Arab Student Association - itself in debt, but with an unfrozen budget - to request funding.
I-Club President Matthew Park, a junior, responded to questions from senators about the timing of the request - the event is scheduled for this Friday - as well as the affordability of holding the event in Cohen Auditorium, which charges rental fees. Park asked the body to to recognize the work of the events 15 performance groups that have already rehearsed for the show and said the technical systems had already been set up and that no other venue could host the large event. The Senate eliminating funds for printing programs and negotiated the lower budget with a vote of 12-7.
Healthcare nonprofit GlobeMed was allocated $1,066.75 for a silent auction event with dinner and a speaker, and student group Baseball Analysis at Tufts received $3,086 to attend a sabermetrics conference in Phoenix, Ariz. The Allocations Board halved the group's request as some travel and lodging had already been paid for and could not be retroactively funded.
The Senate awarded the Hindu Students Council $2,931.25 to host an open dance event.
The Persian Students Association received $1,950 for its Iranian New Year event. The funds will be used to expand the event to include two dance groups, as well as decorations and food.
Other allocations included $950 to Students for Justice in Palestine to invite a speaker and print a publication as well as $544.31 to Tufts Field Exercise in Peace and Stability Operations to hold a simulation of governmental and para-governmental negotiations in global megacities, $265 to Engineers Without Borders for a 3-on-3 basketball tournament and $50 to Urban Policy, Planning and Prosperity for a speaker.
