Budget issues dominate winter Trustees meeting

Can students trust Oberlin College to spend their money wisely? The Board of Trustees hopes so. They will convene this weekend for the annual December meeting to discuss budget guidelines for the coming year, as well as various other issues.

Vice President for Finance Andy Evans will submit preliminary budget guidelines to the Trustees this weekend. According to Trustee Robert Lemle, OC '75, the budget will focus on operating issues such as faculty salaries and financial aid. In response to students' questions about aid, he said, "The amount of money dedicated to financial aid is enormous." A report of last year's budget will also be reviewed.

The Trustees will hear recommendations for students who wish to receive honorary degrees and the commencement speaking position. In committee meetings taking place Thursday and Friday, they will vote on routine personnel issues like faculty and staff promotions and faculty research status.

Presentations will also take place by a development committee on the progress of the Capital Campaign, with fundraising efforts expected to raise $165 million. The campaign has been coordinated in part by the Board of Trustees. Oberlin recently hosted a series of events intended to entice alumni and others to make donations to the College. The funds will be used for major building and renovation projects, student scholarships and faculty salaries, and to strengthen academic programs.

In addition, the Office of Student Affairs will talk about the recent proposal by Dean Peter Goldsmith to restructure the College advising systems. Goldsmith has expressed the desire to develop "an administrative structure which provides every student with direct access to the administration." The proposed advising system would attempt to address the competing pressures of students' academic and social life by providing direct access not only to faculty but to the deans. Goldsmith's ideas have received both negative and positive reactions.

Other pertinent issues on campus will be addressed, such as the construction of the new science building. The College is slated to sign the final contract in order to start construction. In a Class Trustee forum on Thursday night, many students raised concerns about space for other majors, such as the Studio Art and Theater and Dance Department. Students felt that although these activities badly needed studio space, money was being allocated only for science buildings. In response, Lemle said, "The Board is aware of space issues. It's just a question of where the money comes from."

The Class Trustee forum was a rare chance for students to speak directly with trustees. In addition to Lemle, trustees Amie Ely, OC '99, and Andreas Pape, OC '98, facilitated a discussion of issues important to students that many feel are hard to bring to the attention of those in positions of authority.

Most of the topics students raised were subjects of which the trustees claimed to be aware. Oberlin multiculturalism sparked a heated discussion ranging from resources for minorities to diversity of faculty and curriculum. Echoing concerns about the amount of money being spent on new science facilities, one student said, "Oberlin sells itself on diversity. Shouldn't our money then go to support diversity in the curriculum? Why isn't money going to something that we say is our top priority?"

However, some issues seemed to be at odds with one another. One student suggested more effort to raise Oberlin's ranking in U.S. News and World Report. Lemle pointed out the many directions the College is pulled in regarding how to allocate funds, and said, "Do you put money into things that will move you up in the rankings, or into other programs?"

One issue took the trustees by surprise. Students mentioned that there have been rumors of "date rape" drugs circulating on campus. The trustees promised to address issues such as better rape counseling and security.

Students wishing to learn more about what the Board of Trustees is doing on campus can attend the second half of a plenary session scheduled to occur Saturday morning in Mudd Library.