VSA places moratorium on recognizing clubs

Hayley Tsukayama Staff Writer

At the Nov. 20 Vassar Student Association (VSA) Council meeting, secretary Laureen Cantwell ’06 announced there would be a moratorium on the recognition of new VSA organizations. A moratorium is a "suspension of activity." While the decision was officially Cantwell’s to make, she instituted the moratorium as a result of conversations with members of the Executive Council and members of the VSA Secretary Special Advisory Committee. This committee was recently created to analyze how organizations are categorized.

The advisory committee was formed to address the large number of organizations and the limitted resources in terms of money available for organization budgets, as well as the number of rooms on campus available for programming.

Cantwell’s announcement elicited several questions from VSA Council members. Class of 2006 President Michael Cashman, Davison President Ben van der Graaf ’07, and Academic Executive Becca Worthington ’06 asked how long the moratorium would last.
VSA President Rick Rodems ’06 said that the moratorium was not set for the entire school year. Cantwell replied that it would last until the committee “figures out what we need to figure out.”

According to Cantwell after the meeting, “it seemed smarter to put things on hold at that end” than to continue recognizing committees and categorizing them inappropriately. A moratorium had “come up as a possibility a few times in committee and on the [executive board],” said Cantwell.

“The more I met with the committee, the more I thought it a good idea,” she said. “It seemed smarter to make it official rather than be hesitant with every group that comes [up for recognition].”

Cantwell said that the moratorium should not discourage students from forming groups in the hope of eventually receiving VSA recognition.

She suggested that the moratorium, while inconvenient, might allow hopeful groups more time to solidify their goals and their mission statements.

“There’s no harm in a group getting a little more experience…or to have stronger foundations,” said Cantwell. “There are many ways to get word out and connect prior to recognition, such as Facebook.”

The moratorium will likely be lifted when the Constitutional Committee approves the suggestions from the Special Advisory Committee.

According to Cantwell, the Committee is “looking to have made firm the recommended changes before spring budgeting” to ensure that any constitutional changes will be set by the time next fall’s budget is appropriated. “This is definitely something next year’s [VSA] secretary will be dealing with,” said Cantwell, adding that when dealing with an issue like this, it is important to take one’s time.

“I’m aware that there’s some concern,” said Cantwell, but added that those she has talked to about the moratorium generally see that the measure is for the “greater good” of the campus.

Although some groups that intended to apply for recognition this semester will have to put their plans on hold for a period, both Cantwell and Associate Dean of the College Raymond Parker said that the moratorium would make changes to organizations less confusing when they are made.
Parker said of the moratorium, "It's probably a good idea. It's been a while since the VSA took a good look at organizations to make sure they're meeting current students’ needs. It's better than taking a piecemeal approach to the situation."