THEBENNINGTON Financial Freeze Concerns BYCONNIE PANZARIELLO '12 etc.), Vice President for Plan­ which was put into effect in June, be a financially prudent option FEATURESEDITOR ning and Special Programs Joan happened at a time when it still for saving money. While Morgan Goodrich and College President didn't look like our nation was said that he wouldn't characterize ogic at our school is Liz Coleman. Morgan firmly going to be experiencing much the measure as "precautionary," a rare find. We tend denied the rumor going around economic recovery. According to it will help us save some money Lto skip some steps, that Goodrich and Coleman gave Morgan, this has an effect on our in other areas such as the always­ jump around, and themselves pay raises. before the donors, who are more reluctant to needed financial aid. As for elim­ hope things will work out for the freeze happened. Not only is this give us funds at a time of finan­ inating faculty positions Morgan best. Thankfully, the person who incorrect (and trust me, I asked cial crisis. said, "you never know, but I don't handles our financial matters pos­ the man five times, in various Also not helping the situation foresee it and it's not in our cur­ sesses logic in bulk, and that's ways), it is impossible: they sim­ is the fact that "not surprisingly rent plans." . New hires will also all that really matters, right? Bill ply do not have the power. Pay the need for financial aid has in­ be decided by who they are and Morgan was nice enough to clear raises have to go through the bud­ creased." Morgan also reiterated what position they are filling, in up the always-impressive gossip get and be approved by the Board something that we should all be tenns of salary. going around our school, while of Trustees. The Board is an ap­ keeping· in mind these days: we At the same Board of Trustees also informing me about the state pointed leadership body (made are a tuition and fundraising de­ meeting, it was decided that man­ of Bennington's finances. largely of alumni) in charge of pendent school. When asked if agers of each school office would Firstly, if you didn't already making the decisions that most this was the reason campus seems go through their budget and de­ know, Bennington's entire fac­ affect our school, including· the slightly more ... populated these cide if there was anything they ulty is currently undergoing a pay salary freezes. days, Morgan did say that the could cut to save money. Unfor­ freeze. That means, no increases So, down to the big question: increase had a "financial dimen­ tunately, some of this did result and no decreases, with one ex­ why is this happening? On March sion" to it. However, it is impos­ in having to reduce positions in ception: anybody making under 6th, 2009, Coleman sent out an e­ sible to predict how many people certain offices, such as the din­ $35,000 is exempt from this mea­ mail detailing Bennington's cur­ will emoll at the school each year ing hall and External Relations. sure. Most of the entire full-time rent economic situation. In this e­ (this can be backed up by our Dean However, "student positions were faculty is making significantly mail she stated: "we are not going of Admissions and Financial Aid not significantly affected by these over this amount of money, so to initiate freezes or across-the­ Ken Himmelman, and anyone measures." These cuts were not the exemption mostly applies to board cuts at this time and we are who had to attend the mandatory made across the board, as Mor­ such employees of the College as continuing our building and reno­ 12 hours of admission's training gan said that the Board wanted the dining hall and clerical staff. vation projects". Yet, it was clear sessions). The Board explored the to be n1ore "creative" in the mat­ To clear up any other confusion, something had changed when the budget to see where it was that ter of the budget. "In some areas, the pay-freeze also covers ·an of Board of Trustees met later in the comers could be cut and it was Continued On Page 3 our Deans (Eva, Duncan, Laurie, term. The pay freeze measure, decided that a pay freeze would Another Paper on the Prowl Townhouse Tussle BY HELENE GAGNON '13 both newspapers and liberal arts BY CATHY McGATH '10 year students cannot recuper­ colleges are "struggling to main­ ate any unspent money and resi­ hough .it may have tain ... breadth, depth, and qual­ s I returned to dents were still part of a plan to passed under the ra­ ity." Continuing, the Foundation campus this term, eat lunch in the dining hall. Their Tdars of many Ben­ encourages students · to edu­ A I heard some dis­ budget actually allows them to nington students, cate themselves with resources turbing informa- support local farmers and donate the BFP is no longer the only such as the Times, emphasizing tion that Student Life handed several hundred dollars worth of readily available free newspaper: the merit of international news down a decision that the town­ groceries to the local food bank in each house's common room sources in nurturing, and perhaps house was not going to be a co-op every term. They also enjoy·being lie (or did, before they were transforming, the individual's next year. I began to hear rumors able to invite other students over snatched up by eager readers) understanding of the world. that Student Life would be able for dinner, and they have tried to several subscriptions to another Such convictions are appre­ to place students there like any reach out to the community by publication. What is this nov­ ciated by many Bennington stu­ other house in the housing pro­ also inviting their neighbors for elty? Why, The New York Times, dents, though not all. Several stu­ cess. When I asked other students dinner. Currently they have week­ what else! dents complained of the Times' if they knew what was going on, ly meetings with full attendance Bestowed by The Liberal Do­ liberal persuasions, pointing out I was shocked to hear that almost and use formal consensus proce­ Gooder Foundation, the Times what they felt to be its biases. no one knew what I was talking dure for all decision-making. subscriptions have warranted "This is dearly a brainwashing about. Naturally, I became deter­ Eva explained that the possi­ varied reactions from the student scheme by the New York Jew­ mined to get to the bottom of this. bilities of changes began when, body. While a substantial number ish conspiracy," vociferated one I interviewed both Eva Chatter­ over the last couple of years, of students greeted the subscrip­ impassioned individual. Another jee-Suttton and current residents townhouse residents have .asked tions with a "thumbs up," some student nodded, "And the gays." of the townhouse. about being taken off the lunch felt that the money could be put One young lady even referred To understand the proposed plan, which initiated a rethinking to better use in an alternative to the esteemed publication as a changes it is important to know of the townhouse's budget and endeavor (a sports stadium was "Pinko Commie rag." Still oth­ how the townhouse works. In more general flexibility. The resi­ suggested.) Other students said ers spoke of how they used the 2001, students, in conjunction dents desired more independence that while having the Times in Times for kindling and for clean­ with the college, established the to manage the budget with more common rooms is a "nice idea," ing various items. [Note: As the .townhouse as a co-op where in prudence and always wanted the they personally won't be reading case is such that these opinions addition to shared food, the resi­ co-op to be maintained. Through it. were only those of a few, the dents split up jobs maintaining conversations last year, it seemed The Liberal Do-Gooder Foun­ reader may choose to disregard the house and live together as a that residents wanted to allow the dation, a somewhat discreet NY the above sentiments.] unit with immense respect for co-op to develop with the people based organization, explains its Several students pointed out one another and a common com­ who live in the house. Through a choice in providing · subscrip­ that they read the Times online mitment to the spirit of the co-op. series of unfortunate miscommu­ [email protected].. tions as pertinent to the belief and thus considered the physical The residents pay room and board nications, Eva was under the im­ that "great international news­ copies to be wasted paper. Not like anyone else living on cam­ pression that the residents were papers and great liberal arts everyone agreed. "There's just pus, but the money designated for ready to be independent this fall 802 4544 colleges should somehow be something different about actu­ board goes into an account jointly by not the college. However, -"' · managed by the residents and the able to enhance one another's ally having a paper, you know?" Continued On Page 2 futures," previously stating that Continued On Page 3 Business Office, at the end of the 2 Vol. 12 No. 3 > October, 3 2009 > THE BENNINGTON FREE PRESS Dr.Randy on the H1N1 BvJONAH LIPSKY '12 do, which is contain the spread of diabetes. the disease to the population who J: Are you optimistic are most at risk.