VSA discusses resolutions, their purpose

The Vassar Student Association (VSA) Executive Board introduced two resolutions at the Nov. 9 VSA Council meeting. One resolution requested that College officials work to meet the needs of employees in the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and  the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union, while the other endorsed the need-blind admission of international and transfer students.

The Council did not vote on either resolution that night, as the Board announced that they will now initiate a waiting period of one week between the introduction of a Council resolution and the day that Council votes on it.

The resolution urged Senior Officers of the College "to work with the service employees to establish a fair wage increase." The resolution concerning Vassar employees was introduced on the Sunday before Friday Nov. 14, when the two groups will engage in further rigorous negotiations.

Members of the SEIU and the CWA had their contracts up for re-negotiation this year and have staged demonstrations demanding better health coverage after retirement. College officials, struggling to save money after the endowment fell 25 percent due to the current economic slowdown, are reluctant to make changes to the employees' old contracts.

Chef's Helper at Campus Dining Cathy Bradford, the Vice President for the SEIU on Vassar's campus, attended the VSA meeting and thanked the Council for their show of support.

Bradford explained that members of the SEIU try to obtain better pension plans and higher wages every three years when their contracts are re-negotiated. She assured the Council that the union would not stop fighting for these benefits, despite the current economic situation.

"It seems to me every three years there's always a financial crisis," Bradford said. "I understand that we're in an economic depression, but at the same time, the people here deserve that. We all are suffering."

VSA President Jimmy Kelly '09 added that he, too, felt the urgent need for improved workers' benefits. "A number of employees know that I do a lot of things in the community," he said. "And I have had a number of employees approach me asking me where they can get services, and to know that there are Vassar employees that are looking for the support of a food bank, that's just abominable to me."

The other resolution suggested extending need-blind admission to transfer and international students, who are currently admitted with financial considerations in mind, though all of their need is met upon their admittance.

This resolution was considered shortly after Vice President for Finance and Administration Elizabeth Eismeier and Dean of Planning and Academic Affairs Rachel Kitzinger reported to the VSA Council. They assured Council members that the College has no intention of revoking need-blind general admission, but cautioned that extending need-blind status was not something that could be accomplished given current economic circumstances.

The resolution called for need-blind admission to be granted to transfer and international students as soon as possible within the next five years. Many Council members questioned the efficacy of such a resolution. 

"We have to be very careful, just passing resolutions for the sake of passing resolutions, because they're not going to take this seriously if every week the VSA just passes a new resolution," cautioned Class of 2009 President Luis Hoyos. "I think it's irresponsible to put this burden on the administration if we can't afford it."

Nate Silver '10, vice president for student life, argued that it is important to publicize the Council's position on the matter, regardless of financial feasibility. "We, the current  students of Vassar College, understand that we might not ever see this policy actually implemented, but we believe very strongly that it is something that should be implemented," he said.

Several others still maintained that a resolution was not the appropriate course of action. Hoyos brought up the other resolutions that the Council has passed this year, including their resolution in opposition of the new meal plan. "Did [they] change anything?" he said. "No, because we acted prematurely. And this Council is making the huge mistake of looking like a joke in front of the administration because all we do is pass resolutions that have no backing."

Silver pointed out that the Council could also send memos and issue proposals. The Council decided to ask College officials to calculate the likely costs of extending need-blind admission before taking further action.

Kelly added that resolutions do put issues in front of the Senior Officers of the College. "This is one of the challenges of shared governance where one party doesn't really hold much power," he said. "We must constantly push an agenda so that we have the administration looking at what are the ramifications of a Council proposal."