The Story
A Sexy Message, Even in Hard Times.
Every few weeks I get an e-mail in my inbox from none other than W. Taylor Reveley III, himself. In his memo the president usually mentions the most recent updates on budget cuts affecting the College.
The most recent e-mail I received from him said that salary increases had been deferred for faculty and staff, the maintenance and operation budget was cut by five percent, a hiring freeze had been implemented, two people had been laid off at VIMS and our endowment has has decreased by 19 percent.
There is no doubt that next year the ungodly amount of college loans I will have to take out will rise very noticeably. Not to mention that the cost of living for students is constantly on the rise.
I think it is also necessary to point out exactly what this means to our staff when they don’t receive the pay raises they were expecting. Those expecting raises were not just faculty members and professors, President Reveley also specified that “staff” had been deferred their raises. This leads me to believe that the hourly workers, people who feed us our lunches everyday, clean our dorms (on Monday morning after the drunks have completely trashed them) and keep our campus looking beautiful are getting cut out of their piece as well.
This may not mean much to students here at the college who are living off their parents, but with the economy the way it is today I am sure there were people counting on that three percent raise. The professors will be fine, they make a decent amount. My concern is the everyday people who keep this institution running.
Is anyone thinking about them?
The reason I bring all of this up is because since August I have been fed all of this information. As a freshman, I have been concerned as to how high tuition would get over my next three years here. It seems to me that I am going to be paying for all of the trouble our economy has caused the College.
I felt so strongly about the situation that I joined our Student Assembly in going to Richmond last week to lobby for William and Mary. I wanted to help put a friendly face in our legislators mind so they will not forget the College as they deliberate over the budget.
Fellow Tribe members, I am writing this article to tell you that we have been lied to. Apparently the College has more than enough money to do whatever it wants.
Not really, but that is the message our Student Assembly is projecting to our state legislature. Yes, I am about to delve into possibly the most controversial topic on campus right now -- The Sex Workers’ Art Show.
I do not claim to be an expert in the logistical processes of the Student Assembly (I could not even name three people who serve as Senators), but I do know that it burns me up to know that I get e-mails all the time telling me how much the College is in need of money, and then I hear that the SA is appropriating approximately $1,600 dollars for the Sex Worker’s Art Show. This money is in addition to funding that the organizations sponsoring the show already receive from the SA.
What kind of image does that put in our state legislators’ minds? I know that if I were them I would be thinking, “Old Reveley must be crazy. How in the world does he expect to get money from us when the students in Williamsburg apparently have enough money to pay for this crap?”
But in fact, it would not be possible for President Reveley to put an end to the SWAS, as the media would crucify him on charges of censorship. He cannot possibly fan the flame -- we all know what happens to a College President when he dives into controversy.
Let me make myself clear: I am all for free speech. If LAMBDA, Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, and the rest want to have this show, far be it from me to try to stop them. I only argue against the fact that I (we) have to foot the bill. I pay enough tuition here, I hate to think that part of the hard-earned money I and my parents send to the College goes to endeavors such as this.
I realize that the sponsoring organizations have raised a lot of money to bring this event to campus and that they do so in the name of the Jeffersonian Ideal of free exchange of ideas. I also realize that the SA gives money to student organizations to bring speakers and events to campus to further promote this ideal.
This part of the SA budget comes from our Student Activities fees we pay every year, and it is to enhance the campus experience for all students. No, we do not get to pick and choose where our individual fees go -- that would be unrealistic. Yes, the money does come from students, not the General Assembly. But, if the Student Assembly members wish to have any political ambitions for their futures, they have a very important lesson to learn.
It does not matter where the money comes from, the General Assembly will not care. What matters is the image and message we are projecting to the public. Right now our legislators are our public, and we have to put on a good face for them so we can get what we need from them. Funding this show with student money is like cutting our nose off in spite of our face.
I went to Richmond last week to take a step forward for the College, when news broke out about SWAS again the College took two steps back.
It is not censorship to tell the SWAS supporters the SA will not be appropriating funds for it -- it’s good political sense.
Unfortunately, our Student Assembly has not seen the future implications this controversy could bring upon our budget. Maybe our SA does not care how much I have to pay to get an education for the next three years. If they do not, they have no business representing me in office.
Some naysayers may complain that the money for this event does not really come out of my tuition. I would first of all be very cautious to believe that, and if it did turn out to be true, my argument would still be valid. Even if it is not my money going to fund the SWAS, the money could be spent in other ways that could be more beneficial to the College as a whole.
Maybe we could use that money to help out College employees that are struggling in these hard economic times, or help fund more service trips to third-world countries or fund trips into our neighboring communities that are struggling. Or, why not bring in an financial expert to teach students about to enter the real world how to survive in this tumultuous economy.
$1,600 dollars is a lot of money and it should not be spent to accommodate those that are just out looking for a peek. Face it, the show may be coming in the name of education, but there is sure to be a few attending just for a good time.
My suggestion is, pull the additional appropriations for this event and let the sponsoring organizations raise the admission price two or three dollars. They would quickly make up the difference and the Student Assembly makes a wise decision with the future of William & Mary in mind. A decision like this would bring respect because the SA would be acting out of wisdom and restraint instead of just trying to appear “hip” and “cutting edge” to students.
This article is a message to Valerie Hopkins and the rest of our SA: If you want the state to continue supporting the College monetarily, learn how to spend the money you are responsible for wisely and with dignity.
It is rather daring of you to travel to Richmond one week and ask for money, and then act very immaturely with the money you already have the next. The SA’s decision to fund this event is severely misguided and harms the College’s chances for future funding.
My student loan balance thanks you.
Seth Drewry is an opinions columnist for The DSJ. His views do not necessarily represent those of the entire staff.