The editor would like to thank all involved for their time and effort on this edition of The Voice.

The opinions expressed in any Sweet Briar College publication or other forms of media are not necessarily those of the students, faculty, staff or administration. Therefore, Sweet Briar College is not responsible for its content.

Editorials represent the opinion(s) of the editor(s) and/or staff/guest writer(s).

This site is maintained by Anne Proctor. Please email any questions or comments concerning the web site to her.

The SBC Bill: Funding for Programs
By Caroline Sapp '09
STAFF WRITER

Every year, many students express concerns about school funding for academic and non-academic programs on campus. People want more money spent on better bands, more books in the library, more machines in the weight room, etc. So, we decided to take a look at how the school manages its money on a yearly basis.

First, the budget basically remains the same from year to the year. The essentials of the budget include the salaries and health insurance of our faculty and staff, the heat in the buildings, as well as the dining budget. After those expenses a small amount is left over for all other requests made by the departments. Based on funding, decisions are made after a discussion between the President, the Dean, and Paul Davies (who meets with SGA president).

The money for any project or expense on campus has to come from somewhere. Unlike the US government, Sweet Briar has to come out with at least a zero total balance at the end of the year. 43% of the money for the budget comes from our tuition; 23% from the endowment, and 18% from axillaries (money from the book store, Prothro, and the conference center).

Finally, 16% is from the annual fund. This brings to me to my first myth buster. The campaign might have nominally raised 110.9 million dollars, but as of June, only 62 million has been collected. Of that 62 million, 25% went to academic programs. The remaining amounts from the campaign, according to Dean Green, will be contributing to the fiscal security of Sweet Briar for the next thirty years.

As for the new Fitness and Athletics Center, about $3 million was raised in the campaign, which is why the school has not yet begun construction. But this was not the main focus of the campaign; in fact, the gym is a project eight years in the making, voted on by the Sweet Briar women of previous years.

Some people have suggested that instead of a new athletics facility we should be making improvements to the library. Actually, the campaign raised over $7.3 million for improvements on the Library. In fact, according to Dean Green, we should be expecting renovations in the Reading Room within the year.

Many of you remember the rumors circulating before the Gala: that the tents were made of silk, that the ground would be covered in marble, and that the cost was in the millions (the most common number was $1.7 million). According to Paul Davies, it was about one tenth of that amount, and was a gift from a group of Alumna who wanted to make Homecoming special this year.

Still not satisfied? Don’t think we need a new gym but 10,000 pogo sticks? Then make your voice heard. Go to SGA meetings. And take those pesky student surveys. The board, as well as Dean Green and Paul Davies, spend hours pouring over surveys to figure out what we want. Talk to the Academic Affairs Committee. There are students on every committee that meets at Sweet Briar.

It should also be noted that this newspaper accepts freelance op-ed pieces from student contributors, as well as letters to the editor, but very few students actually write in with their thoughts.

If you still feel that nobody is listening to you, make an appointment to talk with Dean Green. There are clearly numerous ways to make your voice heard.