Who gets a piece of the budget pie? The Mac Weekly’s request for funds on Dec. 11 to pay each section editor raised the issue of just which student organizational leaders should receive money. Currently The Weekly’s editor in chief and advertising director, WMCN’s program directors, and RAs receive reimbursement through variouse means including stipends, work-study, and raising their own funds (advertising). To research opinions on paying student leaders, MCSG contacted several schools of similar size and/or caliber to Macalester. Some, such as Oberlin and Lawrence, paid their media and student government leaders. At Swarthmore, many student leaders received funds, but often outside of the student activity fee (affiliated departments, etc.); and their student government leaders were not paid. Carleton currently pays no student leaders, but their student government is looking into the issue.



Good idea: paying org leaders

By CATE McDONOUGH

How many hours do those of us on work-study put in at our jobs every week? Maybe eight? How many hours do the leaders of such student organizations as the Mac Weekly, WMCN, or MCSG put in? Upwards of twenty. Students who commit that amount of time and energy to an organization on campus should receive payment, and yet at Macalester today student leaders are not paid. Why is this?

Some would argue that student leaders should not be paid because their positions are voluntary. True, but given the amount of time they give to these positions, what time is left to work at a job? The commitment involved has caused more than a few organization leaders to reconsider their positions as it jeopardizes their ability to earn money, which for many people is necessary to remain at Macalester. Nick Berning and Stephen Wong, current MCSG President and Vice-President respectively, both had initial qualms about running for their positions because of the potential pecuniary loss involved. It seems to me that forcing students to make such a choice between necessary funds and a role they are deeply committed to borders on elitist. It makes it far more likely that a student who is not in need of work-study or an outside job, would run for leadership positions. And for those students on work-study who choose to accept these positions, lack of payment greatly increases the amount of pressure these students must work under as they struggle to competently lead their orgs and hold down a part-time job.

Another argument is that paying student leaders would detract from the funds available to students on work-study by rewarding students who are not in need of work-study funds. This is not necessarily true. The college already pays a few student workers through stipends instead of hourly wages. This money is classified as a reward, or a type of scholarship, and is not part of the work-study funds. Another option would be to pay students from the Student Activity Fee. The organizations would simply add into their budget a salary for their leader and the FAC and MCSG would vote on the amount. Paying student leaders from other students’ funds is not the only option the college could consider when choosing to pay student leaders.

Because of the time and energy student leaders give to their organizations and because of the overwhelming College interest in maintaining this level of service, I feel it is highly necessary to pay student leaders. This does not mean that I support rewarding all student organization leaders, but I do support those leaders who put in the same amount of time or more with their organizations as they would at a work-study job. It is only just that they be paid for that time and that their service be considered as a work-study position. Paying student leaders would encourage commitment to the organization by offering compensation for time spent, increase the likelihood that students on work-study would see leading a student organization as a feasible option, and justly compensate students for what truly amounts to a part-time job. Many colleges around the country already employ such a system (Oberlin and Carleton, to name a few); it’s time for Macalester to pay up and support those students who have devoted their time and energy to the perpetuation of student organizations on campus.



Bad idea: paying org leaders

By CLARK WOHLFERD

All apologies to Karl Marx, but do we really want the only nexus between Macalester Students and their leaders to be naked self-interest or callous cash payments? The idea of expanding payment to other student leaders is a dangerous precedent that should be avoided at all costs. One of the principle foundations of this institution is our commitment to service. By introducing money into our belief in the intrinsic worth of volunteerism we will cheapen our message and the character of those who serve.

Picture the highest offices of student organizations becoming merely rat races in search of payment. By paying more student leaders we essentially open the Pandora’s Box to allow people to no longer view leadership positions on campus as investments in human capital and instead simply as a way to make money … and easy money in some instances. Assuming a leadership role should be done out of civic duty, not greed.

Expanding our current system to include further paid positions creates a logistical nightmare. How can we measure who deserves what? What will ensue is a bidding war as different campus organizations vie for a limited amount of dollars. Do we really want to begin an evaluation of which student organizations are more important and therefore their leaders deserve payment or a higher level of payment? I certainly hope not. Moreover, there is no mechanism in place to be able to ensure that the students are getting their money’s worth if we were to expand payments. In one school year the President of MCSG may work a vast amount of hours and contribute to campus greatly; however, the next year we may end up with a lame president who devotes little time to his or her duties. At least with the current system there is an established output which the students see. In the case of WMCN being on air or The Mac Weekly being published, the students have something tangible to critique or praise.

I certainly sympathize with the argument that paying student leaders through student employment will allow for disadvantaged Macalester students to participate more on campus. It is unfair that some students who are more affluent have extra time on their hands and don’t have to work. But a person who is committed to service on campus can make it work. Although it definitely isn’t easy, I and many people I know juggle the obligations of school, work, and activities. Unfortunately, it simply results in a greater sacrifice being made by students who are less affluent, and that sacrifice is not worth bringing monetary gain to our spirit of volunteerism.

Do not taint the reputation of service at Macalester by introducing payment as motivation for leaders. Instead, let’s create a system of rewards to further distinguish student leaders on campus who put so much effort into making Macalester a great place. Let us maintain our investment in human capital rather than financial gain. Please, contact your MCSG Representative and express to them the need to further volunteerism on campus.