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Opinion
for the issue of
May 9th, 2012
Editorials
Managing trustee conflicts of interest: A redress of risks in the College’s related-party investments
The College has a large and steadily-growing endowment, and we are grateful and commend the Board of Trustees for its diligent stewardship in investing endowment funds. However, as the College has high ethical standards in nearly every realm of its operations, we are concerned by the College’s apparent propensity for investing in trustee-affiliated funds and the generally opaque policies by which those conflicts of interest have been reported in recent years. Continue reading »
Reorganizing representation: An evaluation of CC proposals to improve delegation
In last Wednesday’s meeting, College Council (CC) commendably addressed proposals to restructure student government at the College. As the proposals on the table are both varied and complex, we urge CC to carefully consider what overall structure best serves the needs of the student body going forward without overly complicating an already-complex system.
CC’s decision to re-envision the role of neighborhoods on Council is necessary and worthwhile. Students identify more fundamentally with their class year than they do with their geographic location on campus, particularly because students often shift neighborhood affiliation. Continue reading »
Op-Eds
A response to hyperactivism
Whatever can be said about an event that receives generous funding, commands the attention of national news media and unleashes a tidal wave of public and private conversations that dominate the College’s collective attention for more than a week, surely it is impossible to allege that the event’s organizers have in any way been “silenced.” Continue reading »
More than money trees
Last week, Herb Allen ’62 saw fit to submit an opinion to the Record addressing Jiz Lee’s event (“Minding our reputation,” May 2) – clearly a topic of much campus interest and discussion on campus. Continue reading »
The mutability of values?
Something is rotten in the purple bubble. Last week, Herbert Allen ’62 wrote an op-ed criticizing the College for its official endorsement of a performance by genderqueer pornographer Jiz Lee (“Minding our reputation,” May 2). The article prompted a polarized response from students, many of whom dismissed Allen as an “old” and “out of touch” alumnus, among other less endearing labels. The stereotype was clear: This man must be an ignorant ghost of Williams past, limited by homophobia and antiquated social standards. Continue reading »
Valuing club sports
“You don’t understand, you never played sports” was a phrase that followed me throughout high school. We came to the College for the academics and the opportunities available on an intellectual level; it never occurred to us that we would find ourselves as players on a women’s rugby team, a sport we didn’t even know existed until we set foot on the pitch. Continue reading »
Letters
Establishing our roles
To the Editor:
It’s not “strictly academic” when a major College donor writes a cautionary letter to The Williams Record. The actions to which Herbert Allen refers (“Minding our reputation,” May 2) – those surrounding Jiz Lee’s lecture – threaten to take on a life surpassing those of Act Up gestures or springtime pranks which fast fade away, as College grown-ups would hope. Continue reading »