Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Class of 2013 seeks class funds beneficiary

Officials of the class of 2013 will be donating a portion of their budget to a beneficiary this year, and are allowing students to make the final decision on where the money is allocated.

In hopes of getting juniors more involved in student government decisions, class president Shanae Burch, along with other council members, created a Facebook event in which students can nominate charities they wish to see benefit from their bills. The nominations will be narrowed down, and a poll of 2013 class members will determine the final beneficiary.Burch said the idea rose after she and other council members brainstormed ideas to connect with their classmates.

“While something great comes out of uniting a class, I think something really great would be all of us deciding where we are going to contribute this money,” the acting major said.

According to Burch, classes typically have little to no say in what happens with their money. The funds raised during junior year are usually put towards a jam-packed senior year of events, including senior week. Elizabeth Mantey, vice president of the junior class, said she is excited to change the standard.

“We wanted the class as a whole to really have a say in where the money went,” the visual, media, arts major said.

According to Mantey, the class funds are still sufficient enough to put towards senior week. Additional money raised for the class this year will broaden the budget, allowing for extra to be given to the beneficiary.

Paige Sammartino, said she thinks highly of the idea.

“There are so many places our money could go and I think charity is one of the best options,” the junior writing, literature, and publishing major said.

Alyssa Macaluso, however, doesn’t think a poll through Facebook is an effective way to get the attention of the student body.

“Honestly, there is not enough time. You get so many [Facebook] events at one time and basically just become numb to it,” the design technology major said. “Facebook events as a whole are like an invitation to a bachelor party.”

Despite Malcuso’s idea of the event, students have already made submissions. Suggestions for a beneficiary have included class of 2013-specific funds and students as well as local Boston charities. Submissions for beneficiaries end on Sept. 24, and a poll for the final choices will run from Sept. 26 to Oct. 2.

Mantey said she hopes other class councils latch on to the idea and start putting their funds to causes outside Emerson.

“It would be really awesome if people jumped on the bandwagon and did that,” she said.

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