Fix it with Five, a program that hopes to donate $10,000 to a charity by taking $5 out of each student’s activity fee, was established after initially meeting some resistance.
Making 'Fix it with Five' well known
Since the program is still in its planning stages there has not been much talk about it this semester, Fix it with Five creator Eric Larkin said. The committee members have been meeting every week to work on projects such as their mission statement and their Web site, which will be available for viewing soon, Larkin said.
“We are focusing on ways to get everyone at the school more knowledgeable about what we are about and to encourage them to get involved,” Larkin said.
The Fix it with Five committee members are looking to have open meetings so that students can get to know more about the program and ask questions, he said.
The first open informational meeting will be held Wednesday, Oct. 21, in Eddie’s Lounge, Larkin said.
The committee has ideas including hosting an event at the upcoming Friday Knight Dry and getting members in classes, school clubs and residence halls to help spread the word of its existence, Larkin said.
Funding obstacles
Only one charity will be receiving the $10,000 and the students will have the opportunity to nominate charities they find deserving, Larkin said.
“We hope to have the list of charities narrowed down to three by the start of next semester,” Larkin said.The tentative application deadline for students to nominate charities is Dec. 1.
Larkin was inspired to start the program as a way to change the problems that many charities are trying to fix rather than just trying to cover them up, he said.
The committee predicts some problems with the program in the near future, Larkin said.
“We haven’t been given any money for a budget to fund our operational costs,” he said.
The committee will run into trouble when it needs money for things like mailing out letters to raise awareness, stamps, envelopes, and having speakers to talk to students, he said.
Thus far the committee is thinking about hosting various fundraisers to help subsidize these costs; in the meantime they have to pay for any expenses themselves, Larkin said.
“Normally, first-year clubs get a budget of $500, but technically we aren’t a club we don’t get that $500,” Larkin said. Senior Joshua Britch, a Fix it with Five committee member, was recruited by Larkin, he said.
“I was inspired to get involved because the world is in a dire state and this is a unique opportunity.” Britch said. “We have to do something.”
New school year, new beginnings
In regard to the controversy from last semester, many students were opposed to $5 being taken out of their activities fee without their consent. This controversy led to a campus-wide vote by the student body. In the end, the program passed by one vote.
“Right now I believe the biggest obstacle is informing people about the program."
He believes this will help in dispelling any rumors or false information about Fix it with Five and could lead to more support of the program, Britch said.
“The main point of the program is to love. We have to help people."
Meghan Cary, Student Association secretary of finance does not think there is much controversy between the Student Association and Fix it with Five, she said.
“Not much changed in terms of finances,” Cary said. “The percentage of money donated to charity just went from 1 percent to 2 percent; it used to be $5,000.”
“The program will just be reviewed with all other programs in their first year to see how they are progressing” Cary said.
There are criticisms for everything, said David Hiltz Student Association president.
The Student Association is now moving on from that controversy, he said.
“For now, in response to that we are just saying that it’s not last year. We are taking what happened last year as a lesson learned, but it’s a new year,” Hiltz said. |
