Wellesley S.M.I.L.E.S., Student Leadership Stipend advocates present ballot initiatives

Two proposals for the $11,000 ballot initiative were presented at Senate: the Student Leadership Stipend and funding for Wellesley S.M.I.L.E.S. (Spontaneous Moments in the Lives of Everyday Students). The Student Leadership Stipend provides payment for student leaders such as RAs and HPs in order to remove financial barriers to leadership positions for students on financial aid or work study. The stipend has appeared on the ballot for the last three years and has passed by student vote, providing up to $400 to 40 to 60 student leaders. Wellesley S.M.I.L.E.S. would use the $11,000 in question in three ways. First, they would use $5,000, five times larger than their current yearly budget of $1,000, on events similar to those held this year but increase the reach of the events. They would reserve $1,000 for “S.M.I.L.E.S.,” events with other organizations or groups on campus, in order to increase campus cohesion. Finally, the remaining $5,000 would go toward investing in “permanent S.M.I.L.E.S.” such as benches or bean bag chairs. The initiatives will be voted on during the next Senate meeting and one will appear on the ballot.

Search for Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life continues

The administration is moving forward on hiring a new Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life and Intercultural Education after Victor Kazanjian resigned this fall. Joanne Murray, the executive director of the Center of Work and Service and director of the Albright Institute will serve as the chair of the search committee. Additionally, the committee is looking for two students to represent student interests in the hiring process. The applications to serve on the committee as a student representative will be released either by the end of this week or the week after spring break. The administration hopes to hire a new Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life and Intercultural Education by August 2014.