In a reversal of a decision passed last Sunday, the Undergraduate Council voted yesterday to suspend efforts to fund the creation of an online study guide library for undergraduates.
Voicing ethical and legal concerns about the project, as well as allegations that UC leaders had not properly ascertained adminstrative approval, Ellen V. Lehman ’11—a representative from Adams House—made a motion to strike all of the operative clauses from the legislation passed last week.
After a heated debate, 28 representatives voted to overturn the initative, while 12 were in favor of its preservation. Two members abstained.
“We should encourage learning and thoughtful reading,” Lehman said. “And these study guides seem to go against that entirely.”
Representatives feared that the UC would spend the $600 allocated last week to fund the Web site, only to have the project shut down by College deans.
UC Vice President Eric N. Hysen ’11 said that Dean of Student Life Suzy M. Nelson and Assistant Dean of Student Life Susan B. Marine “were both entirely supportive” of exploring the creation of a study guide library.
But a representative who had attended last Thursday’s Committee on Undergradute Education meeting said that Dean of Undergraduate Education Jay M. Harris and other committee members had expressed reservations about proceeding with the project before its legal and ethical implications were further considered.
“It would look fiscally irresponsible if we spent $600 on a Web site that we are not able to create because the deans say no,” said Treasurer Brad M. Paraszczak ’11.
“We don’t exist to do what the deans want us to do,” Hysen responded, referencing successful UC proposals such as Ad Board reform and Lamont Library’s 24-hour weekday schedule, which he said were initially met with adminstrative resistance. “Our purpose as an organization is to push deans to do things that they don’t want to do.”
While the Council could vote in the future to reinstate this project, Hysen said that last night’s cancellation of project funding would likely prevent the site from launching this year.
Prior to the motion to strike the study guide library plans, the Council passed legislation that formalized the partnership between the UC and Drug and Alcohol Peer Advisers.
The UC also unanimously passed a position paper of recommendations for future January term offerings, primarily advocating on-campus student group programming and University assistance to students seeking January internships through alumni connections.
—Staff writer Janie M. Tankard can be reached at jtankard@fas.harvard.edu.
—Staff writer Julie M. Zauzmer can be reached at jzauzmer@college.harvard.edu.
