Undergraduate Association Voting Closes for Participatory Budgeting Proposals
On Oct. 24, the Undergraduate Association (UA) opened up voting for various proposals that utilize the $25,000 set aside for participatory budgeting in the fall semester. The vote, which was conducted through rank choice, closed midnight Nov. 6. An additional $25,000 is set aside for the spring semester, during which there will be another round of funding.
The proposals included the following: Bouncy House Extravaganza, Exploding Kittens for All Living Groups, Free Menstrual Products for Undergraduates, Free Stamps for All, MIT Poster Archive, The Newspaper Project, Project GOAT aka Goat Petting Zoo, Undergraduate Swings, and Waffle Wednesdays.
Of note was “The Newspaper Project,” which according to the proposal, “aims to set up newspaper stands at dorm lounges and other locations frequented by students.” The proposal also intends to fund newspaper subscriptions and the physical newspaper-reading stands themselves. The project was projected to cost under $5000.
According to the UA, the total of $50,000 to be spent on the participatory budget proposals this academic year came from “unspent money in previous years’ budgets.” The winning plans will be implemented from Nov. to May, according to the participatory budgeting website.