HOUSE BUDGETS

At the beginning of each college year, the members of the Houses are urged by the House Committee to contribute liberally to the House Fund. Yet with the exception of Lowell House, no committee presents a definite budget to the undergraduates indicating the manner in which the contributions are spent.

The men on the House Committees are, strictly, the representatives of the members of the House chosen by them to administer the House fund and to co-operate with the Master in promoting various enterprises generally favored by the student body. While the various dances, dinners, and lectures furnish definite evidence of the activities of the committee, the members of the House have no satisfactory way of judging whether or not their money is spent to the best possible advantage. No budgets are published, nor are any definite statements issued to the groups. While it is true that no criticisms impugning the honesty of the committees have been heard, nevertheless there is widespread desire on the part of the students to learn how their contributions are spent and what becomes of any surplus existing at the close of the college year. These are logical questions asked by any group of individuals of those trustees who hold their money, and as such they should be given a satisfactory answer.

In order to remedy this anomalous situation, the committees could present a budget to the House at the begining of each college year outlining prospective expenditures for the ensuing year, and could issue a financial statement in May indicating how the House funds have been expended. Not only would members of the Houses be more likely to contribute liberally if they saw the definite benefits accruing from their donations, but they would have a definite basis on which to critize the activities of the committees.