Financial logistics aside, you should know that the Senate has a lump of about $14,000 that we are using for our pilot year of Senate Opportunity Subsidy (SOS) programs. SOS programs are a part of a recent Senate bylaw change that happened last Spring semester, and they will help us (the Student Body Senate) help you (the Reed College Student Body) by giving out many $$$’s. For the 2014-2015 academic year, we are using the SOS program money to establish a summer grant application process that will be open in Spring 2015. The grant will be primarily geared towards students pursuing opportunities that are not traditionally covered by academic departments or the Center for Life Beyond Reed.
Want to intern at an architecture and design firm, but can’t live off the low stipend they give you? Want to work at a local radio station, but can’t find housing when it’s an unpaid employment opportunity? Want to do some fancy volunteering with an animal hospital, but (again) money is tight and you can’t afford to volunteer when you should be looking for a high-paying job? Then this is the summer grant for you!
The 2015 SOS summer grants are still being crafted, and the Senate needs a couple of students to join our SOS Planning and Review Committee. The committee will consist of your Student Body President as ex oficio non-voting chair, the Head Treasurer, two senators, and two appointed students. We will work together to write the application, smooth out logistics with the SB treasury, field questions from applicants, publicize the grant, and review applications in the Spring. Information about when to apply for these appointed positions will be in SB Info and on flyers coming soon. Please note that being on the committee would preclude you from applying for the grant in the Spring.
The money is coming, and more information is coming soon! In the interim, please contact me (via email at djuncal@reed.edu, via mailstop at #945, via messenger squirrel at Thesis Desk #158) if you have any questions about the grant program, the process, or the idea of SOS in general.