The Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote that “the best laid schemes of mice and men oft go awry.”  One can’t help but think of this line when hearing of the Student Government Association’s recent announcement of both a scholarship program and an emergency loan fund.

While well-intentioned, the SGA proposal to award two $1,000 scholarships and a $500 book grant is a misuse of the Student Activities Fee.  SGA President Steve Moscaritolo said that this scholarship will “provide an incentive for and thank-you to those who take time to make the Fisher community better for the many students who work and reside here.”  While a noble offering, the Student Activities Fee is not meant to benefit only a few individuals.  In past years, SGA has used surplus funds to donate a generous DVD collection to Lavery Library and to install the Axis TVs around campus.  These actions are experienced and enjoyed by all students at Fisher, not just a select few.

In addition to the scholarships, SGA has created an emergency loan fund in response to “feedback from administration that indicated there was a demand for an efficient way to help students who most need it in an emergency situation.”  This is an egregious misuse of funds entrusted to the SGA by the students of the College.  The students, faculty and administration involved with this decision should have realized that this is not the responsibility of SGA but instead belongs under the domain of Financial Aid.

It is not right that Fisher students, many of them taking out loans shackled with interest, pay the Student Activities Fee, and now must watch as their money is awarded to other students.  Scholarships can be cultivated in other ways, and it is unfair to siphon off of funds that can be put into truly improving the life of Fisher students.  It is not often that a group is presented with thousands of dollars, and SGA needs to realize the great power they have along with the chance to truly improve the quality of life for students.

In addition to the misguided appropriation of the Student Activities Fee, it is not prudent that the scholarship is awarded by SGA, the student leadership group, when the award is for student leaders themselves.  Who is to determine what a student leader is anyway?  Does it have to be someone who is part of the SGA community, or will those who have found ways to be leaders in their own right be allowed?  Safeguards must be installed in order to avoid nepotism, or else the validity of this scholarship will be completely lost.

Somewhere along the way, an SGA with the best of intentions went astray.  While many students would surely appreciate the boost in financial aid, the fact that the scholarship is coming from a surplus in funds following a raise in the Student Activities Fee cannot sit well in both the hearts and the wallets of the Fisher community.