Scots Day has traditionally been a joint effort between the Association of Student Activity Programming (ASAP) and Associated Students of Monmouth College (ASMC). On Tuesday, February 26, it was announced by the Student Finance Committee that ASMC would be allocating no funds to this year’s Scots Day events.

ASAP had requested $3,500 from ASMC, and was given nothing. Karen Ogorzalek, the associate dean of students and director of campus events said, “I was shocked that the funding did not go through…there has always been a joint effort financially and in the execution of Scots Day.”

According to the student organization funding application submitted by ASAP, “Student Senate has collaborated with ASAP on Scots Day for many years. It is in the constitution to assist in funding the event. ASAP is asking Student Senate to financially provide the inflatables for the event. ASAP plans on financing the giveaways and t-shirts for the event.”

Senior Benjamin Sauer, the treasurer of ASMC, commented, “While we wish we had the funds to fund Scots Day, we plan on assisting in our constitutional obligation to co-sponsor the event.”

Sauer continued by saying, “Due to the fact the ASMC constitution states under the section of the special events committee that the student government must co-sponsor Scots day and Scots eve, however, the constitution makes no mention of the student government’s obligation to fund the events.”

The Vice President of ASMC, junior Paige Halpin said, “I think this is an opportunity for us to reexamine Scots Day and how it is organized and put together. There definitely need to be changes made on both sides, ASAP and ASMC, and better communication between the two organizations about the event.”

Despite the set back both ASAP and ASMC will charge ahead with the plans for Scots Day, though altered they may be. ASAP had already set aside $4,000 for the founders day event but that was just slightly more than enough for the inflatables. The contracts for the inflatables have already been signed according to Ogorzalek.

These inflatables cost in the neighborhood of $3,000 leaving ASAP with close to $1,000 for the remaining of the Scots Day events. According to Ogorzalek, ASAP has already set up some in-house programs including open mic performances along with a performance by Monmouth’s own Scotsmen. These would not cost ASAP anything as compared to bringing in a performer from outside the college.

According to Ogorzalek another real option for ASAP is to cancel a future event and reallocate the money to Scots Day allowing for a more traditional founders day.

“I think the students look forward to Scots Day,” said Ogorzalek. “If we are going to have founders day we need to make it a celebration…I think ASAP will embrace the challenge of doing that,” she added.

Ogorzalek also commented that she embraced this unaccepted event as an opportunity to revamp or take Scots day in a new and different direction. This is a sentiment echoed by Jacquelyn Condon, vice president for student life and dean of students, who mentioned that this may be an opportunity to change Scots Day.

Return to Home -- Return to News