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Show HERMON WELLS, Auditor of Student Accounts Irresponsibility or Red-tape or What The new way of managing student funds is an effort to eleminate financial irresponsibility without red-tape. "Financial irresponsibility" has been a frequent cry of regents, faculty, down-town firms and incoming student body officers for as far back as anybody can remember. The notorious "Aida" production put the Musical Society on Dun's and Bradstreet's defunct lists and, incidently, is yet disturbing the repose of all the Deans, save the wily Gibson. The Athletic Council's debts to Spaldings and the Western Arms are venerable with age. The Dramatic Club, putting it mildly, has frequently if not consistently thought more of Art than of the mundane proceeds. Printers have filed suits again Utonian and Chronicle editors amid embarrassing suggestions of graft and hidden "velvet." It may not be amiss to point out that some, at least, of the most disastrous plunges have been made by activities owned, controlled, and completely monopolized oy faculty members. Far be it from us to attempt to draw any conclusion from this indisputable fact more than to say that some of us are just about like others if not mo;e so. An attempt to eliminate this irresponsibility will necessarily be unsuccessful unless it can be made smoothly and simply. If a fellow has to procure a certified affidavit signed by five citizens of high repute and then arrange for a personal interview with the Dean's Council or the Board of Pardons or the Food Administratin before he can get authority to buy a dime's worth of peanuts for a Sophomore bust, he is not likely to take kindly to "the system." So the aim is to steer the course safely between these two menaces. The means suggested and partially worked out this year are: 1. A permanent officer on the University pay roll to act as advisor and auditor of student activities. Preferably this officers should be available all the time. We cheerfully resign in favor of such a one. 2. The Budget system to replace the favorite Post-mortem method. 3. Revenue from all sources to be deposited with the treasurer and auditor and all expenditures to be made only upon order issued their authority before the purchase is made. These are nothing but common-sense business principles which, if carefully applied and extended, will inevitably bring the desired result. Page Eighty-four |