Despite the Undergraduate Assembly's rejection of funding for this year's annual wine-tasting class, the Preceptorials Committee has no sour grapes on its palate.
During last year's UA budget meeting, the group opposed the costly wine preceptorial, decreasing funding allocated to the group from $13,000 the previous year to $11,500.
Since the Office of the University Provost traditionally matches UA funding for preceptorials, the committee's budget for this year's program was short $3,000 - the exact amount slated for the popular Wine Tasting Preceptorial.
But with budget cuts and more cost-conscious thinking by the committee, the Preceptorials Committee - with the Student Committee on Undergradute Education, from which it gets its funding - has managed to fund that and other preceptorials again this year.
Budget cuts include serving less food - the old preceptorial included a catered meal while this one has only cheese and crackers - and making a one-time purchase of wine glasses, plates and silverware to reuse every year.
The organizers also worked to ensure all the money in the budget was accounted for, since $400 spent in last year's budget lacked an adequate explanation.
"There is no need for any conflict between the UA and the Preceptorials Committee," said College junior and preceptorials chairman Danny Fein. "We all want the same thing."
Wharton Senior and UA treasurer Ben Coulter explained that last year's decision was intended to show "that we fundamentally disagreed with the Wine Tasting Preceptorial."
Wharton senior and preceptorials vice chairman Varun Jain, who is organizing this year's wine tasting, said the preceptorial - for which only seniors are eligible - is a "one-of-the-kind experience" and a "senior tradition."
He added that over 800 seniors, or about a third of the senior class, typically register.
However, the seminar, taught by a geologist, a chemical engineer and a cultural anthropologist, is limited to just 20 to 25 students, Jain said.
Jain said the budget cuts may have had less impact on the class than on the committee itself, citing the increase of more cost-effective practices.
For example, committee members now run one free preceptorial each semester.
"There's been a change in our attitude and in the way we are running the committee," Jain said.
Despite decreased funding, the committee has 37 classes planned this semester, in addition to the 18 held last fall, he said.
Fein emphasized that the committee's new philosophy has made the group a better organization overall.
"The committee has been amazing this year in getting top-notch professors and coming up with innovative topics," Fein said.
College and Wharton senior and UA chairman Wilson Tong acknowledged the recent steps by the Preceptorials Committee to streamline costs and increase offerings. Both he and Coulter noted that next year's funding ultimately depends on the Budget Committee's proposal and approval by the UA.
Tong, however, said he is optimistic for the pending decision.
