Thursday, September 24, 2009
Student senators are taking a closer look at funding proposals from groups this year. The student activity fee decreased from $17.50 to $15.50 per person, causing student senators to put funding proposals from groups under the microscope this year.
Mark Pacey, Manhattan graduate student and finance committee chair, said the committees overlooking funding bills are asking groups to provide more information like a more complete estimate of how many people would be in attendance at events. He said he encouraged groups to submit proposals early.
“We pass more funding in the fall, but that’s in large part due to events in the spring often come through in the fall. We run out of money,” Pacey said.
The cuts this year to student activities total 11.4 percent. The biggest cuts were to block allocation funds, which included groups such as the Marching Jayhawks, University Theatre and the Student Senate administration budget. These funds were cut from $621,042 in fiscal year 2009 to $535,584 for fiscal year 2010. Line item funds, the initial funding a registered group receives and unallocated funds, which is money left over and groups also get funding from, have also decreased.
Erin Pishny, Lenexa junior and assistant treasurer, said student groups should explore all their options for funding this year, including grants and sponsorships. She said this should be something groups do every year.
“Last year we were running out of money, when we had more money,” Pishny said.
Maruel Unrein, Aiea, Hawaii senior and president of the Asian-American Student Union, said he received suggestions from Student Senate representatives in the Multicultural Education Fund to make sure they have better preparation in their proposals.
“They’re really trying to drill us on being specific,” Unrein said. “We are expected to have them drill us with questions. Just to make sure that it’s going to a good cause. You just have to be clear about it.”
Pacey said groups seeking funding should have contracts for senators to review, and be in communication with their student senator writing the funding bill. He said he encouraged groups and senators to let him review legislation for biweekly finance meetings early by e-mail.
“I don’t mind having bills running by me first,” Pacey said.
Ryan Callihan, Lenexa senior and president of KU Environs, said his group had received the standard $200 in line item funding, but it has also received a cut in funding because of the cut in the renewable energy and sustainability fee, which has gone down from $1.25 to 25 cents. He said the group hasn’t come up with substantial plans for funding programs this year.
“But when we do, we’re definitely going to make sure it’s a good plan, and also try to get as much funding from other places as possible, because we know that this year’s a little tight for Student Senate,” Callihan said.
Pacey said student groups should still try to ask for funding.
“I don’t see any reason why something that has campus impact and follows all our rules won’t get funded,” Pacey said. “We’re going to run out of money at the end of the year because we always run out of money at the end of the year.”
— — Edited by Alicia Banister
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Comments
Groups must detail fund proposals
I hope there is a brawl within student senate soon. Something like the basketball and football team dispute, except for a University Affairs vs. Student Rights brawl. Condescending words like "roll-call-vote" and "corruption" words would be thrown instead of punches....
Groups must detail fund proposals
I think a Student Senate brawl would be highly entertaining - in fact, I'm pretty sure I'd buy tickets to see that.
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