Spring Break
The Daily OrangeUU Cinemas wastes estimated $9,000
By Dave Robbie
Posted: 12/3/04, 3:35 AM EST Section: News
After what will mark one of the worst semesters in University Union Cinemas' history, UU officials have estimated $9,000 was spent on 12 films that were never screened.
UU Cinemas organizers say they have held, at most, three screening events this semester. The group was left completely unstaffed after its lone member quit out of frustration in late October.
UU has regrouped and appointed a new student to head the Cinemas program, but not before it squandered almost one-third of its budget, which comes from the Student Activity Fee. The organization plans to start showing movies again next week.
"I definitely think it is no more than ($9,000). I'm not exactly sure what the exact figure is off hand. It's definitely a lot of money," said Dennis Jacobs, president of UU. "That was rough - that whole period was rough. We're expecting budget cuts because films haven't been shown."
According to Jacobs, UU Cinemas got about $28,000 from the Student Association for the semester. The money that remains from this semester will be available for next semester, according to SA Comptroller Maggie Misztal, but she added that UU Cinemas will probably see a cut in funding eventually due to their actions this semester.
"We evaluate organizations on the consistency and ability to get things produced," Misztal said. "They'll be funded less this semester."
But the drop should not be too severe, Misztal said, because of the unique role that UU Cinemas fills on campus. While there are numerous groups hoping to bring speakers and artists to campus, UU Cinemas is one of the only organizations that offers current and more mainstream movies.
This means that the decision to cut funding will not be based solely on this semester's events, Misztal said, since the finance board will have to weigh the organization's performance this semester against overall student interest.
According to Tom Ptasinski, the group's former chairman, the organization began to run into the problems at the end of last semester when many of the students involved either graduated or left. This left Ptasinski as the only person to do the majority of the organization's tasks.
UU Cinemas organizers say they have held, at most, three screening events this semester. The group was left completely unstaffed after its lone member quit out of frustration in late October.
UU has regrouped and appointed a new student to head the Cinemas program, but not before it squandered almost one-third of its budget, which comes from the Student Activity Fee. The organization plans to start showing movies again next week.
"I definitely think it is no more than ($9,000). I'm not exactly sure what the exact figure is off hand. It's definitely a lot of money," said Dennis Jacobs, president of UU. "That was rough - that whole period was rough. We're expecting budget cuts because films haven't been shown."
According to Jacobs, UU Cinemas got about $28,000 from the Student Association for the semester. The money that remains from this semester will be available for next semester, according to SA Comptroller Maggie Misztal, but she added that UU Cinemas will probably see a cut in funding eventually due to their actions this semester.
"We evaluate organizations on the consistency and ability to get things produced," Misztal said. "They'll be funded less this semester."
But the drop should not be too severe, Misztal said, because of the unique role that UU Cinemas fills on campus. While there are numerous groups hoping to bring speakers and artists to campus, UU Cinemas is one of the only organizations that offers current and more mainstream movies.
This means that the decision to cut funding will not be based solely on this semester's events, Misztal said, since the finance board will have to weigh the organization's performance this semester against overall student interest.
According to Tom Ptasinski, the group's former chairman, the organization began to run into the problems at the end of last semester when many of the students involved either graduated or left. This left Ptasinski as the only person to do the majority of the organization's tasks.
