Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMore than 44 percent of SA budget allocated to University Union
By Rachel Eldridge
Posted: 11/18/08, 1:57 AM EST Section: News
University Union will receive about 44 percent of the Student Association budget for the spring semester. UU wasn't awarded the full amount it requested, but will be given approximately $249,360 for its two events in the spring: Block Party 2009 and the Large-Scale Comedy Show.
In a crowded Maxwell Auditorium with about 250 people, SA Cabinet members and assembly members voted on the allocation of money by SA's Finance Board to Syracuse University student organizations.
In a half-hour discussion on whether the Finance Board's decision was acceptable in giving a large sum of its budget to UU, Director of Technology Michael Fleishman said, "The Finance Board's mission statement is to give money to groups that service the community and the university as a whole, and no group on campus serves as many people as University Union."
Sacha Forgenie, SA's comptroller and chair of the Finance Board, stood for an hour and a half, reading from a spreadsheet list of student organization events that received zero funding.
After reciting each proposed bill and its rejection of funding, Forgenie read why funding was denied. Some were because "it would be a misuse of the student fee," "the event is not original enough and wouldn't bring enough interest," "bad budgeting," or "the organization cannot handle an event of that magnitude."
Some organizations received partial funding and some full funding for specific events. A majority of the student organizations that were granted zero or little funding were new organizations trying to get funding and gain acknowledgement on campus.
Jerk magazine was another organization that sparked controversy among audience members, in relation to a controversial article published earlier this semester.
"We allocated money to Jerk magazine because it is not fair to punish a publication for one mistake," said Bennison Ntsakey, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. "We look at each organization, in the hopes of seeing progress from year to year, and we give money accordingly."
In a crowded Maxwell Auditorium with about 250 people, SA Cabinet members and assembly members voted on the allocation of money by SA's Finance Board to Syracuse University student organizations.
In a half-hour discussion on whether the Finance Board's decision was acceptable in giving a large sum of its budget to UU, Director of Technology Michael Fleishman said, "The Finance Board's mission statement is to give money to groups that service the community and the university as a whole, and no group on campus serves as many people as University Union."
Sacha Forgenie, SA's comptroller and chair of the Finance Board, stood for an hour and a half, reading from a spreadsheet list of student organization events that received zero funding.
After reciting each proposed bill and its rejection of funding, Forgenie read why funding was denied. Some were because "it would be a misuse of the student fee," "the event is not original enough and wouldn't bring enough interest," "bad budgeting," or "the organization cannot handle an event of that magnitude."
Some organizations received partial funding and some full funding for specific events. A majority of the student organizations that were granted zero or little funding were new organizations trying to get funding and gain acknowledgement on campus.
Jerk magazine was another organization that sparked controversy among audience members, in relation to a controversial article published earlier this semester.
"We allocated money to Jerk magazine because it is not fair to punish a publication for one mistake," said Bennison Ntsakey, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. "We look at each organization, in the hopes of seeing progress from year to year, and we give money accordingly."
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 10
Aaron
posted 11/18/08 @ 8:45 AM EST
Someone should point out to Nick Johnson that the $3 NYPIRG portion is a separate referendum every 4 years, and is the _only_ refundable portion of the student activity fee. (Continued…)
Liam
posted 11/18/08 @ 8:52 AM EST
Let's hope UU doesn't waste all that money on a shitty concert again.
Kaylen Thorpe
posted 11/18/08 @ 9:09 AM EST
What the hell is the "Large Scale Comedy Event". Does this mean a single big-name comedian or a whole bunch of no-names?
LAUREN
posted 11/18/08 @ 9:32 AM EST
What is this controversial jerk article?
Kyle
posted 11/18/08 @ 10:11 AM EST
"How dare 44 percent of my student fee go to events I don't feel represent me."
How can you possibly say this when you don't even know what artists will be brought for these events?
Michel Fleishman
posted 11/18/08 @ 1:30 PM EST
First off, minor correction to this article as I am no longer Director of Technology for this session (I held that role in the 51st session)
When we as assembly members vote on the allocations for the student fee we vote on if we feel the finance board did it's job in allocating funds as well as adhere to the vision statement we gave it a week ago. (Continued…)
Silver
posted 11/18/08 @ 8:58 PM EST
Fergie? really? Fergie I'm pretty sure that I don't want my student fee going trash performances such as Fergie thank you very much and I dont see a UU table outside of the southside of Syracuse, NY talking about serving the public
Raymond W. Torres
posted 11/18/08 @ 11:08 PM EST
The same thing happens year after year, and it's always the same theme; UU takes more than a third of the SA budget at the expense of "minority" organizations, prompting obligatory shouting matches in and around Maxwell and Schine that last for the better part of two weeks. (Continued…)
Past Student
posted 11/19/08 @ 10:13 AM EST
I do not think that people truly understand how difficult of a situation UU is put in each year. UU NEEDS to receive annual funding. They had a great proposal, which would give them a lump sum of money, allow them to keep profits, and in turn receive LESS money per semester then they have ever received. (Continued…)
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