Financial board presents budget with one appeal
By LAURA ROMPF
Assistant News Editor
The Financial Management Board presented the 2000-2001 Student Union Budget to the Student Senate last night. Although only one appeal was filed, there were several areas questioned by various senators.
"The financial board is made up of nine members and the group has been together all year. Before we allocated funds, we met with half of the organizations asking for money," said Katie Reicher, student union treasurer.
The Financial Management Board met with leaders of the groups in 15-minute interviews Sunday and then conducted discussions on where money should go. Because The Shirt project grossed more money this year, the board had $20,000 more to allocate.
"We decided to create a technology fund where on a three year rotation, different groups would receive new computers for their offices," Reicher said. "In this day and age, there is a desperate need for technology and this fund will help organizations keep up."
One controversy with the budget was that the Student Union Board's (SUB) money was cut by $5500 from last year.
"We decided that [giving that money to SUB] may not be the best way to use student funds ... We went through the budget as a collective whole to make these decisions," Reicher said.
SUB still has a lot of money remaining in their account from this year, and thus the board decided they did not need as much money, Reicher said. However, SUB representative Becky Heglin said that the group had tried to bring Oliver Stone or Jerry Springer to campus and because these events fell through, SUB had money remaining in its account.
One area of concern within SUB is the money allocated for concerts. Keenan senator Grant Gholson expressed concern with the acts that SUB is able to bring to campus for concerts and questioned whether giving them more money would aid in getting large names to play here.
"The problem with concerts is that it is an overarching issue," Reicher said. "The University as a whole must work to get bigger names. We are not in a position to allocate enough money to bring such an act in."
"Basically we decided that one big concert is a better idea than two smaller ones. It is beyond our realm. We simply do not have the money as a Student Union to put forth towards renting the [Joyce Athletic and Convocation Center (JACC)]," she said.
Other members of the Financial Management Board also commented on this issue.
"SUB was asking for more money specially in concerts because they wanted the shows to be held on the weekend. Groups charge more on the weekends than on Thursday nights. However, we did not think it made sense to allocate money for this reason," said SUB member Marc Higgins. "Also part of the problem is that the concerts have not made much revenue because a lot of people do not come. SUB told us that the easy area to cut within their budget would be concerts."
Patrick Kelly, another member of the board, urged the senate to help with the difficulty of renting the JACC.
"The issue of the JACC largely deals with the athletic department. They won't move a practice to allow for a concert. This is an issue that senate should pursue. Meet with the athletic department and see if a change could be made," Kelly said.
Despite the controversy, SUB did not file an appeal.
"We understand that the budget is limited and although we are not thrilled with the amount of money we were given, we are not going to appeal," said SUB representative Becky Hagelin. "However, if there is a re-allocation, we ask that money not be taken from our budget. We need every penny we are given."
Another issue of controversy was the money allocated for Transfer Orientation. Because this event originated in the office of the president, the money has always been taken from student funds. However, last year the financial management board was given the impression that admissions would take over the cost because they give money for Freshman Orientation. Thus the financial management board only gave Transfer Orientation half the money it was given last year.
Unlike SUB, the Transfer Orientation committee did file an appeal.
"This cut is hitting us hard. Our funds were not cut a little, they were cut in half and we are not sure where the extra money will come from," said Heather McDonald, of the Transfer Orientation committee. "We are asking Admissions to find an extra $3500 and I simply do not know where they will get it."
Reicher defended the Financial Management Board's position.
"Transfer orientation is much like Freshman Orientation and thus we feel that admissions should pick up the bill," Reicher said.
However, McDonald said that the money was necessary and if the financial management board did not give it to Transfer Orientation, they may not receive it elsewhere.
"We're not asking for a lot, just $5000. We need every cent of that. I would like to stress the importance of Transfer Orientation. When you come as a transfer student, you do not know anyone," McDonald said. "A good portion of transfers live off campus and often do not feel like they are part of the University. Transfer Orientation is the first thing to make them feel like part of the Notre Dame campus and seeing a few familiar faces helps so much."
Overall, the senate agreed with McDonald and rearranged funds to give the Transfer Orientation committee the money they requested. They took $500 from the freshman class, $500 from the office of the president, $500 from Hall President's council and $875 away from the technology fund.
In other senate news:
u The senate approved the nomination of Taylor McWilliams for 2000-2001 class representative to the Financial Management Board.
u The senate chose Luciana Reali, Brendan Dowdall and Dan Barabas as Campus Life Council representatives.
u New athletic director Kevin White addressed the senate on podium.
"I am so excited to be on the most celebrated University and campus in the country with the most outstanding student body in the country," White said. "I think the most important element of any campus is the student body and we want to do anything and everything to represent you. We are very excited to be here."
All News Stories for Thursday, April 20, 2000
