Student groups can apply for funding this week through a process
that the undergraduate student government unanimously approved
despite some controversy surrounding the appointments of those in
charge of the budget recommendations.
The Undergraduate Students Association Council has $233,000
available in its base budget to be distributed to officially
recognized student groups who meet the July 9, 5 p.m. deadline to
submit their applications. Officially recognized groups are
registered with the Center for Student Programming and are not
politically or religiously based.
In a process similar to that of the past year, groups will be
funded in part according to their ability to offer educational
benefits to the campus and ability to express viewpoint
neutrality.
The maximum cap that groups could receive was boosted to $8,600
from the past year’s $4,000. More funds are available because
of a fee referendum passed in October; students consented to pay an
additional $9.25 in USAC fees.
Budget Review Director Zara Bukirin said this year student
groups had more time to review guidelines.
“It is important for student groups to understand how to
present (their applications) and get a higher amount of
funding,” Bukirin said.
Most councilmembers said they were pleased with the allocation
process this year.
“If you positively affect the student body, you are going
to get funding,” said General Representative Josh Lawson.
Despite the sense of agreement on council about how to allocate
funds, some councilmembers believed the budget committee’s
appointment process could have been more fair.
Lawson and Financial Supports Commissioner Erica Husse were not
forwarded by the president to council in order to be included in
the budget review committee. The BRC reviews budget applications
and forwards its recommendation for council approval.
“It would have been my hope to have a more bi-partisan
process,” Lawson said, referring to the fact that both he and
Husse belong to a different slate than President Anica McKesey.
Slates are coalitions of students sharing similar ideologies
with whom many councilmembers are affiliated.
Still, Lawson said he will remain involved in the budget process
by attending all BRC meetings. It is council’s job to be open
to all groups, he said.
Controversy also surrounded the appointment of a key budget
head.
Lawson and Husse voted against the appointment of Bukirin, the
current budget review director, in June, because they believed her
approval would have been a violation of council bylaws.
McKesey had forwarded a candidate for the important budget
position the night before council had to approve her.
“(The bylaws) provide a buffer zone for making
appointments right away,” Lawson said.
Ample time has to be given about when the Appointment Review
Committee is going to meet so all ARC members can attend, he added.
ARC reviews presidential appointments and forwards them to council
for approval.
McKesey said Bukirin was the most qualified candidate and it was
important that the budget process was expedited to ensure that
student groups received as much funding as possible.
Though former BRD Justin Levi said the whole appointment process
was “very shady,” he thinks the budget guidelines are
fair and that he was confident in Bukirin’s abilities.