Documenting the dollars

In the past the SFC has tried to inform students about the budgeting process and what is considered responsible spending, but this week’s article has economic undertones that extend beyond the boundaries of SFC policy. This week the focus will be on the benefits and drawbacks of the addition of new student organizations on campus. While more groups means a more diverse range of activities, it also means that the Student Activity Fee is forced to accomplish more with the same amount of money. Despite a growing number of groups that request funds annually, the $445,500 SAF does not increase. It is reasonable and correct to expect each student to use the money in a way that will give them the most utility. If they are interested in fly-fishing, then they should start a fly-fishing organization. No one should be denied the right to receive institutional and monetary support for their interest, hobby, passion, that is clear. However, it is important to weigh the costs for all other organizations.
Students start organizations and get a piece of the SAF by first obtaining a charter for their organization. The chartering process was revamped and streamlined two years ago resulting in 13 new groups in just last year alone. Once a charter is submitted it goes through a joint committee where Senate, Student Life and General Faculty have a chance to “pull it from the table” for discussion. Currently, there are 114 chartered organizations with three or four more in the process. It is important to note that not all of the chartered groups are active although this year 96 out of the 114 organizations submitted budgets for next school year. Inactivity simply becomes a missed opportunity for students who would participate in those groups. Monica and Adam both are interested in helping dedicated students restart those groups.
In terms of new groups, it is natural to expect everyone to act in his or her best interest. However, the result of having too many student groups is detrimental. How many groups are too many? Read the following and then you decide. In the 1996/1997 academic year $326,353 was allocated to 68 groups. On average each group was budgeted 4,799.3 dollars. In the 2001/2002 academic year slightly more money was allocated for the Student Activity Fee ($348,707.44). Yet, this money was budgeted to 89 groups (21 more than in 1996). This made the average allocation per group plummet to 3,918.06 dollars. On average group’s budgets have been cut more than 800 dollars over the last eight years. Even less money was allocated per group for the current academic year.
The addition of new groups decreases the funds available for existing groups that are active and responsible with their spending. Beginning a group has certain start up costs. As it stands groups don’t have to be practicing for more than one year. This means that as more and more groups take money from the Student Activity Fee for start up costs, a larger percentage of the funds are being spent on office supplies and social planning meetings.
Maybe budgets have been cut because existing groups were not spending money wisely? Alternatively, it’s possible that 21 more interest groups are present on campus than were years ago. Students must decide whether it is good or a bad to dilute the pot of money allocated to groups by allowing more groups to enter. At the individual level people have incentives to create new groups yet at the community level those groups must be efficient and purposeful to contribute in a positive way.

—Student Finance Committee