More than 100 people crowded into the humid Walnut Room to fight for their Over-Realized Fund proposals Wednesday night.
The Over-Realized Fund is created when more students than expected enroll in the University and pay the Incidental Fee. This leaves the ASUO with an extra pool of money that wasn’t originally expected. The Over-Realized Fund Committee was charged with listening to groups’ and individuals’ requests for a cut of that money.
The committee wrote up a request allocating the funds the best way they saw possible. They presented at the ASUO Senate meeting accompanied by groups who were in the recommendation and groups who wanted to speak one last time to the merits of their requests.
After two-minute appeals from each group, senate members discussed the merits of each request.
The first group to speak — Students Vote, Students Win — was asking for $47,000. They intend to bring a pair of vote organizers to campus to teach students about the importance of voting in the national election.
“There are going to be more issues dealing with higher education than ever before,” ASUO President Ben Eckstein said. “We need to look at mobilizing as many students as possible.”
Sen. Kaitlyn Lange was wary of this request, saying, “I think this can be done without money.”
She suggested the group find another way to fund this proposal, but Sen. Jeremy Hedlund disagreed and spoke up for the benefit of professional staff.
“Professional staff is integral to this proposal and this campaign,” he said.
The group received the requested money.
Another group that presented was Bike Share, which would use the money to set up a program where students could go to a bike station, rent a bike, and return it to another place on campus. They requested $199,000 to set up the program.
Sen. Lindy Mabuya was concerned with the high cost of each bike. The group explained that each bike has good brakes, lights and an advanced security system.
“I am speaking as the unofficial representative for all students whose bikes have been stolen,” Sen. Ben Bowman said. “This would be extremely beneficial for students.”
According to the group, this request would include maintenance for the bikes and would include bike locks. They received the funding for the program.
Another group of people presented the idea to install nine flag poles with flags representing each Native American tribe in Oregon in the EMU. The entire project would cost $22,115. Sen. Cassie Bruske was the first to speak about the request.
“I went to school in Montana last year,” she said. “It is clear that Oregon is miles and miles behind in respecting Native American culture.”
Mabuya was also excited about the proposal and related Native American culture to her African culture.
“I feel like putting these flags up is the exact same as my country having 11 languages,” she said. Shortly after, the request passed.
Other groups allocated money were the Co-op Family Center, to replace furniture in its daycare; The Meet, to bring students together in a social setting; Multicultural Center, for a concert; the Women’s Center, for sexual violence prevention and education; the Urban Farm, for more farm space; and Student Health Advisory Committee, to provide nicotine replacement therapy for students and staff.