In its sixth night of reviewing group budgets Thursday, the Programs Finance Committee tabled the hearing for the Multicultural Center, an organization that had ignited heated debate at its first hearing.
During the session, PFC Chairwoman Mary Elizabeth Madden realized she had a conflict of interest regarding the MCC’s budget, and PFC members decided she had to abstain from voting. Only four PFC members attended the meeting, and PFC rules require that at least four committee members vote. Since Madden couldn’t vote, the PFC chose to postpone the MCC’s hearing.
The conflict arose because the MCC had asked for an increase in its advertising budget, which would include purchasing an ad in the Mortar Board planner, and Madden is a member of the Mortar Board planner committee.
Prior to the decision to table the MCC, Erica Fuller, the organization’s director, had expressed concern for the MCC’s lack of advertising funds, which will be discussed further at the next hearing. She said that advertising is a vital part of making students aware of the MCC’s existence.
“We represent a large body of students,” she said. “A student could go through an entire four years and not know what the MCC is. We want a name recognition, and we don’t even have that … To cut advertising would be detrimental.”
The budget for the Returning Student’s Association also created some serious discussion. The PFC cut the RSA’s work study funds because the group didn’t have an appropriate supervisor to ensure that students worked scheduled hours.
Instead, the PFC put the RSA under a stipend model, which will pay students a flat rate by month in place of the hourly wages that had been provided through work study.
RSA Co-director Marie Pickard said she was disappointed by the PFC’s decision because it will drastically lower students’ salaries, and she plans to appeal.
“This cuts my ability to have someone there to work,” she said.
But Madden said other groups had also experienced the same problem, and the PFC dealt with them in the same way.
PFC tables MCC appeal hearing
Daily Emerald
February 15, 2001
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