The student government body in charge of distributing student incidental fees met Thursday and Friday, settling the final yearly budget requests before it can submit the total budget to the Student
Senate and recess until next winter. On Thursday, the Programs Finance Committee doubled the budget for the National Association of Black Journalists, a group that helps students network with professionals and learn about contemporary journalism issues. The PFC gave $600 total to help pay for members to travel to a national convention.
The Oregon Voice, a student variety and entertainment magazine, received a $310 budget increase for a final budget of $9,125. The extra money will go toward covering printing costs.
The PFC recalled its own budget, adding $1,348 for a new phone line, additional advertising and a salary increase. Next year, the PFC will receive $8,799 in incidental fees.
The Westmoreland Tenants Council asked for money to pay for either a victory or farewell party at the end of next year, depending upon whether the University is able to sell the Westmoreland apartment complex.
The ASUO Executive recommended a 63.8 percent decrease because of poor spending last year. Chairwoman Bing Li said the poor spending resulted from the group’s focus on the Save Westmoreland campaign.
The PFC voted to decrease the group’s budget by 9.73 percent, giving it $232 for its victory/farewell party.
On Thursday, the PFC decided to cut the budget for the Assault Prevention Shuttle, which provides safe rides home for students, staff and their families, by $8,172.
The ASUO Executive recommended the group’s budget be cut by $12,024 because the group hadn’t used all the funds allocated to it last year. The PFC recommended a total 2006-07 budget of $70,729 for the group.
“We got what we needed and wanted,” APS co-director Alena Foresman said.
The Hong Kong Student Association appealed a Jan. 31 PFC decision to fund the group at $3,649 , a zero percent increase from last year. HKSA requested more money to pay for Hong Kong Night, a cultural event held every spring.
The PFC decided to increase the group’s budget by $260, giving the group $3,865 for the event.
Black Women of Achievement received a budget increase of 29.8 percent, raising its annual budget to $5,360.
The group will use the funds for events such as College Shadow Day, the Women’s Empowerment Luncheon, Ethnic Hair Care Day and the Ebony Man Showcase, co-chair Shante Stuart said.
The PFC recommended a .3 percent, $30 decrease for the Student Bar Association because the group didn’t spend all of its money last year.
The PFC recommended that the SBA, the student government body for the University law school, will receive a $8,670 total budget next year.
During its hearing, the PFC gave the Constitution Court a $217 budget increase. The court will receive $6,330 to hear appeals under the ASUO Constitution next year.
The American Institute of Architecture Students is restarting after the graduation of the group’s president caused the group to disintegrate last year. Students are trying to revive the Oregon chapter of the nation’s biggest organization for architecture and design.
The PFC decided to give $300 to the group to pay for an ice cream social event and an architectural tour of Portland. Group member Dan Toole said that the PFC’s decision will “make this carry on” and “become a bigger group.”
The African Students Association, a political and cultural discussion group, requested a $1,000 increase to help pay for African Culture Night. The ASUO Executive suggested a $109 increase, and the PFC passed a compromise increase of $281, for a total budget of $2,157.
The Alternative Dispute Resolution Advocates, which examines alternatives to costly trials, received a 15.1 percent budget increase for a total budget of $610 to send members to competitions and bring speakers to campus.