Many student groups have seen budget recalls by the Programs Finance Committee in recent weeks, and this pattern continued Monday night. However, many appeals of the recalls were also heard, some leading to increases from the previous allocations.
The Recreation and Intramurals annual budget was the first to be recalled. PFC increased the budget 17.8 percent to $125,727 to retain graduate teaching fellows and student officials. This increase was deemed necessary by the group’s leaders.
“It’s $40 to participate on each team,” director Brent Harrison said. “Any sort of reduction in the allocation could result in the increase in fees,” he said.
PFC approved the Lane Transit District budget at $457,158. While this reduces the prior allocation, it is an overall increase from the 2001-02 term budget. The new student rate was approved at $8.25 per student per term for 2002-03, an increase from this year’s quarterly charge of $7.52.
The Sexual Assault Support Services budget also increased — 5.4 percent — to $50,348. Most money goes to coordinator salaries with a 3 percent cost of living addition. Other funds went to pagers and cellular phones for the organization.
PFC heard from the Women’s Center about changing the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Issues line item. The item was approved at $1,621, pushing up the Women’s Center total budget to $125,190, a 4.2 percent advance.
Registration and lodging were discussed when the Forensics Association took the floor. Co-director Peter Mohn requested a 24 percent budget increase. The PFC agreed to an additional 5.9 percent increase to $24,830 because of the group’s excellent spending record.
The Student Insurgent line item was discussed solely by PFC, as no representatives of the group were present. PFC allotted $10,267 to press printing, a 1 percent decrease. The dip brought the new budget total to $14,039, in which PFC stood confident.
“This is what they need,” said PFC member Pursell.
Associated Students for Historic Preservation student officers remained silent at PFC’s ruling to leave the budget as previously allocated. It was the only budget of the evening that remained untouched.
The American Institute of Architecture Students was given $710 for the coming year to fund line items in advertising and travel. It is a 16.7 percent decrease from the former figure.
The last group to be recalled was the Black Law Student Association, represented by BLSA director Michael Callier. The Black Caucus was granted $1,000 for the following year, and, at the advising of Callier, the director’s salary was reduced to zero. This peaked the budget only slightly to $1,169.
Other groups at Monday night’s meeting were there to appeal previous recall hearings.
PFC members voted to not hear MEChA appeals on increasing community outreach funding. MEChA has until 5 p.m. Wednesday to turn in more information for an appeal at the next meeting.
Oregon Marine Biology Student Association graduate student representative John Young made an appeal to increase the line item for funding Oregon Institute of Marine Biology speakers and trips. PFC recognized the travel expense for OMSA members to visit the University for meetings and budget hearings and raised the 2002-03 travel allotment to $92, a $250 increase. This brings the new budget to $3,546.
“I do think if they are expected to come up here several times, they shouldn’t always have to pay for it,” PFC member Erin Pursell said. The committee decided not to vote on funding for OMSA student trips and speakers.
A dozen Emerald representatives turned out to appeal their budget recall. While the proposed budget for 2002-03 was $116,241, the Emerald requested an increase to $132,870, the same amount asked for since 1997. This was denied, but PFC did take the ASUO Executive recommendation to bump up the budget to $120,000 for the coming year.
“The (ASUO) Exec feels confident that (the Emerald is) spending way above what is their allocated printing costs,” ASUO Vice President Joy Nair said in support of the decision.