The long, complex process of doling out the dough to more than 120 student groups and University programs has finally come to a close, and the members of the ASUO Programs Finance Committee can now put up their feet and indulge in a little rest and relaxation.
Well, almost.
One final task remains unfinished — PFC must present its budget to the ASUO Student Senate at its final meeting of the term on Wednesday. Originally, the committee was slated to appear before senate on Feb. 19, but PFC asked for a one-week extension so it could hold recall hearings for the Emerald and the Career Center. Then last week, a technical problem prevented PFC from being able to approve the minutes for a number of its previous meetings, and the committee once again had to postpone presenting its budget until next week.
After working long hours and laboring about budget allocations, this year’s PFC members say they have proved their commitment to the positions. PFC Programs Appointee Joy Nair said the current committee is unique because no members have quit — a rarity for PFC — and she added that within the past few years, there has never been a full committee of seven throughout the whole process.
“I’ve never seen that happen, and I’ve been here for four years,” Nair said.
PFC also has distinguished itself from last year’s committee by doling out a larger number of high-percentage increases and decreases than was given for 2002-03. This year, six groups were given increases of 40 percent or more, while last year only three groups received such substantial increases. For 2002-03, only one group received a decrease of 40 percent or more, while this year PFC gave six groups decreases of at least 40 percent.
The Native American Law Student Association received the largest percent budget increase for any group over the two years when PFC gave the group a 230.33 percent increase for 2003-04. The Asian Pacific American Law Students Association received the largest increase last year, 97.28 percent, but still did not come close to this year’s NALSA budget boost. PFC Chairwoman Kate Shull said the committee decided to increase funding to the ethnic law group because it had raised thousands of dollars to bring the Navajo Supreme Court to campus this year and had proven it was fiscally responsible.
Additionally, this year PFC appeared to be more generous because it zero-funded fewer groups. Last year 10 groups were zero-funded, while only six groups this year stopped receiving funds. Nair said fewer groups were zero-funded this year because PFC members worked to connect with every group to determine if participation in the program had disappeared before deciding to remove funding. She added groups have done a good job of spending their allocated budgets and ensuring transition between leadership positions from one year to the next.
Austin Shaw-Phillips, co-director for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Alliance, said this year’s PFC was thoughtful and considerate, a major change from how past committees have behaved toward student groups.
“Our experience with PFC this year was surprisingly positive,” he said. “I’ve seen the committee be really rude and condescending in the past.”
LGBTQA’s other co-director, Kristina Armenakis, also said PFC was more professional and easier to work with this year. She added committee members’ relations with one another were more cordial this year, while last year’s members regularly argued among themselves.
“We were just really amazed at how nice they were,” Armenakis said.