A three-hour meeting of the ASUO Programs Finance Committee on Monday night resulted in three student groups gaining funding.
PFC heard a successful appeal from the ASUO Student Senate and approved funding for Conflict Resolution Services and pre-medical student group Asklepiads.
The senate appealed to increase its advertising budget after leaving PFC’s Jan. 15 meeting unsatisfied. The debate centered on whether PFC should allot funds sufficient to pay for one or two senate advertisements in the Emerald.
Senate President Ben Strawn said that the senate was required “not only by our own bylaws, but also by Oregon law” to advertise for open positions.
PFC Executive Appointee Michelle Rose expressed concern that PFC was about to approve funding based on the possibility, rather than the certainty, that senate would need to run two advertisements.
“I guess I just don’t feel comfortable funding ‘what-ifs,’” Rose said.
But PFC Chairman Adrian Gilmore said the committee had “no choice.”
“Considering the fact that this is required by law that you have this … it’s a no-brainer,” he said.
PFC finally approved an increase in the advertising budget from $35 to $57. The change raised the senate’s total budget to $25,427, a 1.2 percent decrease from 2003-2004.
PFC approved a $40,022 budget for Conflict Resolution Services, a 19.2 percent decrease from 2003-2004. Director Annie Bentz said the program will need less money next year due to the elimination of a half-time office specialist position for which student workers have taken up the slack.
Asklepiads won funding for 2004-2005 despite missing an earlier PFC meeting. PFC debated extensively regarding whether to hear the group’s appeal, with Gilmore saying that missing a meeting was not an adequate basis for an appeal.
Strawn responded by stating that PFC was “treading a fine line” by admonishing the group for missing the meeting, since only four of seven PFC members were present Monday night.
Eventually, PFC approved a $431 budget for Asklepiads, an increase of 10.2 percent from 2003-2004.
PFC also voted unanimously to refer the Graduate Student Organization/Educational Leadership group to the senate for funding due to a paperwork mix-up. Gilmore promised to support the group in the senate.
PFC voted to defund Nightride, which has merged with Assault Prevention Shuttle and also approved minutes for its Jan. 8 and Jan. 15 meetings.