It was another quiet night on Tuesday with the budgets of Programs and Assessments, Native American Student Union, Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society, United States Students Association and the University of Oregon Future Lawyers Association being passed unanimously or nearly unanimously.
The PFC approved a 10.7 percent increase for Programs and Assessments for a total budget of $189,485. This increase is to accommodate, among other things, the new increases in OUS assessment charges for student organizations and the increased cost required to audit an organization.
The Native American Student Union’s budget of $17,474 was passed unanimously. The budget includes $5,000 for its Powwow.
NASU office managerNatasha Joseph said she was disappointed with the 2.5 percent decrease from the previous year.
“I feel like it should be more, because (the PFC doesn’t) understand … the cultural aspects,” she said.
PFC Chairman Adrian Gilmore said the group makes its decisions mostly based on the numbers.
“With viewpoint neutrality, we don’t make decisions for or against a group based on the ideals they bring to the table,” he said.
The highly-lauded SAACS received a 67.7 percent increase for a total budget of $503. The group, only in its second year, has received numerous grants and awards, including an Innovative Activities Grant and a Commendable Chapter Award. The largest portion of the group’s budget went toward various community outreach activities.
The debate over the legitimacy of funding the USSA appeared to be largely settled, and PFC passed its $9,640 budget for a 776.5 percent increase. The USSA lobbies on behalf of students in higher education issues, and the decision over its budget was tabled Jan. 12 after questions arose as to whether or not the PFC should fund such an advocacy group.
The University of Oregon Future Lawyers Association OFLA rounded out the evening. Its budget of $3,556, a 0.85 percent increase, was passed unanimously, and a large portion of the budget was allocated for The Advocate, the first undergraduate law journal nationwide.
Kevin Miller, the financial manager for the organization and one of the editors for publication, emphasized the importance of such a journal.
“We try to give students the opportunity to get published as an undergraduate,” he said.