More than 40 proposals have been made for how to spend almost $750,000 of over-realized incidental fee money, and tonight a Student Senate committee will meet to decide which proposals to recommend to the full Senate Wednesday.
Over-realized funds are generated by overestimates of the incidental fee students pay each term. When more students than anticipated enroll and pay the fee, the money is put into an account and later earmarked for one-time expenses.

As of Monday afternoon, there was $747,299 in the account, according to an e-mail from EMU Business Manager Jean Sun. The amount changes daily when students drop out, interest is earned on the account or a variety of other transactions affect the account balance, Sun said in a telephone interview.
The committee decided to hear presentations for every proposal, unlike last year when some ideas were cut based on written proposals alone.
Senate Vice President Patrick Boye stressed that the proposals would be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Boye, who is the committee chairman, said the presentations were heard in the order they were received, and the committee’s recommendation will be decided in the same manner.
Sen. Billy Hatch serves as the committee’s vice chairman.
“The point of over-realized is to meet a need that hasn’t been addressed by the University or by Senate and you can’t find any other funding for it,” Hatch said. “There are some projects that I think will be really great for campus.”
The ASUO Constitution lays out the rules for how over-realized funds should be used. Projects must address a one time, non-recurring need that cannot find funding elsewhere, benefit large groups of students, have a wide base of support and respond to events of an emergency nature, among other criteria.
The following is a summary of the proposals listed on the ASUO Web site.
Heart of campus map
The University Day Committee submitted a proposal to create a map station at “the heart of campus” on 13th Avenue and University Street. The proposal would cost $24,000, half of which would be used for printing the map and purchasing a map stand. The other $12,000 would be used for concrete, bricks and a bench.
“As simple as it may seem, a centrally placed map station will greatly improve the student experience on campus, from the first day of classes to commencement,” the proposal states. “A map at the center of campus will alleviate the inconvenience and confusion that comes from being lost.”
If approved, the station would be built during fall term 2008. A similar proposal was submitted last year.
International law project
The Oregon International Law Project’s proposal totals $8,300 for a variety of expenses involved in putting together informal sessions between students and professors or other professionals in pubs. The largest chunk of the money, $6,000, would be used for one-time stipends for students to do a summer of pro bono legal work abroad.
Feminist law speaker
The Women’s Law Forum is asking for $5,800 to bring a “prominent feminist legal mind to the University of Oregon School of Law.” The proposal lists Sarah Weddington, one of the lawyers who argued Roe v. Wade before the U.S. Supreme Court, as a potential speaker for an event some time next spring term.
Library collection on sustainability
Sustainable Advantage is seeking $37,000 to build “a library collection centered on sustainable business and renewable energy development.” The proposal includes a list of more than 340 titles, compiled by library staff at the Knight law school, that would be included in the collection. The proposal argues that sustainable business and renewable energy are issues that affect everyone and the University has the chance to become a leader in the field.
“While academic intentions may be moving in this direction, currently, the amount of research a student can complete on this popular subject is considerably hampered by our University’s lack of resources,” the proposal states.
Black Student Union upgrades and conferences
The Black Student Union is requesting $19,250 to attend two conferences next year and remodel its office space. The proposal includes $2,000 for a flat screen television and $4,000 for new computers.
24-hour Knight Library
ASUO President-elect Sam Dotters-Katz has submitted a proposal to keep Knight Library open 24 hours a day, five days a week during the 2008-09 academic year. Dotters-Katz is asking for $54,000 to pay a third party vendor for security and custodial services during the extra hours. The library would remain open from 11 a.m. Sunday until 7 p.m. Friday.
Conference on AIDS in Africa
Students for Global Health, a group founded this year that is yet to be recognized or funded by the ASUO, is asking for $6,300 to organize a conference on AIDS in Africa.
Service Learning Program
Five proposals from the Service Learning Program are asking for a total of $29,849 to fund three trips of the Alternative Spring Break program, an Alternative Spring Break facilitator retreat and hire an AmeriCorp staff person to work with the group for a year.
The price tags of the spring break programs are $8,002 to work on immigration issues; $6,209 to go to Seattle to work on food security issues; and $7,136 to go to San Francisco to work with a non-profit organization that deals with AIDS and chronic homelessness. The retreat would cost $2,502 and the staff member $6,000.
International business economics club
The UO International Business Economics Club’s $705 proposal would send a student to San Salvador, El Salvador to help develop low emission, fuel-efficient stoves for poor families. The group seeks to establish a working relationship with a non-profit called StoveTeam International, which makes the stoves.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Alternative Dispute Resolution Advocates are seeking $2,000 to send members to a conference and $3,000 to bring speakers to campus. Both are included in one $5,000 proposal.
LGBT competition
Outlaws, a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender law group, is asking for $3,850, $700 of which would supplement its Lavender Law conference. The remaining $3,150 would send members to the National LGBT Moot Law Competition.
“The UO School of Law currently has little programming that includes diversity-based Moot Court competitions, and the students have been dissatisfied with diversity programming at the law school in general because they feel underrepresented,” the proposal states.
Composting coordinator
Campus Recycling is asking for $34,963.65 to fund a full-time composting coordinator from October 2008 through June 2009 until permanent funding is available. Senate in March put up half the money to fund the campus composting pilot project. The funding for the project will run out in October. Campus Recycling hopes to make the composting program permanent by receiving funding from the Athletics and Contracts Finance Committee next year. However, if the program does not receive funding for a coordinator, the composting project will be put on hold until funding is found.
Emerald delivery bicycles
The Emerald is requesting $7,066 to cover two-thirds of the cost of four bicycles, four cargo trailers and two trihaulers to make all newspaper delivery “human powered” and discontinue use of automobiles.
Club Sports computers
The EMU Club Sports office is requesting $5,232 to purchase new computers. Club Sports received $10,586 in over-realized funds last year for an office expansion.
Craft Center workshops and table
saws
Two proposals from the Craft Center seek to create workshops specifically for students, student programs and residence hall programs and purchase new table saws. The discounted workshops proposal totals $5,100 and the saws would cost $8,900.
EMU mural
The EMU Board of Directors is asking for $2,000 to create a mural that would focus on diversity and be created with the help of students.
emuLAN computer equipment
Cultural Forum has submitted a proposal requesting $11,244.44 to purchase computer equipment to be used during the annual emuLAN event. According to the proposal, the 24-hour gaming event is one of two in the state and may not be able to continue without a systems upgrade.
Outdoor concert
Another Cultural Forum proposal seeks $21,000 to support an outdoor concert on Oct. 4, 2008, that will include bands formed by University students.
Windows for the EMU
EMU Facilities is asking for $93,909.58 to replace single-pane windows with new double-pane insulating windows. The proposal estimates $3,959 in energy savings annually at the current level of billing, with greater savings as energy costs increase.
Moss Street Children’s Center
The EMU Moss Street Children’s Center has submitted two proposals. One is for the purchase of a 15-passenger mini-bus to transport children from local elementary schools to the center at a cost of $56,722. The other proposal, at $18,000, would be used to build a backyard playground. One building will be a small storage shed for “garden tools, toys and other props and materials for children’s creative imaginings in the backyard.”
The other building will be called “The Sustainable Seed and Sound Shack” and will teach children sustainable practices.
Street lamps between EMU and Rec Center
EMU staff member Sandy Vaughn is requesting $25,000 to purchase and install street lamps on Onyx Street between the EMU and the Student Recreation Center. The proposal states that the walkway is “not safe or comfortable,” and the lights are needed for pedestrian safety.
Holden Leadership Center
The Holden Leadership Center is asking for $21,200 to cover part of the expenses for the 2008 LeaderShape Institute and more than $45,000 for a half-time faculty position. If approved, the new faculty member would be in charge of developing a proposal for a leadership studies minor, among other duties.
Campus radio upgrades
Campus radio station KWVA submitted three proposals: $60,400 to digitize all music, personnel files and program logs; $4,000 to create a virtual KWVA radio station and concert venue in Second Life; and $19,962 to upgrade and relocate its transmitter.
The proposal says the upgrade is time sensitive because “KWVA must be operating from the new location by February 2011.”
Sustainability conference
UO Sustainability Coalition is seeking $6,782 to attend a conference on student activism and sustainability in higher education.
Low carbon program in Portland
The Northwest Institute for Community Energy, which is not recognized or funded by the ASUO, submitted a proposal seeking $24,000 to fund University students’ participation in a summer program in Portland. The program will provide “low carbon energy supplies” to a Portland neighborhood. The institute is also seeking funding from the University of Portland, Portland State University and Oregon State University departments and student governments, according to the proposal.
Sustainable living house
The Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Living is asking for $112,510 to remodel a house on Moss Street that will serve as a “model of sustainable living research, demonstration, and inspiration center on campus.” The center is negotiating an agreement with University Housing to allow the co-directors of the project to live and work in the house, according to the proposal. The committee also needs permission from the University Space Committee and the City of Eugene to remodel the home.
Rugby
Club Sports Rugby is requesting $11,785 to purchase a new scrum machine, which is required for training rugby players, according to the proposal. The machine currently in use is no longer safe because of weather damage.
Divisi concert venue
Divisi, an all-women a cappella group, is requesting $500 to rent the First United Method Church for the group’s annual spring show.
Comedy series
The Multicultural Center is requesting $35,000 to host a week-long comedy series in winter term 2009 “that uses humor to analyze the complex institutions of oppression in our society.”
MEChA conference
MEChA is asking for $38,644 to go toward hosting MEChA’s 40th Annual National Conference at the University next year. More than 200 MEChA chapters, 30 high school chapters, international activists, professors and political speakers will come to the University as part of the conference, according to the proposal.
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