In addition to the Oregon Commentator hearing, which resulted in the rejection of the publication’s mission, four other incidental-fee funded groups had their budgets boosted at Programs Finance Committee hearings Tuesday night.
The Career Center’s Mentor Program received $85,643, an 8.69 percent increase. The program, which matches up students with professionals in their field of study, has expanded significantly since its inception in 1993, Coordinator Sydney Ledford said. She said the extra funding will be used to cater to the growing number of students.
The ASUO Women’s Center’s budget got a 2.86 percent boost, with a budget allocation of $145,765. PFC members spent a considerable time discussing whether to allow for an additional benefits package that would enable the center to have one director and two part-time office coordinators.
The center’s Interim Director Erin O’Brien said she wanted the extra package so she could keep current office coordinator Lori Brown, who might go to graduate school next year and therefore would only be able to work part-time. The extra benefits package would allow the center to hire
another part-time coordinator.
O’Brien added that Brown
had worked at the center
for more than five years and maintaining her presence was
important for “institutional
memory,” especially in light of changes the center is undergoing. The ASUO plans to hire a new center director next year.
But some PFC members did not back the idea, stating the PFC should not operate on probabilities because it was unclear whether Brown would stay on at the center.
“I don’t think it’s wise to shell out money for a ‘what if,’” PFC member Dan Kieffer said.
But O’Brien said as director, she should be able to have options for her staff.
“It’s not a ‘what if’ — it’s
having options for the director to make personnel decisions,” she said. She added that the center could return the money in the event that two part-time positions were not created.
“I think it’s part of our mission at the Women’s Center to support women’s advancement,” O’Brien said, referring to Brown’s choice to go to grad school. “I’d rather have Lori part-time than hire a new person (because of her experience).”
ASUO Vice President Mena Ravassipour asked the PFC to consider having the extra package.
“I think this group is in an interesting situation,” she said. “It’s up to the PFC to find creative solutions.”
In the end the committee voted not to include the extra benefits package.
The center did get money to fund an annual Women of Color retreat, which O’Brien said was held for the first time this year and would be a great resource for women of color.
The Hawaii Club received $7,567, a 6.5 percent increase, while
The Student Insurgent got a final budget of $17,882, representing a 2.2 percent increase.
Extra funds will go toward printing extra copies of the alternative publication. The Insurgent currently prints about 3,000 copies, but the staff would like to increase that figure to 3,500 to meet demand on campus.
“I’ve talked to a lot of students who have difficulty finding the
paper,” Jack Crocifisso, an Insurgent contributor, said.

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