Two candidates are running for the ASUO Programs Finance Committee At-Large position. The position is one of seven responsible for the annual process of allocating funds to student groups on campus.
The Emerald asked each candidate three general questions and also two specific questions about PFC: Who does PFC submit its budgeting benchmark to (answer: the Student Senate), and what is the most important part of Section 4 of the ASUO PFC bylaws, which lists PFC member duties?
Toby Piering, a freshman pre-public policies and planning management and political science double major, is an intern with ASUO and is actively involved with Campus Crusaders for Christ, a Christian youth group.
Piering did not know to whom PFC submits its budgeting benchmark and would not fully comment on PFC duties without Section 4 in front of him.
Q: How will you interact with student groups?
Piering: I’m already attending the meetings of some of the various programs to get a feeling for all of the individual programs. I think as a PFC member, it’s important to know who you’re representing, and so I have planned to attend a majority of student program meetings so I can represent them on the PFC better. I also plan to make myself available to any student feedback, and be open to all the programs to hear the input.
Q: What is the most important thing you should know in order to deal with the budgeting process?
Piering: I think the most important thing is knowing how much money you have, and how it can be allocated, and knowing where the student groups are going and what they’re planning to do with the money you give them. You want to be able to know exactly where your money’s going and make sure it’s going to the right places because this is a finite amount of money and it’s very hard to distribute it when everyone wants a piece of the pie. Overall you have to look at each program as an individual case and judge how much should be appropriate.
Cory Phillips, a freshman business major, is a member of Theta Chi fraternity and is the publicity and information chair for the Interfraternity Council. Phillips did not know to whom PFC submits its budgeting benchmark to and did not know PFC had its own bylaws.
Q: How will you interact with student groups?
Phillips: Personally, I’d just like to be a part of more student groups on campus, just, like, get involved. That’s something I’d like to get involved in, and like I said, I’d like to see the programs succeed. I looked at a bunch of campuses and there are 120 programs on campus and I think that’s really cool. I mean, I’d want to know what they’re up to, what they are, what they do on campus because honestly, I don’t know what 120 programs do on campus, so I’d want to know what they’re about, what they’re into, what the University can do to support them. I think that’s key to help them succeed.
Q: What’s the most important thing you should know in order to deal with the budget process?
Phillips: Like I said, probably what every program, what every organization is about. I think that’s key to understanding, understanding their goals, understanding what economic needs they have. Cory Phillips’ picture was not available at press time.