In order to make the student group funding process more equitable, Student Union’s Budget Committee has equalized the fundraising requirement for all Category I groups. Beginning in Spring 2006, all groups will be required to fundraise an equal percentage of their respective budgets, corresponding to the percentage of the total student groups budget that Student Union (SU) is unable to fund.
The new policy differs from that of past years, when student groups were required only to fundraise, not to raise a specific portion of the budget.
“Some groups were carrying more of the weight,” said junior Rafael Walker, co-chairman of the SU budget committee. “It was not an equitable solution.”
While the policy does level the playing field for the groups, it presents a challenge for the larger organizations, which are now required to finance more of their budget via independent fundraising.
“It’s going to be harder for big groups to fund 25 percent,” said senior Jos‚ Chacon, treasurer of the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS). “But it’s too early to tell if we’ll get more or less money.”
Nevertheless, Chacon is in favor of the change.
“The process was subjective, and this standardizes it,” he said. “I think we’ll be fine.”
Junior Brandon Rippe, treasurer for the smaller student group Circle K, echoed Chacon’s sentiments.
“I think it is [a good change]. SU is distributing, and compensating evenly, and it doesn’t leave anyone out,” he said. “It’s a good plan.”
Several other student treasurers were completely unaware that a change had taken place, despite receiving an e-mail and a cover letter to the new budget manual detailing the changed policy.
The lack of attention, however, does not bother Walker.
“We did it to lift one burden of the process,” he said. “It gives them more room.”
The fundraising component of student group finance becomes relevant only as the final step of a long budgeting process. Student groups submit budgets for each semester, which are subsequently reviewed and modified by the Budget Committee. Only after all the budgets are approved do groups find out how much they need to fundraise.
Walker says that this is the “first time” that the budget committee has played an active role in equalizing the fundraising requirements.
“Most of the student groups were excited,” he said. “They were happy to see us taking action.” He added, “This is ideal. It is the fairest solution possible.”