The Students’ Association voted with ease in the first congressional meeting to approve a $90,000 budget for the fall semester.
| View the Fall 2011 SA Budget |
This year, 46 student groups requested a total amount of $92,846. SA only granted 41 percent of that, fully funding the requests of just four groups. The remaining balance of the fall budget is designated in advance for SA officer salaries, conference requests, and class budgets.
Veronica Whitt, president of International Student Association, said ISA was impacted by the diminished grants. The group was granted $3,126 of the $5,659 it requested.
“We were cut significantly,” said Whitt, senior family studies major from San Saba. “But they gave us more money for fundraising. We’re glad they at least gave that.”
SA receives 8.9 percent of the activity fees charged to all undergraduate students, meaning every student pitches in about $23.60. But those numbers didn’t add up the way ISA would have expected, said Jeremy Foo, junior political science major and vice president of ISA.
“We represent 200 students,” Foo said. “We’re one of the biggest clubs.”
As a result of the shortfall, ISA plans to raise more money by producing the Ethnos show three nights this year, Foo said. ISA usually put on only two shows, and in past years both nights sold out.
Hispanos Unidos was granted the most money from SA, receiving a total of $3,804 for the semester, and the Table Tennis Club received $36, the least amount granted.
After SA executive treasurer Carson Henley presented the budget for each group, congress passed it without discussion.
“I have never experienced that,” said Henley. “It was surprising but it ensured me of the trust student groups have for SA.”
Henley explained he had developed relationships with many of the student group leaders last year while he served as chief financial officer. Some representatives said the budget passed so quickly because of congress’ trust in this year’s cabinet. Others said the increased responsibility of class officers as opposed to the old system of class senators was part of the reason it passed the way it did.
The full budget approved by SA
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