Correction: The original version of this editorial contained several errors. The registrar’s office collects $121.38 in Undergraduate Students Association fees from every student per year and then distributes these funds to various departments and projects, including the Undergraduate Students Association Council. USAC does not have discretion over funding to the Community Programs Office.
The one-time, $76,000 loan to the undergraduate student government will prevent student group funding from going off a cliff this spring. Here we propose a few solutions that would provide for better money management going forward.
First, the facts: The registrar’s office collects $121.38 in Undergraduate Students Association fees from every student per year and then distributes these funds to various departments and projects, including the Undergraduate Students Association Council.
Only about 9 percent of this money goes toward general funds for student groups.
USAC allocates far more to student groups than the original 9 percent allows, relying heavily on surplus money from the previous year. But the surplus, which wasn’t added up until mid-November, turned out to be far below what was expected, and the council found itself in need of a bailout.
The solution to this problem is twofold. To begin with, the council needs to rely less on surplus money for student group funding. It should vote on a referendum for the next election that would allocate more of its budget to programming funds for student groups.
Second, the council must ensure that funds for student groups are well spent.
Current levels of funding are unsustainable, and as USAC decides where to cut, it should prioritize causes that benefit as many students as possible.
Officer retreats, though they can strengthen leadership ties, benefit only a small number of students and are not open invitation.
In September, USAC green-lighted $6,400 to subsidize retreats for 18 groups, 11 of which were USAC offices. This made up just more than half of what was allocated from the programming contingency fund that month.
The council should put a cap on how much it gives to retreats each quarter, and the amount given to each group should depend on how many apply for funding.
A cap would encourage groups to focus on planning events for the wider community, while being more frugal when spending for themselves.
Money given to groups for food should also be trimmed.
For the past two years, student groups have regularly been requesting, and receiving, up to $250 in food for a single event. This is supposed to go toward snacks and refreshments; of course $250 buys an awful lot of chips and soda.
While snacks do help attract students to events, the food cap should be lowered considerably, at least to $100.
This year’s council has done a good job addressing concerns with their finances and trying to come up with viable solutions. We encourage them to continue this much-needed process of reform.
Unsigned editorial represent the majority opinion of the editorial board