Being an alumnus of SBU who was an active participant in cultural, political, and artistic focused student-led organizations, I became quite familiar with student government processes and also leadership structures in organizations. Perhaps the most contentious issues in student clubs and USG alike always revolved around one issue: MONEY.

As the university student population grew, along with it grew the amount of interests and hobbies that students had. Naturally, the progression of the university concurs with the growth of student activities, as is evident by simply examining bulletin boards or the amount of mailboxes in SAC for clubs. Likewise, the USG budget grows EACH time the undergraduate population grows.

Having been informed of the new budgetary system and seeing a tentative breakdown of distribution of funds, I am aghast and astounded. USG should be applauded for trying to tackle such a large and necessary task as revamping its budgetary process. However, seeing as how so many problems and opinions have already arisen to voice concern (or in some cases, simple outrage) over the current uncertainty that almost ALL clubs face, there are some key issues that MUST be addressed:

Were students properly notified?

USG has often been cast as an aloof organization, lacking wide-ranging communication. Although it has greatly improved in those areas in the past few semesters, students must all be given the proper training and equal access to information when dealing with the lifeline of organizations, in this case, its budget. 

A government promoting equality cannot allow situations where only those ‘in the know’ benefit, as seems to be the case with certain clubs proposals and their budget committee recommendations. 

As an example, while VSA (Vietnamese Student Association) is a worthwhile organization and deserves increased funding for the increased activities it did this past year and wants to continue, its budget committee recommendation for its small constituency should not be $22,222 (an increase of $19,409) when CASB (Chinese Association) and SASA (South Asian Student Association), who have the oldest and most successful annual cultural events on campus serving large constituencies, are scheduled for $7,812 and $6,413 - less than last year and BEFORE CUTS! 

Clubs that have proven to be pillars of student life should not have their events and student membership stunted due to a change in the budgetary system. 

Why the new formula will not work:

To change a budgetary allocation process can create increased efficiency or extreme turmoil. Although it is irresponsible to allocate funds to groups due only to the previous year’s budget, budgeting systems of any kind usually proceed on some form of precedent. This new budgeting system unjustly punishes groups that have often contributed the most to student life. If implemented correctly, a new budget system can fairly allocate money. This current formula creates a ‘free for all’ funding application process that will occur EACH YEAR.

Some steps that USG can take to correct future budget problems are to put a cap on budgets. Only an exclusive amount of groups can actually make a case for a budget larger than $10,000-$15,000 dollars or more per year. Of course, a system should allow organizations access to more funding when circumstances present themselves, and a case by case grant system for those funds should also be created.

In addition, USG should implement a system that promotes event and budget planning a year in advance. Not only would this require students to provide a basis for budget amount requests, it will also encourage students to stay in leadership positions in their organizations if they wish to see events implemented the following semester. Not only will you create accountability, you will retain active student leaders, a lack of which is a plague on any active student life. Although this type of process will initially put a greater strain on USG and student leadership alike, in the long run it will give USG a better way to evaluate future budget requests. 

As for this current budget crisis, what should student leaders, club members, and USG do?

If students are outraged, then they should rightfully act. Change is often brought about through discontent or outrage, but such discontent must be displayed and voiced. No government, whether on a college campus or a continent, has ever moved towards change prompted only by silence. Asian American student leaders - let your voices be heard.

As for USG leaders, an unfair process is only worsened by an unfair appeals process. The USG is comprised of many able bodied, intelligent students who may be a part of student organizations themselves. These student leaders only option is to explore alternatives, and though the alternatives may not be easy to come to, at least they can be assured that the end results will be judged as fair.

Let your voices be heard.

Call Jared Wong, USG President. Talk to him during his office hours. E-mail him.
Phone: 632 9667
Email: jpwong @notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Office Hours: M 1:30-3:30, TU 4-6, W 11:30-3:30, TH 4-7

Read what other alumni and student leaders are saying at the link below.

Attend the next Council meeting. If there are no emergency meetings in between, the next official Council meeting is Monday, 5/2. Call the USG office every day for an update on meetings. See USG link below.

The best solution for USG: Start Over 

One scenario on how (and others are possible): 
a) Grandfather in this years budget for the start of the fall, allowing old clubs to use a percentage. New clubs that would have gotten a line budget can be given automatic approval for that same percentage using SSC procedures.

Delaying the budget has been done in the past and can be done again. It is exactly how the federal and NY State governments operate when their budgets are not passed on time.

b) Appoint a committee to work over the summer to evaluate how to make this new 'value neutral' system work correctly. 

c) In the Fall have all clubs resubmit, but this time they will know it should be their 'wish lists', not simply explanations of what they received in the past and need to receive again to at least accomplish what they had done previously. 

Have new budget hearings. 

Then by mid-October a fair and equitable budget is possible and can be approved by the new Senate.

LINKS:
Other Alumni and Student Leader's Voices: http://www.aa2sbu.org/aaezine/articles/vol10a/no8opedvoices.shtml

USG: http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Clubs/usg/