The heated debate between the Student Association and Sub-Board I, Inc. regarding funding and representation is over. Though it appears that all issues have been resolved, students need to follow closely the details of the arrangement now and in the future, in order to be sure they are being governed fairly.
The University Union Activities Board - previously providing the students with various entertainment related activities throughout campus - has been drastically changed; it will now deal primarily with marketing. SA now controls all of UB's concert rights and has created a new entertainment division. SA has also pulled approximately $215,000 of funding from SBI and has increased the accounting fees of governments and organizations under SBI by approximately 15 percent.
The student body may not notice the change, and while The Spectrum has been particularly critical on this issue, it seems the interests of the undergraduate students have been protected.
However, we cannot lose sight of the campus organizations that have taken a hit. SBI has managed to stay afloat by shifting its personnel to cut costs and increasing accounting fees for many organizations on campus including the six student governments, Schussmeisters and The Spectrum.
SA now has $215,000 in extra funding that it can distribute as it pleases, and the money should be used in a responsible way that benefits the undergraduate student body. For instance, SA could take advantage of their newly appointed entertainment rights and use the extra funding to improve on UB's notorious history of lackluster concerts and events.
Even though students may not notice the changes in their student government, they need to keep an eye on SA to guarantee that it will use its power and money to better the lives of the students and organizations it serves.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
