The Student Association (SA) elections are over and UB will soon have a new president, Peter Grollitsh. All I have to say to Pete is good luck!
This year's SA has been consumed by constant criticism. Publicly known incidents include events issues such as the long line at Fall Fest and the UB Idol show controversy where the incorrect winner was announced.
Similarly, students have been forced to wait in ridiculous lines to get tickets to SA events such as the Spring Gala, and Al Gore.
Don't believe the hype!
To be blunt, SA has handled their yearly funds and events heinously; along with the 2,700 students that voted in the recent SA election, I am demanding answers.
We at The Spectrum coordinate with SA on a regular basis to provide you, the students, with knowledge of upcoming events and synopses of events you might have missed.
The task this year has been daunting but also entertaining as controversy has followed almost every SA event, making my job as a journalist enjoyable.
What is not enjoyable about my job is uncovering that Average Joe and Jane students are being robbed blind - their hard-earned money being squandered on a daily basis by the SA executive board, which consists of President Viqar Hussain, Vice-President Leslie Meister, and Treasurer Grollitsh, who will soon take Hussain's position.
18,000 or so undergraduates at UB are billed around $80 a year for a mandatory student activity fee, which is directly decreed by SA. The money goes into one large bank account, filled to around $1.4 million.
Once in that big pot, the money is supposed to be used for activities, clubs, and events for student entertainment and knowledge. The SA and members of the executive board then decide how to use the money and make the average student's life better at UB.
Anyone who owns a computer is supposed to be able to track where his or her $160 is being spent in one of two ways: via SA's Web site or office in 350 SU. Neither is easy, as the online ledger is hardly up to date and the physical ledger book is massive.
I was able to find the budget online and quickly realized that SA has accounts for everything under the sun. One thing is for sure - SA officials are living the good life, thanks to Average Joe, UB student.
What does SA spend your money on? On November 20, SA spent 30 students' mandatory activity fee, or approximately $2,620, on Christmas hoodies so that staff members could stay warm in Buffalo weather. Many SA officials refer to the hoodies as their Christmas gifts.
Like most other students, the temperature at my apartment in University Heights District is usually set at 58 degrees because I am a poor college student that cannot afford my bills.
If SA could have provided all students with hoodies, I would have slept a little better in my cold house. Thanks to us students, SA is keeping warm.
Two weeks later, SA decided to purchase $737 worth of staff shirts. The SA shirts were no t-shirts worn by many of the other SUNY student governments. Instead they bought fashionable, high-end dress shirts.
That was just the beginning. SA spent $600 on nameplates for their office doors wasting more student money on looks.
With one commuter lounge remaining, SA officials chill out in their large offices with gold-plated nameplates thanks to the UB students.
How many of you struggle to pay your cell phone bill every month? I currently owe my cell phone carrier money. But current SA officials have their cell bills paid, thanks to UB students. So far this year, $11,000 has been spent to pay for the cell phones. The SA e-board claims they need these phones to stay in touch with clubs.
Eating ramen noodles every night is reality for many students. But not SA, who have spent thousands of dollars so they could eat heartily during meetings.
Students have funded $8,000 dollars for parties at downtown club Level, which many SA officials have ties to, including former employment.
SA spent $300 on a TV stand for their brand new flat screen television, which sits in the SA office unused by the normal student.
It is time for some answers, SA. Students and parents should protest and demand that our student mandatory activity fee be used correctly. We are moving into another year, and it is time for SA to be held accountable.
To the current executive board: I believe you owe the students an explanation and an apology. The students demand it!
Our money now lies in the hands of Grollitsh, who has a chance to make a fresh start. He has been actively pursing candidates to sit at paid positions on his staff.
SA is in trouble and Grollitsh is walking into a war zone. After his recent election, Grollitsh told UB students they could "expect one hell of a year."
I hope so Pete... It won't take much to beat this year.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
