What would you do with almost $4 million?
While college students don't have to worry about having $4 million at their disposal, members of the Student Association do.
The SA's budget for 2010-11 is $3,729,672.16, with 93 percent coming from the mandatory student activity fee. All full-time undergraduate students are required to pay $94.75 and part-time students pay just $7.90.
The disparity of these numbers raises a few questions.
Aside from the obvious question of why full-time students pay close to 12 times more than part-timers, many want to know where the money goes to and who decides how it is distributed.
A brief look at the SA budget indicates that the activity fee funds a variety of endeavors on campus. Students help pay for Fall Fest and Spring Fest, as well as SA clubs and the entertainment budget.
Where it gets interesting, however, is how the funds are distributed. While the activity fee supports many of the SA clubs, not all UB clubs receive the same funding.
Further investigation reveals that there are some large disparities between SA funded clubs. For example, College Democrats receive a total of $2,400 per year, whereas College Republicans only receive a total of $750.
But reasons exist for the difference in funds.
"The year before I got here, we had a president who did not review track sheets, did not meet with the senate, did not attend the budget meeting, did not do any of the things required for a club," said Travis Nemmer, vice president of College Republicans.
These numbers, however, do not compare to the funding received by the Black Student Union, which the SA grants a total of $33,000 a year, making it the highest funded SA club.
According to SA Treasurer Antonio Roman, numerous factors decide how much funding individual clubs receive.
"There is a meeting every April, shortly after elections in which clubs make an appeal for budgets," Roman said. "Depending on how the club is doing, the funding allotted either increases or decreases. It rarely decreases, though."
Clubs need to meet certain requirements in order to continue receiving money. According to Roman, in order to keep their funding, each club must attend two SA events, two community service events and are responsible for fundraising half of its budget.
How long a club has existed at UB also affects the amount of funding the club receives.
"Tenure at Student Association gives clubs more opportunities to gain money," Roman said. "As a result, the longest tenured clubs tend to get the most money."
While money is allotted to UB clubs, they do not receive it outright. Instead, clubs have to request money from the SA for specific events.
"(Clubs) don't have to report, but they can't spend a dollar without me, Nischal Vasant or Michael Lewis from Student Life approving it," Roman said. "They can spend their allotment, but they can't spend whatever they want."
While the majority of the Student Activity fee funds numerous clubs, the fees go beyond UB's clubs.
The funding from the Student Activity Fee also plays a large role in the entertainment budget, which includes events like Fall Fest and Spring Fest, as well as the comedy series and free movies shown on campus throughout the semester.
According to Roman, creating the entertainment budget is one of the SA's top priorities.
"We make a budget for events at the beginning of the year [headed by] SA Entertainment Director, Mark Rosenblitt," Roman said. "Outside events like Fall Fest cost more than indoor events, so that factors into the cost."
Additionally, UB students decide every two years whether or not the Activity Fee should remain mandatory. On Sept. 28, 29 and 30, there will be a referendum vote in the Student Union from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to determine the future of the Activity Fee.
The $94.75 fee funds a vast array of events and clubs at UB. If students want to get their money's worth, the best way to do so is to get involved at UB. If not, their money could go to waste.
