Student leaders expressed mixed reactions after Student Council presented its budget allocations last night for the 2007-08 school year. While some club representatives found the appropriations satisfactory, others said they felt they had been cut short.
According to Council Appropriations Committee Co-Chair Daniel Warburton, budget requests from contracted independent organizations exceeded $1.1 million. To reduce that figure both line-item and across-the-board cuts were made, he said.
The allocations totaled $350,000, Warburton said, adding that "the remainder of the money in the student activities budget will be distributed next year."
Across-the-board cuts cannot be appealed, Warburton announced to club leaders, because they are "a necessary evil." Line-item cuts, on the other hand, can either be accepted or appealed, he noted.
He explained that line-item cuts are determined by a treasurer's manual. For example, he said, food is an item that Student Council does not set aside funding for under any circumstances.
Warburton said he expects "the vast majority [of allocation letters] will be accepted."
Sustained Dialogue Treasurer Mark Greyson said he plans to accept the allocation letter for his organization.
"I think [the allocations] are generally fair," he said. "If you know how the process works you can get the money you need."
Several representatives of club sports teams, however, expressed concerns about travel costs, the category that received the largest cuts.
Women's club lacrosse Treasurer Liz Martin said she was "really upset" upon receiving her allocation letter.
"They gave me a little over 10 percent of what I asked for," she said.
Martin added that she plans to appeal the letter.
Virginia swimming club President Nah Youn Lee also noted the necessity of travel money for club sports.
"I think it's unfair ... because some clubs rely on travel cost," she said. "It just feels like we didn't get enough money."
Warburton said Student Council's goal this year was to have "more funding going to activities that will be occurring on Grounds," noting that this was the reason travel costs were cut most significantly.
He added that funding for national sports events was not included in the budget, because organizations are generally uncertain of dates and locations this far in advance.
According to Warburton, Student Council has "planned accordingly so that money will be available" to go towards future requests for funding for national competitions.
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