The Undergraduate Student Government met on Tuesday, April 10 to discuss the suspension of the Stony Brook Rugby team and its eventual lift. The issues addressed after this brief announcement were about the current budget and clubs that were not paying their dues for support. It was a thorough discussion on 62 clubs requesting increase.
According to a USG Senator, when a club requests money, the Senate looks at who would be eligible and which club is spending money wisely. Some clubs asked for $10,000 to $30,000. Those clubs that failed to do this do not receive any funds. Accroding to the open membership clause in which clubs are supposed to break down events for the Senate, there were several complaints.
‘Clubs receive increases but not everybody got their requests. Everybody was asking for an increase. We often cut from the original increases that are propose from clubs,’ said USG President Joseph Antonelli.
The USG scrutinized the list of clubs that spent money in responsible ways and were able to provide precise information. All of this was in relation to the current budget issue at $43,000.
‘The approximate calculation of $43,000 mentioned at the last meeting was just an error in the calculation of the planned budget breakdown for the 2007-2008 school year and is being fixed by the budgeting committee,’ said Senator Christopher Dolley.
‘The Undergraduate Student budget is what funds clubs, organizations and USG. It is where undergraduate’s Student Activities Fee ends up.’ The budget is based on the student activities fee of $94.25. Most of the meeting was spent sharing resolutions on how to resolve the budget. One option was to execute an across-the-board cut while still treating clubs fair and equally.
Clubs who did not provide information and squandered money to buy furniture or throw parties faced opposition.
‘I have met with administrators about campus concerns and dealt with this budget,’ said Antonelli. ‘I can tell you quickly that the USG is in no debt and the budget issue is going to be resolved.’
