Originally published March 12, 1990
“The main focus of Polity is to provide activities, programs and services to the student body and to promote student involvement,” said Polity Council members. “We are responsible for funding over 150 clubs and organizations on cam- pus through the student activity fee.”
On March 20, the undergraduate student body will have the opportunity to vote through referendums whether or not to continue to fund some of these Polity organizations and groups through the mandatory student activity fee which is currently $63 a semester, said Polity Council members.
The following nine referendums will be voted on in the upcoming election.
“Cultural and Special interest organizations provide their constituencies with a variety of cultural, social, educational and recreational events throughout the year,” saidCouncil members. “During the 1989-90 fiscal year the following clubs were funded under this category: African American Students Organization, Asian Students Association, African Students Union, Caribbean Students Organization, Chinese Associa- tion of Stony Brook, Cultural Center, Economics Club, Gay and Lesbian Alliance, Gospel Choir, Haitian Students, Hel- lenic Society. Hillel, Minorities in Engineering and Applied Sciences, latin American Students Organization, Spirit of Young Koreans, Stony Brook at Law and the Center for Women’s Concerns.”
If one votes against this referendum, none of these organi- zations will be on campus next semester. This referendum will cost the students $2.50 per year.
The Ice Hockey club is looking to become an intercollegiate Hockey Team here at Stony Brook,” said Council members. The club is asking for $2 per year for funding.
“Statesman is a biweekly student newspaper which publishes news, investigative stories, art and music reviews and lists upcoming campus events,” said Council members.
The referendum calls for $2 a year in funding.
“Stony Brook’s chapter of the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) is part of the nationwide net- work of PIRG’s across the country,” said Council members. “NYPIRG is primarily responsible for lobbying for consumer protections, safe energy, public access to government and student voting rights on campus.”
NYPIRG members are asking for $6 a year from the student activity fee.
The Student Association of the State University (SASU) is a statewide advocacy organization promoting the interest of SUNY Central Administration, the legislature, Governor’s office and other statewide decision-making bodies,” said Polity Council members. “SASU promotes low cost, high quality, fully accessible education at SUNY and increased student participation in university decision making.
According to Polity Council members, “SASU is a membership organization composed of all students on member campuses. Campuses join by deciding to pay the annual membership dues as determined by the membership and the Board of Directors assessed on per student basis.”
SASU is up for referendum money from the students and is asking for $4 per year per student.
The United States Student Association (USSA) is the national chapter of SASU, said Council members.
USSA is asking for a $.50 per year per student.
“Each of the 26 residence halls on campus and the Commuter College are given a budget for the year,” said Council members. “Each college provides events and programs for its residents.”
“Each college receives money three separate ways,” said Council members. “First, during the budget process, colleges are allocated a fixed amount. Second, the colleges are given additional funds based upon the referenda. Third, the residential halls are given additional funds from monies collected by FSA vending machines. This amount will vary from year to year.”
The residence halls are asking for $4 per year per student to maintain programs and activities within the residence halls.
Specula, the Stony Brook yearbook is asking for $2 a year from each student, said Council members.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is on the referendum to receive $24 per year per student, said Polity Council members.
“SUNY Central has mandated that all athletic funds must be placed in a state Income Funds Reimbursable (IFR) account,” said Council members. “With the adoption of the IAB (Intercollegiate Athletic Boards) guidelines, the Board of Trustees has assigned responsibility for the administration of the intercollegiate athletics program to the campus president with the advice of the IAB.”
“Voting yes to this referendum means that your $24 will no longer be monitored by the Student Polity Association although the amount will still be decided by referendum,” said Polity Council members. “The state will be in control of these funds.”
“If you vote no the $24 will go into the Student Polity budget to be allocated to other clubs and organizations,” said Council members.
The athletic teams that compete in the NCAA are men’s baseball, men’s and women’s basketball men’s and women’s running sports, men’s football, men’s lacrosse, men’s squash, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s soccer, women’s softball and women’s volleyball.
“Because athletics is an important part of student life, the issue for the student to decide is whether to continue funding the athletic program to be monitored by the state,” said Council members.
