Director of Business and Finance Mohammad Aggour voiced his concerns of overspending after allocating $13,200 to four student organizations and two club sports at the last Business and Finance Committee meeting.
On Tuesday, Oct. 1, the Business and Finance Committee allocated a total of $5,526 to three student organizations and two club sports. The amount spent was still reduced by more than half even though there was one less organization that requested money, appeasing Aggour’s worry.
The International Student Association initially requested $1,856.
A representative from the organization said these events are planned as a way to help international students feel welcomed and included.
"We are here to request funding for our next event which is the Halloween party. We are just trying to throw events for international students to make them feel more involved. Some of them don’t make a lot of friends so we try to throw events for them to make them feel like this is home."
The money it requested was for two events, however one event took place in September and Student Government can't allocate money for past events. The committee ended up voting 4-1 and allocated $906 to ISA.
The United Nations Association treasurer said they are asking for $3,310 to put toward the next conference the organization plans to attend.
“We are asking for $3,310 for the American Model United Nations Conference in Chicago from November 23 through November 26. The total cost of the conference is $8,618.80, we would cover the rest of it we are merely asking for the $3,310. Those consist out of $1,310 in registration fees for 20 students, three of which are return students, 17 of which are new. And a $2,000 food stipend for 20 people so that equates to about $100 per student. Model United Nations has been operating for the last 19 years, we’ve never gone to any conference without getting an award or an honorable mention.”
Business and Finance Director Mohammad Aggour informed the committee that they will not be able to give the full amount that UNA was asking to put toward food.
“I do want to note to committee members that the maximum amount of money we can give for food services is $1,000,“ Aggour said.
The Committee took this into account and voted 5-0 for allocating the amount of $2,310.
Optimize Eastern Board Member Mohamed Said spoke about the student organization helping students conduct projects. The program was given a $25,000 grant from Ford Motor Company but is asking for money from Student Government to cover apparel costs
Optimize Eastern requested $755. Aggour opted out of discussion and voting for this organization due to his affiliation with the organization. All of the other senators all agreed in a vote to allocate $500 to this organization.
For club sports, a representative from women’s softball spoke about why they need funding.
“We do have more girls expected playing this year than in previous years so that is where some of our funding is going. We didn’t have enough jerseys and we need jerseys to play. Also our umpires cost a lot, so that’s also why we are asking for the funding.”
The club requested $1,560 and all senators voted to give the full amount.
A treasurer from the women’s ultimate frisbee team requested $400
“One is $150 for this past Sunday (Sept. 29,) that we went to, we weren’t able to go to the meeting before that to ask for the fee money.”
Since one of the events has already passed the committee motioned to change the amount from $400 to $250. All senators voted yes to allocate this amount.
