The Activities and Services Budget Committee revealed its proposed budget for the 2004-2005 academic school year to the senate Monday.
Senior Sen. Karl Riley II and sophomore Sen. Alexandra Judkins entertained questions about the budget draft they have worked on since Feb. 14.
The proposed budget will allocate over $3.2 million and make provisions for eventual budget cuts. According to the budget, $172,500 has been set aside for “special projects” which is a $66,350 increase from last year’s $106,150.
“This money has been set aside for potential budget cuts which usually cover things such as the homecoming budget,” said Judkins, 20, a business administration student from Chicago.
The ASBC has also decided to use some of the money in “special projects” for other things such as bringing more well-known speakers to campus.
“We want to reserve $25,000 to bring speakers such as Nikki Giovanni and Cornel West to campus,” said Riley, 21, a business administration student from Cape Coral. Riley added that the committee increased the amount of money for small clubs and organizations that are not A&S agencies.
“We have increased the money allocated by $10,000. Now there will be $75,000 available for the other organizations,” he said.
The 30 senators present also voted on whether to pass a bill allocating $2,323.32 to Essence Dance Theatre to attend the Black College Dance Exchange in Nashville, Tenn. April 1 – 4.
Marcus Sandifer, senior senator and author of the bill, tried to rally support on behalf of the dance troupe.
“This is a good opportunity for the group to network with other dance groups and also learn new dance techniques to bring back to the campus,” said Sandifer, 21, a business administration student from Fort Pierce.
Some senators were not in support of the bill, citing various reasons for denying them funds.
Riley said the organization was dishonest with the senate last semester concerning ticket sales for their fall production.
“They tricked us. They said that they would give away 500 tickets and then sell the other 500,” Riley said.
According to the student body statute 702.1, A&S funds cannot be used for a fundraising event unless the group gets the senate approval. After the senate approved the ticket sales, Riley said the dance troupe did not do what they said they would.
“What they did was a “buy one, get one free” ticket sale and made money off the first ticket sale which is not what [the senate] agreed to,” Riley said.
Yet some senators viewed the ticket sales as innovative.
“I think that they were creative,” said 20-year-old junior senator Chelsea Hall.
“They gave out 500 free tickets. It is not the senate’s job to stipulate how they give out the tickets,” said Hall, an international agriculture and business student from Miami.
However, some senators were not swayed. Freshman senator Candice Elliot made a motion to deny the dance troupe funds because the group promised if they received money last semester, they would not ask the senate for money this semester.
“We should also keep in mind that none of the members came out to senate meetings to answer our questions,” said Elliot, 18, a political science student from Orlando.
The senate voted not to pass the bill, 18 to 12.
No money has been officially allocated to any of the A&S agencies and the budgets will be voted on at the senate meeting next Monday. The senate will also vote on Senate President and Senate President Pro-Tempore positions.
contact alexia robinson at arrobinson01@yahoo.com