With a budget of $16,183, clubs and organizations throughout the University requested about $31,300, Point Park’s student government allocated about $14,500 in funds to clubs and organizations for the final spending period of the school year.
The largest budget the United Student Government (USG) allocated went to COPA Theatre Club for COPA Prom and the Theatre Club Banquet, totaling $2,563.
Following COPA Theatre’s Club budget were Rugby Club with $1,935, Strong Women, Strong Girls with $1,513 and SAEM Club with $946.
Only six clubs and organizations of the 31 that requested budgets received the full amount.
Throughout the funding period, the Finance Committee cut funding for conferences and apparel due to the amount of money USG had to allocate.
“Across the board, the Finance Committee decided to not fund conferences,” Amber Mole, USG treasurer, said. “We didn’t have enough money to really cover all the conferences fairly.”
Clubs affected by this decision were AdFed/PRSSA, Broadcast Education Association and Honor Student Organization.
Last month, April Yanko, president of the Feminist Collective, appeared before USG looking for support and sponsorship in bringing a speaker to campus from the organization. At the time, the speaker in question was YouTuber Laci Green and the legislative body voted unanimously in a show of support.
The Feminist Collective requested a $2,175 budget with $2,000 allocated to the new speaker, an instructor from Ohio State University, for travel, accommodations and a speaker fee. The other $175 would be split between a gift and end of semester send off.
“When I came with my administrative officer here about USG supporting us [the Feminist Collective] having a presenter come, there was a unanimous agreement you would help us fund a speaker,” Yanko said. “Now that we have a much cheaper speaker, I’m confused as to why that funding is not being supported.”
The reason given to Yanko as to why the funding was not given in full was that the requested budget by the Feminist Collective was an estimate for the fare for the speaker.
After discussion, where it was pointed out everything placed on the budget request forms are merely estimates, and given the amount of money left after all funding was allocated, the Feminist Collective’s budget was sent back to Finance Committee to workshop.
The Rules Committee brought back to the legislative body the workshopped resolution that outlines the relationship between USG and the SAIL Office. The five resolutions highlight the roles both USG and the SAIL Office play when working with budgets of clubs and organizations.
USG will continue to allocate initial funds, but SAIL will be permitted to move funds around within clubs, but not give more than what USG allocated.
The legislative body recognized the Ultimate Frisbee Organization, more commonly known as U.F.O., which is open to students of all majors and years. Though the organization has yet to have an official meeting schedule or place to play, the recognition opens up the door for the next semester.
“It’s a sport anyone can play,” U.F.O. president and USG senator Kris Chandler said. “In the future, we do hope to contact CMU or Duquesne and ask if they have any teams that want to play with us. As of now, it’s just about finding a group of people and a time that works for everybody.”
As the semester nears its end, USG will be holding its two largest events of the year: Forum, an event where students can voice concerns and requests on March 26 with the theme ‘Life’s a Beach’ and Pioneer Community Day the weekend after.
