Coming back from a seven-week hiatus between semesters, Point Park’s student government went right to work, allocating $21,350 to 31 clubs and organizations for the first budget period of the spring semester.
The United Student Government (USG) allocated the largest budget of $4,335 to the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) for a broadcast networking conference in Las Vegas this spring for six students.
The BEA’s budget was followed by Outdoor Adventure Club with $2,421, the SAEM Club with $1,365 and Forensic Science Club with $1,250.
This time around, clubs requested a grand total of $35,254. The Finance Committee recommended $20,348. However, the legislative body allocated $21,350 to clubs and organizations for on and off campus events. This currently leaves $1,002 for budget rollover into the second budget period.
Throughout the meeting, several questions popped up regarding allocations to several clubs.
“We went through all of the clubs individually based off of first come, first serve and then we went through again and took a second look at their events,” said sophomore Senator Bobby Bertha. “If we felt it appropriate to fund more than half of the admission for an off campus event, we did so,” Bobby Bertha said during the meeting when asked about inconsistencies regarding funding for off campus events.
A topic of raised discussion during the meeting focused on the funding to a Super Bowl Party to be held by the SAEM Club, with $75 allotted for a “Steelers Prize Pack.”
Considering the Steelers lost to the Broncos on Sunday, several members of the legislative body found the inclusion of this themed prize pack to be an “unneeded expense,” according to Bertha.
Kate Shipley, who not only works in the SAIL office but with clubs, organizations and USG, spoke to the legislative body on their role as USG senators after the removal of the Steelers Prize Pack was passed.
“I think an important thing for us to consider here is what our role is, what your role is,” Shipley said. “Think about if you’re the event planner and if it’s up to you to dictate what the club is buying, or to look at the budget and decide whether it is ethical and able for you to give them the funds.”
After a second vote, the prize pack was removed from SAEM Club’s budget, taking their final allocation for its Super Bowl Party from the $465 it requested to $390.
Other complications in the budget were due to late APF-100 form submissions. APF 100 forms are the forms clubs and organizations use to request funding and receive budgets from USG.
The Society for Intelligence and National Security (SINS) and Theatre Club were two clubs affected by their failure to meet deadline and received less funds than needed. Each club was recommended by the Finance Committee to receive $483 after all budgets turned in on time were reviewed twice.
SINS had requested $4,120 for its Washington, D.C. networking trip and Theatre Club requested $3,100 for COPA Prom.
However, the legislative body moved to send these two clubs’ budgets back to committee for further work. If additional funds are to be allocated this funding period, this money will be pulled from the spring semester’s second budgeting period.
USG also voted to allocate $5,000 to SAIL for the SAIL Showdown for shirts, food and prizes.
In addition to the budget portion of the meeting, Christian Moore, senior business management major and president of the Black Student Union, presented the legislative body with a petition for Point Park to have Martin Luther King Jr. Day off.
“I think it’s important that moving forward we cancel classes out of respect for MLK and his legacy,” Moore said. “Basically, what I’m asking for is your support in this petition.”
Previously, according to dean of students Keith Paylo, Point Park did have Martin Luther King, Jr. Day off.
The presentation of the petition to be officially backed by USG was tabled for next meeting, allowing time for each senator to review the petition individually.
The future is bright for USG’s spring semester with Dr. Tim Wilson back to talk with the legislative body about Wi-Fi issues at the next meeting; Chief of Public Safety Jeff Besong and University President Paul Hennigan also plan to make separate appearances this semester as well. The planning is underway for USG’s Forum event in March, and Pioneer Community Day set for April.
