The Student Services Financial Committee met yet again Wednesday to continue finalizing next year’s budget decision for the Multicultural Student Coalition, but as of press time had still not reached a final amount for the group.
SSFC had also intended to make budget decisions at the hearing for the Asian Pacific American Council, Wunk Sheek, and the Diversity Education Services. These decisions have been postponed until SSFC meets on Sunday.
SSFC was, however, able to reach a few line-item decisions for the MCSC budget.
These included allocating the group only $6000 of the $12,000 telephone request and $8200 of the $20,000 MCSC requested for fringes.
SSFC also slashed the budget for computers, granting MCSC only $28,490 of the $85,250 they had initially requested.
SSFC member Matt Modell originally suggested allocating MCSC a mere $10,000 for computers, arguing that the prices quoted in the budget proposal were inflated.
“The computers they looked at were really nice,” Modell said. “But 19-inch monitors — that cost an extra $500? I think that’s a little excessive.”
Modell also argued that the computer programs listed on the budget request were overpriced, citing that one program MCSC had listed at a cost of $250 would cost approximately $30 if purchased through DoIT, the campus computer center.
SSFC Member Joel Urmanski also disagreed with the necessity of the budget request for computers.
“Asking for four laptops is a little excessive,” Urmanski said. “It would be nice, but [not having them] will not affect the quality of the service this group will provide on campus.”
SSFC also reached a decision regarding the budget request for MCSC’s rent.
According to the budget proposal, MCSC was asking for $22,000 for rent for the year. MCSC Chair Tshaka Barrows explained to SSFC that this was a mistake, and that MCSC was actually requesting $123,213.
SSFC Chair Lamont Smith acknowledged that he had received the amendment to the budget earlier, but had misplaced it. Smith explained to SSFC that the $22,000 that appeared on the budget for rent was a typographical error.
Barrows explained to SSFC that the majority of the extra money was a one-time cost for renovation of office space in the basement of a building off State Street.
Many SSFC members felt that this amount was too much.
“I would be more in favor of giving them $500,000 extra so they could buy a building,” said SSCF member Rob Staude.
After debate over whether it was the duty of the landlord to provide the renovations needed, such as carpet and drywall, the SSFC finally agreed to grant MCSC $113,313 for rent, with the stipulation that MCSC look into whether the landlord was obligated to do the renovations. If so, the excess money is to be returned to the SSFC.
Although many of the students present seemed satisfied with the amount, there were a few who expressed disgust with handing out money that may not be needed.
According to Diversity Education Staff Michael Franklin, this disgust is not justified.
“More than 20 times tonight, the wording has been used by [SSFC members] ‘I think what they need is ?’ and none of the people saying this have ever worked with this service.” Franklin said.
