Due to a first-offense policy violation, Student Services Finance Committee stipulated the Multi-Cultural Student Coalition would have its funds frozen by the committee unless a written letter of apology was received from the group for demonstrating fiscal irresponsibility.
According to SSFC Chair Brandon Williams, on June 26 of the last fiscal year, MCSC paid movers to move the organization from its previous office on Henry Street to its new office in the Student Activity Center.
He said the moving group generally used on campus by student organizations, Surplus with a Purpose, was replaced with the moving company Graebel when MCSC moved its equipment to its new office.
“SWAP is a service that is free from the university. MCSC failed to use this service, instead paying Graebel to move their things with a bill that came to approximately $1,000,” Williams said. “We consider this difficult to pay considering the free service that is usually available.”
He added MCSC also gave away equipment to SWAP to dispense with but did not maintain a list of those items that, having been paid for using SSFC funds, technically belonged to SSFC.
Tony Garcia, MCSC executive staff member, said the reason the organization went with Graebel to move its equipment was because SWAP had a tendency of running on its own timeline, whereas MCSC needed to be out of its office and into the new one by a specific date.
Klinsmann Gutierrez, MCSC executive staff member and sophomore, apologized for the inconvenience caused.
“We understand now the procedures to using SWAP as a moving service,” Gutierrez said. “[Also], unfortunately, our previous staff didn’t enclose a list of things we lost. However, we know it was mainly furniture. Now we know the procedures and won’t have a policy violation like this in the future.”
SSFC Vice Chair Michael Romenesko asked the group why it did not plan better for the move, since the move was established ahead of time.
In response, Danielle Harris, MCSC executive staff member, said the group moved what it could but could not rely on SWAP to be dependable. She added any policy violations the organization may have had were lay over from the last fiscal period.
To remedy this, Harris added action has been taken to make the group more fluid and to have the group be more consistent in its entirety, as well as to notify the entire staff of what is happening, so it has the knowledge to prevent violations in the future.
MCSC handed its written apology to the committee and affirmed it was paying for the mover’s bill through the funding in its budget.
Williams also presented to the committee his thoughts on a more-focused and proactive SSFC, with support from the student body.
Based on a service hybrid-model, Williams said one of the main goals he hopes the committee will embody is a direct service to students, while focusing on the overall longevity of the greater student services fund. Further discussion will take place at their next meeting, Jan. 21.
