It may be hard to believe, but the Student Services FinanceCommittee is voting on the budgets of groups other than the Multicultural Student Coalition. What is too easy to believe is these groups are also asking for massive increases in student money.

But in the case of the Asian and Pacific American Council, asking for a 468 percent increase in student money, and Wunk Sheek, requesting a 381 percent increase in their budget (most of their funding last year was not from SSFC), the plan for the money is much less clear-cut.

Both groups are asking for massive increases in their programming budget. However, most of these programs are not new. In APAC’s case, according to their representatives, they and the organizations they serve were able to spend approximately $100,000 on Asian American Heritage Month last year. This despite the fact APAC received only $4,925 in their programming budget. Similarly, Wunk Sheek sponsored two powwows and several workshops for less than $32,000, little of it from SSFC.

Much of the extra money was obtained via ASM event grants, and that’s the way it should be. Without concrete plans in place for what events are planned and exactly how much they will cost, it would be irresponsible for SSFC to blindly give away such large sums of money. Rather, as each event is planned and costs calculated, a request should be made to the ASM finance committee. This will ensure that the planned events will go on even as student money is being used in the most efficient way possible. We would encourage SSFC to adopt this model for most groups’ programming budgets.

Finally, both groups have overestimated their staffing needs. APAC in particular is requesting 20 new liaison positions. However, student interns could easily fill these jobs. We encourage APAC to pursue this cost-effective and educational option. Also, salaries for both should be in line with other student groups.

Both these groups accomplished a great deal with more limited budgets and ASM event grants. Not only is this strategy more cost-effective for students, but it also ensures a much higher degree of accountability and much less waste.