SAC votes not to accept funding appeals

In a move that has not occurred in recent history, the Student Activities Council general body voted to approve all of the SAC Executive Committee's allocation recommendations at last night's SAC Body meeting. The motion, which passed by more than the required two-thirds majority of the body, allowed the body to forego the budget recommendation appeals process that usually occurs at the meeting. The SAC Executive Committee presented its allocations for each SAC member organization earlier this semester. The groups then had the opportunity to appeal their allocations to the committee. The Executive Committee approved $5,000 worth of those appeals, but at the time of last night's meeting, 30 other organizations still had unsatisfied appeals that amounted to $104,062. Leaders of those groups expected to have the opportunity last night to present their appeals to the entire SAC body. The general assembly would then have voted on their requests. But College senior and former SAC Chairperson Graham Robinson made a motion to pass all of the Executive Committee's suggested allocations, and as a result, the typical procedures did not take place. Problems with the appeals process arose early in the meeting when the body was informed that it did not have any open funds from to allocate increased funds to the appealing groups if it were to vote to do so. The body determined that it could open SAC's contingency fund, which holds $30,000 that would normally be allocated next semester. The money had been put aside for the approximately 40 groups which plan to hand in their budgets next year, while also funding any other needs groups may have next semester. The body's other option was to open the SAC reserve fund, which contains approximately $250,000. However, this fund had already been dipped into earlier in the night when the body voted unanimously to use $61,159 for already approved allocations for this year. SAC Chairperson and Engineering junior Paul Wilder explained to the group that this amount had already been calculated into the announced allocations. He added that if the body did not use the money, every group would have to take an 18 percent cut in their allocations. Although one SAC member moved to open up the reserve fund without restriction, it was pointed out in discussion that if this money were used now, it would not be available in future years. Both that motion, and one to open the contingency fund, failed. SAC members had a mixed reaction to the body's decision to ignore all appeals and approve the Executive Committee's recommendation. "SAC Exec had made recommendations that the body seemed to agree with," Wilder said. "It shows SAC Exec is working the way it's supposed to." The International Affairs Association had hoped to appeal for $25,734 at last night's SAC meeting. And IAA Chairperson and Engineering junior Yousef Master called the decision to ignore the appeals "odd."