UA funding of charity events sparks debate

The student government body was divided on whether to fund a charity event featuring several arts groups. After a contentious debate on the Undergraduate Assembly's distribution of student activity fees for charitable purposes, the UA voted to provide partial funding for a charitable performing arts event in early December and also voted to provide funding for a comedy event scheduled the same weekend. After considering alternative proposals, the body voted to provide the $535 recommended by the UA Budget Committee to fund the advertising, ticket-printing and program-printing costs for the performance, which will feature Mask and Wig, Onda Latina, Without a Net, African Rhythms and Off the Beat. The five groups had originally requested more than $2,800 in funding, an amount that included $2,200 for the rental of Irvine Auditorium on December 4. Last night's meeting was the first to include the eight freshmen representatives elected two weeks ago, bringing the body's total membership to 33, though one member was absent and two left the meeting early. UA Treasurer and Budget Committee Chairperson Michael Bassik explained that the rules of both the UA and the University which govern the use of students' General Fee prohibit the UA from funding charities. At the December event, organizers plan to donate any proceeds from the performances to an as yet unspecified charitable organization. Funding was requested from the UA to subsidize the event in order to lower the costs to organizers and enlarge the charitable donation. However, Bassik said, even without any funding from the UA or other groups, event organizers would be able to donate more than $3,400 from ticket sales after paying for production costs. "In theory, we shouldn't be funding this at all," the College junior said. "The UA cannot make a donation to charity." Noting that the performance provided an opportunity for diverse student groups to perform together and for students to attend an alcohol-free event, Bassik said that the event deserved the UA's support but could not be fully funded under the body's rules. He added that the performance groups could likely obtain funding for the rental of Irvine from the Tangible Change Committee or Civic House. UA Secretary Megan Davidson, a College senior and chairperson of the Civic House Steering Committee, suggested that the body provide the full $2,840 requested by the performance groups, questioning why the issue of money from the General Fee was not brought up when the UA provided thousands of dollars of funding for Penn Politically Incorrect and Greek Week earlier this year. "The University as a whole should be dedicated to the community," she said. Her amendment to the Budget Committee's original recommendation failed, with three members voting in favor, 23 voting against and four abstaining. An amendment by UA Vice Chairperson Ryan Robinson, a Wharton senior, to provide the recommended $535 as a loan instead of a grant to avoid any possible violations of UA rules was also rejected, with five members voting in favor, 23 voting against and two abstaining. The body then passed the original $535 funding recommendation, with 28 members voting in favor and two voting against. After the meeting, Davidson said she had hoped that the UA would be more interested in funding an event that could be beneficial for both students and members of the community. "I think we set precedent earlier in the year that we were dedicated to events that benefitted the entire student body," she said. "I believe that the UA should set a precedent by demonstrating its dedication to the community." Josh Slatko, the secretary-treasurer of Mask and Wig who represented the five performing arts groups at the UA meeting, said he understood why the body was unable to provide the full amount the groups had requested. "I am very glad that the UA gave to the event what they gave," the College senior said. "It's debatable whether the General Fee should support a charitable event." He added that he was "confident" the groups would get additional funding from other sources and didn't expect that the UA would be willing to fund the entire event. Earlier in the meeting, the UA voted unanimously to provide $2,000 in funding for a Social Planning and Events Committee to Represent Undergraduate Minorities comedy event to be held on December 3 or 4 in the Zellerbach Theatre. According to SPEC-TRUM, the event will feature a variety of performers, including Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam, a group that has produced several well-known comedians. The body also held preliminary discussions on bicycle safety on campus and considered what role the UA could play in the development of new safety measures, but decided to extend the discussion to committee talks this week.