The increase in the budgets of Athletics and Multicultural Student Services highlighted the final round of Services and Activities (S&A) Fees Committee hearings.
The S&A Fees Committee recommends the allocation of student fees to various organizations on the WSU campus.
Members of the board questioned the budget presented by Athletics. They asked the S&A Fees Committee for a 2-percent increase from the amount they received last year. If the Athletics' request is granted they may be allocated $920,849.
“My concerns are just how we as committee members justify it to the people we represent,” said Randell Walling, GPSA vice-president elect. “How with such big capital projects on campus that are so visible, how Athletics is coming and asking for a large chunk of student fees to continue to support them.”
Walling said he was curious when Athletics would become independent of S&A, and relieve the financial student support.
Leslie Johnson, the associate director of business operations for Athletics, pointed out where the 2-percent increase in fees would go.
“The increase would be to assist in increased opportunities for students primarily in the area of communications to work on and develop Pac-12 broadcasts,” Johnson said.
Riley Myklebust, ASWSU President and chair of the committee, expressed how Athletics should present in the future.
“I think the difficult position as the chair of this committee, as I sit in it, is you’re the third largest request, yet only one or two budgets provide less information,” Myklebust said.
He said the committee wants to support Athletics, but they need to make decisions based on facts and not personal knowledge. He said the information provided does not show that the money is taken seriously. Myklebust said an example of the level of detail he would like to see is pictures and information on students working for the organization.
This is the first year the Multicultural Student Services (MSS) has presented to the committee. MSS is a department under the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment. In their opening statements, the presenters pointed out how it had taken 25 years for them to come before the S&A Fees Committee.
MSS is asking for a one-time allocation of $30,000 to supplement their budget and hold a celebration. The 2012-2013 school year marks the 25th anniversary of Multicultural Student Services on the WSU campus.
Rafael Pruneda, the ASWSU assistant director of multicultural affairs, said he is looking forward to taking part in the celebration.
“Something that we’re very, very proud of is that we want to showcase student’s organizations and the way they have contributed to establish and enhance MSS,” Pruneda said,” and the amazing diversity legacy we have continued here at Washington State University.”
The celebration will mainly be a weeklong event in October but will last throughout the remainder of the school year, Pruneda said. The goal of MSS is to have a well-known speaker come to WSU and a conference showcasing the student organizations, he said.
“Although we do say Multicultural Student Services, our services go to all students,” Pruneda said.
He said many students who do not identify as multicultural do use the services offered by MSS.
The MSS Director J. Manuel Acevedo used metaphor to describe the importance of his organization to WSU.
“MSS is a jewel that WSU is and should be proud of,"Acevedo said. "It would be a shame if we don’t celebrate this historic accomplishment for the university and obviously for Multicultural Student Services.”
2012-2013 Academic Year 0% Budget Request Actual Budget Request
Health Advocates $56,361 $78,360
Center for Center Engagement $163,371 $189,646
Athletics $900,849 $966,982
WSU Well Being Program $165,900 $283,300
Cable 8 Productions $30,000 $398,366
Student Involvement $450,729 $496,904
ASWSU – Administration/Executives $193,507 $193,507
ASWSU - Senate $100,100 $100,100
ASWSU - Committee Programming $233,619 $253,609
Compton Union Building $1,168,126 $1,196,161
Student Publications/Evergreen $95,000 $99,000
Marching Band $99,400 $103,800
Transit $459,492 $482,467
Disabilities Awareness $39,370 $39,370
Coalition of Women $136,539 $164,483
Child Care Center $203,088 $208,926
UREC $888,574 $1,070,225
LandEscapes $15,000 $15,000
GPSA $375,380 $398,393
KUGR $6,026 $6,026
Student Entertainment Board $442,376 $460,786
Multicultural Student Services N/A $30,000
Cougar Leadership Programs $175,825 $234,411
