Student groups able to request portions of Carryover money
By Julius Calasicas
Like a Master Card commercial, the costs of operating a clubs can be read categorically on the ASUP Budget: root beer keg for Society of Sobriety - $65, T-shirts for the Feminist Discussion Group - $300, Lars Larson guest speaking for College Republicans - $2,500. The list goes on, but the college experience itself is priceless.
The budget is available at the ASUP office in St. Mary's Lounge.
Unlike a Master Card, ASUP is responsible for managing money that is allocated and reallocated to student groups as well as distributing money carried over from unused funds. The unspent money is returned and rolls over into a Carryover fund that has reached $83,388 this semester. The high Carryover fund this year indicates how much money was left unused by clubs and organizations last semester.
ASUP has a total of $235,600 available to student clubs and organizations. The budget is comprised of student activities fees ($185,000), rollover funds from last term ($83,388) and carryover from Campus Program Board's (CPB) budget (an estimated $28,000).
ASUP President David Gregg explained the process for requesting Carryover money and the reasoning behind it.
"Once a (Senate) committee is formed, student groups must come to meetings and make their request. The committee and the Executive Board grants the groups Carryover funds if approved," Gregg said. "Why would we want to give back money to clubs who didn't use their budget last year? The Carryover fund can be for anything new or an event that might cost more than expected."
According to ASUP Treasurer Natalie Svaren, the average Carryover fund is between $20,000 - $40,000.
"The largest funding we give is to Campus Program Board," Svaren said. "They are in charge of Homecoming, River Run, Dance of the Decades and the Summer Kickoff events," among other activities. CPB received more than $89,000 this semester, which includes its $61,236 budget as well as the existing $28,000 CPB Major Fund, according to the ASUP Budget for Fall 2007.
Aside from CPB, Student Activities leads the list with $10,991 in their budget. The money allotted to Student Activities will go toward activities such as Bullwinkle's Family Fun Center, Day of the Dead Celebration, "Camelot" at Keller auditorium and Portland Trailblazer games.
Crew Club received $9,750 - more than half of which will go towards boat storage.
Other clubs are also looking to capitalize on the Carryover fund. College Ecology Club Treasurer Andrew O'Keefe hopes to request Carryover funds for the use of a bio-diesel generator that would turn used vegetable oil from The Commons and The Cove into bio-diesel.
The cost of this idea is still in the process.
In addition to the generator, College Ecology Club will be co-sponsoring an Environment Justice Plunge in the Bay Area lead by sociology professor Kenneth Laundra.
Senior James O'Keeffe is working with Laundra, College Ecology Club and the Moreau Center to request funds to subsidize the costs.
Florer-Bixler is estimating a request of $2,000 for 25 people for this four day-plunge.
International Club is hoping for a $600 tent rental for the upcoming Oktoberfest - the event was moved from St. Mary's Lounge to The Bluff, outside The Commons.
When asked if the high amount of the Carryover fund has changed the attitudes of ASUP, Gregg said that the process with carryover has remained the same regardless of the amount.
"Because ASUP is not solely responsible for the allocation of these funds, the attitude toward carryover will always remain the same. There are procedures put in place to make sure this money is used wisely while holding clubs and organizations accountable," Gregg said.
