By Melissa Nip
Each year, the Campus Program Board welcomes University of Portland students with a dance on the Portland Spirit, a riverboat that cruises the Willamette River. Many students consider this to be one of the most enjoyable events of the semester. "I loved River Run last year," sophomore Katie Link said. "It was the craziest night, and the dance was on a boat! How awesome is that?" Many students were appalled when they heard that River Run was cancelled this year. There has been a rumor floating around campus that funding previously allotted to River Run was given instead to the freshman excursion to the "Big Al's" bowling arcade during orientation weekend. When asked about the dance, sophomore Kaitlyn McNamara angrily attributed its cancellation to the freshman and their bowling. "If they can have a night of bowling, why can't we have River Run?" she asked.In fact, the rumor is only partially true, according to Jillian Smith, assistant director of Student Activities. Smith said the student-run Campus Program Board reallocated approximately $5000 or one-third of the money originally earmarked for the River Run to the freshman trip. But that decision came well after the cruise was cancelled.Senior Tarra McCurdy, Campus Program Board director, said the CPB's decision to cancel the cruise was made last spring, weeks before the freshman trip was even proposed.According to McCurdy, last year's budgeting committee "felt like River Run would take away from other important events," and that the money might be better spent on other activities, such as Homecoming. Still, McCurdy acknowledged it was a difficult decision."It was tough for me to have River Run cancelled because of all of the excitement that comes with it," said McCurdy.River Run was initially included in the spring budget, but the price for the boat charter increased over the previous year's cost by several hundred dollars, Smith said. McCurdy attempted to budget in order to cover the additional charges, but was unable to do so.Senior Steve Waters, ASUP Treasurer, would like students angered by the cancellation to consider that the Portland Spirit costs almost $17,000 to charter for an evening, and only 400 students can attend River Run. In contrast, a dance at the Melody Ballroom, costs just $12,000 and accommodates thousands of students. "ASUP has less money than they've ever had," Waters said, "so we have to think more about what we should spend now. It's no surprise that the economy has affected ASUP much like the rest of the country, and recession spells difficult decisions for everyone." Previously, however, whatever funds weren't spent throughout the year could be carried over. Now, leftover money is put toward an ASUP endowment, "a move that will guarantee more funds for ASUP in the long term," Waters said. That's little comfort to River Run fans.Nevertheless, McCurdy holds firm that the loss of River Run has its benefits, including an enhanced Homecoming this year. It's been expanded to an entire week of festivities, culminating with a dance at the Melody Ballroom on Oct. 3. Among the new activities under consideration is a pre-game tailgate-style chili feed, according to Smith. Details are still to come, she said, but students can look forward to more school-wide activities in the week leading up to the first big dance of the semester.ASUP leaders point out that while ASUP members ultimately make decisions on how to spend student funding, those not involved with ASUP can still be part of the decision-making process. Anyone can come to CPB meetings on Thursday nights at 5 p.m. in Shiley 123, or even join the CPB Facebook group. McCurdy stresses that "meetings are the best place to give input and help CPB make planning decisions". For now, River Run seems a recent memory to upperclassmen, an elusive dream to freshmen. But it's not over. When asked if there was any chance that River Run could be put back on the events calendar for 2010, McCurdy said she "would encourage the next director to bring it back."
