After the Judicial Review Board’s verdict absolved Student Association Comptroller Maggie Misztal of charges of associating with others outside of the finance board to influence the budgeting process, plans are already in the works to have student organization budgets distributed by the end of the semester.

The JRB suspended the finance board’s deliberations after Jason Jackson, president of Alpha Phi Alpha and the National Pan-Hellenic Council, filed the charges against Misztal regarding the NPHC’s proposed budget of more than $258,000.

‘The pre-emptive charges filed by Mr. Jackson are wrongly accusing violating codes based on a decision that has not had the opportunity to be made,’ Misztal said.

With the charges resolved in her favor after a hearing before the JRB Wednesday night, Misztal said she will now schedule a meeting with the finance board to begin budget deliberations and most likely have them ready for approval by the SA assembly at next Monday’s meeting.The JRB said in an e-mail that it came to its decision based on a lack of evidence against Misztal, and also showed its concern for the finance board’s budget process.

‘We urge and hope that future sessions of the assembly will work to reform the system in the name of fairness and quality,’ said Greg Hoofnagle, chairman of the JRB in the e-mail.

During the hearing, Jackson alleged that Misztal violated finance codes by asking Alex Miller, the assistant director of the Office of Greek Life and Experiential Learning, his opinion on the NPHC’s budget.

‘The first means of communication should have been with the NPHC adviser,’ Jackson said.

Jackson also claimed there was a conflict of interest between Misztal and University Union since she is the finance board liaison – which helps the group prepare their budget proposal and paperwork – to the club which he said compromises the budget proposals of other student organizations.

‘She is guilty by having a conflict of interest with student organizations,’ Jackson said.

Jackson said the ‘last straw’ causing him to file charges against Misztal to the JRB was when he heard allegations that she did not want student organizations, specifically himself, present at the budget deliberations. To close the finance board meetings, its members would have to pass a motion that involves a four-fifths majority.

But finance board members present at the hearing said the vote never took place. Misztal added that she did not ask the finance board to close the budget deliberations to student organizations, but explained the voting process and option of closing a meeting to the board, admitting that the possibility of having the student groups present whose funds they were debating could be intimidating.

In his case against Misztal, Jackson focused heavily on his grievances with the finance board’s budgeting process, saying that the finance board consistently allocates fewer funds than what is asked for, especially to smaller student organizations.

‘Student organizations need to be informed about what will and will not be funded,’ Jackson said.

At the end of Jackson’s presentation of charges, Hoofnagle said it seemed like Jackson had a bigger problem with the financial board process than with Misztal.

Ajua Kouadio, the president of the Student African-American Society and a senior African-American studies major, said the debate was more evenly split.

‘I think it should go down in history as an attack on the budget process as a whole,’ Kouadio said. ‘I think people will be a little bit more accountable in the future.’

In her rebuttal, Misztal said the charges against her were based on worries about the outcome of a process that has not even happened yet.

‘The NPHC has received the same procedural treatment as all other student organizations which have requested funding,’ Misztal said.

Misztal defended her meeting with Miller by saying it is the finance board’s job to learn all it can about organizations and the events they are planning.

‘The finance board comes to decisions by speaking with (Student Centers and Programming Services) and OGLEL regarding organizing events,’ Misztal said.

Travis Mason, current SA vice president and president-elect, said he thought the main purpose of the hearing was Jackson’s objection to the budget process.

‘The (finance) codes are so general and so vague that anything can go,’ Mason said.

Published on December 1, 2004 at 12:00 pm