University Union leaders were shocked at their lack of funding following Monday night’s Student Association budget meeting.

UU, the largest student programming organization on campus, received only $43,917 in funding for the spring 2008 semester though it requested more than $340,762. These figures do not include advance funding of $170,000 that it received earlier this semester for the annual Block Party event in the Carrier Dome later this year.

Adam Scharfberg, University Union president, said UU is looking to appeal the Student Association’s decision, although it is unlikely that there will be much funding left over.

‘Tonight taught me that SA does not promote large-scale programming,’ Scharfberg said. ‘We got zero dollars. And after we co-sponsored an event with SA, it’s kind of a slap in the face.’

Though Scharfberg’s claim of zero funding is an overstatement, the group received less than a quarter of its requested funding.

SA and UU, along with the New York Public Interest and Research Group, co-sponsored a speech by former Mexican President Vicente Fox in October. The event was not as successful as the groups had hoped. Scharfberg said SA tried to blame UU for the underwhelming event, which is why it is receiving significantly less funding than in past years.

‘When students ask, ‘Where is Dane Cook? Where is Bob Saget?’ they will be disappointed,’ Scharfberg said, ‘We will miss out on a lot of concerts this year.’

Michael Rizzolo, SA’s comptroller who oversees the Finance Board, said he was aware of the dissatisfaction, but said there was a legitimate technical reason or justification for every cut that was made.

‘We had $1.7 million in requests, but only $670,000 to give out. We had 141 budget requests. It’s not an easy job,’ Rizzolo said.

The Finance Board is made of 10 members who each spent an estimated 30 hours working to determine budgeting for next semester. It is overseen by the non-voting comptroller, Rizzolo.

He said that each request was carefully reviewed several times and the debate about event details takes place within the Finance Board. ‘The Finance Board is comprised of students whose job is to review every budget – line by line – to present a budget recommendation.’

The Finance Board, SA’s assembly and representatives from various student organizations met Monday in Maxwell Auditorium to provide an opportunity for students to voice their opinions and concerns on the Finance Board’s decision-making.

Rizzolo said it is the assembly’s job is to evaluate whether the Finance Board functioned properly during its review. At this semester’s meeting, the assembly agreed with all of the methods and reasoning that the Finance Board used to come to its decisions.

However, a slew of students from various organizations, whose requested funding was either denied or not fully met, voiced dissatisfaction with the results.

Nathan Muller, UU’s co-director of speakers, said his organization was cheated.

‘College is a place where you’re supposed to learn,’ Muller said. ‘You gain so much insight from guest speakers, and that is a huge part of the college experience. We are going to look into co-sponsorships now, but the whole thing is disheartening.’

Other organization representatives were disappointed as well.

One student, when asked about the outcome of the meeting, said that she was too dissatisfied to talk about it. Those around her agreed. These students wished to remain anonymous.

Approximately 60 organizations were denied funding. The Finance Board’s reasons for denial ranged from groups being late to their hearing, which was seen as unprofessional, to groups requesting funds primarily for food or prizes.

While much of the discontent stirred within UU’s overwhelming rejection of funds, the group did. UU Cinemas was awarded $1,263 for the black film festival and $10,773 for weekly film screenings. UU Comedy received funding for a tier three comedian, Rizzolo said.

Within what was awarded, there were additional cuts to UU’s requests. Of the $43, 917 they did receive, those activities had been budgeted at $109, 997. Earlier in the year, UU was also funded $170,000 in advance for their annual block party.

Aside from the requests of UU, one of the largest requests was from the Black Communications Society. The group requested $95,876 for Lil’ Mama to sing at a women empowerment concert and speak in a panel discussion before the event.

The Finance Board questioned the level of discussion that a 17-year-old artist could bring to a women empowerment panel and also said it was too much money to spend on a show in Goldstein Auditorium. The group was denied funding.

Numerous groups, however, were satisfied with the funding they received and expressed their gratitude at the meeting.

Rizzolo said the groups that were cut should understand the reasoning and processes behind the board’s decisions.

‘They would come into my office and we would talk about it, so they could understand why they were cut,’ Rizzolo said.

Organizations can appeal the board’s decisions on Monday at 7:30 p.m.

Published on November 26, 2007 at 12:00 pm