By Signe K. Skinion

A resolution proposing $200,000 worth of changes in four registered student organizations’ funding is causing disagreement between Undergraduate Student Government senators.

The resolution, tabled at Wednesday night’s meeting for further discussion until Feb. 14, would subtract funding from the Student Programming Council and International Student Council. The resolution would provide more money for the Inter-Greek Council and the Black Affairs Council.

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Eric Bottom, College of Business senator and Finance Committee chairman, said the committee looked at each organization individually to decide funding allocations.

We went through each budget and saw the money spent two years ago and last year, Bottom said. Then we estimated the total dollar figures they could use for the next two years on an individual basis.

USG President Kim Clemens, and former chief executive of SPC, said SPC should not lose last year’s funding of $124,489 because allegations from the resolution that there is a lack of response from students to SPC programs.

Approximately 161,000 students attend SPC events, Clemens said. This accusation is not true.

SPC sets up special events for students throughout the year such as concerts and movies.

Under the proposed resolution for the next two years, SPC will receive $111,611, Bottom said.

Paul Mitchell, SPC chief executive director and USG College of Mass Communications senator, said the proposed decrease in SPC funding will cause problems for everyone.

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SPC tried to work with the figures USG gave us, and they just don’t work, Mitchell said. Their proposal would take $12,000 away from us. SIUC is currently in a recruitment push, and SPC is to be a recruitment tool. This proposal is self-defeating to the University.

Mitchell said there are two main reasons why SPC’s budget should not be decreased.

When the city raises the bar entry age to 21 next June, SPC will have to put out more programs to keep students entertained, Mitchell said. The non-traditional students on campus with families are extremely noticeable and we have to meet the needs of those students.

David Vingren, Thompson Point senator and Finance Committee member, said the proposed funding changes were thoroughly checked.

We looked at each program and saw how they ran themselves and what they did with their money, Vingren said. A big problem with this is these programs will say BAC represents 20 percent of the campus, so we should get 20 percent of the funding.’ That just doesn’t fly.

Clemens said it is unnecessary for BAC funding to increase from $32,465 to $36,608.

The African American students on this campus make up about 13 percent of the student body, which amounts to approximately 2,210 African American students, Clemens said. If you go by undergraduate figures alone, I do not think there are 2,210 students involved in BAC.

Troy Alim, BAC coordinator and Evergreen Terrace senator, said BAC did not get the full funding they had asked for, but he said he is not upset with the proposed funding.

Clemens said the resolution’s proposal to raise Inter-Greek Council funding from $20,741 to $26,787 is also unnecessary. She said increasing the council’s funding on the basis of SIUC’s major weekend participation is inaccurate.

The Inter Greek Council does not organize these events (SIUC weekends), Clemens said. The Student Programming Council is responsible for organizing these events.

The resolution unnecessarily proposes to decrease International Student Council’s funding from $30,210 to $23,215, Clemens said.

The ISC has three major events that have become traditions on this campus:the soccer tournament, the International Olympics, and the International Fest, Clemens said. Everyone is involved in these activities, not just the international students.

Bottom said the senate did not ask for the Finance Committee to do anything before the next meeting.

What I assume is individual senators will be conducting their own investigations into this resolution before the next meeting, Bottom said.

The resolution will be voted on Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. in Student Center Ballroom B.