The University of Maine General Student Senate funded Alternative Breaks $9,000 after 90 minutes of debate, funded three other organizations in the total amount of $10,000 and welcomed two new senators to the GSS during their 24th meeting of the 34th session on Oct. 1 in the Memorial Union’s Bangor Room.
Alternative Breaks funded $9,000, “fishy” account discovered by EBC
The GSS approved an amended funding request of $9,000 by Alternative Breaks to be used for travel during their upcoming annual service trips.
According to the resolution, the organization has planned nine trips for the 2013-14 school year. Eight will occur in the spring and one during the winter. Destinations include Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
The total estimated cost of all trips is over $39,874, up $8,000 from last year due to an additional trip.
Also in the resolution, it says the organization expects to collect $26,610 in fundraising this year, up $1,000 from last year, and dues are set at $200, although the the club strives to accommodate all levels of financial stability and offers others ways to pay including through scholarship.
The vote to pass the amended funding request, 19-7, was one vote over two-thirds and came after approximately 90 minutes of debate, questioning and proposed amendments.
Alternative Breaks initial request was for $11,930 — just over $100 more than what UMSG, Inc. funded them last year — but after passing the organization’s resolution onto the GSS, it was discovered by several Executive Budgetary Committee members that Alternative Breaks had $15,000 in a “gift account” that they had not declared as part of their funds, essentially proving EBC no reason to fund in full.
The amount request was then cut down to $6,600.
Club coordinators Sen. Morgan Kinney and Kelly Covey spoke on behalf of Alternative Breaks and explained the “gift account,” which they say, “comes from our most successful fundraiser.”
“We need money in case of emergencies,” Kinney said. “I see it as totally irresponsible if we don’t have more than zero dollars in our account at any time.”
Kinney says the group raised over $25,000 last year, which is why the organization projects around $26,000 for this year.
Kinney reminded the body of the evident limitations of fundraising revenue around the area.
“There is a ceiling around this area … we all know it,” Kinney said. “We fundraise year-round and we get what we can.”
Kinney is a member of EBC, but abstained during the committee’s recommendation vote because of an obvious conflict of interest. She was one of all eight EBC members to do so.
Vice president Ortiz and Sens. Ryan Hall, Justin Conant and Jake Dumas — all members of Alternative Breaks — participated, voting “Yea.”
President Dao and vice president for Financial Affairs Raymond Updyke also voted “Yea,” while the only member to vote “Nay” was vice president for Student Organizations William “Nick” Smith, who later explained that he “thought [Alternative Breaks] should have received more money because of the large amount of fundraising the organization already does.”
After further discussion of the “gift account,” Kinney and Covey defined the fund as a place rollover funds have been put following the end of every fiscal year, thus increasing its amount annually.
Sen. Corey Morton agreed with Alternative Breaks’ use of the account, saying it “proves sustainability, which is a good thing to have for a student organization.”
VPSO Updyke disagreed.
“Something fishy was going on here … for some reason, [Alternative Breaks] neglected to ever include the rollover amount,” Updyke said. “Is it because we’ve always had a large number of EBC members who are also in Alternative Breaks? I don’t know, but we shouldn’t be funding a group just for them to put that money away for next year.”
Ortiz continued to voice his thoughts about the financial situation, but also saw no mischievous activity.
“It was how our auditors saw it … I don’t think [Alternative Breaks] had any intentions of hoarding this [fund] all this time; it was just missed,” Ortiz said. “My opinions about this group couldn’t be better. My brother was a member, and now I am but my discretion comes strictly for monetary purposes.”
Sen. Alicia Bolduc later moved to amend the resolution back to Alternative Break’s initial request amount of $11,930.
This brought up a brand new problem: the GSS’ lack of funds until November when this year’s student activity fees are added to unallocated, which VPFA Updyke estimates will be around $130,000.
After Updyke finished explaining the GSS had about $27,000 for the next 4-5 weeks, president Dao advised the body go against funding Alternative Breaks their initial request of $11,930, regardless of what members thought about the “gift account,” and agree on an amount under $10,000 if funding anything ends up being an option.
“I think it’s a bad idea to give the full amount this week,” Dao said. “It’s not only going to be hard to fund large funding requests from now, but even the office budgets will add up quickly.”
Sen. Lee Jackson didn’t agree.
“If you remember, we told groups to come in early so they can get their funding before we run out of unallocated rollover … why penalize them?” Jackson said. “Precedent is just about as strong as my paper cup here … follow the rules and vote however you wish to vote.”
When asked for a minimum amount they would need to walk away from UMSG in order to book flights and time sensitive travel expenses, Kinney said $9,000.
“Flight costs are projected around $14,000,” Kinney said. “That’s from simply online research, which means the price will probably go up when our travel agent books the trips — it almost always does.”
Sen. Bolduc’s amendment failed shortly after, allowing Sen. Ariel Bothen to amend the resolution’s amount to $9,000, which was later passed by the GSS.
Ski & Snowboard, Wilde Stein & Tennis Club funded; Best Buddies main motion fails
The Ski & Snowboard Club, the Wilde Stein Alliance for Sexual Diversity and Tennis Club also received funding.
The GSS approved a funding request of $2,400 by the Ski & Snowboard Club to be used for “bus trips during fiscal year 2013-14,” according to the resolution.
The Ski & Snowboard Club has planned eight trips for this winter — five to Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley and three to Sunday River in Newry — with each trip expected to cost approximately $800 and seat 60 members.
Club president Shelby Caret, a fourth-year new media and business administration student, and club vice president and treasurer Chad Flinkström, a third-year student, spoke on behalf of the organization.
According to Caret, the club requires $25 dues per member — which is a $5 increase from last year — and has fundraised about $1,800 already this year.
The $2,400 will cover three of the eight trips. Last year, the group received funding help from UMSG, Inc. for two trips.
The GSS approved a funding request of $1,000 by the Wilde Stein Alliance for Sexual Diversity to be used for “artist fees” during their annual hosting of “Coming Out Week” from Oct. 21-25, according to the resolution.
Rebecca Kling, a transgender artist and author of “No Gender Left Behind,” will perform and organize a workshop on Oct. 24. The requested amount is expected to cover roughly half of Kling’s artist fee.
Wilde Stein president Kaiya Hansen, a third-year chemistry student, spoke on behalf of the organization.
Hansen says Wild Stein will also be receiving funding for “Coming Out Weekend” from the Program Fund and Residents on Campus (ROC).
The GSS approved a funding request of $1,000 by the Tennis Club to be used for “indoor court fees” during the club’s 2013-14 fiscal year, according to resolution.
In order to hold indoor court time in Bangor from mid-October to April, the Tennis Club must pay a $2,000 fee.
Club president Hunter Morancy spoke on behalf of the organization.
Morancy says court fees nearly doubled last year, forcing the team to cut practice time in half to keep playing. The team pays for tournaments out-of-pocket and regularly books trips close to members’ houses to avoid hotel costs.
Sen. Jackson proposed an amendment to raise the funding amount to $1,250, but it failed.
All three resolutions received unanimous, 8-0-0 “ought to pass” recommendations from EBC before reaching the GSS.
Near the end of meeting, Sen. Bolduc moved to bring a main motion forward to which she sponsored.
The main motion, by Best Buddies, requested $75 for an ice cream social on Oct. 3.
Club president Chelsea O’Meara spoke on behalf of the main motion funding request.
The question of whether or not the GSS could fund the event because students aren’t eating the ice cream was asked, and that’s when both president Dao and VPFA Updyke decided it would be best if Dao cover the cost through her executive fund.
The main motion failed, shortly after Sen. Morton said: “Let’s fail this so it can go through the proper loopholes.”
Senators join, Collins resigns, Ad-Hoc discontinued & Kiah wins
The GSS welcomed two new senators aboard. First-year student Harold Stewart and third-year communications and political science student Andrew Bracy are the newest additions to the body.
Just one week after winning an unopposed race for the position, Graduate Student Senate Representative Sen. Alexander Collins announced his resignation due to a schedule conflict.
The Graduate Student Senate (GSG) meets on Wednesdays at 1 p.m., a time that conflicts with Sen. Collins’ current class schedule.
President Dao announced the discontinuation of the Ad Hoc Committee on Community Associations and Representative Boards, a special committee created last spring to improve talks between UMSG, Inc. executives, the GSS and Community Association and Representative Board representatives.
Sen. Robert Kiah won the election for Fair Election Practices Committee (FEPC) Senator, beating out fellow Sens. Robert Eastman and Vanessa Degenhardt.
Water for ME granted prelim recognition
Water for ME Student Member Group — a non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide students concerned with water sanitation in the developing world opportunities to collaborate and help alleviate suffering due to lack of clean water — received preliminary recognition from the GSS.
Prior to the GSS meeting, the Student Organizations Committee (SOC) issued a unanimous “ought to pass” recommendation in favor of the club receiving prelim recognition during their Sept. 30 meeting.
Water for ME club president Bryer Sousa, a second-year chemistry student, spoke on behalf of the group.
“It’s not just a scientific effort … putting filtration devices is just a start … it’s also both an economic and political science effort,” Sousa said. “We’re going to enter high schools around the area, hold colloquies, bring in speakers and teach the importance of water filtration.”
“This project can’t be successful if we don’t pursue the most this university has to offer in terms of student organizations.”
Last April, Sousa was awarded a $10,000 Projects for Peace grant from the Davis Foundation to install biosand filters in 50 households in an impoverished rural region of Honduras. [bangordailynews.com/2013/04/17/news/bangor/first-year-umaine-student-wins-10000-projects-for-peace-grant/]
The group has a total of 15 members, which includes 13 undergraduates, one graduate student and one faculty member.
Buttarazzi’s BOT report
Representative to the University of Maine System (UMS) Board of Trustees Colin Buttarazzi gave his semi-monthly report on the board’s Sept. 23 meeting.
According to Buttarazzi, the BOT announced they’ve been making headway in their negotiations for collective bargaining. It’s been years since a deal has been made.
The BOT also brought up a question that will appear on the state of Maine’s upcoming referendum elections on Nov. 5. Buttarazzi says although the BOT can’t tell students how to vote, they wanted them to be aware of what the question entails.
A bond issue, Question 2 asks: “Do you favor a [$15.5 million] bond issue to enhance educational and employment opportunities for Maine citizens and students by updating and improving existing laboratory and classroom facilities of the [UMS] statewide?”
Buttarazzi says — according to the BOT — UMaine would receive $5.5 million of the share, and it would go toward renovating an estimated 10,000 square feet of classroom laboratory space in Little Hall, Boardman Hall and several others.
“Because of the high enrollment in the engineer program, it’s looked at as an ideal choice for the school,” Buttarazzi said.
The BOT said they would be attempting to attract ex-collegiate students who started their degrees and never finished to return to a UMS school to complete their education. Maine has one of the highest rates of populations without a college degree in the nation.
UMaine Rowing Club present
University of Maine Rowing Club presented to the GSS on their recent Head of the Merrimack race and regatta hosted by Essex Rowing Club on Sept. 28 in Methuen, Mass. It was the club’s first competition in over three years. [http://mainecampus.com/2013/09/29/umaine-competes-in-first-regatta-in-three-years/]
Club treasurer Tyler Averill, a fourth-year communication and sociology student, spoke on behalf of the group. Averill says contestants’ ages ranged all the way from high school to 65-years-old. Two high school teams from Maine competed: Yarmouth High School and another from the Greater Portland Area.
UMaine Rowing Club competed in both the Mixed Open 4+ and Men’s Open 4+ against Gentle Giant Rowing Club.
Exec, other reports
In his report, Ortiz said he informally brought up the issue of groups paying facility prices for on campus activities during his meeting with Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Robert Dana.
During the GSS’ Sept. 24 meeting, Sen. Jackson spoke out about the matter during debate over funding Men’s Club Ice Hockey $6,000. A large portion of the $6,000 will go toward ice time and maintenance
In his report, VPSO Smith declared that all sections of UMSG, Inc., excluding Financial Affairs, will be fully on OrgSync — “for all things except email” — once returning from fall break.
Financial Affairs’ plans to keep a paper trail will ultimately preclude them from fully using OrgSync’s capabilities.
VPSO Smith also announced that $50 prizes would be awarded to the “top pages” on OrgSync. Measures of contest include: look, activity, member contribution, etc. The competition will end on Oct. 10 at 5 p.m.
In his report, VPFA Updyke listed allocations under $1,000: $315 to Interfraternity Council’s (IFC) Alpha Gamma Rho for paint wars and $200 to Black Student Union, Ski & Snowboard Club, Green Team and Maine Society for Microbiology for office budgets.
Services Committee chair Sen. Morton said she spoke with both assistant director for security, parking and transportation Alan Stormann and a representative for Housing Services during the Auxiliary Services meeting.
Morton says, according to Stormann, “there is parking for everyone” on campus, but “it just may not be convenient.”
Stormann says there’s only been one parking lot completely filled this entire year.
Stormann also confirmed rumors about a possible parking garage being built on top of the current Collins Center for the Arts (CCA) parking lot, saying it will be built within the next couple of years.
According to Stormann’s Parking Services bylaws, any student can park in commuter and faculty lots — not resident lots — after 4 p.m. and until 6 a.m.
As for Housing Services, Morton says the ongoing issues with first-year students living in triple rooms is going to be resolved by Thanksgiving.
Currently, there are 22 rooms with three students assigned. A 30 percent discount has been applied to a double room rate, which has in turn left many students wanting to stay in triple rooms to reap the reduced cost of living.
According to Housing Services department site through umaine.edu, first-year students assigned to triples “will be reassigned to double rooms as space becomes available through cancellations, and based upon date of housing application.”
Legal services liaison Sen. Tanner Adams reported on his first meeting with undergraduate student legal aid Sean O’Mara.
“[O’Mara’s] job isn’t always about consulting legal matter after-the-fact … talking to him before can both educate and prevent further incidents,” Adams said. “You can come in and talk with [O’Mara] about general rules of law … he encourages it.”
Adams said O’Mara is currently working on lessening the fierceness involved with the current discipline process when students get in trouble. The present system involves a letter being sent home, as well as a couple other actions, and O’Mara says it “seems too aggressive right now.”