Former African American Theatre Ensemble President Cecilia Saffold will not be able to receive her diploma until she pays back about $400 in lighting fees, said Carson Kuo, Associated Student Government financial vice president.
Kuo requested that a hold be put on Saffold’s diploma and transcripts until she pays for costs that ASG had to cover for her group this winter. The hold also could be removed if she gives SAFB a good reason why she shouldn’t have to pay, or if AATE covers the costs.
Saffold, a Weinberg senior, declined to comment on the matter, but said she and Kuo are communicating.
University Registrar Suzanne Anderson said Saffold would still be able to graduate with the hold, but she would not receive her diploma until she clears her financial problems.
“(Students with holds) still graduate, but what you can have to document the graduation is different,” Anderson said. “We don’t ever not graduate students.”
More than a month ago, ASG gave Saffold four weeks to pay back $383.50, which stemmed from lights she rented for AATE’s a cappella musical, “Avenue X.” AATE paid back the other $800, partially with revenue from their past two shows.
“It was her responsibility,” said Kristian Aloma, AATE treasurer. “We have the invoice with her signature in the original ink she signed it in.”
The invoice in question is dated April 1, 2000. Since Saffold was president at the time, she is responsible because of a contract all student group presidents and treasurers are found to sign with the Student Organization Finance Office.
Saffold has said she is not responsible for the remaining money because she rented the lights Fall Quarter 2000, when she was not president of AATE.
Forcing AATE to pay the balance is not an option, Kuo said.
“I wouldn’t make them pay,” said Kuo, an Education junior. “If they wanted to – which I don’t think they do – I’d accept it.”
Aloma said AATE would pay Saffold’s share if they had the funds. AATE also had financial problems at the beginning of Fall Quarter, when they had to pay back debts left from the previous year. The prior executive board could have paid the funds back, he said, but they didn’t.
The invoice came back from DesignLab, a Chicago-based company, at the beginning of Winter Quarter. The Student Activities Finance Board paid the bill out of their contingency account, which is used to help student groups with these situations.
The last time SAFB used the contingency account was Fall Quarter 1999, when they reimbursed 3am magazine for a bill that came in over the summer.
