Northwestern student groups will learn tonight if their financial dreams for the next academic year will come true.
At tonight’s Associated Student Government Senate meeting, the Student Activities Finance Board will unveil its recommendations for student group funding. Senators will receive a book listing the amount each of the groups requested and the value recommended by SAFB.
ASG Financial Vice President Zaid Pardesi, who also serves as SAFB chairman, said this year’s funding pool decreased to about $800,000. Last year SAFB recommended distributing about $870,000. Pardesi said the amount of money available comes from the Student Activities Fee — the $120 each NU undergraduate pays per year — and a contribution from the Office of Student Affairs.
This year’s cut in funds comes in part from Student Affairs cutting back on its contribution, Pardesi said. Because of this decrease in the pool, SAFB needed to assess each group more closely.
“We had to scrutinize a lot more,” said Pardesi, a McCormick junior. “We really had to look at the merits of student groups.”
Student groups turned in petitions for funding April 16, and SAFB members interviewed each group’s leaders for 15 minutes last week to determine each group’s financial needs. Pardesi said SAFB completed its report on Friday.
Pardesi said he informed student groups of the cut in the funding pool so they could tailor their requests to this year’s financial situation.
“They needed to plan accordingly and shift their requests down a little,” he said.
When student groups see the board’s recommendations tonight, the organizations will notice the cuts, Pardesi said.
“Some groups got little cuts,” he said. “Others got big cuts. Some stayed the same.”
SAFB Account Executive Jason Lake said the board has to make tough decisions each year on the amount of funds to give each student group that applies. More money is requested than can be distributed, and the amount each student group requests can’t always be met, Lake said.
“Even if there was plenty of money available, there would never be enough to give everyone what they want,” said Lake, a Weinberg senior.
But he said the recommendations are open to change, and senators will be able to adjust the funds for each group.
“(Senate) can change anything,” he said. “We just make the recommendation. We’re done, except for arguing our recommendations. It’s up for the Senate now.”
Senate will debate on SAFB recommendations at next week’s meeting.
In addition to receiving information about spring funding, senators also will vote on a bill to expand the Asian American Studies program. The bill focuses on increasing the number of tenured professors who specialize in Asian American Studies and offering more related courses in departments like theatre.
Senate also will elect justices to the ASG Judicial Board.
The Daily’s Erin Stock contributed to this report.
