The Associated Student Government Senate passed recommendations Wednesday night from its finance board to punish two student groups for failing to hold required events last spring.
NAYO, an African dance troupe, will lose $777 originally allocated by the Student Activities Finance Board for its spring 2005 dance show. The group failed to hold its spring show last year when several members dropped out at the last minute, said Aliya Faust, NAYO president.
The Panhellenic Association, the group that oversees most of NU’s sororities, received “a slap on the wrist” but not a fine for dropping a required event, according to Georgina Anton, judicial vice president for Panhel.
Representatives from both groups said they felt the Senate’s decisions were deserved.
“We were expecting to get penalized. It’s fair,” Faust said.
Despite NAYO’s loss of funding, ASG will require the group to hold an event in the spring and to keep in better contact with its account executive or SAFB representative.
“It’s a lot of money to lose but we’ll just have to fund raise, hopefully we’ll make a profit from our fall show,” said Faust, a Weinberg junior.
Panhel’s representative had no problem with the recommendation.
“We’re totally fine (with the decision),” said Anton, a Weinberg senior. “SAFB handled everything professionally.”
Panhel is required to communicate more effectively with ASG in the future and to turn in contracts to SAFB one month prior to events.
Panhel was supposed to hold a concert last May but had logistical problems when scheduling the event. It postponed the event to Reading Week and eventually dropped it all together. Panhel decided the event was poorly planned and did not receive enough help from the Interfraternity Council, according to Todd Lewis, an SAFB account executive.
IFC, the group that oversees fraternities on campus, was de-recognized last winter for failing to file an annual review petition that assesses whether the group deserves its status. The former A-status group appealed, but Senate upheld the decision.
Group misconduct will be taken into account if Panhel or NAYO applies for fall supplemental funding, according to Pardesi.
Anton said Panhel has not decided whether it will request supplemental funding this fall and leaders are not worried about the effect this recommendation may have on that process.
NAYO also has not decided whether it will apply for funds, Faust said.
Wednesday’s meeting also included the presentation of the first bill of the year. The legislation calls for improvements to Shanley Pavilion to be funded by $5,000 in donations already raised by the Executive Board, said Howard W. Buffet, executive vice president.
“It’s vital that we make this place better,” said Buffet, a Communication junior, at the meeting.
Senators will vote on the bill next week.
In other news, Rick Thomas introduced himself to the Senate as the new director of the Norris University Center.
He emphasized his hopes to work with ASG and students to make improvements to Norris.
“I don’t see them as my plans. I see them as Northwestern’s, and ASG is a key constituency that I wish to work with,” Thomas said.
Focus groups will be formed to dream up new plans for Norris, he said.
“I want to get a cross section of campus, folks that aren’t as connected and give them a role in that process,” Thomas added.
Reach Alexis Crawford at [email protected] and Helena Oh at [email protected].