If students have to fork over cash to get into the usually free Art Attack concert in the spring to see some sort of budget-band, no-frills performance, they can thank the Student Government Association.
Because of a decrease in funds and new caps the SGA implemented on the money it doles out to student groups, Student Entertainment Events, the group charged with organizing the campus’ largest annual production, was given only a little less than $5,000 – far less than the approximately $30,000 they usually get in the allocations given this time of year, most of which funds the concert.
What poor planning to end up with a situation where SEE is scrambling to find funds for an event students place so much importance on. Given that every year the group struggles to book big-name bands, implementing a funding cut without thinking through the implications is only going to leave the group in a much worse position.
The SGA legislature must absolutely vote to give SEE more money at its meeting next Wednesday. If the legislature does vote to give SEE more money, it will come out of the SGA reserves, funding the SGA sets aside for its own discretionary spending, or a little bit will be taken from each student group and given to SEE. The SGA should decide to take the money from their own reserves given it was their rules that put SEE in such a terrible situation.
The group should also ensure there is a mandated amount of funding to give to the group every year so a faux pas such as this doesn’t happen again.
In the future, the SGA needs to show more careful planning when deciding to change rules to deal with a decrease in funds. Giving funding to SEE for the annual Art Attack concert is one of the most important duties of the SGA – and one that directly impacts the student body.
There is little hope for progress from SEE, which is often criticized for its inability to please the music and entertainment tastes of the student body, if the SGA does not ensure that guidelines are in place to support the group, not hurt it.
