CORRECTION: In a previous version of this article, those who were not told about the final numbers were misstated. The Finance Board saw the final numbers to approve them, but the general assembly did not see them. The person who was given the second physical copy of the document breaking down the point system was also misstated. The director of the Office of Student Affairs was given the copy. The Daily Orange regrets these errors. 

Following a heated argument that raised issues of transparency, the Student Association approved a point system that will allow organizations to increase the amount of funding they can request for an event.

“This is really important. It’s monumental,” said SA Comptroller Stephen DeSalvo before introducing the system to the general assembly at Monday’s SA meeting in Maxwell Auditorium.

The newly approved point system, which was drafted by Assistant Comptroller Patrick Douglas, provides a checklist of items that student organizations must have for the Finance Board to approve the organization’s application to move into another funding tier. DeSalvo said the system provides a fair way to judge whether an organization should move into a higher tier, thereby allowing it to request more event funding, but some assembly members argued the system concentrates too much power in the comptroller’s hands.

Registered student organizations are grouped into four tiers based on the size and success of the events the organization has hosted. The amount of funding a student organization can request for an event is capped according to which tier the organization belongs, with tier four — the largest organizations — exempt from a cap.

Required items on the checklist include box office reports from at least five events funded by SA, recommendation letters from the organization’s adviser and a list of marketing strategies.

Criteria considered more heavily when evaluating applications include the success of previous events, as gauged by the event’s expected attendance versus its actual attendance, DeSalvo said. The general assembly was not told how many possible points can be awarded for each item on the checklist, an issue that concerned some representatives.

“I have a serious problem passing something without the numbers in front of us,” said Colin Crowley, chair of the public relations committee.

But DeSalvo said withholding the numbers was done to ensure student organizations don’t gear applications to generate more points from criteria that’s weighted more. A conflict could arise if a general assembly or Finance Board member discloses to a student organization how many points each item is worth, DeSalvo said.

When approving an organization’s application, the comptroller will have a list detailing how many points are available for each item. Then, based on application materials supplied by the student organization, the Finance Board will assign the percentage of points it believes the organization deserves. If a student organization meets the minimum number of required points, its application to move into the next tier will be approved.

Representative Dan Hernandez said the process concentrates too much power with the comptroller. DeSalvo eventually agreed to supply the Office of Student Affairs director with a document detailing how many points will be designated for each item.

Most assembly representatives rallied around DeSalvo and passed the point system around 10:15 p.m., concluding a packed meeting that included a one-and-a-half-hour student forum about the chancellor search.

Said DeSalvo after the meeting: “I want to be as transparent as possible, but I don’t think it should be at the expense of putting the student fee at risk when it isn’t necessary.”

Additional business discussed:

• The revamped Undergraduates for Better Education has published a survey aimed at gauging student’s concerns. The organization aims to bridge the divide between faculty and students.
• The Student Engagement Committee has set up a comment box in the Schine Student Center for student feedback.
• President Allie Curtis will be meeting with the Board of Trustees in Washington, D.C., in about three weeks.

Published on March 19, 2013 at 2:24 am

Contact Debbie: dbtruong@syr.edu | @debbietruong