Another point about student fees.
2009-2010 total PFC Budget (last year’s budget process): $1,782,269
Amount of that that was stipend: $198,025
Percentage: 11.1%
Amount per student for program stipends assuming 22,000 students: $9.00
And that’s just PFC, not including DFC, ACFC, or EMU Board. So, basically, at very least $9 of YOUR money went not to events or something tangible, but straight into someone’s pocket. Most groups are limited to four stipends per group, but there are some exceptions (the MCC has 5, the Women’s Center has 10).
I’ll also note that the Commentator staff do not take stipends, even though they are eligible for stipends. Eligibility is based on the size of the programming portion of a group’s budget (not including administrative expenses) and the more money you have, the more stipends you are eligible for. Because obviously, a larger budget means that you deserve more stipends.
The best part? Once a stipend has been in a group’s budget for five years or longer, it takes a unanimous vote of PFC to remove it. Interesting, no?
My cynicism tells me the UO would rather dole out our money instead of their own.
Would it be possible for the ASUO to change this model to substitute course credits in exchange for the stipend model? While I would love to do away with stipend-allocation altogether and make all student involvement volunteer-based, some of those larger programs need to have compensation for those positions that are critical to allow the service to function. College credit at the UO or elsewhere seems like it would be a fair compromise … although to do this, the ASUO would have to negotiate with the folks in Johnson Hall …
Just a suggestion.