The Student Finance Board (SFB) passed a motion to fully fund the Black Student Union's (BSU) $1,759.50 request to hold a celebration of its 25th anniversary and of the rededication of the George Jackson Center.
Most board members agreed that the value of the organization to the College warranted such a large-scale celebration.
"I think that this is good that (BSU) is doing this," Jon Borst, administrative director, said. "This price might be a little high, but this celebration necessitates more than just chips and cookies."
Some members, however, had reservations about funding the event due to its nature.
"Are they asking for money for a party?" Terence Grado, freshman representative, said. "I don't get it."
Other members hesitated to provide funding because BSU invited outside organizations, including BSU of Rider University, members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Kwame Jackson.
"We'd be paying for a lot of people (from) off campus," Erica Klazmer, sophomore representative, said.
Ultimately, board members voted in favor of the request, passing a motion 14-1.
The Teachers of Young Children Association asked for funding for publicity and advertisements, as well as money to invite an educational speaker to the College as part of its budget.
Board members were wary of the club's request. They worried that funding this organization would open the door for other majors to start new clubs and request SFB funding, rather than having academic departments fund these types of clubs.
"I always felt academic clubs should be funded by their departments," Klazmer said.
Other members felt as though this organization could be placed under an umbrella organization including all educational clubs.
Many felt that the organization could also co-sponsor with existing educational clubs.
"They can still co-sponsor without funding from us," Blair Gumnic, Student Government Association (SGA) representative for SFB, said.
Despite the grievances, Kyle Brownlie, operations director, said he thought that the group was trying to be as active as possible. He said he had observed a meeting of the organization.
This point was not enough to convince the board, however. In the end, the board passed a motion 13-2 to deny the organization funding.
Chabad, an organization that promotes traditional practice of the Jewish faith, also requested funding for publicity, advertisements and a Passover Seder as part of its budget.
Having amended its constitution to clear up any prior misunderstandings, the board was in favor of fully funding the organization to meet student needs. Many members of Chabad feel that the Jewish Student Union (JSU) does not provide for more traditional practicing Jewish students.
"There really is no good reason why we shouldn't be funding them," Borst said. "They've proven the distinction (between Chabad and JSU)."
The only issue board members had with funding the organization was that, in the future, SFB will need to regulate both JSU and Chabad, ensuring that events are balanced between both organizations.
A unanimous motion was passed to fully fund the $267.50 request.
