Minutes from October 17, 2007

Club Name

Event/Program

Funding Amount

Vote

BSA

Exploration of the Black Panther Party

Discussion was tabled until later in the meeting

General consent

Patrick stated that the algorithm had funded this event at an amount of $2904.34 due to the revised attendance number of 1400 people, which would comprise 27% of BSA’s funding.  Other sources of funding included $3950 from the Remsen Bird fund, $300 from OSL, and $500 from the ICC.  Ken asked if all of these sources of funding were to be added together whether or not BSA could afford the program without the new speaker they had just added.  Rozell replied that the needed amount was $4962.  Patrick spoke concerning the various options he and Mike had formulated for the funding of this event.  Option 1 would be to fund BSA at the amount given by the algorithm.  Option 2 would be to fund at half the difference between the algorithm amount and the requested amount in addition to the amount provided by the algorithm; this would total $3933.17.  Ken asked if choosing this funding option would set a precedent; Patrick replied that it would with respect to larger events, and that other groups with similar events could ask why they were not funded in the same manner.  He went on to say that the amount funded by the algorithm was closer to the ideal rate, however BSA had exhausted all other sources of funding, an extenuating circumstance that would also be explored with George’s request.  Ken stated that if the Senate funded more than the algorithm level, there had t be a compelling reason that would prevent them from being forced to do it again.  Patrick replied that he did not know what the compelling argument was; although it was a large event that benefits the entire campus, he did not see a compelling argument.  Rozell made his case, saying that although he had not previously seen Patrick and Mike’s recommendations, the BSA had hustled the best way it could, and would greatly appreciate option 2.  Alison reminded the Senate that people still talked about Exploration of Blackness; she then stated her opinion that larger events need more funding and that this was one of them.  Groups such as BSA, she said, needed money to impact the campus with large events.  Ryan said that one of the topics he would like to be enlightened on was the positive returns for the campus for this events as well as the number of events of this size that are put on a year, so he asked the Senate whether they would be seeing more requests such as this or whether this was an extraordinary occurrence.  Ken first expressed his apologies for discounting the difference this would make to the campus, but remarked that many events influenced the campus in a culturally educational way, and if this one were to be treated differently, there must be a compelling reason other than that it is large and expensive.  Nonda said that Exploration of Blackness had a big impact for a long time, and that this event also seemed worthwhile and unique.  Janelle spoke up, saying that a negative precedent may not necessarily be set, and that the Senate should stand behind where it wants to put student money, because it shows Senate support of largely educational events which further evinces a support of the four mission statement pillars.  She went on to say that BSA considered the four pillars during the planning of the event, and that if another club went through the same process while planning their program, they should receive extra funding as well.  Ryan entertained a motion.  Ken moved to approve funding as per the algorithm, then take a second vote on approving additional funding, since the Senate would agree on funding up to the algorithm level and then disagree on any amount above it.  Ryan asked if that was a certainty, why they couldn’t move to fund for the full amount and then climb down from there.  Rob stated that he had always encouraged different clubs to fundraise, but wondered how much more fundraising BSA could do in terms of their short timeline.  Ken reiterated his motion; Nonda asked what she could do if she disapproved of the motion.  Ryan replied that she could make an amendment.  Nonda moved to fund the full amount of $4962.  Alison the moved to table this discussion for the present since George needed to speak and had an impending midterm.  Rob seconded the motion.

Steez Magazine

1^st semester issues

$2937.00

8-1-2, Ken opposes, Rob and Pat abstain

Pat told the Senate that this request was a lump sum for Steez’s first semester, with a readership of 2800 over 4 issues.  With no co-sponsors, the algorithm amount was 2126.30.  George explained that $1000 would enable them to retroactively fund their first issue, $2000 would enable a second issue, $3000 a third, etc.  He said that he would like 3 issues this semester, and that he had many unpaid staffers.  Ken asked if the Senate was meant to override the algorithm on this instance as well.  Pat replied that that was George’s proposition.  Ryan said that previously $8000 for the full year had been requested, but as the Senate only funds by semester the amount had been reduced.  Patrick elaborated that Steez is petitioning for $3000, $900 more than had been granted by the algorithm.  Santiago remarked that the readership would be 700 less.  Patrick replied that Steez would have to guarantee to publish 4 issues if funded this way.  Ryan asked if Steez had looked at other sources of funding and also wondered how Steez was funded in the past.  George replied that Steez had received ASOC money in the past, and that they have sold subscriptions and T-shirts, but this did not amount to more than a few hundred dollars.  He added that Steez had asked the English department’s literary journal for funds, but had been denied.  Ken moved to fund Steez at the full amount of their request, since the algorithm was similar to the BSA request.  Nonda seconded the motion.  Ryan asked if there were further questions; Pat asked whether George could guarantee a fourth issue, to which George replied that he could not do it with $3000.  At 6-4-2, the motion failed.  Pat and Rob abstained, while Ken, Dominique, Denise, and Tilak opposed.  Ken then moved and Rob seconded to fund Steez at the algorithm level; this motion failed 1-5-5.  Alison asked why they could not just fund $3000.  Denise replied that if they funded Steez using the Option 2 method, BSA would have to be funded the same way. Patrick said that asfar as equity goes he would have to agree; Dom echoed his sentiments, saying that it only made sense to treat Steez and BSA the same way.  Santiago asked what the purpose of the algorithm was if the Senate merely continued to override it, and recommended a separate system for large events instead of constant argument.  Rob said if they applied Option 2 to Steez, it would come to roughly $2563; although it wouldn’t be all of the money they’re asking for, it would give an extra boost.  Ken replied that either way, the Senate would be overriding the algorithm.  Rob moved to use the Option 2 funding method for Steez; Santiago disagreed with the fact that the Senate would be funding Steez for something they cannot provide, and that keeping the readership number the same made no sense.  Ken remarked that this would be similar to what BSA would experience; without funding for their new speaker, their attendance numbers would drop as a result of it.    Mike stated that he was voting with the knowledge that they were funding three issues and that the algorithm does not work well with large events.  I was discovered that Rob’s previous figure was incorrect; application of the Option 2 method would give a figure of $2937.   George expressed his undying love for this option.  Alison moved to fund at $2937.  Ryan asked the Senate if it was setting precedent while Ken advised the Senate to keep in mind future requests.  Kenna reminded the Senate that there was a motion on the table.  Denise seconded the motion, and it failed 6-1-3, with Ken opposing and Santiago, Dominique, and Patrick abstaining.  Santiago asked how this would relate to BSA, and wanted to debate setting a precedent for the funding request they were about to make.  Ryan stated that they were not debating, just setting up a temporary order for these events.  Rob stated that the only reason he was abstaining was because he occasionally wrote for Steez.  Nonda said that she thought that both groups would be fine with Option 2, and thus the Senate would not be funding two precedents simultaneously.  Ken said that the Senate goes through this every funding meeting, and that they cannot approve everyone’s needs, and thus the arguments for overriding the algorithm did not appeal to him.  Ryan asked Kenna that if the algorithm level of funding had already been voted down whether or not that level could be revisited; Kenna replied that it could.  Santiago remarked that they could pass it now but a discussion about the algorithm was necessary; he stated that either Jimmy did not know how to make an algorithm or that the methods applied to get funding numbers were haphazard.  Pat replied that the Funding Committee spends a tremendous amount of time working out numbers, and that though he knew there would be contention and debate, to say that their methods were haphazard was remiss on Santiago’s part.  Rob agreed that something needed to be worked out with the algorithm, and moved to fund Steez at the algorithm rate so they could receive at least some funding.  Ken seconded the motion, and it failed 1-7-2, with only Ken passing the motion.  Mike moved to fund $2937 as per option 2; the motion passed 7-1-2 with Ken opposing and Rob and Patrick abstaining. 

BSA (revisited)

Exploration of the Black Panther Party

$3933.17

8-0-2, Dom and Patrick abstaining

Ken asked if the new funding policy could be put into writing.  Pat stated that it was not a policy, but a stop-gap measure. 

MECha/ALAS

A Taste Of Oxy

$41.41

7-2-1, Patrick abstains

Hellenic Organization

*

$20.70

*

J@Oxy

*

$24.58

*

“White” Students Equity

*

$41.41

*

Mixed

*

$41.41

*

WYSE

*

$24.58

*

ResLife

*

$62.12

*

BSA

*

$41.41

*

APIA

*

$41.41

*

First Nations

*

$20.70

*

PUSO

*

$966.40

*

KASA

*

$41.41

*

Patrick referred to the Taste of Oxy funding spreadsheet he had e-mailed out; he said that he had acted as if each club had individually submitted a request, after which he totaled all of the requests together, input the figures into the algorithm, and then allocated funding based off of each club’s percentage of the request.  Mike summarized, saying that he and Patrick had consolidated multiple requests for one event.  He stated that all the clubs’ programs qualified as cultural education and that the total attendance would be 500.  Rob questioned this figure, asking whether 150 people more than the previously projected 350 would attend.  He stated that most of these requests were for food, so why would the Senate fund for people who not attend the actual Taste of Oxy festivities.  Patrick explained that an attendance number of 350 would not provide nearly enough for the individual clubs, and also that PUSO had submitted a request with an attendance of more than 350.  Santiago asked is ResLife could pull money out of its own fund, to which Patrick replied that they could and that they were cosponsoring.  Trevor stated that PUSO requested the amount that it had last year; its intent was to spread the money amongst the other clubs based on need, and that Taste of Oxy would be underfunded at its current state.  Patrick also clarified that due to this method, PUSO was avoiding any “double dipping” situations, and that PUSO was funding other, larger entertainments, and that this setup was equitable.  Trevor disagreed, saying again that this would not be enough funding, especially for one of Oxy’s premier programs, and that was once a large allocation to Taste of Oxy had been depleted by half.  When Mike asked whether they had received funding from the ICC, Trevor said that they had received a little bit.  Ryan entertained a motion to pass at the algorithm level.  Denise asked what this depletion in funding would take away from the event.  Trevor replied that all of the groups would be unable to be function fully; as tickets had already been sent out, some students would not be able to eat.  Ryan asked if Taste of Oxy would be under the same stipulation as the other 2 events, as the goal was not to use option 2 for every event costing over $5000.  Alison asked exactly how much funding these groups were receiving from the ICC.  Again, Trevor said that it was minimal.  Dom stated that the ICC’s funding was minimal in the first place, and that they would be unable to hand out money.  Denise still wanted to know how much the cosponsors were funding.  Santiago asked if they had sought funding from other sources such as Programming Board or academic departments.  Mike stated that compared to the previous two events, Taste of Oxy was not that large and that the algorithm could probably apply to it.  Lindsey said that ICC was funding $400, but for transport and Campus Dining.  She went on to say that 250 tickets were sold last year and $1800 was given by ASOC; at current funding levels, the clubs could not feed everyone and the event was in two days.  Ryan said the main issue was that sometimes finance equity is unclear, and reminded the Senate to never fund an activity at the full rate.  Rob asked what would happen if the other clubs took on some of the burden of the performers.  Trevor stated that PUSO had been working with ICC to make sure that the money was spread where it was needed, instead of each club asking for larger amounts, which would complicate matters.  Denise then recommended option 2, as last year they were funded at higher levels for a lower attendance.  Patrick stated that Option 2 would not be possible in this instance, as the figure was computed in a different way than the previous two, and applying option 2 would not give what they needed.  Ryan said that the problem was accountability, so that someone didn’t read the minutes and investigate the ICC, and that they were trying to look out for both the ASOC Senate and the ICC Senate.  Mike asked if other clubs could help PUSO with their small requests and then pay for small food purchases out of their own coffers; Trevor assented to the idea.  Rob asked if the numbers might be better if PUSO alone submitted a request for Taste of Oxy; meanwhile, Santiago urged the Senators to unify.  Pat moved to fund Taste of Oxy at the algorithm level of $1367.54.  Mike moved to amend the motion to halve the other club’s funding and move that portion to PUSO.  Trevor, understanding that the amendment would leave the clubs with the same funding as before, withdrew his support of this amendment.  Mike then rescinded his motion.  Santiago seconded the motion.  Denise said that this would not be fair, as A Taste of Oxy might not be able to go on with this funding level.  Xochiltl asked what the opposition to using the Option 2 method would be; Mike replied that the algorithm still works with events costing $2000 or less.  Denise added that the other events were for multiple days as well.  Patrick also compared the $2.76 a person funding for this event to the $2.07 a person funding for Exploration of the Black Panthers and the $1.77 level for Steez.  The motion failed at 3-6-1.  Trevor wondered why the algorithm was giving less money for more people than last year; Rob suggested that perhaps back then they did not yet have an algorithm. Mike replied that they had the algorithm but it was tweaked for improvements between then and now.  Santiago suggested charging people five more dollars, Trevor replied that the event was two days and judged that charging more would be messed up.  Dominique stated that people would have to be taken off of the list if these clubs were unable to feed them.  Ryan told the Senate that complications such as these arose when funding requests were pushed back this far.  Mike noted that only 2 of the 12 funding requests had been turned in last week.  Denise moved to fund A Taste Of Oxy using Option 2 at $2318.77.  Santiago wondered where Patrick had gone.  A regular David Blaine, Patrick emerged from behind the podium to thunderous applause.  Santiago asked if Option 2 could be applied only to PUSO.  Patrick replied that this would not be possible as he would have to recalculate everything.  Dominique seconded the motion.  Alison did not see why, if this event lay within the jurisdiction of the algorithm, why they should not use it.  Patrick agreed, saying that it was antithetical to use the algorithm if it is simply overridden every time.  He told the Senate to take into consideration the $3000 they had given to RHA and the $7500 from cultural graduations, as well as that funding requests did not start until the 5^th week of this semester, while next semester it would start the 1^st week.  Motion failed 1-8-1, with Dom passing and Pat abstaining.  Alison moved to fund the Taste of Oxy at the algorithm rate of $1367.54, which was passed. 

J@Oxy

Halloween Candygrams

$67.86

9-0-1, Patrick abstains

College Against Week

Breast Cancer Awareness Week

$96.76

9-0-1, Patrick abstains

Mixed

Afro Punk movie

$201.98

8-0-2 Patrick and Santiago abstain

Newcomb Hall

Splatter

Tabled pending budget approval due to lack of approval of ResLife fund

APIA

BBQ/Mixer

$509.15

8-0-2, Patrick and Tilak abstained

Occidental Entrepreneurial Society

Speaker: Rich Vincent from Nestle

$229.28

9-0-1, Patrick abstained

Nonda asked if the speaker was working pro bono; Patrick replied that he was.  Mike asked if they had applied for Remsen Bird funding; Patrick replied that they had but received nothing.