BSG votes to transer funds for programs
By Amanda Seef
NEWS EDITOR
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Photo By Jim Krencik, SPORTS EDITOR Members of the BSG board at the March 7 meeting. (From L to R) Justin Oliver, Spencer Crosby, Michael Drickel and William Keating |
Brockport Student Government’s Board of Directors had a hefty decision on their agenda at the March 7 meeting. Last week’s meeting brought about a transfer request from lecture and student services accounts, to go into a programming account meant for the spring concert and Brock the Port. The issue was re-introduced this week in the programming report, as well as opening the item for discussion under new business.
Darnell Pierce, president of BSG, who was not present at the meeting, requested that a transfer from three accounts be made, sending those funds to a general account. The funds would allow a less stringent version of the two popular spring programs.
Programming budget issues came about last semester, as the account plummeted in comparison to years past. According to the Treasurer’s Fiscal State of the Government, dated Dec. 7, 2007, the Programming Account was left with appoximately $50,000, which is slightly more than 20 percent allocated for the second semester’s programming.
In order to coordinate the lavish spring concert and Brock the Port of year’s past, the programming department must increase the amount in their accounts.
Dave Whipple, interim Programming Director, stated that funds would be available for both the concert and the end-of-semester bash. The transfer, however, would assist in gearing the programming more toward what students want.
Bids have been sent in for Flo Rida, though “due to a minor oversight,” a purchase order was not filed with the treasurer before the bid was placed. The purchase order would ensure that the funds were available. The bid was accepted and the process of accepting mutual contracts began before it could be confirmed funds were available.
The possibility of combining the Flo Rida concert with Brock the Port was mentioned, though that is not possible as Flo Rida is not available for the days in which Brock the Port would be held.
“If we can combine them, it could be one fun day,” Whipple said. “But in the end, we can have two fun days.”
The transfer was brought to the Appropriations Committee, a subsection of the board. The transfer was requested and urged by Pierce, who was not present at the Feb. 7 meeting. Originally, the transfer issue had been tabled and was not scheduled to be discussed at the meeting, though it was added to New Business. Three accounts would be zeroed, removing all funds from the gallery programming, lectures and student services accounts. More than $27,000 would be transferred to fund the final large programs, and revenue from the spring concert would be beneficial for Brock the Port planning and execution.
“Some of the major reasons for the transfer request is to provide a spring concert, Brock the Port and to continue to program in all areas of programming,” Pierce wrote. “There is an increased demand for a spring concert, as well as Brock the Port, and with this approval of transfer we can meet the needs of the majority of our student body.”
Though the transfer would zero the lectures, gallery programming and student services accounts, events would not be forgone.
The programming department coordinated a survey of 193 students to decide if they would be more interested in having a spring concert and Brock the Port, or if they would rather have the spring concert and lectures. The majority of the 193 polled requested to have both the spring concert and Brock the Port, with 93 percent in favor of hosting both events.
“We’re here to serve the greater good for students,” Whipple said. “This will shatter the foundation of BSG if we don’t get this together and start working together as a team. Students will remember this when they decide to not vote for the mandatory fee.”
“If we back out on either one of them,” he continued. “It’s going to make BSG look unprofessional and unorganized.”
The tension between board members was evident and audience members could tell that the transfer was an issue of contempt.
“It will be an injustice to the students if we do not transfer this money,” On-campus Representative Michael Drickel said.
Representatives went back and forth about whether the transfer would be detrimental or beneficial for students. The issue has been discussed in many informal forums.
“The issue that cultural clubs has is we’re nervous that both events will be understaffed,” Cultural Clubs Representative Rebecca Newberry said. “We can’t approve this transfer.”
Whipple hopes to employ 10 paid members of the event staff, and rely on a surplus of volunteers. He said representatives should focus on the quality of the event staff, not the quantity.
Academic Council Representative Michelle Ford said that she unofficially spoke with cultural club members, and members were supportive of the transfer, however Newberry maintained that the clubs were not for the transfer.
“I do not appreciate being what [the clubs] think after talking to them,” Newberry said.
Service Council Representative McPherson sent out a survey to his clubs in the Service Council.
“Proper protocol was not taken toward the spring concert, so we should focus on Brock the Port,” he said.
The survey results detailed that members of the Service Council would rather see the funds remain in the lecture account, and that members should focus on the question of Brock the Port and a spring concert, or Brock the Port and lectures.
“[We] have gone away from good lectures and moved toward people that get kicked off reality shows,” an anonymous constituent stated in the results of McPherson’s survey.
Ford said she hoped that McPherson’s information would be discredited, because of technicalities within statistical analysis, which requires at least 30 participants.
“This should not be about whether one council is better than the other,” On-campus Representative Will Mitchell said. “We are not here to place blame on shortfalls, this debate is about what students want. The transfer needs to be done.”
Though many questioned the need for more details concerning Brock the Port, others questioned the need of a spring concert.
“How do we know there is enough demand for students to come see Flo Rida?” Off-campus Representative Justin Oliver asked.
The potential Flo Rida concert is being compared to the 2003 campus concert of 50 Cent. The rapper had just released his first single, and was not a name synonymous with hip-hop success, though the concert was a big seller. 50 Cent’s rap “P.I.M.P.” had peaked at No. 1 in 2003, though the main hits of his career came after.
Flo Rida currently has the No. 1 download and song on Billboard’s Top 100 chart. “Low” was released late 2007 and continued to rise to the top of the chart, though the new single, “Elevator” is expected to surpass the rankings of “Low.”
“We always get people when they’re on their way up,” Whipple said.
BSG Vice President Randall Franklin mentioned that the demand for hip-hop artists on campus has deep roots.
As the vote moved toward completion, Drickel urged that members vote “with rights.” This form of voting allows for an explanation to constituents as to why their representative voted in that particular manner.
Franklin urged board members to “remember [the] constituents and vote in a non-biased way.”
The board passed the additional agenda item, with six voting for the transfer, four against and two abstentions.
The transfer must be approved by the College Administration.
“This is not a bad idea if it’s what the overwhelmingly amount of students want,” McPherson said. “I would hope that no president does this to their board ever again. Especially at the end of the year — mismanages funds, moves stuff around. [The board is] damned if they do, damned if they don’t.”
Off-campus representatives Kelvon Agee and Justin Oliver both chose to vote with rights for the transfer.
“As a whole, BSG needs to communicate better,” Agee said during his explanation. “It enhances the amount of flow and keeping up the bridge of communication.”
Oliver stated that he liked the idea of the spring concert, but stayed steady with his disproval of the artist, citing that the turnout will most likely not be good.
“It can work, and it will work — we just have to have faith,” Whipple said.
In Other News
Funding has been secured, though few details for the Brock the Port can be confirmed. The tentative date is Friday, May 9, the last day of classes.
Two plans have been submitted to the Village Board. The first includes plans to host the event on Main Street, similar to last year’s event, though it would close Main Street from State Street to Water Street for an entire day, beginning the evening before the event. The second option includes the parking lot behind Chase Bank, adjacent to Flash’s tavern.
Franklin reported that the village is currently leaning toward the second option.
If the Village Board will not allow the event to occur in town, Franklin plans to appeal.
“It would be a disservice to students and the community,” he said. “We plan on trying to fight it.”
Brock the Port plans include bringing in “bar bands,” whose costs are considerably lower than last year’s Reel Big Fish.
Former Programming Director, Mike Davis, reported to Whipple that the administration for last year’s Brock the Port spent lavishly because the funds were available. More than $2,000 was shelled out extemporaneously days before the event.
There are currently weekly Brock the Port planning committees, with ideas stemming from each.
The customary free T-shirt is being left to students’ minds, with a design contest in the works. Students interested in designing the shirt, which should include a squirrel and a potential slogan, contestants should have the design to BSG by March 27.
The committee has brought up the idea of charging non-students, with a possible $5 charge for community members and a $2-3 charge for children under age 5.
The Brockport Humane Society was not approved as a Service Club, as they currently receive national funding. This does not allow BSG to allot funds from the mandatory fee.
The Resonance Club received Class I status, allowing funds for the club to be requested from the board.
The Political Science/International Studies/Pre-Law Club’s Constitution passed unanimously. The club focuses on international politics, with a main focus on students awareness of international relations.
Announcements were made at the end of the meeting concerning the legitimacy of board meeting advertisement and notification. New York State Open Meeting Laws require the meeting time, date and location to be posted 72 hours before the meeting. Within the final 36 hours before the meeting, the Web site, agenda and two sets of signs held contradictory information. The evidence of such was handed to the board at the end of the meeting, after mass e-mails had been sent out. Failure to post the correct information in the appropriate time can result in the nullification of all decisions and discussions made at the meeting.
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