Free bus rides during finals week on the horizon

By: Philippe Buteau / News Director

Not enough information and lack of authority made up the University-wide Council’s November 2011 meeting.

The University-wide council – made up of the presidents, vice presidents, senate speakers, speaker pro tempores from both campuses and the hosting campus’ comptroller – wanted to check off key items on their agenda at their Nov. 4 meeting, but couldn’t either because they didn’t know enough about the particular item or they didn’t have the necessary authority.

The UWC wants to make the Golden Panther Express free during finals week – a topic carried over from the previous UWC meeting – but how much, when and whether SGA should even take on such an expense was brought up.

The council ultimately decide to request $3,000 from SGA’s accumulated cash balance to cover free trips to and from the Biscayne Bay and Modesto Maidique campuses for the first two days of finals week. The entire week would cost up to $10,000 according to Patrick O’Keefe, president of the Student Government Council at MMC.

O’Keefe said the first two days would cost $2,000 but an additional $1,000 was added to “not leave Parking & Transportation in a tough situation.”

The money came as a request instead of an allocation because, as of this writing, the UWC cannot use money saved in the ACB – money left over after the University’s various student organizations and centers are funded.

While the UWC has always had access to ABC money, it must first make a proposal to Vice President of Student Affairs Rosa Jones.

Before a final conclusion on the matter was reached, Kevin Gonzalez, comptroller for SGC-BBC, brought up the point of whether student government should pay even pay for such an undertaking.

Gonzalez said during the meeting if a student takes classes at BBC then the trip is something the student accounts for in his/her budget. He did not explicitly say SGA should not pay for free buses during finals week, however; he simply questioned the notion of doing so.

Cristina Loreto, comptroller for SGC-MMC, said a move such as this would do plenty to reduce student stress during finals week. She also said this is a part of SGA’s job representing students.

“We work for students,” Loreto said sternly. “That’s why we’re student government.”

The above was a matter of not having the appropriate authority. An “activity charge” on events conducted by clubs within the Council for Student Organizations was something the UWC had the authority to act but not enough information.

The discussion was tabled until the next UWC meeting so Elizabeth Fava and Ayana Wilson, CSO president and adviser, respectively, could explain charge in detail.

What the activity charge would do, if passed, is an optional fee club members could contribute to their club to conduct events, not for simply being a part of the club.

“[This] would save [SGA] some money come budget deliberations,” said SGC-MMC Vice President Sanjeev Udhnani during the meeting.

This wouldn’t be unique to FIU, as Udhnani pointed out, other state universities such as USF and FSU allow their clubs to charge fees.

CSO is an MMC specific council, therefore the UWC were voting on the finance policy which is not campus specific. This also allowed members of SGC-BBC to voice their concerns.

Daniel Usma, SGC-BBC speaker pro tempore, said during the meeting student involvement at BBC is tough to get and to maintain.

“It’s hard to get students involved at BBC,” said Usma, a member of the BBC Futbol Club. “This will hinder student involvement.”

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