Over 30 dissatisfied representatives from various student groups gathered in the Newcomb hall informal lounge last night to learn about the Contracted Independent Organization appropriations appeals process.
The Student Council appropriations committee released its CIO funding allocations last Friday, which doled out funds to 255 CIOs. This year, Council allocated $450,000 to CIOs as compared to $800,000 last year. The number of CIOs applying for funding also increased this year from 225 to 312.
One reason behind the dearth of funds this year was Council's decision not to allocate expected surplus funds from the previous fiscal year -- a policy they pursued in the past.
Representatives of groups ranging from Club Gymnastics to the Chinese Student Association attended last night's meeting.
Council Appropriations Chair Guru Raj and Council Vice President for Organizations Kelly Polk described the appeals process and then answered questions from CIO representatives.
Club Gymnastics Treasurer Christine Diffell said she plans to appeal her team's allocation.
"We feel like we're a little different because we are the only team -- there's no varsity team," Diffell said.
Diffell addressed the difficulty in making up lost funds with fundraising alone.
"The cuts that were made kind of ignored the fact that we raised $4,000 dollars," she said. "They asked us to raise an additional $4,000 to meet travel costs, but we just don't think that's possible."
Diffell said the team will have to sacrifice accommodating members who do not compete if the committee does not grant their appeal.
CIO representatives who attended last night's meeting and still wish to appeal must submit 31 copies of both a written rationale for their appeal and their original budget by 5 p.m. Monday, Polk said.
Groups who do not plan to appeal must turn in their budget by 4 p.m. Monday. If a group does not turn in its budget by 4 p.m. or a written rationale for their appeal by 5 p.m., it will forego its allocation all together, Raj said.
CIOs "can appeal on two bases," Polk said. "They can appeal the overall allocation or line-by-line decisions that the committee made during hearings and deliberations."
Raj said the former process applies only to CIOs who were defunded because of their past financial history.
"Your appeal should state why your group is more financially responsible than it appears on paper," Raj said.
The committee also provides its own written rationale justifying their decision, Polk said.
Asian Student Union Treasurer Jehan Mondal said the group has not yet decided whether they will appeal.
"It is difficult, because we need the money, but all of it cannot be given to us," Mondal said. "The money from [the Student Activities Fee] sort of serves as seed money -- it starts you off and gets you growing but it should not necessarily be your whole source of funding."
Following a meeting Tuesday to hear five-minute rationales of both the CIOs and the committee, the Council representative body will deliberate and decide whether to grant the appeals, Polk said.
In planning their appeals, Polk said the CIOs should consult their committee representatives to determine exactly what they need to appeal.
Read More
Students have federal internship offers rescinded due to hiring freeze
By Nina Broderick | 12 hours agoUntil July 15, no presently vacant federal civilian positions may be filled, and no new positions may be created.
Man dies from self-inflicted gunshot wounds at the Rotunda
By Ford McCracken | 17 hours agoThe investigation is ongoing, and additional details are not available at this time.
Virginia primary elections feature contested race for Democratic Lt. Gov. candidate
By Nicolas Biernacki | YesterdayEligible voters can find more information about early voting by consulting the City Department of Voter Registration & Elections website or the County Department of Elections website.
