Finance council approves co-curricular budget, helps fund DRC

The Associated Student Government co-curricular budget was approved and $30,000 directed to help finance a potential diversity resource center (DRC) at the Finance Council meeting Monday.

The budget and DRC proposal were approved by a six-to-one vote, with the forensics program representative casting the lone negative vote. Their representative said they would prefer to see a copy of the draft for the DRC proposal before voting in its favor.

The majority of the meeting dealt with the allocation of the $78,626, which was the total surplus of money from the budget that was the being distributed at Monday’s meeting. The DRC was the main focus of discussion.

ASG representatives presented details of the total costs of the center, which included changes from earlier proposal presentations.

Estimates included cost of renovation of the Lake Room, where the proposed DRC would be located. It would cost less than $30,000, which would include new carpeting, wall paint, lighting and the installation technology.

Another discussion was that approval of the DRC is conditional on the MHCC District board being willing to provide a staff member who would oversee the DRC operations.

David Sussman, manager of the College Center, said the potential downside of the proposal is that if no staff is put in place, the DRC would, at worst case, become a “remodeled Lake Room.”

“We understand that not having a ‘yes, you will have a staff (for the DRC)’ is a risky move,” said ASG Vice President Erica Rodriquez.

“I really believe the college understands the value of the Diversity Resource Center and supports the students’ initiative in developing it. But with the current budget, it leaves me unsure about staffing such a center,” said Sussman.

“They’ve asked for this. They want this proposal,” he said.

Sussman said that if the college does not provide a staff member, there are some alternatives available for the potential DRC including looking for hires outside of the college to run the center.

According to the presentation, the other costs that would be associated with the DRC would be covered by the current ASG president’s line item funds, which total $65,000.

Some of the costs for technology, which will be covered by the presidential line item, include $16,488.95, for 10 MacBook Pro computers, one theater smart board and one ceiling projector.

This money will also be used to help pay for basic resources for the DRC, like films, curriculum and books, a mural, furniture and other miscellaneous items.

The presidential line item is the result of surplus from last year that was saved after ASG broke ties to the Oregon Student Association. Money from the presidential line item is specifically overseen by ASG President Jackie Altamirano, though the money is only spent with ASG Senate approval.

In addition to the $30,000 allocated toward the proposed DRC, $4,000 was allotted from the surplus for an emergency transportation fund for the counseling center, which would be for emergency transportation needs.

With allocation of the $30,000 for the proposed DRC and the $4,000 for the transportation fund, the total unspent surplus money is $44,626, which Sussman said would be placed into the co-curricular contingency fund.

Sussman said this money would be available to co-curricular programs in emergency cases, but would have to be approved by a taskforce of one adviser and one student from each co-curricular program.

Although the budgets and other proposals have been approved, the finance council is one of numerous stages the approved budget must pass before it may be put into action.

With its approval by the finance council, next, there will be two ASG facilitated student forums, where students can provide their own input and opinions about details in the budget, which will be considered.

Sussman said the dates of the student forums have yet to be decided, but will hopefully take place within the next two weeks.

After the student forums, the budget will be passed along to the student senate, which if passed, will move on to the ASG Executive Cabinet.

Next, the budget will be passed along to the MHCC president’s executive cabinet, and if approved, would be sent to the district board, which will make the final approval.

The Finance Council approved the 2012-13 athletic program budget at its Feb. 20 meeting.

Advocate Staff