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Syracuse University’s Student Association voted on over 130 funding requests from registered student organizations during its Monday meeting, in an alternative approach to determining advanced allocations due to budget limitations.

In recent years, SA’s Finance Board has typically approved all correctly-filed allocation requests in adherence to the association’s fiscal codes, Comptroller Alexis Leach said. This policy caused the board to allocate around $100,000 beyond what it can afford for the spring semester. Assembly members deliberated on these requests until around 12:40 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, SA’s budget was higher than usual for the past four years, Leach said. She said RSOs had submitted less funding requests than in a typical year, which created an increased budget rollover. This academic year, SA’s budget has been reduced to pre-COVID levels, and the association is now operating in a deficit.

“For all of us, this is weird, because we always used to approve everything that we got (for advanced allocations),” SA President German Nolivos said. “But, we need to get used to this. Since we are coming out of those COVID years, things need to start getting denied.”

SA had $250,000 in advanced allocation funding for the spring 2025 semester. RSOs submitted over $800,000 in funding requests, and the Finance Board approved around $357,307.52 based on the association’s fiscal codes alone, Nolivos said. SA plans to take an additional $50,000 from rollover to use for these semester allocations.

This semester, SA instituted a rule prohibiting RSOs that ask for over $20,000 — as well as those that host events that require a contract with an external provider — from requesting funding through the association’s weekly semester allocations. All organizations making these larger requests must now do so through advanced allocations at the start of each semester.

Recent funding for renovations at campus organizations including Citrus TV and Z89, first approved by last year’s session, contributed to some budgetary strains.

“(In coming years), it is probably going to be a little less tight because we are not paying for renovations,” Leach said. “Some of these organizations have gone 10 years without having renovations, so it is necessary. We do have a deficit because of it, but I don’t see that coming in the next couple years at least.”

As a solution for the over-approval, SA executives conducted a full assembly vote to reevaluate the allocations. Some of the major considerations included campus impact, financial feasibility, student demand, alternative funding sources and inclusivity.

Assembly members with ties to any of the RSOs whose funding was being considered were asked to abstain from votes for their respective organizations.

The assembly also voted in favor of discarding SA’s normal appeals process for Monday’s vote. The policy typically allows RSOs that are denied funding as a result of improper or incomplete allocation requests a chance for reconsideration.

In light of these changes, SA gave organizations that had their requests approved by the Finance Board an opportunity to speak during the meeting’s public forum and justify their allocation request.

Grace Brashears, executive director of OttoTHON, spoke on behalf of the organization, which provides support for children and families who receive care at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. The OttoTHON event, which the organization has hosted for 11 years, raises about 60% of the funding that the organization provides to the hospital, Brashears said.

“We are part of a national organization. They do not give us any operation funds… same with the hospital,” Brashears said. “A lot of the kids coming from the hospital often say that this event is like their Christmas, and they are really excited.”

Some other organizations represented at the meeting include the Global Medical Brigade, advocating for funding for the medical supply bags for their trip to Guatemala, the Muslim Students’ Association, requesting funding for Ramadan festivities and Raíces Dance Troupe, looking to fund their annual showcase.

SA discussed and voted on the allocation requests in a confidential executive session that was closed to the public and members of the media.

Published on November 12, 2024 at 11:58 pm

Contact Anna: aclevitt@syr.edu