MSU Residence Halls Association’s general assembly is about to run out of money for the semester, but only after supplying money to every money-requesting student group that met the association’s donation criteria.
When the association returns to business March 13, the MSU Student Food Bank and Case Hall likely will receive the remaining $3,417.33 in the general assembly budget for student activities. The association’s budget committee will make about $600 available to groups when the general assembly’s account runs dry.
Members of the executive board say running out of money during the middle of the spring semester is not unusual. RHA gave out more than $17,000 in seven weeks.
Susannah Fisher, budget committee chairwoman, said the committee’s job is to look for organized and worthwhile groups to whom it should give money.
“We try to see that it actually does help students in residence halls, they have a way to get to the event or it’s specifically designed for them,” she said.
She said the committee members don’t worry about making the money last longer, and instead focus on a first-come first-serve basis.
“We have tried to have a policy that if it is a good organization, we shouldn’t be holding back funds from it just because we think there is this promise of something great in the future,”Fisher said. “There were organizations that were really prepared. Sometimes their events are months away, but they came to us and we shouldn’t punish them because they are prepared and know what they are doing. We weren’t so concerned about letting it run out.”
She said groups with spring events have to request money earlier because so many plan events during that time of year.
RHA comptroller Betsy Lewis, said she isn’t surprised by the shortage.
“Especially in the spring, most groups come early because the weather is better to have events,” she said. “It’s a popular time for money to go so quick. The groups have to look elsewhere for money, to halls or corporate sponsor.”
Last year, there was no limit on the money student groups could ask for. Some groups, Lewis said, asked for almost $10,000 for events. This year RHA put a $3,500 limit on money provided to groups.
“It made it possible for more groups to come for money, but didn’t stretch it any farther,” Lewis said. “Because it is a first-come first-serve basis, the earlier you can get in your request and come before the general assembly, the better.”
MSU’s Coalition of Indian Undergraduate Students received $2,225 to help pay for the 2002 Satrang, a celebration of Indian culture presented annually by the coalition as part of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
The coalition is asking ASMSU, the undergraduate student government, local businesses and residence halls to supplement its $32,000 budget.
Coalition President Amit Agarwal said he was pleased RHA was so accessible for student organizations.
“I like the fact that there is a system set up for us and I do like the fact they do their homework and check on us to make sure everything we are asking for is legit,” he said.
