SFC Chair Vetoes WMLU Request
Nicole Gonder
Issue date: 12/3/08 Section: News
For the second time, WMLU's proposal for a re-allocation of funds appeared before the SGA. Although this is not the first time that the senate has seen the budget, it was the first time that WMLU sent representation, which consisted of 11 members who filled the gallery seats. WMLU General Manager Gerry Martin said he was not informed last time that he could send representation. On Tuesday, he came fully prepared.
WMLU put in a request for re-allocation, which means that the organization was already given the money by the SGA in their original budget last year. The money was originally intended to put on a benefit concert, but WMLU stopped organizing this event because they were losing too much money. They still have the money available to them, but they cannot use it legally without explaining to the Student Finance Committee (SFC) and then the senate what they intend to use it for, which they do through a re-allocation request.
After several weeks of waiting, WMLU had its chance to appeal to the senate during Tuesday's meeting. But before they even were allowed to speak, SFC Chair Tom McArdle informed the senate that he had vetoed the line item that requested new equipment. The line item was for $3,200 of the total $4,700 requested for re-allocation.
McArdle did not explain during the meeting why he vetoed the proposal, although he did inform WMLU members what they could do to appeal the process. WMLU must obtain three signatures from senators, a member of the senate must propose the appeal, and they must contact the SGA vice president in order to be placed on the agenda. Since this was the last meeting for the SGA for this semester, WMLU will not be able to appeal until mid-January when classes resume.
Martin began to protest the veto, claiming that the SFC chair must give an organization a week's notice before he or she can veto a line item. According to McArdle, the bylaws that Martin quoted were changed last election by a vote of the student body. Martin then lodged a formal complaint, saying, "There was no update on the SGA Web site that shows the student body that the bylaws have changed". SGA President Caitlin Revene stepped in, agreeing that Martin had a valid point and that she was currently trying to update the Web site.
WMLU put in a request for re-allocation, which means that the organization was already given the money by the SGA in their original budget last year. The money was originally intended to put on a benefit concert, but WMLU stopped organizing this event because they were losing too much money. They still have the money available to them, but they cannot use it legally without explaining to the Student Finance Committee (SFC) and then the senate what they intend to use it for, which they do through a re-allocation request.
After several weeks of waiting, WMLU had its chance to appeal to the senate during Tuesday's meeting. But before they even were allowed to speak, SFC Chair Tom McArdle informed the senate that he had vetoed the line item that requested new equipment. The line item was for $3,200 of the total $4,700 requested for re-allocation.
McArdle did not explain during the meeting why he vetoed the proposal, although he did inform WMLU members what they could do to appeal the process. WMLU must obtain three signatures from senators, a member of the senate must propose the appeal, and they must contact the SGA vice president in order to be placed on the agenda. Since this was the last meeting for the SGA for this semester, WMLU will not be able to appeal until mid-January when classes resume.
Martin began to protest the veto, claiming that the SFC chair must give an organization a week's notice before he or she can veto a line item. According to McArdle, the bylaws that Martin quoted were changed last election by a vote of the student body. Martin then lodged a formal complaint, saying, "There was no update on the SGA Web site that shows the student body that the bylaws have changed". SGA President Caitlin Revene stepped in, agreeing that Martin had a valid point and that she was currently trying to update the Web site.
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