Pitt African Students Organization returns to SGB

The Wazobia Cultural Festival took center stage for a third time at Tuesday night’s Student… The Wazobia Cultural Festival took center stage for a third time at Tuesday night’s Student Government Board meeting.

Confusion surrounded the African Students Organization’s latest request for the festival. This time the group asked for $4,624.14 to fund facility, rental and technical costs at Bellefield Hall, an ad in The Pitt News and the honorarium for comedian Don’t Jealous Me.

At the Jan. 31 SGB meeting, ASO withdrew the original $10,079.14 request for Wazobia after the Board raised concerns about documentation for two parts of the request: supplies the group intended to purchase from a thrift store and the fee and travel funding for the comedian.

Last week, ASO requested $6,160.42 to pay for an honorarium, airfare, ground transportation and lodging for three designers who would contribute to the fashion show portion of the event. The group also requested money for security, costumes and an honorarium for acrobats. ASO did not request funding for the comedian Don’t Jealous Me at the time.

The Board approved $3,660.42 and denied $2,500 for fees for acrobats.

This week, the Board spent more than 10 minutes talking about the request and went back and forth about how much to allocate — ultimately voting to fund everything but the fee for the comedian.

The Allocations Committee initially recommended that the Board deny the request in full because the committee felt that ASO had already received enough funding for the event.

ASO President Onaopemipo Dina defended the request in front of the Board. Two years ago, ASO brought in a comedian from Washington, D.C., for the Wazobia Cultural Festival, and Dina said she hoped to bring another one to this year’s event.

“We want a lighthearted air to the show,” Dina said. “It is part of the culture to laugh.”

Board member Gordon Louderback moved to amend the motion to pay the costs of using Bellefield Hall and the technicians fees and projector associated with it, but not the costs associated with The Pitt News ad or the comedian.

The Board voted to approve Louderback’s amendment, but then Board Member Halim Genus moved to approve the request in full.

When the Board voted on Genus’s amendment, Genus was the only Board member who voted to approve. Board member Zoe Samudzi abstained from the vote.

“I abstained because I didn’t feel I could be impartial,” Samudzi said. “I personally want the event to go on as [ASO] wants the event to go on.”

Following that proposed amendment to the request, Board member Olivia Armstrong moved to fund the use of Bellefield and all associated costs with the venue, as well as an ad in The Pitt News.

The Board approved the amendment, and the motion passed. The Board approved $874.15 and denied $3,749.99.

Following the allocations requests, Transportation Safety Committee Chair Richard White added some humor to the meeting with a quick birthday wish for the University of Pittsburgh.

He then said he had “disgusting” news about Market Central.

He cited a report by the Allegheny County Health Department regarding the on-campus eatery.

The Food Safety Assessment report, available online, found that during an inspection on Sept. 16, 2011, the department found “several live roaches in bakery area near gas line, behind the large oven, in soda syrup near office, under fruit storage shelf and near dish room back entrance.”

When the department returned on Sept. 23, it found “two baby cockroaches in cut out room near pot sink. One along wall near pot sink.” The report also stated that an exterminator was on site during the assessment and that he would be on the premises every day until the problem was rectified. When the health department returned on Oct. 19, the pest control was marked as “satisfactory.”

The department approved the eatery, giving it a green placard status in the report.

White plans to meet with Sodexo representatives to discuss the reports.

Allocations

Lambda Alpha requested $1,189.10 for a trip to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. The Board denied the request in full because the Allocations Committee does not fund trips for personal development. The Board did not feel that relevant information would be brought back to the University.

Indian Sub-Continent Association requested $2,884 to fund their 20th annual cultural show. The Board approved $2,521 and denied $363 for the program booklets.

Women’s Water Polo requested $2,074 for mandatory team dues to its league. The Board approved the request in full.

Muslim Students Association requested $1,511.37 to send three members of the organization to a conference at the University of Chicago. The Board approved the request in full.

Black Action Society requested a budget modification of $12,135 to fund a Homecoming Comedy Show. The Board approved the request in full.

African Student Organization requested $4,624.14 to fund facility, rental and technical costs at Bellefield Hall, an ad in The Pitt News and the honorarium for comedian Don’t Jealous Me. The Board approved $874.15 and denied $3,749.99.

The Quidditch Club requested $1,900.80 for 17 people to participate in a competition. The Board approved $950.40 and denied $950.40 to keep the organization’s total allocations below the competition cap.

Circle K requested $653.32 for four people to attend a conference. The Board approved $652.71 and denied $0.61.

Hindu Students Council requested $1,774 to fund its annual Spring Garba event. The Board approved $1,641 and denied $133 to adjust for just one quarter-page ad in The Pitt News.

Hillel requested $1,215.96 to bring a comedian to campus. The Board approved $1,204.26 and denied $11.70 for undocumented gratuity.

Brazil Nuts requested $3,004.98 to fund its 11th annual Brazilian Festival. The Board approved $2,560.12 and denied $444.86 for disposable supplies.

Men’s Ultimate Frisbee requested $2,692.70 to fund entrance in a competition in California. The Board approved $1,828.26 and denied $864.44 for 16 of 26 players.

Students for Justice in Palestine requested $725 to cover the cost of a play. The Board approved the request in full.

Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood requested $141 for a quarter-page ad in The Pitt News for its Women’s Health Panel event. The Allocations Committee approved the request in full.

Panther Rugby Football requested $275 to cover the cost of team registration for a tournament. The Allocations Committee approved the request in full.

STAND requested $423 to fund three quarter-page ads in The Pitt News. The Allocations Committee approved $141 to fund one quarter-page ad and denied $282.

Tau Beta Sigma requested $494.40 to pay for seven people to participate in a workshop and voting event. The Allocations Committee approved $395.40 for four people and denied $99 for the other three.

Roller Hockey Club requested $487 to cover the costs of a competition. The Allocations Committee approved $486.90 and denied $0.10 for a rounding error.

Panthers 4 Israel requested $346.40 for an honorarium and security for two soldiers speaking about the current situation in Israel. The Allocations Committee approved the request in full.

Pittsburgh Romanian Studies requested $52.47 to fund the purchase of snacks and paper products at a lecture. The Allocations Committee denied the request in full because of the guidelines set in the Allocations Manual.