SGB approves funding for first leadership retreat despite budget

This weekend, leaders from 13 student organizations will meet at the Jumonville conference… This weekend, leaders from 13 student organizations will meet at the Jumonville conference and retreat center in Fayette County to discuss ways to improve communication and encourage cooperation with Student Life.

The retreat, which is sponsored cooperatively by Student Government Board and Student Life, was developed by SGB members Joe Leinbach and Sheila Isong.

Though SGB has held similar forums in the past, this will be the first one that takes students off campus overnight.

Isong and Leinbach said Dean of Students Kathy Humphrey felt an off-campus format would be more conducive to discussion among the groups.

“It’s a good way to have a forum for leaders to bring to light the concerns of their constituents,” Leinbach said, adding that the possibility of an on-campus seminar was discussed.

“We decided in the end that off campus was better,” he said.

Because the forum was conceived as a collaborative effort, Student Affairs agreed to cover half of the retreat’s $6,546 cost.

Leinbach said that the retreat was being planned before SGB knew exactly how limited the budget for supplemental funds would be.

“We tried to pick somewhere close,” he said. “We knew it would be reasonably priced.”

The money for the retreat covers the use of the facilities from Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon as well as food, overnight lodging and transportation to and from the site.

SGB approved its half of the retreat funding last Thursday after voting down the allocations committee’s recommendation to deny the request.

“Because we’re under such tight constraints, we’re trying to keep as much money as we can on campus,” said allocations committee chair Michelle Turbanic. “We think it’s a worthwhile program, but its goals can be accomplished on campus.”

As of Monday, SGB had renegotiated with the retreat facility to reduce the cost by about $1,200, Leinbach said. The savings will be divided equally among SGB and Student Life.

Isong said that she expects a total of 48 student leaders to attend representing the Asian Students Association, the Black Action Society, the Campus Women’s Organization, the Pitt Program Council, the Interfraternity Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Omicron Delta Kappa, the Pan-Hellenic council, the Rainbow Alliance, the Resident-Students Association, WPTS and SGB.