SGB bids farewell at meeting

The Student Government Board finished the year’s allocation budget hearings last week — but… The Student Government Board finished the year’s allocation budget hearings last week — but organizations continued to express disapproval of the process Tuesday night.

Black Action Society Vice President Charis Jones said during the SGB meeting’s open forum that she does not believe the allocations process is fair. Suggesting that SGB was unfair not only to BAS but to all organizations seeking money, Jones said that BAS was not awarded enough money to hold important events throughout the year.

After the meeting, BAS President Lauren Williams clarified the group’s issues with the funding.

“Our organization did not get any money for Black History Month,” Williams said, explaining that she believes there are fundamental problems with SGB’s allocations process.

Earlier this month, SBG President Brian Kelly received an e-mail from BAS stating that the $110,000 that allocations awarded the program next year was a cut in funding from SGB.

Williams stated that allocations flaws affect all organizations on campus, not just BAS, and that organizations have a right to object to the way the student activities fee is being used.

“I don’t think allocations needs to be taken more seriously than it is,” Williams said. “A lot of things mentioned in the e-mail had to do with protocol and procedure.”

Kelly said he was confused by the e-mail because of its inaccuracies.

“BAS got $67,000 last year, $96,000 this year, and $110,000 for next year. That’s a large jump. They do have our support,” Kelly said. He also explained that SGB does not give BAS money for each event, but rather caps the money given to the program each year and allows BAS to manage the money awarded.

“I feel we were fiscally fair and responsible,” board member Chris Baker said.

At the meeting, Jones mentioned her approval of the SGB Diversity Committee, but believed that the University needs more than just an SGB committee for all of the diversity issues on campus.

Board member Jennifer Anukem later addressed Jones’ comment, stating that BAS has a chance to be involved with the diversity committee that has been formed as a result of the current Semester at Sea incident.

“They can talk the talk, but can they walk the walk?” Anukem asked at the meeting.

Board Member Monica Higgins responded to Anukem’s comment about BAS’s involvement with the Semester at Sea issue.

“It’s just as easy to latch on to one issue as it is to champion for all the issues,” Higgins said.

All of the board members agreed that a diversity office is needed at the University of Pittsburgh and voiced appreciation to groups such as BAS and the Rainbow Alliance for “carrying all the weight on their shoulders.”

Congratulations were also abundant at the last SGB meeting of the year. Kelly thanked all of the board members individually for their work on several different projects.

“I think we all came to this chair with positive ideas,” Baker said. “I can’t wait until next year.”