Student Association denied funding for a concert in honor of the Hillel Jewish Student Union’s 60th Anniversary for fall 2010, prompting questions about the Finance Board’s decision at Monday night’s meeting.

The meeting announced how the available $509,325.81 for fall 2010 would be distributed to various organizations that applied for funding through SA. Of the total amount, $494,290.73 was allocated. The meeting was a chance for student organizations to learn why they were or were not funded and to speak to the assembly. In addition to concerns over the Finance Board’s funding decisions for Hillel, Darren Goldberg, president of University Union, questioned funding Phi Beta Sigma for a comedic act.

Hillel requested $77,370 for a concert to be held in Goldstein Auditorium and dedicated to its 60th anniversary as an organization of Syracuse University. The Finance Board chose not to fund the event because it does not typically give more than $70,000 to events in Goldstein Auditorium, said Comptroller Jeff Rickert.

The Finance Board also said it felt the event does not correlate with Hillel’s mission statement but didn’t go into detail. The mission of Hillel is “to create a diverse, dynamic and welcoming Jewish community on the Syracuse University Campus,” according to its website.

But Assemblymember Tyrone Shaw questioned the Finance Board’s decision.

“This sounds like a great event,” he said. “It sounds like it has purpose.”

Matthew Wolfe, the financial vice president of Hillel, represented the group at the meeting. He said the event was a celebration of being part of the university for 60 years and was meant to increase morale and excitement among students. He also said Hillel was not the only organization taking part in this. It will be co-sponsored with UU, among other organizations.

Concerns about taking the event back to the Finance Board for reconsideration were raised. Several SA members wanted to know if the student organization would be able to fund the event without SA’s help.

Wolfe said the event could not be held without at least partial funding from SA.

UU requested $71,000 for another event in Goldstein Auditorium but was also denied funding. Alec Sim, chair of SA’s Board of Elections and Membership, said it would be hypocritical for the board to fund Hillel and not UU.

“This event deserves reconsideration because this is a really important event compared to UU because it’s their 60th anniversary, and they’re a large organization on campus,” said Erica Zimmerman, SA’s recorder.

If the event was taken back for reconsideration, the Finance Board would have to base its decision on the same credentials it was given to begin with. The best solution would be to pass the bill as is and allow the organization to appeal for the event, said Jon Barnhart, SA president.

By allowing the group to appeal, Hillel members will be able to change their request, including the venue, said Rickert, SA comptroller.

The assembly passed the Finance Board’s decision not to fund Hillel, so Hillel can appeal for partial funding for the concert.

In addition to the conversation about Hillel, students also discussed funding for a comedy show hosted by Phi Beta Sigma. David Woody, chair of SA’s Student Engagement Committee, brought up the show’s similarity with an event Pride Union also wanted to hold. Since both would bring a comedian to the campus, he wanted to combine the two events, he said.

Goldberg, UU president and a member of the gallery at the meeting, expressed concern regarding Phi Beta Sigma’s event. Goldberg said he believes the fraternity did not provide the Finance Board with the correct information, and the event cannot happen.

But Rickert said Phi Beta Sigma’s information was accurate to the best of his knowledge.

Sim also declared his support for the Finance Board’s decision to fully fund the fraternity’s event because the board made a decision with all the information it was given, and the fraternity provided everything necessary to be considered for funding, he said.

“They’ve always had to work with exactly what they’re given,” Sim said. “Although some people may have problems with the exact numbers, the Finance Board has made their decisions based on what was submitted, so I support the Finance Board.”

Multiple organization representatives thanked SA for funding their events and publications, including CitrusTV and NYPIRG, which were partially funded under operating budgets, and 360 magazine, S.P.A.A.D.E and Black Box Players, which were fully funded. JERK magazine, Medusa magazine and Delta Sigma Theta announced they will apply for appeals.

By the end of the meeting, all 125 recommendations made by the Finance Board were passed by the assembly, leaving a total of $57,035.08 available for appeals.

The deadline to apply for appeals is April 15 by 5 p.m. The budget meeting for appeals will be held April 19 at the SA meeting.

Published on April 12, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Laurence: lgleveil@syr.edu | @lgleveille