Spring Break
Student leaders react to SAFAC
Janhavi Purohit
Issue date: 6/6/08 Section: News
After student organizations received their annual allocations from Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee, some student representatives have said they did not receive enough money to allow the success and maintenance of their respective organizations.
"I'm the president of the Drexel Football Team and the treasurer for the women's rugby team, and I was disappointed with how much money both of my organizations received," Rose Dillon, a pre-junior and chemical engineering major, said. "The women's rugby team received so little money from our allocation that if we don't get appeals money, we can't exist as an organization next year."
Dillon added that one of her complaints was with the fact that by making fraternities and sororities eligible for funding, SAFAC had "increased the number of groups without increasing the amount of money available."
"Greek life was doing fine without being eligible for SAFAC funding, and I felt it was unfair that they were allocated money when there are other groups that don't have the outside support they do from national chapters, alumni, etc., that didn't get what they needed," Dillon wrote in an e-mail.
According to Joe Gonzalez, SAFAC Advisor, the majority of students from campus organizations have not had many problems with SAFAC.
"We started asking students coming in during the appeals process if they had any questions or concerns, and the majority response was that they didn't have any questions," Gonzalez said. "There haven't been many complaints."
Gonzalez added that in his time with SAFAC, there have always been "groups who are dissatisfied because they want more than they get," but that in terms of filing complaints through the appeals process, students tend to realize there is a "finite" amount of funds.
"People are allowed to create organizations based on interest, so we don't cap, and we have 275 organizations. I understand that people didn't get what they asked for, and I wish we had more to give out, but that's how it works," Gonzalez said. "I think students understand that it's a finite pool of resources, and everybody gets a little piece of the pie."
"I'm the president of the Drexel Football Team and the treasurer for the women's rugby team, and I was disappointed with how much money both of my organizations received," Rose Dillon, a pre-junior and chemical engineering major, said. "The women's rugby team received so little money from our allocation that if we don't get appeals money, we can't exist as an organization next year."
Dillon added that one of her complaints was with the fact that by making fraternities and sororities eligible for funding, SAFAC had "increased the number of groups without increasing the amount of money available."
"Greek life was doing fine without being eligible for SAFAC funding, and I felt it was unfair that they were allocated money when there are other groups that don't have the outside support they do from national chapters, alumni, etc., that didn't get what they needed," Dillon wrote in an e-mail.
According to Joe Gonzalez, SAFAC Advisor, the majority of students from campus organizations have not had many problems with SAFAC.
"We started asking students coming in during the appeals process if they had any questions or concerns, and the majority response was that they didn't have any questions," Gonzalez said. "There haven't been many complaints."
Gonzalez added that in his time with SAFAC, there have always been "groups who are dissatisfied because they want more than they get," but that in terms of filing complaints through the appeals process, students tend to realize there is a "finite" amount of funds.
"People are allowed to create organizations based on interest, so we don't cap, and we have 275 organizations. I understand that people didn't get what they asked for, and I wish we had more to give out, but that's how it works," Gonzalez said. "I think students understand that it's a finite pool of resources, and everybody gets a little piece of the pie."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Jim Breen
posted 6/06/08 @ 12:34 PM EST
I am very sorry that Dillon is so upset about greek life receiving funding from SAFAC. It is on the most logical thing to do when allocating money in this manner. (Continued…)
Rose Dillon
posted 6/09/08 @ 4:56 PM EST
Jim,
I think your suggestion for having umbrella groups is a great one, and it's being implemented for club sports next year. If it works, it might be extended for other groups, although I'm not sure what the plan is for that. (Continued…)
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