After receiving a more detailed 2012-2013 operating budget for the University Student Center, Student Government senators are still not ready to sign off on the $1.9 million dollars the administration is asking for.
The USC building was funded entirely by Activities & Service Fees, which every student pays. For the 2012-2013 year, students pay $25.05 in Activities & Service fees per credit hour; the past two academic year student have paid $11.28 per credit hour for the fee. Many student representatives, however, are not sure SG ever agreed to pay for USC operations. Earlier this month, former SG President James Scott stopped by a general assembly meeting, saying he couldn’t remember a formal agreement made for SG to foot the operating costs, and urged senators to familiarize themselves with the complex system of student fees.
USC utility costs have become a contentious issue. During the Oct. 10 general assembly, senators learned only one meter measures energy use in the USC, though monies to pay energy costs come from three separate budgets.
Senator Anthony Patterson said the USC estimate based on square footage is “not logical,” since the dining hall kitchen is open 12 hours a day and using more energy than the rest of the building.
“We shouldn’t be teetering the law with breaking A&S [Activities & Service] fees,” said Patterson, adding SG paying for the building to operate was “not what we signed up for.”
Student Body President Mark Lombardi-Nelson said he was not “fully satisfied” with the most recent budget presented to SG. Lombardi-Nelson added SG was waiting for more budget information, which the student representatives would thoroughly review, and even run the numbers themselves.
“The blanket statement SG is paying for housing is not true,” said Julie Wong, associate vice chancellor for student affairs, who attended the general assembly meeting Wednesday. Wong explained USC housing has a separate budget and pay their own bills. Wong criticized the fact only three senators attended a recent meeting with Julie Jakway, assistant vice chancellor of financial services, to review the budget. Wong said separate utility meters would “solve a lot of things,” and said some members of the administration were interested in adding submeters during construction at the cost of $20,000.
“You can’t say this room [USC ballroom] is using the same amount of energy as the dining hall,” said Lauren Reilly, member of SG’s executive branch. “Those numbers don’t work.” Reilly added submeter applications are available for smartphones, and don’t need to cost $20,000.
