By Lian Bunny
Photo Editor
After St. Bonaventure clubs prepared for another budget decrease for the 2015-2016 academic year, a university gift of $42,000 allowed the Student Government Association (SGA) to raise students’ expectations and club allocations.
SGA President Rose Brown said the group was told the funds were a “university gift.” The university did not give the specific source of the money.
In addition to the donation, SGA received funding through the $965 activity fee each student pays. Although university officials have not released official enrollment numbers for the 2015-2016 academic year, students said they have heard enrollment is down.
“I heard it is the first time in 10 years [enrollment] is under 400 [students],” said Dakota Ward, president of The Laugh Pack, the university’s comedy club.
Campus Activities Board (CAB), WSBU-FM, 88.3 The Buzz, Intramural/Club sports and The Bona Venture are considered the “big four” clubs, allowing them to receive the most funding.
WSBU-FM, Intramural sports and The Bona Venture each received approximately 6 percent of the money SGA gave to campus clubs. WSBU-FM’s budget increased from $4,698 to approximately $8,000; Intramural’s from $4,698 to about $8,000; and The Bona Venture’s from $4,228 to nearly $8,000.
An anonymous patron also donated $50,000 to SGA at the beginning of this calendar year to be distributed to campus clubs and organizations last spring semester.
WSBU-FM station manager Jackie Roberts said the extra money will make the year a lot easier on clubs.
“This past year has been tough,” said Roberts, a senior journalism and mass communication major. “Each purchase has been a huge process and headache. It’s no secret that funds are in short supply here at St. Bonaventure, but The Buzz will be much better off this semester, and I can only accredit that to the dedicated staff members who care for our organizations.”
SGA funded CAB about 48 percent of the money, more than the other clubs because of Spring Weekend, according to SGA Treasurer James W. Cook.
CAB treasurer Adam Talmadge said a good portion of the budget will go towards Spring Weekend.
“From years past, around half of CAB’s total budget has gone toward Spring Weekend activities, and I don’t expect that to change,” Talmadge said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how we end up allocating the rest of our capital, but I can guarantee that it will be in the best interest of the students.”
SGA allocated the remaining 33 percent to the other clubs and organizations outside of the “big four.”
According to Brown, SGA would have had only $900 to distribute to clubs outside of the “big four” if not for the $42,000 university gift.
bunnyla13@bonaventure.edu
