The American University Club Council, a student-run board that determines funding allocations for AU clubs and organizations, has announced its figures for the 2006-07 school year.
The AUCC's allocation budget includes $105,345, approximately $5,000 more than the organization's initial budget limit. Josh Kramer, the AUCC's chairman, said the extra money will be drawn from funds the AUCC did not allocate last year.
"We're not out to screw anybody; I really want to make that point," Kramer said. "We take what's on your budget, we listen to what you have to say and we make the best decision we can."
AU's 154 clubs and organizations were required to submit a budget form to Student Activities by last Friday. Student Activities determined which of those clubs are legitimate and then gave a list of those clubs to the AUCC.
"The AUCC was very helpful throughout the budget process," said Claire Roby, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences and president of Eco-Sense. "They answered our questions and gave us advice on how we should format our budget application."
Despite the ease of applying for AUCC money, some clubs, especially those without many members and those without political affiliation, said the organization has not provided them with enough funding.
"I do feel like it can be a little harder for a non-political group to get as many resources as a political one," said Sarah Shoup, a sophomore in CAS and president of the Comic Book Club. "However, my view could be biased because I had to start the [Comic Book Club] from scratch, whereas the political groups are largely much older."
To remedy this issue, Kramer said, the AUCC is looking to reformat the association status, a position that allows clubs to receive up to 10 percent of the AUCC's budget but requires them to also raise 15 percent of that allocated percentage.
"[The AUCC's] constitution doesn't really spell out for us what an association is," Kramer said. "We're actually asking for feedback from whoever's interested [in] telling us what they think an association should be."
If clubs and organizations find they are not satisfied with the amount allocated, they can make a case for themselves during the appeals process. Kramer said the AUCC has an additional $5,000 budgeted for requests made during this time and he encourages all unsatisfied club leaders to apply for the process.
Appeal forms are due to the Student Activities office in Mary Graydon Center 271 by Friday. Hearings will take place that weekend in the AUCC office, located in MGC 260.
Though many clubs may have expected to appeal their allocation even before the numbers were announced, Kramer said he thinks they will be satisfied.
"Some clubs will be very surprised," he said. "They're going to see for the first time that the AUCC is giving them either more [money] than they asked for ... or is giving them that big-ticket item."
Last year, for instance, Eco-Sense was given $100. The amount was not enough to fund events, such as the Clean Energy Referendum and Eco-Week, Roby said.
"This year we were able to show an extraordinarily high level of activity and write a very complete budget application," Roby said.
As a result, the AUCC granted them $950 for their budget this year.
College Democrats and College Republicans each received $3,500, the same amount as last year.
AUCC allocations by the numbers
The AUCC has announced its allocation figures for the '06-'07 academic year. To appeal the amount allocated to them, clubs must submit a form to the Student Activities office by Sept. 29. Hearings will be held that weekend.
Highest Allocations
Queers and Allies: $5,500 LASO: $5,000 National Coalition of Organized Resistance: $4,500 Catholic Student Association: $4,000 College Republicans: $3,500 College Dems: $3,500 Chi Alpha: $3,500
Lowest Allocations
Liberty in North Korea: $50 FALCONS: $50 EMT's: $50 AU Divination: $50 Diversity Club: $50 Public Affairs Discussion Group: $25 Objectivists: $0 The Daily Show Fan Club: $0 9/11 Truth Campus: $0
