New UA budget suggests reduced costs for Hey Day, Feb Club

Funding boosts of over 50 percent to the junior and senior class boards — which will go primarily to subsidizing Feb Club and Hey Day for students — were the highlights of this year’s Undergraduate Assembly budget decisions.

The Junior Class Board received an additional $11,360, which reflects a 56.27 percent increase, with most of the funds going towards reducing the cost of Hey Day.

“Hey Day is the most visible event that any class board hosts,” College junior and UA Treasurer Kat McKay said. “It’s a priority of student government that if we have a big event and a big tradition, we want everyone to participate.”

Similarly, the Senior Class Board received a 52.67 percent increase in funding. College senior and Senior Class Board President Jesus Perez initially requested $110,368.36 despite receiving only $23,450 last year.

Perez did not expect to receive the full amount, but made the request to show that Senior Class Board activities have been traditionally underfunded. The funding increase will provide additional discounts for senior activities like Feb Club.

Special Planning and Events Committee also received an additional $66,425, reflecting a 7.85 percent increase. The majority of the increase in Spring Fling funding went to security and operations — costs that have to be met in order for the University to approve Spring Fling’s programming.

“The number of security guards per person going to an event is dictated by University policy,” Engineering senior and SPEC Treasurer Billy Clarke said.

Allocating over $2 million among various student groups and initiatives is never a straightforward task, but after weeks of negotiations and meetings, the UA Budget Committee approved its 2016-2017 budget with relative ease. Unlike in previous years, the UA was able to satisfy the requests of most major groups, which made the budget season go by smoothly.

“Most years you have people coming in and arguing over $50,000, but this year ... we literally made so many people happy,” McKay said. “It’s a record — the UA never makes that many people happy.”

Not only did groups submit reasonable requests this year, but the UA also had additional money to grant the requests. Last year, the Student Activities Council was overfunded, so this year SAC adjusted its request to more accurately reflect their needs.

As a result of this additional money, many groups received considerable increases.

Student groups working with the UA Budget Committee have also commended them for their attention to detail and guidance.

“It’s bureaucratic, but it is because it needs to be. We’re dealing with a lot of money and making sure everyone gets what they need,” Clarke said.

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