$550,000 MSA budget approved in one hour

The Michigan Student Assembly approved its annual budget of $550,000 during its weekly meeting last night.

"When we first presented the budget to MSA last week, there was a fear we had not gotten in touch with all the student leaders - that we made the numbers up," said Bram Elias, MSA treasurer.

The assembly approved the budget in less than an hour last night, in part because necessary revisions were made following a presentation last week, Elias said.

"Once people figure out what students' needs are, it's easy" to write the budget, Elias said.

The budget includes an income of $540,000 from student fees and the remaining balance of the '97-'98 budget. The budget rollover of roughly $90,000 is the result of the Budget and Priorities Committee and the Community Service Board allotting less than 100 percent of their available funds last year.

The available funds for student groups total $168,000 for the academic year. MSA President Trent Thompson said the assembly is concerned that "we won't have that money next year" if the demand for student group funding drains the large account.

Thompson said the reason for the large remainder of BPC funding - the committee paid out only 80 percent of its budget last year - is a lack of awareness in the University community of funding.

University students don't miss those funds "because they don't realize they have it," Thompson said.

Thompson said the assembly would like to plan larger-scale events in the future and also combine plans with the University Activities Committee.

"We can do a lot more," Thompson said.

The Community Service Fund also received leftover funds from last year because only 65 percent of available funding was used, Thompson said.

"We set a precedent that community service funds unclaimed or unused will continue to be used for community service," said Heidi Lubin, MSA community service chair.

The Community Service Board, created last year, will expand its programs this year by working with other community service programs creating lecture series and hosting open houses, Lubin said.

MSA also funds the Ann Arbor Tenants Union and approved an allocation of $25,000, including $2,000 for increased publicity of the union.

Melissa Danforth, co-coordinator of AATU, said the publicity will include Diag boards, banners, increased residence hall programs and a greater distribution of the AATU pamphlet.

Student groups who want to apply for funding through MSA can pick up applications in the assembly offices, on the fourth floor of the Michigan Union until Sept. 30.

The assembly also formed a steering committee to examine the Student Code of Conduct, which will be reviewed by the University Board of Regents in December.

"The basic strategy is to do research ... (to create) an educational campaign on campus," said Olga Savic, a Rackham representative.

09-23-98