SAFAC: Where does our money go?

By: James Breen

Posted: 5/16/08

This was the first year my organization was eligible to receive funding from SAFAC, which was very exciting. We received our annual allocation, and I was more than happy with the amount awarded. This was money that we never had before, and it will benefit our members as well as the Drexel community. I was one of many who attended the information session, filled out a slew of information regarding our organization's finances and needs, and waited like a child on Christmas morning to hear back as to the status of my organization's application.

Last week, I picked up my copy of The Triangle and read that a complete allocation list could be found on The Triangle's web site. After opening up the web site, I was very surprised. Drexel Equestrians received more than $32,000, and Women's Ice Hockey over $22,000.

I would hope that no organizations take personal offense in my writing this commentary, but I am merely pointing out this absurdity. Neither I, nor any Drexel student, should be one to put a value on an organization, but I began thinking about how these organizations affect campus and student life.

I, for one, would hope that students seeking continual growth in their organization would receive the same amount as the next organization.

The Lexerd is a yearbook for the entire student body, which has been around for more than a half a century. With its historic nature, it was awarded a little over $59,000.

Yet at the same time, the Drexel Equestrians, an organization with 19 members, receives over $32,000. I understand the fact that we all filled out the same applications and had the same opportunities, but I think we need to re-evaluate how these funds can be distributed. Even if the yearbook is only valued by the senior class, wouldn't that money have much more of an effect on, say, the 2,000 students that read the Lexerd?

In Joseph Gonzalez's May 9 letter to the editor, he wrote, "groups who met with their SAFAC liaisons tended to fare better than those who did not." I'm not really quite sure why meeting with our liaisons was so imperative - to persuade them to agree that my organization is better than others?

I understand it would be an immature theory for me to think that we should all receive equal funding. For the future, I would love to see students be able to select on DrexelOne where they want their student activity fees to be used. I firmly believe that if a student is interested in joining a club or organization, there are ways to fund your hobbies. If we are passionate about something, why shouldn't we be allowed to use our funds in support of ourselves?

This year, I paid $250 in student activity fees and a whopping $1,300 in a "General University Fee."

About $2 directly from my tuition bill will go to the Drexel Equestrians, which I will never watch, read about, hear about or even have the pleasure of meeting a member. I'd love to be invited to a competition or show.

Student organization allocations should be based upon the number of members, the benefit to the entire student population, and nothing more.

I very much support the allocations to CAB, the Lexerd and DUST, as they are organizations that almost every student will benefit from, but has this activity fee gotten out of control?

It would be great if we were given the option to select what our fees support. For example, half of our fees could be non-discretionary and the other half discretionary, which SAFAC could use as they please. Organizations such as CAB, the Lexerd and DUST would be deemed non-discretionary and would receive a percentage of this money because of the work they do for the entire student body.

Best of luck to all the student organizations who will be attempting the appeals process - see you there!

James Breen is a junior majoring in business administration. He can be reached at ed-op@thetriangle.org.