Harsh calls meeting to order at 5:32 PM.
Everyone is present.
Harsh: Will send out minutes today; go over next meeting.
Gabe Rettaliata: Was sworn in last night as SGA President.
Introductions
Persian Student Association
PSA: March 27th, Spring celebration, biggest event of semester. Office of Student Life trying to make it official spring celebration of UMBC.
Harsh: Where and when is the event?
PSA: UC ballroom, March 27, 8PM.
James: Where is food from and what does it include?
PSA: Off campus caterer. rice and meat options. includes delivery costs and everything
Silva: how many people is this for?
PSA: 400, including performers
Stefanie: how many from on campus?
PSA: about 95%
Stefanie: will you charge off campus students?
PSA: yes. we won’t be advertising off campus so we expect mainly UMBC students
Harsh: didn’t you buy table cloths last semester you can reuse?
PSA: no. we used the school tablecloths.
Harsh: what is the projector for?
PSA: UC ballroom projector
Silva: total cost says 6120. what is included in the 3000 you’re paying for?
PSA: performers, appetizers, sound and lighting.
Harsh: last semester you charged non students for an event. according to our calculations, you should have made about $1000. are you guys putting that toward this event?
PSA: yes
James: has this event happened before?
PSA: smaller events in previous years. this is third year. previously for members only. open to whole school this year.
Silva: what are the decorations?
PSA: reusing some of the decorations so its a lot cheaper than last time. getting fresh flowers, fruit, etc., to promote spring.
Harsh: how are you advertising?
PSA: flyers through reslife, spotlight, marketing package
Harsh: thank you. we will vote in a little while
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
Harsh: can you tell us about the event?
Ozell: every year we have a conference. open to the general public. encouraging/advertising for people outside the fraternity to come. not exclusive to just men. benefits include working on some of the projects done in new orleans like habitat for humanity. leadership training and development seminars. number of program implementations given by national headquarters that can be used in collegiate setting. seminar about HIV awareness. seminar on living well about how to better your lifestyle. pride themselves in being a service fraternity. registration open to anyone interested in coming to learn about what we do. we have fundraised for 6 people and are only asking for funding for 2 people. we are trying not to make anybody have to pay.
Harsh: so you already have funding for the 6 people?
Ozell: yes
Harsh: thank you. we will vote on this in a little while.
UMBC Coptic Club
Coptic: Weekly bible study. we are a new student org. very traditional religion, fellowship. one hour of fellowship, asking questions. traditional to have food at every meeting. one hour of bible study. open to all umbc students.
Harsh: where and when exactly do you meet?
Coptic: monday nights in either 328 or 329 from 8-10 PM
Yasmin: what are the travel costs for guest speakers?
Coptic: gas money for speakers from DC. also we promote with a facebook group. we send a weekly email to 50-60 people right now. we want to do a spotlight, banner, flyers. 15-20 people coming to meetings consistently.
Yasmin: do you consider this your weekly meeting? do you discuss administrative things? is it like a meeting or an event?
Coptic: it’s a weekly event.
Silva: where did prices come from?
Coptic: pizza hut. we compared with prices downstairs
Harsh: just so you know, we are not funding food for regular organization meetings anymore because of the budget crunch
Coptic: our main service is our bible study. so we don’t have regular meetings and huge events. just weekly events.
Silva: what is the advertising package?
Coptic: to raise awareness via a marketing package
Silva: banners can only be up for a short time
Coptic: we would advertise a special meet and greet when we had the banner up
Harsh: thank you. we will discuss in about 20 minutes.
Discussion of PSA’s Request
James: I think it sounds like a great event. The club’s investing a lot of their own money.
Yasmin: I agree with James
Stefan: A lot of people went last year. Hrabowski was there. Worthwhile event.
Harsh: Will you reuse the table cloths?
PSA: We are renting through the school. They are too expensive to wash, store and maintain if we buy them.
Number for: 4
Number opposed: 0
Abstaining: 1
Absent: 0
Discussion of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity’s Request
James: We’ve talked about funding off campus events and conferences. It sounds like a great event but I’m having a little trouble with this.
David: remember, this is a restricted funded organization. we need to think about whether this fits the definition of being open to and intended for the entire campus in considering this request.
Stefanie: but this is also about service
Harsh: does anyone have any thoughts about whether this is open to and intended for the entire campus?
Yasmin: Tricky because 3 students who arent in the fraternity are going
Catherine: Think it is open to the whole campus but they should use the money they’ve already raised and people should pay the difference.
Harsh: it is technically open to everyone but i don’t feel like it is really open to everyone
Silva: lot of money for two people
Harsh: lot of money even if it is spread out over 8 people
Ozell: we will bring the things we learn at this conference back to UMBC. also, we only asked for flight and registration. we are putting out the cost of hotels, etc.
Harsh: we understand that there are always costs associated that aren’t budgeted, but we are having to scrutinize costs more carefully for off campus events.
Number for: 0
Number opposed: 4
Abstaining: 1
Absent: 0
Ozell: Can we modify the amount to something the board would be more comfortable with?
Harsh: reason for rejection is mostly that the organization is under restricted funding because you are not open to everyone. is everyone comfortable moving on?
UMBC Coptic Club Discussion
Emily: I feel like this is a weekly meeting
Yasmin: I don’t, but I feel more comfortable funding the speakers and advertising than the food. this is a little different than funding Shabbat because food is part of Shabbat’s purpose.
Harsh: Maybe we can fund part of it.
Silva: I don’t feel like the food is necessary.
Catherine: I don’t think we need to fund that much for food.
Stefanie: I feel like weekly bible studies should be about the bible, not food. Also 8PM is not really dinnertime so why would we fund dinner?
Coptic: I understand what you’re saying but the food is a part of the tradition. most of the people who come are Egyptian of some sort and that actually is our dinnertime. the dinner is the most integral part of how people become comfortable with each other. eating with each other really builds those relationships. this is how we meet new people. building relationships is integral to having a productive bible study. it has been proven to work over the last several years.
Silva: we are on a tight budget so we can’t fund food for everyone’s meetings though.
Coptic: we don’t make decisions during these meetings though. this is nothing like other organizations’ meetings. this is people coming to socialize and study the bible. this is our event. this is the whole intention of the group. our focus is just on these events. although it might have similar features to meetings, it is an event.
James: not okay with full amount for food, however, if it is an integral part of the structure of the organization I would be comfortable funding some of the meetings
Stefan: maybe we can fund the first meeting of every month, not every one
Catherine: at the very least we could cut desserts
Yasmin: I made a calculation for funding three of the bible studies, total advertising and travel, $25 for utensils, and i would be comfortable voting on that
Harsh: can we do 4 meetings, one at the beginning of each month?
Emily: what if all organizations start calling their meetings “weekly events”?
Catherine: Funding first three of four might work out better so they can transition into a potluck.
Coptic: transitioning into a potluck isn’t realistic.
Yasmin: that was just a suggestion. you don’t have to do that.
Coptic: other thing to take into consideration is that we’ve been on campus for a while and built up to this. our church helps us, but it’s mainly UMBC students
Harsh: i think the consensus that the finance board is coming to is that we’d be comfortable funding three or four of them
Coptic: can we do half?
Stefanie: what would happen if we can’t fund the food?
Coptic: it will have been a waste of 6 months trying to become a student organization just so we could apply for SGA funding. i think that question is unfair to ask because we’ve provided this service for years
Stefanie: i understand, but maybe you could start with food and then move into snacks or something.
Coptic: some people may not even come if we don’t have food because they get out of class late. because the group is getting larger it’s too much to pay for out of pocket. we need the food funded to attract people. more people will come and it will be tons of money out of our own pockets.
Silva: move to vote on $587.50.
Harsh: we’re going to vote on funding three meetings, cutting out dessert entirely. you’ll be free to spend that at whichever meetings you wanted.
Silva: could also get pizza and maybe the money would go further if pizza is cheaper.
Number for: 4
Number opposed: 0
Abstaining: 1
Absent: 0
Coptic: Can we pay one of the moms to make the food?
Yasmin: if we change the line-item to say food we can do that. I would sign it and so would Shawny.
5 minute recess at 6:20.
Back to order at 6:25 PM.
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship
IV: asking for money for winter conference. asking for $1000 for lodging. february 21 and 22nd. cost went up so we’re just trying to cover the increase
Emily: how many people is this for?
IV: 25 but if the number of people goes up then we will spread the money out
Harsh: just asking for more money because the cost went up?
IV: it’s $90 this year but we’re trying to get it back down to $65 per person so more people can afford to come
James: what would be the effect if we fund this?
IV: more people will be able to put forth $65 than $90
Yasmin: can you tell me a little more about the conference itself?
IV: in western MD, speakers, bible studies, learn about how to impact campus
Silva: 2 days, one night? overall cost is $90 per person?
IV: yes
Silva: how do people get there?
IV: carpool. close enough that we’re not asking for gas money
Harsh: thank you
Taiwanese Student Association
TSA: Asking for money for ITASA conference. had 4 members fully funded by SGA last year. trying to get workshop ideas.
Harsh: quote is for 6 people?
TSA: yes
Silva: how did you decide that?
TSA: already registered, already paid
Harsh: how would people know about this if they aren’t in the club?
TSA: very well known conference
Harsh: would you split the money if more people wanted to go?
TSA: yes. we are already asking for less money because we know you guys are in a budget crunch. we will pay for the rest ourselves
Harsh: can you tell us more about the conference?
TSA: all east coast. keynote speakers. talk about culture and how it relates to us. celebrities coming by. lot of workshops. workshops most important part.
Silva: where is this held?
TSA: Duke
Silva: where are you staying?
TSA: actually staying over with friends from Duke to reduce costs
Harsh: thank you
African Student Association
Harsh: What is the date?
ASA: April 25th
Catherine: How many people is it for?
ASA: room holds 2000 people
Harsh: where is it?
ASA: Morgan State
James: Can you tell us a little more about the event?
ASA: fusion of our african night and morgan state’s african night. couldn’t get the UC so we’re doing it at morgan state
Harsh: how many UMBC students are going to be able to go?
ASA: since the room holds 2000, we can 1000 tickets and they get 1000
Christine Paul: how much of this is morgan state paying?
ASA: we split the costs directly in half. they’re paying the same we are.
Yasmin: what are the fashion show costs?
ASA: designer, makeup
Silva: how long is this event?
ASA: 4 hours
Harsh: what time?
ASA: 6-11
Harsh: where will the busses pick up?
ASA: commons
David: will anyone be charged admission?
ASA: morgan state students
David: only 9000 students. you really think 1000 will attend?
ASA: we think students will go on bus especially if it’s free. we had a lot of students when we did it in the UC
David: will students have to show ID?
ASA: yes. there will be two lines.
James: how will bussing for 1000 people work?
ASA: get three or four busses. make multiple trips
Harsh: so if 1000 umbc students go you will be able to bus all of them?
ASA: we will try
Emily: what does the food include?
ASA: food from a caterer. african food.
Silva: for how many?
ASA: for 1000. our students.
Yasmin: what’s the ‘misc’ for?
ASA: any other expenses. photographer, etc.
Silva: what kind of decorations?
ASA: making it like a night of royalty. making the ballroom like a palace.
Christine Paul: can you possibly reuse old costumes
ASA: this is our tenth year. morgan state is getting a designer. their costumes are going to be better than ours.
Yasmin: if we dont fully fund you will you use carryover and still let students in free?
ASA: if we do that we will have nothing left in carryover
Christine Paul: so if we cut out any of these items will you charge students still? or is there anything you can afford to pay for without charging students?
ASA: depends on how much we have to pay for
Yasmin: I dont think we can afford $8400 right now.
Silva: what exactly is morgan state paying for?
ASA: we split all the estimates in half
Paula: is this costing you a lot extra because you’re doing it off campus? i know prices here are a lot lower.
ASA: we have to use outside contractors because UMBC services wont go off campus.
Paula: does morgan state not offer these services?
ASA: not they dont
James: next year if you’re having trouble scheduling this event on campus you can come to us to help you with that problem, just for future reference
ASA: we tried talking to lee calizo about how we would have to do it off campus. she couldn’t help us.
Harsh: thank you. we will vote in a little while
Introductions again.
James: can we move to vote on the two conferences? i have class at 7 and would like to vote on them.
Discussion of Intervarsity’s Request
Harsh: so it’s 1000 to supplement the costs. anyone have any issues or concerns?
David: we previously provided funding for a conference in the fall, just as something you might want to take into consideration.
Yasmin: I agree with that. although i’d want to be able to see 40 people go, it is a lot of money for us right now. i’m not completely against it but i am a little concerned.
David: was it 1000 last time?
IV: it was 2000. 1000 originally and added another 1000 later
Harsh: vote on full amount
Number for: 1
Number opposed: 3
Abstaining: 1
Absent: 0
Harsh: unfortunately we can’t afford it right now. we’re trying to help organizations fundraise to please come by the SGA office if you’d like help with that
Discussion of Taiwanese Student Association’s Request
Harsh: so it’s 150 for conference fee for 6 people which has already been paid
James: it’s a lower amount, but the same situation. i don’t like being in this situation but between this and an on-campus event...
Yasmin: I disagree. we haven’t funded an off campus event for TSA before and they are covering a lot of the costs
Emily: i agree with Yasmin. also they are bringing back what they learn for an on campus event
Harsh: just want to point out that this is $25 per person as was the last event we considered. everyone ready to vote on the full amount?
Number for: 4
Number opposed: 0
Abstaining: 1
Absent: 0
Filipino-American Student Association
FASA: attached is our press release, organization profile. event is Pistahan- raise awareness about our culture, dancing. this is actually our tenth Pistahan. we’re going back to all of our shows and show a little bit of each show this year. title means “where we came from.” purpose it to culminate three goals of our mission statement. educate campus about us, integrate new people, promote community service. plan to host a youth dialogue on campus for 7th grade to high school and we’ll be promoting that at this event.
Yasmin: can you talk about costume and props?
FASA: we have more dancers this year. it’s cheaper to hand make them to save on shipping and handling. this is an estimated price for fabrics. we switched up dances also to show more culture.
Yasmin: are they reusable?
FASA: yes. we will reuse these and are actually reusing some old things. this is an actual production this year to us so we need actual props.
Silva: what are the decorations for?
FASA: decorations on tables this year. 28 tables and extra seating in the back. includes table cloths, streamers, banners, etc. estimate about 10 people per table. trying to get the ambassador of the Phillipines to come.
Harsh: how many people are you expecting?
FASA: about 450
Silva: how are you going to make sure UMBC students get in free?
FASA: tickets in the commons. free to umbc students. guaranteeing weekend event for students
Harsh: In the UC?
FASA: yes
Harsh: what time?
FASA: estimated show from 7-11.
Silva: what kind of food?
FASA: cultural food but not too strange. anyone from UMBC should be comfortable eating it. very diverse food to accommodate anyone’s needs. estimates from Northstar, so the food rates are discounted. looked into some other dishes from somewhere else to get a cheaper price. we are buying our own utensils because it will be cheaper than using the catering service.
Yasmin: is marketing for on campus?
FASA: yes. package is 250 but we asked for $25 for off campus for flyers, etc.
Harsh: let’s remove the $25
Silva: we can’t fund off campus advertising
FASA: that’s fine
Harsh: $3635.50 is new total
Michael Hin: I went to this show and it was a lot of fun and amazing.
Silva: if we weren’t able to fully fund it, could you cover any of these costs?
FASA: possibly decor could be decreased.
Harsh: anyone have any serious concerns about this? this seems to be a pretty straightforward event. we will vote on it now.
Number for: 3
Number opposed: 0
Abstaining: 1
Absent: 1
Discussion on African Student Association’s Request - Jamba Night
Harsh: any thoughts? any issues or concerns?
Paula: I feel like this could have been done for much cheaper on campus
Yasmin: usually it costs about 10k actually
Emily: I dont think that they will get 1000 people to go to an off campus event
Harsh: in principle, i have trouble justifying this much money to fund an off campus event. is this really contributing to campus life?
ASA: we have to use off campus vendors because morgan state doesn’t have these services
Yasmin: i think it’s ok that it’s off campus. i don’t think 1000 students will go, but i think 500 might go. is it really quadmania weekend?
David: sort of. quadmania will be over two weekends this year.
ASA: lots of our students went to morgan state last year. this is the same night as SEB’s event
Yasmin: does SEB know these two events are the same night? i think we should have a conversation with SEB about their event before we vote on this. i think SEB will lose a lot of students to this.
David: whether or not SGA funds it
Yasmin: people look forward to this all year Harsh: i dont want to create a conflict
Yasmin: maybe we can come to some compromise
Harsh: maybe we can table this til next week so we can talk to SEB
Yasmin: will that affect you being able to do this event?
ASA: we have a meeting with morgan state sunday about whether we received funding or not
Yasmin: i really hate to make you guys wait another week but i think this is a really worthwhile conversation to have with SEB
ASA: would one of us have to move our show? we can’t move ours?
Yasmin: we don’t know if they can move their show
Harsh: anyone have a problem with tabling this til next week?
Yasmin: i want to see if they can compromise because this is a problem.
Harsh: everyone okay with tabling this until next week?
Yasmin: i actually think advocacy-wise, i don’t think it’s terrible for them to go off campus, because it shows that our venues are not adequate. i also think it’s not ridiculous to think that Jambo night will draw in 1000 students.
David: maybe we can pay $10 per student that goes.
Harsh: feel like most of the benefit it to morgan state
David: maybe the split should be 25/75 not 50/50 and we get 500 tickets instead of 1000.
Harsh: last year they went way over capacity and had to turn away a lot of students
Emily: i really dont want this on the same night as quadmania because i would like to go to both things.
Yasmin: i will set up a meeting with Jen
David: regardless of the outcome of that you may want to negotiate a lower amound paid by us for less tickets
Michael Hin: may want to email them because they are meeting with morgan state monday
David: we may want to consider what portion of the cost we are willing to pay.
Harsh: anyone want a 3-4 minute break or shall we continue?
Tea Empire
Harsh: it’s a meeting
Yasmin: but this is the purpose of the meetings.
Emily: wish I knew how much the tea costs
Silva: why dont we fund like $10 per meeting
Yasmin: this is real tea. the food is like a biscuit or something. not draw in food. want me to find out the price of the actual tea?
Silva: maybe we can fund just first meeting of the month like with the other group?
Yasmin: I’ll talk to them
Silva: they asked for food for feb 4th meeting and submitted feb 6th
Yasmin: we can’t fund that.
Habitat for Humanity
did not submit event description - tabled until next week
Chinese Student Association
Harsh: we’re not funding food for meetings.
Number for: 0
Opposed: 3
Abstaining: 0
Absent: 0
Kappa Phi Lambda
Yasmin: everyone goes to college park one. it’ll be exciting to have this on campus.
Silva: is the food free?
Harsh: yes. they’re making it free of charge
Number for: 3
Opposed: 0
Abstaining: 1
Absent: 1
Discussion of who will contact who to let clubs know tonight’s results.
Harsh: James wanted to talk about a GL expenditure for $10,000 but he’s not here.
Yasmin: I asked him if we could hold off until March when Shawny tells us exactly how much money we have left.
Meeting adjourned at 7:39 PM.
Pass the gavel.