SGA Explains Semester Spending
Ashley Smith
Issue date: 11/29/06 Section: News
Staff members from The Voice met with Student Government Association (SGA) leaders Monday, November 20th, during the monthly "Word on the Yard" meeting to discuss allegations that SGA may have misused student funds during the fall semester.
Concerns were brought forth concerning the organization's budget following the release of the SGA Treasurer's report in early November.
SGA was allotted $71,500 for the 2006-2007 academic year. The November 15th report showed that SGA had spent $48,609.89 for the semester.
A large portion of that amount is due to $15,500 being withheld from the budget for staff compensations for 7 executive board members, and $10,000 spent to pay for speakers at the Stand and Deliver Conference on November 3rd and 4th.
These amounts add up to $25,5000 of the amount spent this semester.
The purported discrepancy is in reference to the $23,109 that was used by SGA on other items, events, and services.
SGA reports that it has spent $1,825 on t-shirts from the company Jeb Designs, $885.00 on SGA paraphernalia (SGA license plate frames, I love FSU keychains, and SGA cups), $1,343.79 on office supplies and decorations, $600 to Jeb Designs for homecoming t-shirts, $1,000 on copier expenses, and an open purchase order for $1,000 to the print shop.
Other major expenses for the organization included $3,500 for speaker Fox Rich and $3,300 for speaker Rasheed Ali Cromwell, who were both part of the SGA speaker series.
Students expressed concern over whether the funds really benefited Fayetteville State students.
The Voice staff asked SGA representatives about the justifications for the expenditures.
The $1,825 spent on t-shirts was part of operation Smooth Move. "We always give the freshmen … welcoming gifts, and that was part of that," said SGA Senator and program moderator Lisa Harris. "Homecoming T-shirts are basically to initiate school pride, so that students do have things to wear to the games," she added.
Concerns were brought forth concerning the organization's budget following the release of the SGA Treasurer's report in early November.
SGA was allotted $71,500 for the 2006-2007 academic year. The November 15th report showed that SGA had spent $48,609.89 for the semester.
A large portion of that amount is due to $15,500 being withheld from the budget for staff compensations for 7 executive board members, and $10,000 spent to pay for speakers at the Stand and Deliver Conference on November 3rd and 4th.
These amounts add up to $25,5000 of the amount spent this semester.
The purported discrepancy is in reference to the $23,109 that was used by SGA on other items, events, and services.
SGA reports that it has spent $1,825 on t-shirts from the company Jeb Designs, $885.00 on SGA paraphernalia (SGA license plate frames, I love FSU keychains, and SGA cups), $1,343.79 on office supplies and decorations, $600 to Jeb Designs for homecoming t-shirts, $1,000 on copier expenses, and an open purchase order for $1,000 to the print shop.
Other major expenses for the organization included $3,500 for speaker Fox Rich and $3,300 for speaker Rasheed Ali Cromwell, who were both part of the SGA speaker series.
Students expressed concern over whether the funds really benefited Fayetteville State students.
The Voice staff asked SGA representatives about the justifications for the expenditures.
The $1,825 spent on t-shirts was part of operation Smooth Move. "We always give the freshmen … welcoming gifts, and that was part of that," said SGA Senator and program moderator Lisa Harris. "Homecoming T-shirts are basically to initiate school pride, so that students do have things to wear to the games," she added.
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