StudentsforaConservativeVoice

RequestedAllocation:$140,445
RecommendedAllocation:$104,410

Vote:1200

MajorityOpinion

Comments:DuringthebudgetpresentationforStudentsforaConservativeVoice,materialfrom
thegroupspublicationwasprovidedtothecommitteebythestudentgrouptogivemembersof
SSFCabetterunderstandingoftheoperationsoftheorganization.Whilereviewingoneofthe
samplepublications,committeememberscameacrossmaterialthatdemonstratedanovertlack
ofsensitivitytotheportrayalofmembersoftheArabworld.Whenpressedforinformationon
howthispiecemadeitintoprint,representativesinformedthecommitteethat,basedonthedate
ofthisparticularpublication,themembersresponsibleforthatworkarenolongerinthe
organizationandthatthisparticularpieceisnotrepresentativeoftheworkproducedbythe
organizationtoday.Afterassessingthisinformation,theStudentServiceFeeCommitteewould
liketoreemphasizeforthegroupthesignificanceofculturallysensitivediscourseonacampus
liketheUniversityofMinnesota,whichpridesitselfonbeinghometoawiderangeofvalues
andbeliefsheldbymembersthatoriginatefromcountlessculturesacrosstheglobe.Inthe
future,closeattentionmaybepaidtothecontentpublishedbyStudentsforaConservativeVoice
toensurethatanymaterialthatisproducedwithstudentservicefeefundsdoesnotcompromise
theculturalharmonyofthecampusandtoensurethatthematerialthatisproducedisnotatodds
withthecriteriainplaceforreceivingthisfunding.

ThefollowingpointsexplaintherecommendedallocationfigureandincludetheSSFhandbook
guidelinesfordecisionmakingreference(GDM)numberssupportingeachpoint:

1) Deductionof$2,000fromLibelInsuranceintheInsurance,Benefits,andTaxes
Breakdownsectiononthebasisthatthecommitteehassetaprecedenttonotallocate
fundsforinsuranceprogramsthattheUniversitydoesnotrequirestudentgroupstohave.
GDMs:1,8

2) Deductionof$500fromAccountantinConsultant/Professionalfeesbreakdownonthe
basisthattheseservicescaneitherbehandledinternallyorcanbeaccessedforfreefrom
organizationsonoraroundcampus.Additionally,nonarrativewasincludedtospecify
thekindofaccountingservicesthatwouldbeprovided.GDMs:7,8,9

3) Deductionof$4,000fromRentersInsuranceintheInsurance,Benefits,andTaxes
Breakdownsectiononthebasisthatthecommitteehassetaprecedenttonotallocate
fundsforinsuranceprogramsthattheUniversitydoesnotrequirestudentgroupstohave.
GDMs:1,8

4) Deductionof$800fromParkingintheOperationalTravelBreakdownsectiononthe
basisthatnodetailsabouttheparkingisprovided.Additionally,thecommitteehasseta
precedenceofnotfundingparkingforstudentgroupsonthebasisthatitisanexpense
thatcanbecoveredbybystudentsorothermeansoffunding.GDMs:7,8,9

5) Deductionof$1,000fromMeetingsinOperationalFoodBreakdownonthebasisthat
SSFfundsarenottobeallocatedtofoodforexecutiveboardmeetings.GDMs:6

6) Deductionof$450fromtheComputerrequestinEquipmentBreakdownonthebasisthat
thecommitteehasbeenfundingvalidrequestsforcomputersatarateof$750per
computerforallstudentgroups.GDMs:7,8

7) Deductionof$500fromMiscellaneousSuppliesintheOperationalSuppliesBreakdown
onthebasisthatnodetailsregardingwhatthemoneywouldgoingtoareprovidedinthe
narrative.ToensureSSFfundsareallocatedwisely,thecommitteedoesnotallocate
fundsforrequestswithunspecifiedpurposes.GDM:9

8) Deductionof$6,000fromPrintingIssuerequestinPrintingandCopyingBreakdownon
thebasisthatmoneyisbeingallocatedtoimprovethequalityofthegroupswebsite.In
additiontothis,thegroupislookingtoincreasetheamountofcontentwithineachissue
andincreasethequalityofthepaperintheirissuesbyswitchingtoglossyprint.The
committeefeelsthattoprovideallofthefundingforallthreeoftheseendeavourswould
comeatanunjustifiablyhighcostwhencomparedtothebenefitseenbythestudent
body.GDMs:1,2,6,7,8

9) Deductionof$7,500fromtheWriters(10)lineitemintheSalaries,Wages,andStipends
Breakdownsectiononthebasisthatthecommitteeiscannotjustifyfundingthe
expansionofagroupatthisrate(goingfromfivepaidwriterstoteninoneyear).GDMs:
3,7,8

10) Deductionof$1,000fromEditorinChiefinordertobringthestipendforthispositionto
anhourlywageconsistentwithotherpaidpositionsfundedbythecommittee.GDMs:7,
8,11

11) Deductionof$1,000fromManagingEditorinordertobringthestipendforthisposition
toanhourlywageconsistentwithotherpaidpositionsfundedbythecommittee.GDMs:
7,8,11

12) Deductionof$8,250fromNinaEastonSpeakingEngagementonthebasisthatitisnot
certainwhetherornotthiseventwillbetakingplace.Giventhehighcost,thecommittee
felttheinvestmentwasnotyetjustifiedwiththeinformationprovided.GDMs:1,3,5

13) Deductionof$410fromIronOreMiningTriponthebasisthatfoodisanunnecessary
expenditureofSSFfeesonatripwithsuchhighcostsintheotherlineitemsinthis
program.GDMs:3,8

14) Deductionof$325($250fromFoodand$75fromTravel)fromthe3rdAnnualGun
RangeTrip.Despitethehighcostofthistrip,thestudentgroupiscurrentlynotseeking
outsidefundingtoreducecosts.GDMs:7,8

15) Deductionof$4,600fromKatiePavlicheventonthebasisthatthecommitteeisalready
fundinganeventsimilarinnaturewithalargerbudget(DavidHorowitzDebate).The
committeefeelsthateventswithsuchhighcoststhataresimilarinnaturemaynotallbe
justifiablybefunded.GDMs:1,2,7,8

16) Deductionof$1,500fromfoodforDavidHorowitzeventonthebasisthatwith$10,000
ofentertainmentcostsbeingallocatedbytheSSFcommitteeforthisevent,foodshould
notbeanecessaryincentiveforbringinginstudents.Additionally,noeffortstoprevent
membersofthepublicfromeatingthefoodwereprovided.GDMs:3,6,7,8,

17) Deductionof$2,200fromtheSmallBusinessRetreatonthebasisthatthecommittee
doesnotfundretreatsthatareexclusivetomembersofthegroup.GDMs:6,8