Mixed thoughts on whether funds were being dispersed fairly were expressed at the Associated Students (A.S.) meeting on Tuesday as senators debated whether or not Matador TV should be funded to raise awareness of student government.
Issues arose once the topic to allocate $1,100 to the Residential Student Television Association for their Matador TV Banquet was introduced. The amount was amended to $2,240, but quickly voted out. The original amount of $1,100 passed.
Senator Richard Morgan felt the funds should have been more and that the students would benefit greatly from Matador TV. Morgan said Matador TV streams to the dorms and would increase awareness of A.S.
‘Nobody knows what’s going on, nobody knows who we are. We did a survey recently which polled a thousand students over 60 percent of students said they don’t have any clue who we are or what we do. So you know my whole goal here on the senate is to increase our visibility on campus,’ Morgan said.
Henry expressed his frustration when he found out that A.S. allocated more money to the CSUN Hillel for Alternative Spring Break Intern. The program asked for $800, but was raised and passed for $2,400.
Henry said, ”hellip;were giving money to an outside constituency traveling abroad and there’s already funds to go towards traveling abroad.’
Morgan said, ‘I don’t know if you noticed today more than $10,000 were spent on things that don’t necessarily benefit students.’
While students and some senators may be on the fence, Senator Abel Pacheco felt strongly about A.S.’s ability to stay fair when allocating funds. ‘It’s hard but we have to be consistent at the same time’hellip; because we’re in the financial mess we’re in as far as low funds, we just have to try and be consistent that’s all.’
‘We’re still promoting students, we’re still helping out students,’ Pacheco said.’
Morgan doubted that A.S. was directed primarily towards the students. ‘I hope students start to wake up to the fact that their money is being mismanaged. It’s obvious to everyone on this board, that this board is run by private interest,’ Morgan said.
Beyond Matador TV, the meeting was a success for others. For the Filipino American Student Association (FASA) the meeting was a success. The motion to allocate $5,000 to FASA for their Filipino Cultural Night was amended and raised to $5,500. FASA members that filled up three full rows in the audience were happy to hear the motion passed.
English major Charles Keeranan, the script director for the cultural night said, ‘it (the event) showcases Filipino culture. It’s a free show and really popular among our community as well as others.’
Congratulatory feelings went out to the men’s basketball team as well for being number one in the Big West Conference during the 2008 to 2009 season. The resolution was approved for a commendation of the Matador team.
Other funds allocated were, $1,500 for Colleges Against Cancer for Relay for Life, $450 to Chess Club, $500 to Music Therapy Association and $600 to Anthropology Student Association.
As far as what students can do, Morgan advised, ‘If students want to see legitimate changes here on campus students need to come get involved in associated students’hellip;. They need to come to the A.S. office, they need to speak with their senator, they need to speak with their V.P.’s, they need to speak with their presidents. They need to get involved.’
