Union Budget To Increase $1 Per Student

While the Student Union budget will get a sizable bump next year, increasing by one dollar per student, Union President Zachary Coseglia said the increase pales in comparison to the money needed to make the Union as effective as possible.

Coseglia said while a start, the new money is far from adequate to fulfill all Union goals and objectives.

“More money would make our jobs a lot easier,” said Coseglia, a senior in the College of Communication. “The last think you want to constrain you is money when you’ve got everything else — strong, motivated people. We could really increase school spirit if we had the money and resources to create the big events.”

College governments and Residence Hall Associations will also share in the increased Community Service Fee portion of the Undergraduate Student Fee, according to Assistant Dean of Students Allen Ward. College government budgets will receive a $1.94 per student increase and RHAs will receive $1.30 more per student, Ward said.

The Student Unions Allocations Board, which allocates money to all official campus student groups, will also receive $2 more per student, he said.

The total Community Service Fee will jump ten dollars, from $110 to $120, in its first increase in at least four years, according to Ward. He said he was unsure how much the total Undergraduate Student Fee would increase for next year.

The total Student Union budget should reach nearly $130,000 next year, up from $114,800, depending on next year’s enrollment.

Union Vice President of Financial Affairs Carl Woog, a sophomore in the University Professors Program, pointed to next year’s dollar per student increase in the Union budget as an important sign of the administration’s trust in students.

“It’s a great sign of cooperation that shows that the administration is interested in student affairs,” he said.

Coseglia said while he recognizes the extra dollar as a sign of cooperation and recognition of student leadership, the total Union share of the fee of $9.20 per student is not nearly as much as should be under student management.

“I think it’s important that as much of the Undergraduate Student Fee be in the hands of students as possible,” Coseglia said.

Coseglia said in many cases, the biggest hindrance of Union goal fulfillment is a lack of financial resources.

“It frustrates me when I hear students say that the Union doesn’t do things for them,” Coseglia said. “Almost every student is in a campus group and every campus group is funded by [the Student Union Allocation Board]. It hurts me because we don’t have enough money to give these groups everything they want.

“If we had more money, we wouldn’t have to worry about it — we could just worry about making activities better and better if the resources were there like they are at many other universities,” he said. “Regardless of where the money goes, it’s going to make something better.”

Student Leader Magazine, as part of its survey on student leader compensation in its fall issue, reported the sizes of schools’ student government budgets, some substantially larger than the BU Union’s budget. Coseglia pointed to the survey as a sign that the Union portion of the Undergraduate Student Fee could be larger.

But Ward and Student Activities Office Director Carolyn Norris both said student government budgets are not necessarily comparable in the way that some other school policies may be. They said other student governments have much different commitments and priorities.

“It isn’t like comparing apples to apples — you’re looking at totally different student populations, cultures and forms of government,” Norris said. “There are some things where you can look at other colleges and universities and make comparisons, but with this issue it’s very difficult to do because every culture is going to be distinct.”

Ward said a main reason the Student Union General Fund is not as large as some might think it should be is because student money is divided up between college governments, RHAs and the Union. He also said a large amount of money is allotted to student groups by SUAB, which had a total budget of $245,000 this year and, pending total enrollment, should increase by about $30,000 next year.

Woog agreed with Ward and Norris.

“Comparing the different college government budgets is like comparing apples and oranges,” he said. “We can look to other colleges for ideas, cooperation and advice, but BU needs to look to BU for our financial situation.”

Woog said the Union’s current financial position is “sufficient for the student body,” though past Union administrations have not necessarily used their allotted money to its full potential.

“The first thing we need to make sure of before we ask for an increase is ‘are we using what we have?” Woog said. “When you look at the budget last year, the answer was no sometimes.

“I would never argue against an increase in Union money,” he said. “It may not be so much necessary, but we need to make sure we’re using the money to the best of our ability.”

Coseglia said the Union’s lack of financial resources is frustrating nonetheless. While students sometimes assume the Union has plenty of money to help BU student life, Coseglia said that simply isn’t the case.

“I think student groups sometimes assume that [the Union e-board] has an extra few hundred thousand dollars,” he said. “They’re strapped for cash and it sucks because so are we.”

The dollar increase in Union funds is a start to increasing the reputation of the Union, but won’t solve the sense of apathy that many feel is prevalent at BU, Coseglia said.

“That’s a matter of listening and showing genuine concern — not just talking, but also doing,” Coseglia said. “Students want to see us doing things to help them out. That’s going to take time. In the same way, it’s going to take more than a dollar.”

Coseglia said dramatic increases in the Union budget and reputation are long term issues that BU student leaders will struggle with down the line.

“An extra dollar per student lays the groundwork for something more,” he said. “It’s a start.”