Executive Fires back on Benchmark “Cuts”
In a memo circulated to the Student Senate (and just now hand delivered to the Commentator Office by President Axelrod), the Executive has gone on the record in its opposition to the recently approved 2.5% increase in the Programs Finance Committee benchmark. Having initially asked the Senate to approve a 5% increase, and been knocked down to a 2.5% increase, the Executive has decided to be entirely uncreative in their response to the much-needed fiscal responsibility movement by raising the tired spectre of “substantial cuts in services and student employment.” Thats right folks, not only do groups have nowhere to cut the fat, but also there are no surplus funds with which to maintain the most vital services.
The memo asks us, the mean-spirited, tightwad crypto-bigots to recognize that “many of the budgets… already reflect programs’ efforts to be as efficient as possible with their money. Departments and programs have shown a commitment to shift money away from administrative costs…” Yes, but surely buying 100 roller skating passes for the “Come OUT and Skate” party, or the free lunch for a “Community Dialogue to discuss how we can teach practical skills of self-love and caring relationships” are non-administrative costs which could be considered more “fat” than “muscle,” no?
But rather than accepting the Senate mandate for reasonable cost-cutting, the Executive would rather scare students into thinking that basic services that are open to all students will be cut. To bolster this perception, the memo contained an attached memo from Dennis Munroe, director of the Physical Activity And Recreation Services, explaining all of the horrible effects that this “cut” (one cannot emphasize enough that this is not a cut, but a reduction in the budget increase), would have on our beloved Rec Center. And Mr. Munroe gives the Executive just the ammunition it was looking for, by stating that the only real place to cut fat is in the student work force. Additionally, old equipment won’t be replaced, the Rock Wall could charge a participation fee, the towel service might be eliminated, among a litany of other tragic consequences. This tactic is a complete red herring. The Senate (as I see it) was not asking the PFC to cut programs which are available to everyone, widely used, and fundamental to the health and development of the student body at large. Rather, marginal groups, groups that have been funded without oversight year after year, groups with large off-campus revenue sources, groups with large travel and food budgets, and groups with overt political agendas are the places that the Senate was asking PFC to make cuts.
The Executive, however, seems to believe that such cuts could not be done in a viewpoint-neutral manner, and that even trying to make such cuts is “uneven” (read: unfair), because of the funding levels of the EMU and ADFC. “If the Senate decides that reductions in service level are necessary, we know that students would want them applied across the board,” reads the memo. Oh, is that so? Funny, because I’d assume that most students understand that there are some services which are inclusive, open and necessary (such as the Rec Center of the Exec’s scare tactic example) and should be fully funded, but that money also goes to groups which provide no real service, are wasteful, and noninclusive , and should be cut. It’s the difference between getting liposuction, or just hacking off a limb to lose weight.
At the end of the day, the whole brouhaha is a first class red herring. When you are sitting on an $800,000 surplus fund, the Cassandra and Chicken Little routine can only be seen as a cynical ploy. Here’s an idea for the entire ASUO: Increase this years budget as much as you fucking want. Fund free ice cream cones with helpful information about the Darfur genocide written in delicious chocolate on them. Fund a workshop on ethically-sound hair care for conjoined twins. I don’t give a damn. Just do me one favor: make sure that every penny over last years budget comes out of the Overrealized Fund. It’s known as balancing the budget. Give it a shot.
