The Student Services Finance Committee approved the 2003-'04 budgets for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Campus Center, Sex Out Loud and Polygon Monday. Students present voiced support for the LGBT center and Sex Out Loud, highlighting the LGBT center's need for full-time staff.
The final budget for the LGBT center totaled $51,021, denying the group's request for a fulltime professional staff position and including a reduction in the hourly wage of student directors. Six out of the 11 SSFC representatives present voted to cut the professional staff position.
\I just don't feel that the benefits warranted by this position are reflected in the amount of financing it entails,"" said Ryan Nichols, a SSFC representative. ""This would double their budget, but could in no way double their service. With or without the establishment of this position, students will continue to be served, and they will continue to be served sufficiently. The LGBT Campus Center will continue to thrive.""
In response to the elimination of the position, the committee increased the paid hours for the associate director to compensate for the loss of service hours an additional staff member would have provided.
Sex Out Loud also faced cuts. The budget was finalized at $42,419 eliminating facilitator training and reducing wage rates and program supplies. Though Sex Out Loud requested a supply budget greater than in recent years, they justified the increase, as there is greater demand for their services than in the past.
Some SSFC representatives said they were disappointed in the cut to the organization's supply funding because it hindered Sex Out Loud's ability to provide sexual education and awareness as effectively as possible.
""Their whole program is dependent on supplies,"" SSFC representative Aaron Werner said. ""Supplies are essential to everything they do, and without the appropriate materials they cannot possibly achieve their main objectives.""
The committee also unanimously passed the proposed budget for Polygon, an organization based within the School of Engineering. Polygon's final budget is set at $6,100.
SSFC heard budget proposals for Wunk Sheek, an American Indian service group, the Campus Women's Center and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council Monday.
Budget decisions for these organizations will be made at the SSFC meeting Wednesday.
