Senate Votes to Stop Student Groups from Making a Profit from USGA Funding

AUGUST 4, 2008

In the last Senate meeting of the ’07-’08 school year, the USGA Senate unanimously accepted an amendment that prevents student organizations from making a profit off of USGA funds. 

According to the new amendment, organizations that receive USGA funding in addition to receiving funds by charging UMB students an entrance or ticket fee are now required to return ticket profits to the USGA, up to the total amount of USGA funds provided.

The amendment was proposed to prevent UMB students from being charged twice for participating in USGA sponsored events.  Every UMB student pays an annual $20 student activities fee as part of their yearly tuition that goes towards financing campus-wide program and events, co-sponsoring events organized by student run groups, and operating expenses. 

Therefore, when student organizations charge an entrance fee for their events, they are technically charging students twice.

The leaders of student-run organizations argue that their reason for charging an entrance fee for an event is only to be able to recycle the money earned for funding future events for UMB students. 

After all, many events hosted on campus cost more to host than the organization can finance with USGA funding and their own resources alone. 

During the discussion period of the amendment, the Senate demonstrated understanding for the difficulty organizations face when trying to fundraise money to be able to continue funding subsequent events for their groups.  Student organizations will not have to return “donations” that they collect at their events and may even include suggested donations on their tickets. 

The purpose of the amendment was not to prevent organizations from fundraising, but to protect UMB students from being unable to attend school-wide events due to financial reasons.  As such, students who would like to support an organizations efforts may donate freely to help continue successful hosted events. 

With the new amendment, the Senate strives to promote the participation of all students by protecting those who otherwise would not be able to attend an event. 

Student organizations applying for USGA funding for events hosted during the Fall ’08 semester can learn more about the new amendment, get help filling out the funding packet, learn important dates and better understand the voting procedures at any one of four Funding meetings provided by USGA Treasurer Tom Dunn. 

Visit the USGA homepage at  www.umaryland.edu/usga for more information. 

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Written by CyndiC.