ERIC M. JUKELEVICS/Arizona Daily Wildcat

ASUA Treasurer Cale Miller, front, and Associated Students President Ray Quintero explain the changes to this year's 2001-2002 ASUA Budget Proposal last night in McClelland Hall. Funding for the UA Escort service and entertainment events on campus were two of the bigger issues discussed.

Wednesday August 29, 2001 |

On paper, the escort service will receive $30,000 less funding then last year

The ASUA Senate approved a budget that approaches $1 million yesterday, which will include less funding for the UA Escort service, an on-campus transportation service, despite the objection of some senators.

This year's budget distributes only $69,000 to the service, which is $30,000 less than the Associated Students of the University of Arizona allotted to the organization last year.

Senator Jered Mansell opposed the budget because of the importance he thinks students place in safety.

"(During my campaign) how many girls did I talk to that were afraid of walking back to their dorm at night?" he said. "They thought that (the service) needed to run later."

Mansell, who was joined by one other senator in abstaining to vote on the budget, said he wanted to see the amount distributed to the escort service raised in order to provide more safety and avoid a service run like last year's, which he described as "incompetent."

Cale Miller, ASUA treasurer, explained that because last year's escort service budget included money spent on separate transportation services, the actual difference in funding is only $7,000.

Senator Jennifer Reece, who supported the budget, agreed with Miller that the numbers are misleading.

"I would love to see the escort service expanded, but not if it will hurt other areas," she said, citing money would have to be taken from someplace such as "club funding" in order to make up the difference.

Quintero pointed out that a study conducted by the Dean of Students office did not reflect a major concern about safety from students.

Quintero also reminded senators they will have the opportunity to increase spending in the escort service area as resources become available.

"Budget approval is a very complex process but one that's very necessary," he said. "Every part of ASUA is important but unfortunately, we're unable to fund each area completely."

Senator Josh Maxwell, who voted against the budget, expressed major objection to the amount allocated to the escort service.

"(The decrease) doesn't speak well about our (ASUA) administration," he said.

Maxwell said although the student survey Quintero pointed to does not list safety as a top concern, he said students he talked to showed concern about safety.

"We need increased hours, we need to decrease wait time, we need a more responsive team and the boundaries need to be expanded," he said about the service. "Allocating more funds is the only way we can do that."

As of yet, a director for the escort service has not been appointed, although several applicants have been interviewed, Maxwell said.

Most senators agreed campus safety is a concern for students, but those who voted for the budget think the service can be improved without more money.

"The important thing, the positive thing, is that clubs are getting the funding that they need," Reece said. "We can always provide more money to the escort service later on."