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By Melanie Klein
Arizona Daily Wildcat
August 29, 1996
The official split between the Graduate and Professional Student Council and Associated Students this month means less money for the ASUA budget, and less pay for its student workers.ASUA budget cuts are affecting the salaries of student government positions that ASUA is trying to fill by the application deadline at 5 p.m. tomorrow.
Last year's budget for GPSC, the representative body for graduate students, was $26,000 and has now jumped to $62,000. ASUA is now operating on an estimated $600,000 annual budget.
Mindy McCollum, ASUA vice president for programs and services, said the budget cut has resulted in changing past paid positions into volunteer positions.
"Taking finances away from projects and services that benefit all students hurts us (ASUA) in the long run," she said.
But she added, "I believe it is best to go our separate ways."
The separation between the two student government bodies occurred this summer because both groups felt they could better represent and serve their constituents as single entities.
Undergraduate Senate President Gilbert Davidson said he worries about not paying program directors for their services because it poses a liability to ASUA's effectiveness.
The amount of time and work ASUA requires of someone makes it difficult for the person to have another job, so the money is important, Davidson said.
"(ASUA) wants to reward students who work hard for student government."
He said it is a possible the Senate will re-evaluate the volunteer status of director positions.
McCollum said any motivated person can apply for the following positions:
The Public Affairs (Graphic Affairs) Director, which pays a stipend of $750 for the year, requires informing students of all ASUA activities and events using various media groups on campus.
McCollum said a graphic design major is preferred but not required.
The Public Relations Director, a volunteer position, assists the graphic affairs director with inter-office morale and the ASUA end-of-the-year banquet.
McCollum said the public relations director would be a good position for students who want to get their foot in the door of student government.
"This person would act as the ASUA dictionary by directing students on campus to areas that they are interested in and that would benefit them," she said.
"There are still benefits to the positions even if you don't get paid," McCollum said.
The director of the Minority Action Council, who receives a stipend of $500 for the year, serves the specific needs of the university ethnic minority student population. MAC addresses issues of representation, participation and financial assistance.
"We're looking for creative people that have some new ideas that are going to benefit the ethnic community," McCollum said.
The director of the Association of Students with Disabilities, a volunteer position, serves the needs of the university disabled student population.
ASD works to educate the campus on issues of physically and mentally disabled students.
"This position is like the watch dog on campus for disabled students," McCollum said.
Another position for hire is the director of the International Student Association, which pays a stipend of $500 for the year. ISA works to promote international student participation in ASUA and retain international students on campus.
Other appointed positions being filled include a five-person presidential staff, two members of the Domicile Classification Committee, a member of the Board of Publications, five members of the Code of Conduct Hearing Board, three members of the Faculty Senate, an elections commissioner, two members of the Parent's Association, a member of the Undergraduate Council, one person for the ASUA Fundraising Task Force, the ASUA treasurer and 15 people for the President's Freshman Focus Group.
The deadline to apply is Friday at 5 p.m. in the ASUA office on the second floor of the Memorial Student Union.
Interviews will be held Tuesday and Thursday of next week.
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