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ASUA prepares to allocate funds for student clubs

Joshua D. Trujillo Arizona Daily Wildcat ASUA Executive Vice President Ben Graff discusses upcoming events with members of the Senate. The student government is responsible for allocating funding to campus organizations.

Campus clubs and organizations will soon find out if they will be recognized and allocated any funding from ASUA, student government officials said at last night's Senate meeting.

In their second meeting of the year, Associated Students representatives discussed a number of issues relating to student-run organizations in the Memorial Student Union's Arizona Ballroom.

In his report to ASUA senators, Executive Vice President Ben Graff explained that the initial funding meetings for recognized clubs would soon commence.

Between Sept. 13 and 17, the Initial Funding Committee - comprised of a club advocate, an ASUA senator, and an appropriations board member - will decide upon first allocations of student organizational funding.

Graff said recognized clubs usually receive about $100 for various budgetary costs, such as advertising and recruitment events.

Students interested in starting or continuing a club on campus must first attain recognition from the Department of Student Programs. ASUA and Student Programs officials will hold a recognition meeting on Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. in the Arizona Ballroom.

ASUA will also have a tent on the UA Mall for clubs who are interested in recognition.

After the initial funding is awarded, a seven member appropriations board, which meets on September 20, will decide on further special funding for campus organizations.

Graff also said that he wants to give recognized clubs access to use the ASUA tent for their UA Mall events.

"I think it would be a nice service to clubs on campus to allow them to use it," Graff said.

In other ASUA business:

The Campus Pals program will begin its recruitment efforts next week.

On Tuesday morning, fliers will be posted throughout the Memorial Student Union and in all residence halls detailing pertinent information about the volunteer organization

This program, headed by Sen. Lauren Hickey, is designed to help at-risk Tucson children with their daily lives. Operated in conjunction with Tucson Big Brothers Big Sisters, Campus Pals matches a UA student athlete and a non-student athlete with children who desire mentoring and academic help.

Hickey announced the program as her platform in the future Miss Arizona contest.

Currently, there are 80 boys and 40 girls involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters who are waiting for mentoring. Sixty athletes from various UA teams are prepared to volunteer their time.

Hickey said that she needs more student volunteers to match with the athletes and children.

"The athletes are all contacted and ready to go," Hickey said. "There are no non-athletes yet, other than the ones who participated last year. There's such an outcry for men (to volunteer)."

Volunteers are encouraged to spend at least two hours a week with their student.

On September 13, Campus Pals will have a tent on the Mall to attract students who wish to volunteer. Some of the UA basketball and football players involved in the program are expected to help with the recruitment.

"I want the program to take off and take off quickly," Hickey said.

Senators expressed their support for the Turkish Students Association's relief effort on campus. According to Sen. Saad Nasim, residence hall collection boxes have been filled with items such as soap, bottled water and toothpaste.

The goods will be sent to relief workers in Turkey.

Nasim said the UA is working in conjunction with other universities in an effort to help the nearly 20,000 people who have suffered as a result of recent earthquakes.

"There's been a very positive response from students on our campus, as well as others," he said.

Nasim also asked the other ASUA senators to take part in a program designed to introduce incoming freshmen to the potential leadership possibilities at the UA.

A leadership conference headed by UA Residence Life will deal with issues such as group conflict resolution, budgeting and sexual assault issues.

It will also serve as an informational meeting for various campus organizations, including ASUA and Residence Life.

Meetings are expected to be held in residence halls in late September or early October.