Student Assembly

LOGOS

Whereas, the Appropriations Committee voted that the SAFC did err in denying funding to LOGOS for the air travel expense for their speaker by a vote of 5–0−3. The committee felt that the SAFC guidelines were unclear for what constituted a proof of travel for air travel. Furthermore, committee members felt that it was not appropriate to ask for Google Maps driving directions for air travel since that isn’t explicitly stated in the guidelines;

Intellectual Diversity Association

Whereas, The Appropriations Committee voted that the SAFC did not err in denying funding to Intellectual Diversity Association for their local event by a vote of 0–6−2, and the SAFC decision will stand. The committee felt that since the organization did not submit the appropriate documentation at the original deadline and SAFC guidelines clearly state that it will not allocate for a local event if documentation is not present, the SAFC decision should stand;

Badminton Club

Whereas, the Appropriations Committee voted that the SAFC erred in denying funding to Cornell Badminton for their durable goods request for shuttles and racquet string by a vote of 4–2−2. The committee felt that based upon the report from last year’s SAFC appeal for Cornell Badminton, the definition of what documentation should be considered could be easily misunderstood. The committee voted that the SAFC erred since it was unclear for the organization what information they needed to submit, however, in the future the group should look to specify the storage location of its equipment regardless of whether an inventory report is submitted;

Kendo Club

Whereas, the Appropriations Committee voted that the SAFC did err in denying funding to Kendo Club for their shinai swords by a vote of 7–0−1. The committee felt that the SAFC should consider the swords as an appropriate durable good and that they are necessary to the functioning of the organization.

The Appropriations Committee voted that the SAFC did not err in penalizing Kendo Club by 10% for failing to appear at their scheduled SAFC hearing on time by a vote of 0–7−1. The committee felt that since the club member signed the sheet specifying the exact meeting time, the organization should be responsible for attending;

Illuminations

‘Whereas, the Appropriations Committee voted that the SAFC erred in denying funding to Illuminations for their cultural costumes by a vote of 7–0−1. The committee felt that the costumes were an appropriate durable goods request since it isn’t possible for the organization to rent these costumes for less money than the cost of purchasing them. Furthermore, committee members felt that since the costumes were being used on a consistent basis and over a number of years, a durable goods request would be appropriate;

Cornell Quiz Bowl

Whereas, the Appropriations Committee voted that the SAFC did err in denying funding to Cornell Quiz Bowl by a vote of 7–0−1. The committee felt that since the website crashed at the time that the club advisor attempted to approve the budget, the organization is not at fault. Quiz Bowl had followed all of the SAFC guidelines in preparing its funding application and should not be held responsible for the inability of its advisor to approve the budget in a short amount of time due to SAFC server issues. The committee recommends that the SAFC review the Cornell Quiz Bowl funding application as originally submitted;

One Cornell Media

Whereas, the Appropriations Committee voted that the SAFC did err in denying funding to One Cornell Media for the purchase of two cameras by a vote of 4–3−1. The committee felt that the cameras did not duplicate resources on campus because renting the equipment from libraries would not allow the group to function efficiently;

Project Hope

Whereas, the Appropriations Committee voted that the SAFC did not err in denying funding to Project Hope for the purchase of organization T-shirts by a vote of 0–7−1, and the SAFC decision will stand. The committee felt that the T-shirts are not fundamental to the functioning of the organization and that it should be not be considered an appropriate durable goods request;

Society for Natural Resource Conservation

Whereas, the Appropriations Committee voted that the SAFC did not err in denying funding to the Society for Natural Resource Conservation for their co-organized Bananas event by a vote of 0–7−1, and the SAFC decision will stand. The committee felt that the organization was at fault since the SAFC guidelines clearly state that each organization is only allowed to apply for funding for at most one co-organized event each semester. However, as the group was not notified of this problem during its SAFC Budget Hearing process and currently has not reached the cap in the total amount of funding that they may receive, the organization should receive funding for its event as part of the organization’s primary funding request and not the co-organized event funding request;

Be it therefore resolved that, the Assembly adopt the following:

• The SAFC did err in denying funding to LOGOS for the air travel expense for their speaker, their air travel price quotes should be considered sufficient documentation;
• The SAFC did not err in denying funding to Intellectual Diversity Association for their local event due to missing documentation;
• The SAFC did err in denying funding to Cornell Badminton for their shuttles and racquet string and their request for durable goods shall be considered valid;
• The SAFC did err in denying funding to Kendo Club the shanai swords shall be considered an appropriate durable goods request;
• The SAFC did not err in penalizing Kendo Club at 10% of their allocated budget;
• The SAFC did err in denying funding to Illuminations for their cultural costumes and the costumes shall be considered as an appropriate durable goods request;
• The SAFC did err in denying funding to Cornell Quiz Bowl and their budget shall be reviewed by the SAFC;
• The SAFC did err in denying funding to One Cornell Media for their two cameras and they shall not be considered a duplication of resources on campus;
• The SAFC did not err in denying funding to Project Hope, and the SAFC decision will stand;
• The SAFC did err in denying funding to the Society for Natural Resource Conservation for their bananas co-organized event and the SAFC will treat the bananas event as if it was part of their original single organized budget application;

Be it further resolved that, the SAFC shall only allocate money if all other funding criteria not considered by the Appropriations Committee are met, including funding caps or other guidelines issues.

Respectfully Submitted,

Adam Nicoletti ‘12
CALS Representative
Vice President for Finance