Editorial: USAC should be more informed, able to act fast

A committee is subsidiary to a legislative body, not independent
of it. Legislative bodies retain jurisdiction over the proceedings
of a committee, not vice versa. Adam Pearlman, the rookie
facilities commissioner, was wrong when he voted against the
proposed increases in groups’ budgets Tuesday on the basis
that the budget proceedings went too fast and Council’s role
in the budget should be one of mostly oversight only.

At the end of last quarter, students voted to increase student
fees so Undergraduate Students Association Council offices and
student groups who received drastic cuts in funding last year still
had enough resources to function.

The Budget Review Committee and the Finance Committee set a cap
at how much money will be available for new groups: a cap which
Council doubled from $2,000 to $4,000. Justin Levi, BRC chairman,
protested, saying it set a bad precedent. What bad precedent?
Levi’s committee will still get to decide which groups
don’t get money and which do ““ and how much of it they
get.

All voting councilmembers should be thoroughly informed about
agenda items before they come to Council meeting so they can be
prepared to tackle issues which require attention in a short time
period quickly. Furthermore, elected council members should have
more of a say in budget matters than non-elected committee chairs,
rather than just functioning as rubber stamp.

USAC has given groups a large financial opportunity to do good
for the campus; hopefully they will not disappoint.