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Here at the University of Louisville, the Student Government Association controls a budget of $600,000. Take a second and let that number take its toll on your psyche.
Certainly we have all had our share of pizza handed out at one of the many informational events put on by the organization. But the concept that a student-run group controls such a large amount of money is staggering.
Our benevolent representatives are not oblivious to the inherent responsibility in controlling a budget of this size. SGA President O.J. Oleka himself has called for reform of the group’s budgeting process. But his solution was to take the money traditionally distributed directly to the student councils, and place it into one large central fund controlled by the Senate Appropriations Committee. This hardly seems adequate.
If SGA wants to reform their budget, then perhaps they should start with the funds allocated to travel expenses. Currently $38,000 is set aside for this purpose. Where are our representatives going? And why do they need to go there? Recently, a group went to a convention in Washington, D.C. that multiple SGA representatives have admitted was not a good use of money.
Furthermore, the SGA central administration receives nearly $122,000 for their exclusive use. There is also $124,000 set aside for a pseudo-payroll account, to be distributed to the highest-ranking officials for scholarships and stipends. Oleka has been quick to point his finger at the student councils for their use of money, but SGA central administration receives more, independently, than the all the councils combined. He has pointed to the events they have held without substantive return as a central issue to the current spending practices. How is this any different from the actions of the central administration? At the recent Meet Your SGA event, approximately 140 pizzas were ordered. What do we have to show for it, other than the extra couple of pounds around our waistlines?
There is no doubt that budget reform is in order from our so-called representatives, but before removing the funds from the student councils, perhaps the excess should be cut from the central unit. SGA should stop taking these expensive trips, and before the money is chipped away from the particular councils, perhaps the more expensive central administration should lead the way and cut their budget. The Louisville Cardinal strongly suggests that President Oleka and his staff remember that when you point your finger, there are three more pointing back at you.
