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RHA senators approve $300 for Husker Hall TV

Published: Monday, March 1, 2010

Updated: Monday, March 1, 2010 00:03

It was a tug of war over the purse strings at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Residence Hall Association's meeting Sunday.

The senate voted on one bill to approve the spring budget and another to give $300 to help Husker Hall buy a new television.

Senators questioned allocating $2,000 of a $2,500 event budget to an RHA banquet, an end-of-the-year event for RHA members only to recognize their work and give out awards.

"How much is an appropriate amount to spend on ourselves as a senate," asked RHA Treasurer Lucas Sevedge, a junior philosophy major.

Although the senate passed the bill, many members stressed the importance of minimizing banquet costs and, above all, serving their constituents.

"Two-thousand dollars is $2,000 of student fees, no matter if we have a budget of $50,000 or a budget of $2,000," Sevedge said.

"It's important to be picky about something that may be considered a small thing."

Later, Sen. Trevor Magel, a graduate student in history, asked the group for $300 to help cover the cost of replacing a community TV in Husker Hall. Magel said most of the 40-or-so residents don't have their own TV, and the current community one is old and worn.

UNL Housing and Husker Hall Government are giving the rest of the money to cover the estimated $900-$1,000 cost of the 40- to 42-inch television.

The senate approved the bill.

"(Husker residents) work really hard, and I think it's well deserved," said RHA Sen. Jenna Floreani, a sophomore general studies major.

"It's the least we can give them."

At the end of the meeting and lots of discussion, RHA adviser Craig Lennon, UNL's assistant director of residence life for student leadership, reminded the senate of the importance of using the budget, which is made up of residents' fees.

"We have to be responsible about how we spend our money, but we do have to spend the money," Lennon said.

"In the end, we're going to be remembered by what we do to make campus better, not what we talk about."

Although the members had largely been focused on being fiscally conservative and responsible, many agreed with Lennon.

"Every dollar we hold onto that we don't spend in a semester is money residents give in their fees that they don't get back," Sevedge said.
andreavasquez@dailynebraskan.com

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7 comments

Sammy Nabulsi
Wed Mar 3 2010 02:11
OASIS did all the advertisements for the event and they had us post them in every single Residence Hall, which we did and we helped them invite others within residence halls to their Facebook event. The event successfully raised 4,500 dollars to send to Haiti.

As for the banquet, as I said before, we are looking for the cheapest options. In the last few years, the RHA and the National Residence Hall Honorary have always had banquets together, which allowed us to split the costs with them and use less of our budget which is generated through student fees. Because NRHH has been so successful, their membership has increased and the amount of regional awards they have received. Thus, we are unable to have a joint banquet simply because it would last upwards of six hours. Our expenditures are actually mainly spent on food and location. We actually have upwards of 100 people come to the closing banquet because we invite Residence Directors and other executive members from the local governments and through University Catering Services, a meal is about 10 dollars a head so food alone is 1000. In the past we have had the banquet at the Wick, which charged upwards of 1500 dollars and so we are looking at a cheaper venue such as Morill Hall, which charges only 250 or the Union, where it will be free.

As I stated before, the allocation was made in the budget for 2000 dollars, but we are doing all that we can to minimize this cost and hopefully not actually reach that amount. At the same time, this is a tradition that the Association has carried for years, the senators deserve a time where they can be honored for the great work and services they have given to their residents, and if someone doesn't like it then stop whining, do something with yourself and run for RHA President and change the way we do things if you disagree so much. That's the purpose of Student Government. Get involved to make the changes you see necessary.

UNL Student
Wed Mar 3 2010 01:24
While I appreciate the comments by Mr. Nabulsi, I am still inclined to reask the question: Why $2000 for a banquet? I know that the facilities on campus for the 50 or so members who will attend the event do not cost that much, if you go with on campus or venue options for food, again it is relatively cheap; do I dare ask or imply that most of this $2000 budget is going to "Lavish" awards? While some awards certainly merit the extra expense, a simple framed paper award still conveys the same meaning.

I will ask another question: With the OASIS event, how much money was raised after expenses were paid? Also, I may have seen one little teeny tiny advertisement about this event; how come this event was not advertised more? If you are saying that I myself did not show up, my excuse was night class. But for the others out there who do not have academic classes at that time, maybe it was due to the fact of poor advertising? I did not see campus plastered with event signs or signs encouraging donations? Would not have this been a more effective use of part of the $4000 allocated? Word of thought: the more Marketing you do, the better probability of having more show up to an event. The other events I never even heard of, possibly because of poor advertising?

Anonymous
Tue Mar 2 2010 16:24
I just wanted to clarify a few things that the Daily Nebraskan communicated incorrectly. I am certainly not blaming the Daily Nebraskan for any of the misconstrued facts simply because it was a very confusing debate and I can understand exactly where they may have quoted a few of the numbers.

First of all, this piece of legislation was to pass our budget bill for the entire semester. The 2500 dollar event budget will stay towards the events. The Banquet has its own budget line of 2000 dollars. Where the debate may have became confusing and presented incorrectly is at some point during the debate, senators argued proportions by saying that it did not make sense that we would allocate only 2500 for events, and 2000 for a banquet. The actual budget bill was for a budget of 52,000 dollars, which the 2000 dollars is a small chunk of.

However, I am very happy that the senators begged the question in regards to the ethical merit behind allocating that much of a budget to our banquet. That is certainly an argument that needed to be brought up. Our Vice-President and advisor are working very hard to ensure that they are able to minimize costs as best possible to ensure that we have our yearly banquet without using too much of the student fees. Keep in mind that all attendees of the banquet also pay into the budget and this is the Association's way of saying thank you for all their hard work this year.

I just want everyone to know that although the allocation is set aside, the Residence Hall Association is working very hard to ensure that we come up well under budget and still put on our traditional banquet for the group.

In addition, the money in the Residence Hall Association is to be used by the association to allocate towards improving campus living. The Husker Hall allocation for a new TV is a perfect example of the kinds of things that the Residence Hall Association is here for. If anyone who lives in a residence hall has a concern about the quality of their living environment, I want them to know that they are encouraged to approach the Residence Hall Association to responsibly ask for funding to improve their living standards by contacting us at unlrha@gmail.com or calling our office at (402) 472-1095.

Also, I will have those who commented about the earthquake devastation in Chile and Haiti know that two weeks ago, the Residence Hall Association approved legislation to fund an OASIS Haiti Benefit Concert in the Union to the amount of $4000. Furthermore, our senators and executive members, including myself, were there assisting OASIS in putting on an excellent event and encouraging free will donations. I suppose if you are so enthusiastic about these sorts of things, maybe you ought to show up to them when the opportunities come around. Furthermore, our events committee put on a Kickball tournament in Mabel Lee Gym where we also raised money to send to Doctors Without Borders with the donation being flagged to go to Haiti as well.

Best,

Sammy Nabulsi

resident of UNL
Tue Mar 2 2010 01:46
if my money is going toward this banquet. I better be able to attend.
UNL Student
Tue Mar 2 2010 01:39
Matt,
I am not advocating that the money be donated, but at least put to good use. Using 80% of one budget on ONE event is outlandish. A quarter of the $2500 could be used on the banquet alone, and it would be a really nice banquet, using $2000 is just irresponsible. Here's an idea, lets us this money to better the students experience here at UNL by using it towards other events and such. RHA, Don't be greedy!
Matt
Mon Mar 1 2010 21:04
I'm not in RHA, though I am in some government groups that have received finances from it in the past, and honestly, with the size of the group, $2000 is not that bad. As for UNL Student's comment, I would like to point out that those funds are for programming, there is no reason to send it to Haiti or other tragedy stricken regions unless there is a clear mandate from a majority of housing students on the idea. Also, the money should not go to improve campus in general, it should go to improve campus housing.
UNL Student
Mon Mar 1 2010 02:08
$2,000 of a $2,500 budget just for a Banquet is rediculous. As a student who wants to see where his student fees are going, and hoping that they are spent wisely; this is LAVISH and completely uncalled for and Unethical. I have planned banquets on a budget in the past and $800 is all you need for a great banquet and some decent awards. Awards are meant to come from the heart and show appreciation, but lavish statues are uncalled for.

Instead of using this money just for RHA members and to feed themselves and to "have a good time" to wrap their year up, how about let's use this money to put on a couple of events to raise money for recent earthquake victims, such as those in Chile, Argentina, and Haiti. Use the money to PAY IT FORWARD, not to make yourself feel better about yourself. There are those in this world that are less fortunate than you and I, and if we want to be good stewards and leave a lasting impact on not only this University, but also the World; we need to help out those in need. Concerts by current UNL student musicians, artists, etc would be a good way to keep costs low and potential profits high.

Addressing the topic of spending money, yes you should spend every dollar that you can of our (residence hall students) money that we provide to you every year. However, this money should be spent for the betterment of the campus, something that benefits the student body, and something that is meaningful. Lavish spending on things that only a select few will possibly enjoy, just is not write or ethical. Money should simply not be spent, just because it is sitting around in your account. If any of you have a heart, please reconsider this bill as this is grossly negligent on RHA's part.







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