The Observer, November 9, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 10
A retrospect of The Observer
Funding and bureaucracy: some things do change
The money was spent frivolously and no one knew it. The misplaced politics of the governing bodies was appalling. Imagine, students sitting around and squandering the student activities fee! This is the student activities fee that funds the things that should make the culture of the university great, and in Sept. 1974 there was an outcry from the student body and a demand for accountability.
After the federation of Case and Reserve, a university-wide governing body existed known as the UUSG. After political infighting, the UUSG fractured into the University Budget Committee (UBC), the University Social Committee (USC), and the University Campus Development Committee (UCDC). The Campus Development Committee assisted in running Lick's Ice Cream Parlor (now Sergio's), helped start a coffee house, and was lobbying for a new hot food vendor near campus. Additionally, there were eight class governments, four on each side of campus. Western Reserve Council (WRC) had two bodies: the House of Collegiate Affairs and the House of Economic Affairs, and the Case Student Assembly ran yet another governing organization.
Imagine all of these people leading a much smaller student body than we have today – all were leading and who was being lead?
The Observer editorial board wrote an article on the sordid details of the poorly spent funds. The University Social Committee had gone into debt by $13,000 ($55,000 in 2007) and the uproar was about the fact that the Social Committee would no longer be able to fund events or student parties. As an aside, student parties are still funded at many other universities; many have online funding request forms for parties held in residence halls. Another serious debacle came as a racially charged debate was brought to campus and several student leaders resigned over the resulting discussions and infighting among the organizations meant to serve the students. Where was Guy Fawkes when Case was in need?
Today we find a much more stable sense of leadership on campus, with the Student Executive Council organizations receiving and breaking down the student activities fee. UPB brings concerts to campus just like USC did; USG funds student groups in the same vein as UBC. Instead of eight class governments, we have the Class Officer Collective that maintains a sense of unity among class leaders. While there are many separate entities, all are united in being student-run and essentially student -funded. Have you taken advantage of the programs afforded in the student activities fee? A great first step is to visit the Student Executive Council webpage to find out where all of the money goes and in what proportions. There, you can learn how you can utilize your share in the events that go on around campus. To confront these groups with new perspectives, ideas, and opinions is the only way to ensure that the problem in 1974 never repeats itself, and gives a renewed vibrancy to the campus community.
