Organizations can ask for money from SGA

There are more than 250 registered student organizations on campus, according to the UA Web site. Some are large, some are small, but nearly all of them need money for expenses. What many students who are involved with organizations may not know is that they can ask the Financial Affairs Committee of the SGA for the money they need, whether it is for activities, traveling or advertising.

The Financial Affairs Committee of the SGA is a group of students that allocates funding to student organizations.

Emily Crawford, SGA press secretary, said she doesn't think all students are aware they can petition to the SGA for funds for club use.

Crawford said she wants students to realize that no matter what sort of student organization they are a part of, students can take advantage of the FAC.

"Even if someone creates like, 'The Harry Potter Book Club' or something like that, however random, they can come and petition for funds," she said.

Chip Groeschell, vice president for Financial Affairs, said the FAC allotted all its funds for the past fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. Groeschell and Crawford said their goal for next year is to allot the same amount of funds but spread it out over a larger amount of student organizations.

To be eligible to petition, students must be registered with the Coordinating Council for Student Organizations and have attended a CCSO Foresight Workshop.

Request for funding applications must be submitted by the Monday before FAC meetings, which are held seven times a year. The next meeting will be Nov. 12., which means applications are due Nov. 5. Applications can be downloaded at http://sga.ua.edu/forms.cfm.

Groeschell said the committee uses precedents for common requests. For example, this year, the FAC has set aside $200 for printing expenses and $300 for traveling expenses, which can cover lodging, transportation, registration and gas. However, Groeschell said each request is looked at on a case-by-case basis.

Groeschell also said once a new fiscal year begins, the student organization must petition again for funds.

If the committee continues to give out all the funds it has available, it could give them a justifiable reason to be allowed more funds for allocating, Groeschell said.

"We encourage people to ask for anything," he said. "We also want to make it as fair as possible. We want to help out as much as we can."

Tim Neunzig, a senior majoring in management and German and former SGA executive secretary, has petitioned to the FAC for funds for several organizations, such as International Students Association, Alabama Environmental Council, WVUA-FM The Capstone, the German Club and Drum Circle.

"For the radio station and German club, it is the best way to drum up financial assets to do the things you want to do, as long as you have a valid reason and don't ask for ludicrous amounts," Neunzig said. "I never expect to get full payment, but an 80 percent payment for a reasonable purchase is already a lot of help."