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DiscussCorrection Appended
Although the crowd was somewhat quieter — there were no boo’s of displeasure or sign-waving supporters — the discussion of byline funding allocations for Cornell Cinema and the Slope Day Programming Board at yesterday’s Graduate and Professional Student Assembly meeting was just as heated as the Student Assembly’s recent discussion of the same matters.
Because the GPSA ratifies all its byline funding allocations at once, not only the funding for the 12 byline-funded groups over the coming two-year funding cycle, the total amount of the graduate Student Activity Fee was at stake in yesterday’s meeting.
Cornell Cinema and the Slope Day Programming Board were the two groups that generated the most debate, largely because both groups were considering increasing ticket prices or implementing an entrance fee for graduate students if GPSA funding allocations were insufficient. Slope Day Programming Board Treasurer Cara Maloney ’11, explaining the group’s need for increased funding, said, “We received a [funding] cut from the Dean of Students Office and last year [when] we had to make some [funding] cuts, people weren’t as pleased with our artist choice.” To avoid any such reduction in programming quality, Maloney explained that SDPB would charge graduate students to attend Slope Day if the GPSA failed to award the necessary funding. Echoing Maloney, Cornell Cinema Managing Director Christopher Riley said, “[Less funding] is not a good resolution,” and, explaining that without a $0.75 funding increase Cornell Cinema would have to consider raising ticket prices. He continued, “If you give us $11.75, I guarantee that the ticket price will stay the same for the next two cycles.”
However, the Student Assembly faced similar issues in their byline funding allocations; S.A. Vice President for Public Relations Vince Andrews ’11 said, “We’re in a similar position to what you are in regards to Cornell Cinema and Slope Day.” In recent weeks, the S.A. increased SDPB’s funding by $3 to a total of $18, while Cornell Cinema’s funding was decreased to $8.60. Similarly facing the possibility of increased Cornell Cinema ticket prices, S.A. members met with GPSA members Friday to draft GPSA Resolution 3 in an effort to establish funding parity in regards to student groups funded by both assemblies.
S.A. President Rammy Salem ’10 joked, “The proposal [for Resolution 3] was put forth as our own version of the Great Compromise.” He went on to explain, “Drafted by [Vice President for Finance] Chris Basil ’10, the initial proposal ... would have put us in parity as far as Cornell Cinema funding. If the current disparity were to stick, [Cornell Cinema] would charge undergraduate students more than graduate students. Bringing it to $9.35 a piece ensured that if the cinema ticket prices were raised it would be raised to an even level. Then, with the rest of the money the GPSA saved [on cinema funding] we proposed they put it back into Slope Day funding.”
GPSA President Nighthawk Evensen grad expressed his support for the resolution: “We’re saving [money] from what we would’ve given to the [Cornell] Cinema — which is being made up for by the S.A. — and we’re spending more money on Slope Day. The S.A. is making up for what we would reduce from $11.00, so [by reducing] from $11.00 to $9.35 we’re not gouging out of [Cornell] Cinema.” Nonetheless, the resolution failed to pass, by a vote of 5-12-1.
Some GPSA members wanted to continue funding parity discussions with the S.A. Biological Sciences Representative Srich Murugesan grad stated, “The numbers didn’t work out on the last proposal [Resolution 3], but can we work with you guys [in the S.A.] again [and] I’m sure we can work something out.”
However, no further negotiations were feasible due to time constraints, as yesterday’s GPSA meeting was the last voting meeting for the fall semester and the GPSA’s Charter dictates that either byline funding allocations must be ratified by the end of the fall semester or the previous funding cycle’s allocations stand for the entire upcoming two-year cycle.
Although graduate assembly members expressed an array of opinions on the issue, ultimately many felt that Cornell Cinema merited graduate student Activity Fee money more than Slope Day. Social Sciences Representative Michael Genkin grad stated, “I would far rather see [Cornell] Cinema funded than [see] Slope Day funded. ...The worry is that we’re spending a lot ... on this event which is largely for undergrads.” After some back-and-forth on the numbers, the GPSA ultimately voted to fund Cornell Cinema at $11.05 and SDPB at $3.07.
Although Maloney said that SDPB was pleased with the outcome, Riley was less than enthusiastic: “To cut our funding lower than even the $11.30 the Appropriations Committee [proposal] — especially looking at the money cut the S.A. gave us — really seems above and beyond and we really need your support at this time.”
Salem conceded, “Obviously it’s not an ideal situation. I’m a very strong proponent of reciprocal concessions. Ultimately, though, there was an increase for both Cornell Cinema and Slope Day from the GPSA side.”
Although the outcome did not please all parties involved, many graduate assembly members lauded the effort to strengthen the relationship between the GPSA and the S.A. Social Sciences Representative Chris Clarke grad said, “I’d like to congratulate Nighthawk [Evensen] for building bridges [with the S.A.]”.
S.A. members were similarly pleased by the positive interaction between the two assemblies, and Andrews remained optimistic about future collaborative efforts: “I’m glad that the GPSA and the S.A. have been able to work on this process and on bringing funding closer to parity and I look forward to continuing to work with [the GPSA] throughout the rest of the year.”
This article mistakenly called Resolution 3 Amendment 1 by the name Resolution 3. In fact, it was the amendment to Resolution 3 that was based on conversations between the S.A. and GPSA. The Sun regrets these errors. Additionally, the article incorrectly attributed quotes to Cara Maloney ’11, which were in fact said by Kate Tucci ’11.