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Issue date: 3/10/09 Section: News

These are the top 5 organizations that receive money from student fees.

WHERE DO THEY GO?

Each semester a $45 student activity fee is included in the tuition of full-time students to enhance campus life.

These student fees pay for the majority of events held by clubs on campus. Each club submits a budget for the coming year for approval by a committee consisting of administration, faculty and students.

Regardless of the process, many students simply feel that they do not see their money in action.

"We want students to know where their money is going," ABAC President David Bridges said.

At the top of the money list this year at over $60,000 is the Campus Activity Board (CAB). CAB plans and sponsors a large portion of the on-campus events each semester. Because they make a majority of the plans, they are allotted the majority of the money.

Over the past few years, participation in many CAB activities has been dwindling, and the organization has come under fire for both its choice of programming and its inability to get the word out about upcoming events.

"Often students complain about the activities on campus," Hughes said. "We try to get across to the students that this is their money and they just need to tell us what they would like to see done with it."

As a group, ABAC's three student media organizations receive the second largest amount. These funds are used to produce the student literary magazine, Pegasus, and ABAC's student-run newspaper, The Stallion, and for broadcasting costs of the student-run radio station, WPLH 103.1 FM. The majority of funds for the newspaper go to student pay and printing costs. Similarly, the bulk of funds for Pegasus go to printing costs, while, according to Bridges, much of WPLH's funds go to copyright fees for music played on campus.

Next on the list is the Music Department. Overall, the Music Department receives approximately $32,000. In addition to providing entertainment, the Music Department is used as a major recruitment tool for the college. The majority of its funds are used to travel to various events.

Although not a particular club or organization, a large portion of the money goes to general student travel and special events. This year this amount was set aside at about $35,000. All clubs are entitled to this money upon request and approval.

Continued...

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