Fighting over finances is one of the leading causes of divorce in America, so it’s no wonder that there has been squabbling over money between Pepperdine’s many clubs.
Several of the university’s sports clubs, for instance, believe they have been squeezed out of their fair portion of the $20,000 pie allocated to the Inter-Club Council from student government fees this semester. The problem, however, isn’t just that they were given less money — the problem is that there isn’t much money to give in the first place. The $20,000 allocated to the 51 clubs and sports clubs on campus doesn’t stretch very far across almost $160,000 in budgets.
The 14 sports clubs received $5,000 to split this semester as part of the restructuring into its own council, the Sports Club Council, from the larger ICC — roughly $2,000 less than the sports clubs received last spring.
The other 37 clubs left in Inter-Club Council had a little more than $13,000 to divvy up after a $1,500 Family Weekend Barbeque showcasing the clubs. Most organizations received roughly 12 percent of their total events budget — although events ranged from pizza at a meeting to group speakers, performances or activities that are inclusive of the student body.
Both the ICC and SCC distribute money on a need basis, but the shortage in funds available has led to bickering over every detail at the semi-annual budget meeting. This year’s meeting Oct. 14 was amazingly genteel, as Student Alumni Organization representative Lee Diaz presented and passed a motion to accept the budget as presented by ICC Chair Nespoli. There was at least six clubs, however, that were unhappy with the budget and expressed concern over how they would raise the rest of their funding for events. And while several clubs noted that they had cut their budget in the understanding that money was tight, there were other clubs who padded their budgets to get the bare minimum they needed to survive.
It’s sad that student organizations think they must alter their numbers a little bit just to supply a fraction of their budgets on campus. And it’s sad that some club sports teams have to play without jerseys or with inadequate equipment because there is only enough money to pay the league fees and hire the referees to be able to play.
Extracurricular activities are the cornerstone of a university education. For many students, it’s the leadership skills they learn in an organization or on the field that later guide them through the storms of life, not what they study in a classroom.
Our solution to the crunch? The university should back up its mission statement by allocating more money to these activities.
The Graphic staff believes that all organizations that are professional or educational in nature, such as the Public Relations Student Society of America, American Humanics and the Sports Medicine Club among others, should receive the majority of their funding through their respective divisions and not have to turn to student fees for help. In the same note, clubs that represent the university in competition against other universities, such as the Debate Club and the various sports clubs, should also receive a majority of their funding from the university. Right now this isn’t possible because some divisions, like Intramurals, operate on a bare bones budget that only covers basic office costs and salaries. Student tuition costs, however, should partially go to fund extracurricular endeavors such as sports clubs, performance groups and educational organizations.
We understand that money in all departments is tight. However, university administration has shown in the past that there is money to be found if the project is worthwhile — as seen in the recent campus beautification projects and even in the undisclosed donation President Dr. Andrew K. Benton made to Midnight Madness. We are thankful for donations such as that latter and respectively request that more money be coughed up for other extracurricular activities.
Those working in Student Affairs have shown an intense desire to benefit the students. Intramurals administrators in particular have an office motto that they are “more than just sports.” They believe that they are training and edifying the students they encounter into being better people.
The Graphic staff believes that it is time for the university to honor its commitment and give Student Affairs and other divisions on campus the money needed to nourish extracurricular activities and club sports as essential elements to a university education and the Pepperdine mission.
October 24, 2002