The Penn State University Veterans Organization is opposed to a proposed student activity fee, saying that money for student groups is allocated inefficiently and that there are other ways for these groups to raise money.
PSUVO, which represents more than 1,200 veterans on campus, believes the Student Organization Budget Committee does not fairly distribute its funds.
In a letter to The Daily Collegian in December, Steven Muri, PSUVO vice president, wrote that after debating the benefits and detriments of the fee, PSUVO members voted against supporting it. They also released a copy of their expenses with the letter.
"I think it's obvious that (the Undergraduate Student Government) is not doing a good job -- they wouldn't be able to handle $2.2 million," Muri said, referring to the amount that could be raised if the activity fee is approved.
An activity fee was first proposed in 1985. The Executive Student Action Council is now researching implementation of a $25 per student fee.
But some students and another organization -- Penn State Young Americans for Freedom -- have opposed the fee because students will be asked to pay more money -- sometimes for programs they disagree with.
PSUVO member Pat Scanlan said SOBC members currently give funds to organizations they know nothing about and that some SOBC members also belong to other student organizations, causing a conflict when money is allocated.
Muri's letter also states that PSUVO believes students shouldn't be forced to pay a fee because of the high cost of education and that a student organization with more money does not earn more respect. Student organizations can get more money from dues, fund raising and individual contributions, according to Muri's letter.
SOBC Chairman Paul Kasper said committee members are appointed by student organizations, such as ESAC and USG. They try to find students who will decide what is best for the student community, said Kasper, who is also ESAC's chairman. This year, SOBC allocated about $434,000 to student groups.
Kasper, along with USG President Chris Saunders and USG Academic Assembly President Erich May, do not think SOBC members have a conflict of interest when allocating money.
But Scanlan also said SOBC has no formal allocation guidelines.
"How can you be a responsible organization when your own members don't know what the guidelines are?" he asked.
PSUVO Treasurer Greg Cullison called the guidelines subjective and not wholly based on budgetary requests. To solve these problems, he suggested the responsibility for funding student organizations be spread wider than SOBC.
Kasper said money goes to organizations whose programs will attract a large group of students --that is the guideline.
"If you can pack an audience, we'll provide for it whether it is liberal or conservative," he said.
Any student may belong to an organization and also serve on the budget committee, he added. In terms of budgets, Kasper said treasurers from organizations are contacted to discuss the allocation of funds and this alleviates any conflicts.
Saunders said PSUVO brought up these arguments because it favors a more conservative economic viewpoint.
"In general, they disagree with taxing students and redistributing the money," he said.
But Muri said the organization is not that conservative, but moderate to left in its political thinking.
"We're the most diverse group on campus," he said.
