University Park Allocation Committee will host a general information session at 8 p.m. tonight in the HUB Auditorium to help answer some of the questions about the recent depletion of funds and to clarify any misconceptions students may have about the way UPAC gives out money.

Eddie Elizondo, overall chairman for UPAC, said they will host the session to better inform students of where their money goes.

He said the session would address students' concerns or answer questions that they may have.

Elizondo said UPAC has had many students come in to confirm that the funds are gone and ask where the groups can go to find money.

He said UPAC is trying to get the word out that all funds for the semester have been allocated.

Elizondo stressed that UPAC is still available as a resource.

"Our office is still open," he said.

Student organizations are welcome to come to the office with any questions or concerns, Elizondo said.

Although UPAC can no longer help groups financially, they will help organizations with fundraising ideas or help refer them to other groups that could help.

"If you need help, this is how to get started, this is where to go," Elizondo said.

Many people do not understand how UPAC decides where and to whom the funding goes. The session will explain the process that is needed to apply for funds.

"The assumption that people are under is that UPAC just gives money away — by no means is that the case," said Makini Young, president of the Caribbean Students Association. "That is not at all what UPAC is for."

The process to request funding is a long one in which the committee decides if the event that is asking for funds is worthy of receiving.

"This is definitely going to force organizations to put in their budget proposals earlier," she said.

The organizers of Movin' On, an event sponsored by the Association of Residence Hall Students that has a budget of more than $100,000, went to UPAC early in October with their budget to request funding.

Movin' On is a free, annual event near the end of the spring semester that features nationally known and local bands as well as activities for students.

"We know we have to get our budget in early," said Ian Fairbairn, director of Movin' On.

Fairbairn said that UPAC makes their information about how funds can be given out easily accessible. He said student groups can go to the office and find out if they even have a chance to receive money.

A contact person would go over their budget proposal to see if the event they are having is applicable for funding.

Some students do not know that part of the student activities fee goes to help pay off the debt of the HUB-Robeson Center.

"Part of the student activity fee pays for the renovations of the HUB. Approximately 50 percent goes to the HUB," Elizondo said.

Undergraduate Student Government President Matt Roan said USG has received a large amount of requests for funding. USG is not equipped to supply the funding for all of these groups, Roan said.

He added that the problems with the student activity fee need to be addressed. Though the fee has been raised one dollar every year, Roan said the issue now is whether or not to raise the fee more than that and to what price to students.

"What USG and myself need to do is go through an opinion of how much the student activity fee should be raised. That decision will be made before April."