This year's snowboard club schedule looked a little empty. There were no major competitions, no trips except for an in-state event.

It is not because the team has nowhere to go or because it doesn't feel the need to make a name for itself. Rather, this year's team faced the consequences of receiving no funding from the Penn State Club Organization. Snowboard club president Art McNulty said the team could have received around $3,000, which is what the team usually received in previous years.

But last year's president failed to warn his teammates about the deadline to request funds, and the team's paperwork was two days late, McNulty said. Because of the snafu, this year's club can only wait until the end of this semester when the clubs are notified of their funds for the 2008-2009 year. The process begins Monday when clubs are scheduled to hand in their allocation application.

Until next academic year's funds are distributed, the calendar remains scarce for the team as it tries its best to fundraise money on its own.

"That's the only way we can make money right now, by fundraising," McNulty said. "We try our best, but it's hard because the club sports funds was a lot of our money."

As is the case for the snowboard club, allocation from the club sports organization is a big contribution for all of the 52 clubs on campus that requested funds last year. Each club's application goes through an extensive evaluation process to determine how much money each eligible club will receive. For some clubs, the amount received is efficient to last the whole year, but the consensus is more would be better.

The Allocation Process

For the Judo club, an improvement from what it received last year would not be asking for much. The team received the lowest allocation with a measly 10 cents last year. When asked about the allocation, Judo club member Garrett Ackman said he did not realize his team received anything.

Ackman said he remembers one of last year's members spending one or wo weeks filling out the allocation application. However, he was not informed of the team's 10-cent addition to the budget.

Allocation is determined mainly by the team's budget, involvement with fundraising and number of members. The long process includes a recommendation from the Club Sports Advisory Council (CSAC), which is comprised mostly of student club members, according to the club sports Web site.

"As for individual clubs and what they deserve, a lot of it is [based on] the prior year's financial reports," CSAC President Andrew Elmore said. "We're just not going to arbitrarily cut or expand someone's budget without a good reason."

The Club Sports Organization allocated a total of $69,316.30 for the 2007-2008 academic year. On the opposite end from the Judo club, the equestrian team received the most in allocation with $5,786, Club Sports Organizer Erin Regenfuss said earlier this year.

Compared to other Big Ten universities, most of Penn State's club sports receive more money. The about 40 clubs at Purdue University are given $40,000 for their expenses, while Ohio State University's estimated 80 clubs share a little more than $41,000.

"Our clubs are treated very well. I know it's hard to believe that especially coming from the inside and not knowing what's on the outside," Club Sports Organization staff assistant Tommy Otterbine said. "It's very easy to say that we have all these expenses, and we hardly got any money. It kind of evens out because the clubs at these other schools don't travel as much. They don't have the big budgets and necessarily need as much."

While some clubs have earned the opportunity to travel to the likes of Texas and Puerto Rico, Ackman said the farthest the Judo club has traveled to is New York for one of the two tournaments the team has this semester. The $60 membership fee each member pays to be on the team funds the expenses.

Although he said he never had a problem with paying the membership and tournament-entry fees, Ackman has taken it upon himself to improve the Judo club's allocation status.

"It's a little upsetting actually that we get shafted," Ackman said. "I'm definitely going to look into why certain clubs get more. I don't see why everyone shouldn't get the same amount."

Making Up the Difference

Otterbine said clubs should not solely rely on the allocation funds and should find ways to find money on their own through dues and fundraising.

For some clubs' members, that may be easier said than done.

Since the Judo club uses no equipment and only competes in two tournaments a semester within driving distance, making the need for outside money minimal. However, clubs such as the equestrian club need all the money they can to pay off all their expenses. Most clubs seek out sponsors and plan fundraising events at local restaurants such as Cold Stone Creamery to earn enough money.

Although the equestrian team receives the most allocation, the high cost of the sport leaves some interested riders out of competitions. Equestrian club treasurer Samantha Pandolfi said these riders are still considered a part of the team but are not allowed to partake in lessons or competitions.

"I don't believe we're getting enough funding to help everybody out that wants to join the team, because I know of some kids now that aren't able to do the team this semester just because it is too expensive for them to afford themselves," Pandolfi said. "Especially with going to school, a lot of people are paying their own ways through school."

A lot of clubs earn money through sponsorships and fundraising. Clubs often find ways to fundraise on their own, but there are opportunities to work athletic events the club sports organization presents, Otterbine said. Clubs often work games and tournaments throughout the year to earn valuable money for their self-generated account.

One of the most popular activities to earn money is the stadium clean-up that takes place after every football game at Beaver Stadium. Jennifer Grieb, the crew club's public relations chair, said there are usually two or three different club teams cleaning the stadium after each game.

After Joe Paterno ordered the football team to aid in the stadium clean-up, Grieb said not much changed. Her team would usually be responsible for half of the stadium, but with the addition of the football team the crew club only cleaned a quarter of it. She said her club received the same amount of money had they cleaned half of the stadium. While the football team cleaned the stadium, club sports members were not allowed to talk to the players.

"We tried to encourage them that they were there to clean the stadium and get money for club sports," Otterbine said. "If they're there talking to the football players or getting their autographs or stuff like that, then they weren't there to do their job. We expected our club sports to go in to do their job and the football players were there to do what they needed to do."

The regulations didn't seem like a problem for the stadium clean-up participants.

"We did receive an e-mail that we weren't allowed to talk to press about the football team being there, but I think that was probably for the best," Grieb said. "We didn't really know the situation anyway. That was just to kind of keep it from getting blown out of proportion.

"I don't think it was a problem. It didn't affect us in the long run. It actually made it easier."

Making the Best of It

With the stadium clean-up offering an opportunity to raise money for clubs, at least one club stands out in the cold.

McNulty said the snowboard club 10 years ago received a disciplinary action that is still keeping his club out of stadium clean-up privileges. Along with the lack of funding for this year's team, McNulty said it has definitely been "a pretty down year for the team."

Although other club representatives are not struggling to the same extent as the snowboard club, they agreed more money would always be helpful.

Men's volleyball club treasurer Brandon Dalton said this year's budget has been efficient considering the team needed money for a trip to nationals in Dallas. He said the club has just about enough for its expenses because the club has focused on fundraising, dues and proper planning for upcoming events.

Grieb said she and her teammates feel keeping the crew club afloat makes the final product worth it.

"Because we're paying such a high amount so we can compete with some of these top teams, it kind of pushes us to work harder instead of just slack around, because in that case you'll just be wasting the money," Grieb said. "Not being a varsity sport, I kinda feel more motivated, because I am paying for it."

That motivation and love for the sport is what has kept McNulty and the snowboard club going during this rough year. Despite not competing and gaining valuable money and sponsorships, the club has continued to scrounge for any fundraising opportunities they can.

As the new president, McNulty is determined to make this the last year the snowboard club lives without allocation from the Club Sports Organization.