The University Park Allocation Committee (UPAC) met Tuesday night to discuss a policy change proposed by the Student Programming Association (SPA).
SPA requested the ability to put the money it receives from UPAC toward food, a right it does not have in UPAC's current policy.
A heated discussion centered on the treatment of SPA and its classification as a "standing allocation" -- an organization that provides campus-wide programming, according to the UPAC handbook.
As a standing allocation, SPA cannot do fundraisers and relies solely on UPAC to provide funds for its events. Most student groups are not put into this same classification.
SPA members and other students were present at the meeting to raise concerns about the policy. Stephanie Sottung, SPA's executive director, was among those in attendance. Sottung (senior-journalism) came prepared to advocate the policy change.
"Food is another lure to bring students to events," she said. She said that SPA's programming helps to keep students from consuming alcohol, and food will only increase their ability to do so.
Sottung said SPA would be making the food money a part of its budget and that it was not requesting additional funds from UPAC. She cited the University Park Undergraduate Association's ability to put money toward food and similar policies at the Commonwealth Campuses and other major universities in her argument.
UPAC members debated over the conditions of the proposal, discussing whether or not SPA can put the money toward food-centered events or just use it to feed performers they bring in.
The groups also discussed extending a potential policy change to other student groups.
But before a final decision was reached, UPUA Student Life and Diversity Chairman Christian Ragland, also a member of UPAC, spoke up in defense of the other student groups.
"I guarantee if we were to pass this today, the organizations that didn't get money for food would have something to say about it," Ragland (junior-political science) said.
At the end of the meeting, UPAC decided it will fund food in certain circumstances up to the amount of $500 for regular allocations and $5,000 for standing allocations, beginning this summer.
