16 March 1999

Dear Student Allocation Committee Member:

Last year, I along with other student allocations members unwittingly recommended the continuation of the Department of Student Affairs Administrative Budget (the attached yellow sheet).  We “affirmed continuation” of the $1.1 million administrative budget without even receiving a copy (see attached green sheet, item 1).  In all fairness, I should mention that no committee member asked to see this portion of the budget.  

I write to you to urge a formal evaluation of the administrative portion of the budget.  This portion of the budget, which you probably will be asked to approve, consumes 52% of revenue raised by student activity fee dollars.

The attached yellow sheet is the student activities administrative budget for 1998-9.  Had it been presented to me last year, I would have asked many more questions.  (Why is half of the student activity fee spent without any student oversight?  Why is our overhead for student activities 52%?  Why is $590,000 of student activity money dedicated to employing people?  Do these employees work for students only?  Do students have any oversight in evaluating or hiring these employees?  Are these employees on a merit system to encourage service to students?  How can Recreational Sports consume $158,000 in administrative overhead when they spend an additional $64,000 to actually run the sports?  Are students subsidizing Food Services by allowing the Bulldog Room to operate utility-free and rent-free in the Tate Center?  Etc…)

I urge you to demand an evaluation of the administrative budget for 1999-0.  Anything less would violate your duty to the students.  

Please feel free to call me if you have questions regarding the allocations process.

Thank you,




Chris Hoofnagle
Choof@negia.net ~ 548-2375
1998 All Campus Allocations Member