Online applications put on hold

by Caitlin McGrail
THE POST

As Ohio University's student organizations wait to learn how much funding they will receive this quarter, the Student Activities Commission continues efforts to find out why it is not receiving applications submitted online.

Student Senate members working to solve the problem believe OU might have dropped Voyager.Net, formerly EurekaNet, from its server, causing the application program to hit a "brick wall," SAC Commissioner Casey Christopher said. While student organizations can access the application online, SAC has not received the requests.

"Basically, the applications got lost somewhere between the computer and (senate's) e-mail," Christopher said.

The organization has accepted online applications for the last four years without these problems, she said.

Student organizations still completed the applications online this year. But rather than submitting them via e-mail, they printed them out and took them directly to the SAC office, she said.

Jitterbug Club Treasurer Andrea Blau said she could not submit her organization's application online.

"When we tried, a thing popped up, said there was an error and told us to print two copies and bring it in to the SAC office."

SAC members hope to have the problem solved soon.

"We've got people working on the problem, and by next quarter for sure we'll have everything worked out," Christopher said.

But the quarterly funding cycle continues. SAC will release funding decisions Friday.

Student organization leaders schedule mandatory advising sessions each quarter they request funds to submit preliminary funding requests and learn from SAC how to properly revise their applications, according to SAC's funding packet.

Groups requesting funds then may schedule interviews with SAC's Financial Affairs Committee to clarify their requests. Audit sessions follow the interviews to ensure organizations use SAC funds appropriately.

SAC decides how much money to award organizations based on a number of criteria, including the predicted affect the program will have on campus and the clarity of an organization's proposal. A priority system also helps SAC members determine which programs will receive more funding.

Programs planned by two or more organizations that will substantially affect the university educationally, socially or culturally receive first priority.

"We put more consideration into collaborative programs and binge drinking alternatives scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights," Christopher said.

Single-organization programs that would provide similar benefits receive the second priority. Programs that only would benefit the group's members receive third priority.

Organizations often do not understand why SAC does not award all the money they request, she said. But many items requested are not fundable by SAC.

For example, requests to fund transportation, salaries, awards and refreshments will not be fulfilled, according to the SAC information packet.

Sonya Rice, treasurer of Amnesty International, said her organization usually is satisfied with the funding SAC awards.

"We usually request money for speakers and films," she said. "We usually get a pretty good amount of money."

Some student organization leaders also want SAC to award funding to their organization, instead of for programs.

"We don't fund organizations, we fund programs, which people don't understand a lot of the time," Christopher said.