SFC no longer to absorb organizational debts

Overspending will go on student term bills

This year, the Student Finance Committee (SFC) has been cracking down on overspending.

Approximately 45 organizations and 15 dorms have frozen accounts as of the middle of this week, meaning that they cannot "spend money, get reimbursed for money already spent, or charge anything anywhere," according to a sign posted outside of the office of the student treasurer and the SFC.

The SFC is composed of two co-chairs-one senator who is elected by the Student Senate and one SFC member elected by the SFC-five members, one alternate, the student treasurer and the assistant student treasurer.

"At least 50 percent of the organizations went into debt last year. Some went more than $5000 in debt. In my opinion, that's totally unacceptable," said Student Treasurer senior Becca Barnes.

Accounts may be inactive for any of three reasons: no budget was turned in at the end of the past academic year, an authorization form has yet to be signed and returned or there is no current charter on file with the student union office.

Senate required the renewal of all organizations' charters for this academic year.

The authorization form is "an attempt to hold some individual accountable for the spending that a group does" so that it is less likely to go into debt, said senior Matt Bourque, co-chair of the SFC.

The current authorization form must be signed by an authorized officer, while other signatories may also sign and share the responsibility.

The form states that, "I understand that I am personally responsible and liable for all funds that I withdraw from the organization's account. I am aware that the Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer have the right to request that the Dean of Students' Office collect all unaccountable expenditures. If this is not done, the College has permission to charge the unaccountable expenditures to my next term bill issued by the Student Accounts Office."

Barnes said she was partly responsible for the implementation of the authorization form.

Last year's SFC decided that it was unfair for debts to carry over to the following year while many of the leaders of the organizations were constantly changing, according to Barnes. The SFC assumed all debts, allowing groups to begin in the black this year. Many of the debts had built up over three or four years, Barnes said.

Some groups, however, have refused to sign the authorization form. Barnes said a reason for this refusal is the belief that a particular organization may go into debt, as demonstrated by previous years' debts.

Oberlin's yearbook editor senior Caroline Sorgen said her organization refused to sign the authorization form as it stands right now. Holding someone responsible for a budget that is around $40,000 is a lot to ask, she said. Additionally, yearbook bills are continually being paid from previous years.

Sorgen and others met with the SFC and reached a compromise. She said she will be signing some type of form, though she is still not entirely comfortable with the idea.

For the yearbook, she said, an independent solution was necessary.

In general, she believes the SFC's increased enforcement is good.