The Women's Initiative Budget

There will be lots going on in the Senate on Sunday. The most contentious issue, which we got a preview of last week, will likely be over the budget. The budget allocates the SG's $590,400 among the various departments, and must be approved by the Senate. The controversy this year is centered upon the fact that Women's Initiative is slated receive less money as compared to last year.

WI supporters have been throwing around the statistic that this year's budget decreases their funding from last year by 44%. As far as I can tell, this is not accurate. Last year's budget, which is available for all to view, allocated WI $23,000. This year's allocates $17,000. That is a decrease for sure, but not nearly one of 44%. Over the course of the past year, WI did receive funding on top of that initial $23,000, primarily from the additional funds the SG obtained from a higher than expected enrollment and the cancellation of the T-Pain concert. I can only assume that they are comparing their total allocation from last year to this year's budget, which is unreasonable. If additional funds become available again, there is no reason that WI wouldn't be able to apply for them again. But to expect the budget to go above and beyond what they were originally allocated a year ago is based on a comparison of apples to oranges.

That said, this budget still does decrease their funding by $6,000. While that may not be 44%, it is still significant. In my opinion, however, it is justified. The SG has created a new transportation subsidy, and the bike lending program will now have its own budget. These are great programs, and the money for them had to come from somewhere. There are many programs and accounts that will see a decrease in their funding in this year's budget.

Women's Initiative is surely one of the most active and successful of the SG departments. But they are still an SG department, nothing more. Therefore, they must learn to live within the financial constraints of being a part of the SG.

I have no doubt, however, that they will fight for every penny, and it should be a great spectacle on Sunday.

I am still waiting on Women's Initiative to provide a comment of some kind.