By George Fujii
Daily Bruin Contributor
After waiting seven months for the undergraduate student
government judicial board to act, the Interfraternity Council has
appealed to the university to take action on its complaints that
the government awarded it an unfairly small amount of money last
year.
IFC, which represents most campus fraternities, wrote a letter
of complaint to the administration, dated April 20, alleging that
the Undergraduate Students Association Council, its Budget Review
Committee, and the J-Board have “consistently treated IFC and
its members with little or no respect.”
IFC is angry because it received $680 instead of the
approximately $94,000 it requested from the 1999-2000 USAC budget.
Also, IFC is frustrated that the J-Board still has not heard its
case.
The total amount of money BRC had to work with this year was
about $147,000. The highest funded student group this year was the
Asian Pacific Coalition, which received about $8,800 out of the
approximately $30,835 it requested.
“We’re really serious about this,” said Jake
Heath, IFC’s internal vice president. “If that means
going in front of the chancellor and pleading our case, then
that’s what we’re going to do.”
But Jose Gutierrez, the J-Board’s senior justice, said
logistics, not politics, are responsible for the delay.
Each year, student groups apply for funding from USAC. Then,
USAC’s Budget Review Committee recommends to the council how
much each group should receive. USAC then decides whether to
approve the recommendation.
After an appeal to BRC was rejected, IFC filed an appeal with
the J-Board in November 1999, which is still pending.
The seven member J-Board is the undergraduate student
association’s judicial branch. It hears appeals of actions of
the council, BRC, and the Election Board. Four of seven members
must attend a meeting to make quorum, so it can rule on cases.
BRC officials said IFC received less funding because it has
alternate funding sources and collects dues from its members. The
committee also had about $20,000 less money to allocate this
year.
“We treat all student groups equally,” said Gardenia
Gonzalez, BRC director.
But Heath disagreed with BRC’s position and said that IFC
collects fees only as a last resort.
“We did not receive enough money for base budget,”
Heath said. “Other student groups received a lot
more.”
Members of the J-Board also defended their actions.
Gutierrez said the J-Board has had difficulty in meeting quorum,
but they plan to meet early next week.
He added that J-Board will be smoothly functioning to handle
E-Board appeals, from the May10-11 USAC elections.
“Petitions will be taken care of in a timely
manner,” Gutierrez said.
Part of the delay in a J-Board ruling is because it could not
meet quorum until February, when two new members were appointed and
a member studying abroad returned.
Heath, author of IFC’s four-page appeal petition, said he
understands J-Board has had difficulties meeting quorum, but that
this is excessive.
“They’re not doing their job and we have a problem
with that,” Heath said. “I do understand that they are
students, but I have to think it is motivated somewhat by a
political motivation.”
Gutierrez said the J-Board members understand IFC’s
concerns.
“They have every right to complain, but we don’t
mean any disrespect to IFC; I would like to meet ASAP,”
Gutierrez said. “I don’t want this sitting on my desk
much longer.”
Lyle Timmerman, USAC’s administrative representative and
J-Board adviser, said he is very concerned about the situation.
“I can’t imagine any reasonable explanation for why
it should take this long.” he said.
Timmerman also did not know why IFC’s case is taking so
long and said he does not remember other petitions taking this long
to resolve.
“I can’t believe IFC has been this patient and
cooperative,” he said. “I don’t believe I could
have been, if I were in their shoes.”
Because IFC’s complaint referred to UCLA’s funding
guidelines, which are based on UC-wide funding guidelines, the
administration may intervene in this case, Timmerman said.
“We’re concerned about this. We will do our best to
ensure that student government and all its mechanisms are working
properly,” Timmerman said.
Timmerman said the university has two intervention options.
The first would be asking the council to establish a special
committee of members to hear the case. The problem is that USAC is
a defendant in this case, he said.
The second, worst-case scenario, option would be for the
university to render a judgment “to the extent the complaint
involved university policy,” Timmerman said.
He added that appointing members to J-Board is only the first
step for the council.
“I don’t think their responsibility ends there. They
need to make sure it is operating effectively,” Timmerman
said.
J-Board members, if they stay in good academic standing, serve
for their duration as UCLA students or up to four years, whichever
comes first.
USAC can remove a J-Board justice only after a hearing for cause
and by a three-quarters vote of the council, according to its
constitution.
Heath said IFC is asking for at least 10 times more funding than
it received and it plans further action if its case is not heard
soon.
EVENTS IN THE INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL FUNDING APPEAL IFC’s
appeal of its funding allocation by the Undergraduate Students
Association Council and its Budget Review Committee Committee is
still awaiting a decision by the student government Judicial Board.
Seven months have passed since the funding allocation. July 27,
1999 USAC approves its 1999-2000 budget. IFC appeals its allocation
to BRC. Aug. 30, 1999 USAC discusses why BRC denied IFC’s funding
appeal. General Representative Adam Rosenthal moves to give IFC
$3,000 more, but the motion fails. Feb. 1, 2000 USAC appoints two
new justics to J-Board. Along with the return of one existing
justice from abroad, J-Boad will meet quorum. mid-Feb Jake Heath of
IFC and Jose Gutierrez, J-Board’s senior justice, discuss via
e-mail when the J-Board will meet. 10th Week Heath says he received
another e-mail from Gutierrez, stating that the J-Board will meet
soon. Apr. 20, 2000 IFC writes a formal letter of complaint against
USAC, BRC and the J-Board to the administration. May 2, 2000 USAC
appoints an additional member to J-Board. SOURCE: IFC letter of
complaint; USAC minutes; Jake Heath of FC Original by KEVIN AUSTIN
LUKE Web adaptation by AVISHAI SHRAGA/Daily Bruin