410 Forum — Opinion
GLBTA Office Deserves Center Status
By Sarah Henry
Since when has sexual preference been a university funded student activity?
Apparently, since the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Allies program began at UNC. According to the Student Activities Mission Statement, the Student Activities Office develops campus community, engages students with involvement opportunities, and encourages student's practical and cognitive knowledge of leadership and civic responsibility principles.
Does GLBTA do all these things? Yes. According to their mission statement, the programs sponsored through GLBTA will foster student intellectual and personal growth, leadership, and social responsibility.
At first glance, GLBTA, housed under Student Activities, is funded comparatively to the cultural centers. But the Marcus Garvey cultural center, Cesar Chavez cultural center, Asian/Pacific American Student Services and Native American Student Services all receive funding in addition to the Student Fee Allocation Process allotment, while GLBTA does not. After taking this into consideration, GLBTA is funded similarly to the Drug Alcohol Tobacco Education program or the International Film Series.
Let’s get this accurate, people: GLBTA is not a student activity. Based on the similarities between the Women’s Resource Center and GLBTA mission statements, it is a resource center.
The Women’s Resource Center’s mission statement says it fosters a safe environment for students to promote gender initiatives for the advancement of women’s development, and GLBTA’s mission statement says that it is established to ensure unrestricted access and full involvement for GLBTA students in all aspects of the university.
Not much of a difference. Both are safe environments, and both promote involvement.
But for some reason, GLBTA receives $26,339, while the Women’s Resource Center receives $88,596, about three times more than GLBTA receives. Both programs are only funded from the money allotted from student fees. With the money, Women’s Resource Center pays a coordinator, administrative assistant and graduate assistant. GLBTA pays a graduate assistant.
This year during the Student Fee Allocation Process, GLBTA requested funds that would allow them to pay a part-time work study assistant in addition to the graduate assistant and still be able to plan and put on programs. As evidence they deserved the raise, Graduate Assistant Nick Peterson provided information about how he cut costs but expanded their reach, which included email distribution lists, collaborating with campus and community groups, and soliciting donations for needed materials.
GLBTA was given the requested funds in the proposed budget by SRC, but they still do not receive adequate funding for everything they do for students on campus. With the additional funding, Peterson said the new assistant’s main duties would be coordinating panels, maintaining the library, keeping the office door open and reaching out to high schools.
Despite their lack of funding, what’s even worse is next year’s council might not feel the same about funding.
“Our funding is up for debate every year,” Peterson said. “We can’t plan anything longer.”
Justin Puckett, SRC vice president for finance this year and president next year, has been one of the most vocal supporters for GLBTA to have increased funding. Puckett was SRC vice president for diverse relations last year and said he thinks they deserve to have better funding. Unfortunately, as president, Puckett will not be allowed to vote in the Student Fee Allocation Process next year because of his bias to SRC, which is also funded by student fees. He will, however, be able to participate in the debate as to which programs should be funded and how much to fund them.
