It’s finals week at the University at Buffalo, and some students are worried not just about their final grades, but also the future of Subboard Inc., a student-run organization.
For almost 50 years, SBI has been owned and run by seven student governments on campus, deciding, with the help of others students, what funds are used for.
But, after an internal review by the university, the school concluded SBI was out of compliance with SUNY policy and was not transparent in the range of fees it was charging student groups for its services.
SBI services include things like free legal consultations, a free safety shuttle, the student-run radio station WRUB and the student ticket office. Currently, a petition that’s against this decision needs about 200 more signatures to meet the goal of 2500.
Students at a rally Tuesday said if the Faculty Student Association takes over as the fiscal agent, they’ll lose more than just their voices as students.
In a statement, Scott Weber, UB’s vice president for student life, said “Going forward, this will result in the student groups paying less in fees and having more revenues to invest in programs and services for UB students throughout the university.
Student governments will continue to make programming decisions and establish the budgets for their student activity fees. Additionally, students will retain a voice by serving on the board of the Faculty Student Association and helping to direct its decision making."
The school said the transition will take time and more planning until it’s officially implemented.