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UAB facing financial trouble Because of fall semester activities, the UAB budget is decreasing. Caitlin Barrett Staff Writer
The Union Activities Board is broke and there are disputes over why that may be. According to UAB treasurer Jeff Moan, this year the UAB has a budget of $430,897 and part of that comes from the $15.13 fee students are charged each year to support UAB. This semester the UAB has put on two major events, Friday Fest and the Ludacris concert. The Ludacris concert cost them $35,000 and Friday Fest cost $90,000. With $125,000 of their budget gone, plus the fees they have to pay every year, not much of the budget is left to plan events for the rest of the year. Moan said last year the board had to take control of the campus cinema, which they had never had to do in the past. The UAB currently spends $51,000 on stipends for cinema staff and concessions, which takes up a large part of the budget. When compared to the cost of Ludacris it is enough money to put on another large event. This year’s free concert is not something students can expect to happen more in the future. The Air Force Reserve went to UAB and pitched them the idea of the concert and paid for what UAB could not cover. Without the Air Force Reserve such a high profile concert would have never happened, according to Moan. Despite questions about how wise it was to have the concert he UAB feels great about the turnout and reactions to it.
Lamb said, “We have a pretty “Anytime I think you can shove 7,000 students in a 60 good idea of what kind of monyear old building for a concert ey we are going to spend, we is incredible, even if you don’t kind of use those sort of things like Ludacris I think the ener- as guidelines for what we are gy you could feel in that coli- doing.” Caleb Fernandez, a sophoseum was just incredible,” Will more in business adminisLamb, UAB president, said. Byron Smith, a junior in tration, said he is concerned business administration said about events planned for next the Ludacris concert was “un- semester. “I feel like [UAB] does everybelievable.” “If they had more things like thing at the beginning of the that I would attend more of- year then everything fizzles ten,” Smith said. out and it is hard to get excited Smith said he approves of about second semester events,” UAB’s event planning, but Fernandez said. said it could be better if they UAB officials said they have charged students to attend the things planned for second seevents. mester like the Pan-African “Students event and the could easily Psych college pay $5 to attour. tend an event Lamb said that is right he knows it here on camis hard to appus,” Smith peal to every said. st udent on But UA B campus. doesn’t feel “We have the same. what like Will Lamb, UAB president “ We a r e 33,000 stunot a revenue dents on this producing organization,” said campus and that’s a lot of peoMoan. ple…you can’t make them all Moan said one of UAB’s mis- happy, right?” Lamb said. sions is to not charge for any Lamb also said the rumors events and he thinks that it about them having absolutely has gone well considering the no money left are false. economy. “People say we don’t have Victoria Johanningsmeier, a any money left but that’s not junior in psychology, said she really true. We are paying for thinks UAB has always done a salaries, the committee chairs good job with activities. and executive board are paid “Being a student organiza- stipends, and each committee tion, I think it is good students has its own budget,” Lamb said. put in effort…it does take a Moan said he agrees that the lot of work,” Johanningsmeier UAB is spending their money said. wisely and the student body UAB officials said they think should not worry. they are spending their money “Do we spend our money as efficiently as they can and efficiently? Yes. Money is not providing activities for a wide wasted around here,” Moan variety of students. said.
“People say we don’t have any money left but that’s not really true.”
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010 • PAGE 3