Following the recent SGA bylaw changes regarding festivals, students now have the opportunity to offer creative and interesting festival proposals via OrgSync. The SGA hopes that new method of planning festivals will involve the student body, peak interest, and improve overall attendance at festivals.
When informed that “Boken” would no longer occur due to a lack of funds, many students were disappointed that the annual spring festival would be discontinued. In an attempt to gauge students’ concerns, the SGA hosted an open forum at the end of the fall semester. Those in attendance agreed that a festival should occur, which prompted the SGA to revisit its bylaws concerning festivals. The SGA has since amended its bylaws, and the changes have been implemented this semester.
Under the old bylaws, a percentage of the Student Activity Fund was allocated specifically to festivals. According to SGA Treasurer Jacob Vanderbilt, “The ideas were chosen by an experienced, but small group of representatives from the SGA and [Entertainment Committee].” Students who were interested in hosting a festival submitted a festival proposal, which contained a budget that often underestimated costs. This led to high-cost festivals with low-attendance rates over the past few semesters. Lucas Gallo, a freshman SGA representative, explained that the students’ interests would diminish and the SGA was left planning the entire event. If there were not enough funds and students did not submit submissions, money dedicated to festivals would be essentially be wasted. The SGA had three problems to solve: the lack of student interest in the festivals, poor organization, and the mandated allocation of funds to a festival that may not even occur.
The SGA is hoping that the changes to the bylaws will fix these issues. The SGA released an OrgSync form on February 21 for students to submit creative and interesting festival proposals that will peak interest and improve attendance. “This diversity and creativity can come from the fact that we have done away with the specific allocation amount which tended to lead to common festival content semester after semester,” said Vanderbilt.
In previous years, the festival was developed by a group of SGA and Entertainment Committee (EC) representatives. Under the new bylaws, proposals will be voted upon by the entire Senate. Experienced representatives from SGA, EC, and Student Life will help students strengthen their proposals by creating detailed and accurate budgets, which will provide more informed decision making. These proposals will then be approved during the traditional Registered Student Organization (RSO) budgeting periods. Following this process, Senators can act as true representatives of the student body by getting feedback from students on each festival proposal. Vanderbilt said, “Under this plan, if more than one proposal is determined to benefit the campus, the Senate could theoretically fund more than one.” Under this system, the SGA can be more flexible each semester to the campus needs. Students who submit a proposal will submit detailed budgets, asking for only as much money as they need.
This new process will be meaningless if students do not submit proposals. In the past, students have had a great history of showing passion and interest in festivals. The SGA is hoping that these new changes can be the beginning of a new system that will be amenable to all students.
Festival proposals can be submitted through OrgSync until March 9. The form is available at https://orgsync.com/46406/forms/186459.
