Category | News

RSOs given $350 per semester

Published on November 17, 2009 by Melissa Butz

Each year, KSU bestows $350 to each of the 131 Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for their desired spending.

The money, which comes out of the Student Life budget, does not roll over into the next year and is valid July 1 through June 30.

Each club spends its money according to the type of organization it is and what its goals are. The $350 goes toward making the club more fun for its members, and may include buying pizza for meetings, taking trips or providing T-shirts.

Scott O’Neill, treasurer of the KSU Catholic Center, says his organization spends its money on parties and supplies, along with food for social events. A few years ago, the money supplemented a trip to Washington, D.C. for a pro-life march.

Sororities and fraternities use their money to pay for food, location, disk jockeys and buses. Morgan Shapiro, Panhellenic Vice President of Gamma Phi Beta, said her sorority also uses the money for an incentive program that encourages good grades and involvement. Sororities use the money for decorations, food and drinks for the incoming girls during Recruitment Week.

“I organize [Greek Week and Homecoming Week] events for Gamma Phi Beta so that my sorority is involved,” Shapiro said. “Being on board for two years has really taught me wonderful leadership skills and I have learned more about organizing events.”

Onelia Hawa, treasurer of the Society of Professional Journalists, a new organization on campus, said they use their money for trips. Right now they have trips planned to tour the Marietta Daily Journal and the CNN center.

In order to become an RSO on campus, each club must make a presentation before the Student Activity and Budget Advisory Committee (SABAC) and have the club approved. Each RSO must have at least 15 members, bylaws, a constitution and listed goals for the organization to be heard before SABAC.

Margie Drivick, Business Affairs Manager for Student Life, handles all incoming student organizations and is in charge of getting them started financially on campus.

“I’ve been in this department for 11 years. I enjoy working with the students because it makes me younger,” said Drivick. “I try to simplify [the financial terms] as much as possible.”

The beginning of the new school year is when most groups complete the registration process. The Student Life office keeps records of each organizations’ spending. If a club wishes to become a RSO after Nov. 1, it will not receive the full $350, but $175 instead.

In order to receive extra funds in addition to the $350, clubs must make presentations before SABAC on what they need the money for and how it will benefit the organization.

Each club can collect dues and extra fees from members if the $350 will not be enough to accomplish all of the goals the organization has. The separate clubs are advised to open checking accounts with the Credit Union of Georgia and to collect separate money for dues and fundraisers.

KSU Student Life donates this money as an act of dedication to the students and is intent on seeing each organization succeed.