The Student Activities Board (SAB), the event-coordinating wing of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), has received an additional $130,887, a 32.4 percent increase over last year, while the club budgets have been cut by $208,062, an 18.3 percent decrease from last year’s final budget. Nearly 70 percent of all clubs saw a cut in their budgets and SAB now has $534,887 to spend on campus events.

USG officers saw immense promise in SAB throughout the last two semesters, which was the organization’s first year after the controversial 2010 Establishment of Student Life Act that restructured SAB and put former USG Treasurer Moiz Khan in charge of event planning.

“They successfully put on big programs clearly demonstrated by Aziz [Ansari], Best Coast and obviously Bruno Mars,” said current USG Treasurer Thomas Kirnbauer, who drafted the budget alongside last year’s treasurer Jackie Mark and a six-person budget committee. “We want to keep the status quo because we feel that SAB has done a pretty good job,” he added.

“If you give them $1,000, that doesn’t help them. This money will help them go,” Kirnbauer said.  The additional money SAB has received is aimed at supporting a Fall event as large as Bruno Mars, but on the Staller steps.

USG’s 2011/12 Original Budget, released on sbusg.org on June 1, is provisional and will be change after budget revisions this Fall, which any club can apply for.

This process, called Fall revisions, takes rollover money from the previous year’s club budget that wasn’t spent and appropriates it to clubs that apply for additional money. With the Clubs and Organizations’ Original 2010/11 Budget at $929,053, many clubs will be awaiting the chance to apply for a budget revision and Kirnbauer estimates that that figure will rise back up to seven figures, where it was last year in both the final and original budgets of 2010/11.

“We are pretty confident that our Fall revisions will mend any wounds that occurred,” Kirnbauer said. While USG officers are stressing that one must compare original budgets to get a better sense of the change, the Clubs and Organizations’ budget still decreased by $175, 771, or 16.2 percent, from last year’s original budget and eventually received only an additional $32,290 to their roughly $1.1 million budget, a 2.9 percent increase, after Fall revisions.

It must also be noted that a percentage of the decrease in club budgets is due to the removal of the individual Residence Halls from the overall Clubs and Organizations budget, which accounted for $38,000 of both the original and final budgets of last year. Those line items were merged into one budget that can be found under USG Agencies, Services, and Organizations under the Residence Hall Association. The revised decrease in the new budget for Clubs and Organizations, with the removal of the Residence Halls budgets, would be 15.5 percent if comparing to the Final 2010/11 budget and 13 percent if comparing to the Original 2010/11 budget.

 This year’s budget contains another point of interest concerning SAB. The spreadsheet indicates that SAB’s Original 2010/11 budget was $270,000 and that it received an increase of $134,000 when the budget was finalized in the Fall. That would equate to a 98 percent increase in its budget if one compared only original budgets from 2010/11 to 2011/12.

Kirnbauer says that those numbers represent a lapse in the spreadsheet and that the new, restructured SAB was never put through the budget process in the Spring of 2010; rather it was given the full $404,000 in the Fall using leftover money in USG’s budget. “It’s probably just how much they allocated to the old SAB,” he explained. “When I was in the Senate, there was an appropriations bill for $404,000. The previous treasurer who did that spreadsheet just might have put it that way.” Former Treasurer Jackie Mark could not be reached for comment on the topic of SAB’s line structure in the budget.

USG President Mark Maloof has yet to replace Moiz Khan, this past year’s Student Programming Agency director who runs SAB alongside the VP of Student Life. With no SPA director, the organization is in the hands of Deron Hill, USG’s current VP of Student Life, with Kirnbauer acting as SAB’s treasurer and VP of Communications and Public Relations Farjad Fazli as secretary. Not only does that put SAB’s leadership in question, but it clouds the future of the now half-million dollar organization’s efficiency, considering that it went over budget last year.

“The reason why SAB goes over budget is the end of the year concert,” Kirnbauer explained. “I’ve had a lot of discussions with Administration with what we can do better in the future and I think the big problem was that we really had one person in SAB kind of running the show,” he added, referencing Khan’s assumption of responsibilities as SPA Director. Kirnbauer said that Maloof is looking for an SPA Director who is fiscally responsible, “…but we really need to stick to a process,” he added.

Kirnabuer will be releasing SAB’s full 2010/11 spending history on sbusg.org later this month, thereby making the activities of one of Stony Brook’s fastest growing, and controversial, pillars of campus life fully transparent.

Courtesy of Three Village Patch

Here at the Stony Brook Press, we are not critical of events, public figures or campus administration simply because we see it as our role to undercut everything around us. That is a sorry definition of “alternative,” and as the campus’ alternative paper, we would like to be trusted to go beyond the surface of sensational negativity just to be different, despite the fact that our campus’ primary publication seems content on never rising above licking the boots of the establishment.

That said, let it be known that our last issue featuring a comparison and accompanying editorial between the recent Bruno Mars concert and SUNY Purchase’s Culture Shock festival was not in any- way a feeble attempt to dig up a source of criticism just for the sake of being critical. It was meant to highlight not only differing view- points when it comes to future campus event planning, but also to make it very clear just how much money is being used for this cam- pus’ entertainment, to what end it is being used and how it could be improved. We stand by our decision to denounce the Bruno Mars concert on the grounds that he was a safe choice, one that does not represent a true college act and one whose success at Stony Brook on May 6 was, from the very start, to be measured by ticket sales and the demonstration of the organizers’ hard work, but not by how much the performance would represent a true and calculated desire of the campus body.

Now, we recognize that it is necessary to point out just how much of a success the concert was, and it’s also necessary to attribute that success to the determination and seemingly endless vision of Student Programming Agency Director Moiz Khan, the face pasted on the primary alien of the Mars Attacks! front cover of our last issue.

Yes, Khan made more enemies than he ever imagined by refusing to compromise, as he says in the graciously allotted opinion space of the Statesman in a piece title, “Tearing Red Tape and Breaking Down Silos.” When he took his position in USG last year, it was amid the controversial restructuring of SAB, but in only one year in the post, he brought numerous acts that performed to increasing crowds, with Bruno Mars marking the culmination of all his effort.

Khan wanted to change the university, and he most certainly did. However, the changes are not always completely positive, and not always cleanly and efficiently looking towards a better future for our school or its hugely expensive events, as we wanted to point out in the comparison. But this comparison, as it stands in our last issue, is noticeably lacking context. We would like to hold ourselves accountable for misleading any readers into thinking not only that we were advising that USG should attempt a Culture Shock, but also that it was even possible for USG to do so.

So first, let us give you said context. SUNY Purchase is a drastically different school encased in an equally different administration, and both factors con- tribute greatly to its ability to orchestrate something like Culture Shock. Not only does the school’s undergraduate government own the space on which the con- cert is held, but the school is also centered around the arts, including majors in sound production and other areas of event planning that allow them to pull straight from their student body to organize and run the event. Purchase also has a long history of performing arts and a number of bands have deep rooted connections to the school, including this year’s organizer, lo-fi legend R. Stevie Moore.

These differences make the likelihood of something like Culture Shock at Stony Brook near-impossible due to the extreme limitations put on campus events from organizations like University Police, the private security firm forced onto anyone who books the Sport Complex and the dozens of other barriers and restrictions that exist here at Stony Brook but not Purchase, as Khan himself would happily point out to anyone who asks.

But this likelihood would only be near-impossible if we decided to stupidly dive in head first. That was not what we were implying USG should do, nor did we think that dozens of cheap bands that no one has heard of mixed in with only a handful of recognizable names is the right direction for an end-of-the-year concert. We simply wanted to highlight how a concert of that magnitude manages to cater to multiple music tastes, and for far lower price tag. The key factor was that Culture Shock was a massively participatory for-the- students, by-the-students effort that was 100 percent college-geared, which is not at all what you can say about Bruno Mars.

We were not arguing that for the same amount money, Stony Brook should try and get 42 artists, many of which are obscure. However, Stony Brook could have gotten 10 artists, say three or four in the price range of Immortal Technique and six or seven in the price range of Best Coast. But that’s not what Khan wanted.

And here arises the ideological difference between what Khan sees as good for the school, which is what we at The Press wanted to highlight, and what we think would be a step in the right direction. Khan did not want multiple bands because multiple bands means less notoriety for each act, which ultimately reduces the potential for a lightning-quick sellout of tickets like Bruno Mars. Khan sees the success of the Bruno Mars’ May 6 concert as “…the foundation for the beginning of a diverse and vibrant campus life,” according to his Statesman opinion.

However, it would have made much more sense to have not gunned for the obviously unrealistic 42-band extravaganza of Culture Shock, which again was not what we were implying, but to try and get a more college-geared artist like Lupe Fiasco. Not only is the 18-24 age range a primary market for the young hip-hop artist’s music, but he also dropped a new album this past March, making him far more timely than Bruno Mars. We only suggest Lupe Fiasco because we know that Khan tried to secure him and failed, ending up with Bruno Mars only after Lupe Fiasco pulled out at the last minute to perform in New Orleans.

But instead of trying to find someone equitable to Lupe Fiasco, we ended up with a Billboard Hot 100 artist who is constantly played on the radio. That shows that Khan had the right mindset to begin with, but didn’t care in the end when he discovered that he could still sell out the Sports Complex with an act like Bruno Mars.

So Khan may dream of a concert on the Staller steps, of huge acts just as big as Bruno Mars or Lupe Fiasco performing alongside each other, even possibly at a multi-day festival. But because that is not realistic, Khan sidesteps to achieve what he sees as his goal of creating a better Stony Brook experience. That means settling on Bruno Mars when nothing else pulls through and making the best out of it even if it means putting on a concert that is not traditionally geared towards college students.

But the more you sidestep to maneuver constraints, the higher the chance that you will like where you’re standing over where you were originally aiming. That’s the fear. We at The Press want to make sure those original aims are at least apparent if they are no longer in the sights and to scrutinize the decisions of those in power not just because it’s our money being spent, but most importantly because it’s our college experience on the line.

Undergraduate Student Government elections are over, and the votes are in on USG’s website.

Mark Maloof for the United Students Party took the position of USG President with approximately 1,100 votes. His opponent, Moiz Khan of the Student Polity Party, received approximately 760 votes.

“I wish the best of luck to Mark Maloof,” Khan stated in a Facebook message. “At the end of the day, students get the government they deserve. I have no plans for involvement in student government beyond an extremely minimal role.” Maloof could not be reached for comment.

Deborah Machalow of the United Students Party, who ran unopposed, is now Executive Vice President.

“I’m incredibly flattered, not just for myself, but for my party, by the results of the election,” she stated in a Facebook message. “The undergraduates at Stony Brook turned out in resounding numbers and supported our vision of change and our goals for the USG.”

Thomas Kirnbauer ran unopposed for Treasurer. He could not be reached for comment.

Farjad Fazli took the title of Vice President of Communications and Public Relations, Deron Hill the title of VP of Student Life and Allen Abraham the title of VP of Clubs and Organizations.

Emilisa Trotman ran unopposed for Senior Class Representative. Dennis Nmecha took the title of Junior Class Representative and Christopher Priore the title of Sophomore Class Representative.

As for the future of the new USG, Machalow stated in the Facebook message that some goals of the organization are to decrease “the amount of confrontation” and improve “the customer service aspect of the organization.”

“I think if you look at the USG closely a lot of the functioning and internal mechanisms are shaped by personality, and we’re hoping to use that to our advantage to improve the organization for the students,” she stated.

With well over 1800 votes cast, Maloof won 60% of the vote to Khan’s 40%. Maloof’s USP party and Khan’s Student Polity shared victories down the ballot, but outgoing USG President Matt Graham, who supported the Student Polity ticket, was overheard in the USG offices saying the elections were a “disaster” for the party.

Other victors include Farjad Fazli as VP of Communications and Allen Abraham as VP of Clubs and Organizations, who both ran as Student Polity members. Debbie Machalow, who ran unopposed, is the next Executive Vice President while Deron Hill was elected VP of Student Life, both as USP candidates.

Stay with #blink_campus for the latest from the USG elections, including reactions from the candidates.

The Feb. 2 USG Senate meeting approved three allocation requests totaling $19,000 with stunning efficiency. This was due in part to the Senate’s plans to attend the “Vigil for Haiti,” said Senator Mahyar Kashan, but more significantly, because new Treasurer Moiz Khan had streamed-lined the appropriations process.

“Moiz is doing a great job,” said Kashan. “Moiz was here all winter. He’s very dedicated. He’s always [in the USG office].”

The USG Senate unanimously approved Senator Moiz Khan’s appointment during their December 3 meeting, their last meeting of the semester.  Khan, a first term senator, said he was very happy to be appointed to the position and revealed that it had been his plan to be elected to the treasury in the 2010 spring election.

“It was my goal to run for treasurer,” Treasurer Moiz Khan. “So I had a lot of stuff prepared.”

Khan’s appointment by President Jasper Wilson occurred in the wake of former Treasurer Matthew Anderson’s impeachment and resignation.

Treasurer Matthew Anderson resigned from the Undergraduate Student Government on December 3 after an impeachment hearing.  The hearing was closed to the public and the press.

According to the minutes from the Senate’s Dec. 2 closed hearing that have since been released, Senator Deborah Machalow “moved to adopt the Resolution Impeaching Matthew Anderson…The Resolutions were adopted unanimously.”

“I was doing the best I could,” said Anderson.  “Even with all the time I could put in, I was not the best person for the job.”

Anderson said he supported Khan’s appointment. “Moiz will make an excellent treasurer,” said Anderson. “The USG is in very capable hands in the treasury department.”

Impeachment proceedings against Anderson began after the USG received complaints about Anderson’s performance from undergraduate clubs, said Senator Syed Haq.

“A big part of the concern was from clubs and students regarding miscommunication and a lack of communication and just a general lack of organization,” said Haq.

“We wanted to bring a sense of accountability because the Senate serves as a check to the executive branch.”

Immediately after Anderson submitted his resignation, Wilson began his search for the new treasurer.  Before Khan’s approval, Haq said the appointee might be chosen from outside the USG to avoid bias.  Khan is a USG insider and a member of the budget committee, a position which exposed Khan to the budget process and interested him in the role of treasurer.

The most challenging part of Khan’s job will be digitizing treasury paperwork, a process which is beginning this semester with the acquisition of PDF-rendering software, said Kashan. The $1,000 software acquisition was approved by the Senate during the Feb. 2 meeting, accompanied by a $16,000 allocation for the funding of this spring’s Roth Regatta and $2,000 for Khan’s planned budget workshop for USG clubs and organizations.

Khan hopes to digitize all club and organization paperwork and created a program to advertize events online. Kashan said the availability of this information will keep student groups informed and make their budget requests easier for the Senate to process and fulfill.

“If they’re more organized, we can be more organized,” said Kashan. “We can allocate funds more easily.”

To get these initiatives off the ground, Khan is putting in a lot of unpaid overtime, said Executive Vice President John Kriscenski. “He’s putting in 40 hours a week,” said Kriscenki. “He only gets paid up to 15 hours. He’s getting things up to speed [and] doing a lot of work. Moiz is making it run smoother.”

The Fountainhead by Moiz Khan

It has come to my attention that John McCain has introduced a bill to block net neutrality. Yes, John “I can’t use a computer” McCain. The bill is designed to “prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from further regulating the Internet.” So, he wants to stop the FCC from regulating the Internet. This is of course, John “Champion of Regulation” McCain we are talking about here. I suppose it is likely for someone to confuse net neutrality (a policy to ensure very little Internet regulation) with Internet regulation, especially someone who doesn’t know anything about computers. What is even more likely is that McCain is only introducing the bill to satisfy his paymasters. In the course of 10-15 years, McCain has transformed himself from a semi-respectable senator to an empty suit.