MCC may receive additional $5,000

By Mary Georgevich

Multicultural clubs could receive an increase of $5,000 to their annual budget for next year.

The Multicultural Center originally applied for a $20,000 increase to their budget amid complaints from cultural clubs about lack of funds. However, after a review by the Student Activities Fee Committee, the SAFC recommended that the MCC receive a $5,000 budget increase for next year.

Chinese Student Association president Christine Yeung said an increased budget would make the process for receiving funds much easier for MCC clubs and would lessen the competition for money.

Yeung said her club often does not receive enough funding for their culture show. For this year's show, they did not receive all the money they asked for. However, they charged money at the entrance, cut back on costs and made a profit of $104.

"I know some other clubs, when they ask for a particular amount, AS actually gives them the whole amount, but for us, for these couple of years, we didn't get the amount that we asked for," said Yeung.

The increase would raise the MCC's total budget to $70,492 for the 2006-2007 year.

Bernice Aguas, incoming MCC director, hopes that the money will make a difference by providing the Santa Clara community with more cultural events, such as cultural shows or diversity conferences.

"With the rechartering happening next year, it will open new doors and opportunities for the executive board," Aguas said.

Chartered student organizations must undergo a review process every four years as part of their status in the Center for Student Leadership.

Aguas plans to use the money to "create awareness and to open up discussions and let the Santa Clara community and campus know as well as the outside community some of the issues that are currently happening today."

Aguas cited an incident of racist graffiti -- where hate speech was spray-painted in a Benson Center men's bathroom -- as an example of the need for more MCC funds.

The MCC held an open forum in response, attended by over 100 students.

Final recommendations will be presented to Vice Provost for Student Life Jeanne Rosenberger on May 26. She has to approve them by June 9.

"If any of the chartered leaders disagree or have really strong opinions about what's been recommended, they can always go to the Senate," Rosenberger said.

Expanded funding for the MCC will also offer its officers more control over the distribution of funding for cultural club activities.

Currently, if a club does not have enough money to pay for an event, they apply for discretionary funding from AS.

With an increased budget, MCC clubs would only have to apply for money to the MCC Executive Board.

Additionally, MCC clubs could still apply to AS for discretionary funding.

According to current MCC Director Terrence Boyd Jr., the proposal is designed to allow the MCC to be more active in promoting diversity on campus.

"It would hopefully encourage the community to do more work revolved around diversity and multiculturalism," said Boyd.

Contact Mary Georgevich at (408) 554-4546 or mgeorgevich@scu.edu.