Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1978 [PAGE 670]

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1978]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

657

activities of registered organizations. O n August 17, 1971, the Board of Trustees approved a voluntary student activity collection (VSC) for the Urbana campus. Under the plan, students are provided an opportunity to contribute voluntarily $3.00 per semester to designated groups. I n the fall of 1976, students initiated discussions on the merits of a mandatory fee that would support programs of registered organizations. T h e argument for a mandatory fee was based on the need for a more stable and a larger amount of support and a desire to eliminate the necessity for extensive promotion of a voluntary fee at the expense of program within a large, diverse student body. T h e present proposal is for a mandatory, but refundable, fee to be collected from each registered, on-campus student at Urbana. All students would be assessed a $3.00 student activities fee (called the Student Organization Resource Fee — S O R F ) per semester or summer session which would be refundable to individuals within a specified period of time after registration. Of the funds collected, $50,000 annually (or the maximum collected if no more than $50,000 is raised) would be allocated to a Student Legal Service. A Student Organization Resource Fee Board would be established consisting of eight elected students, at least two of whom must be graduate or professional, and three faculty and staff appointed by the chancellor, plus a fiscal adviser appointed by the chancellor. The board would recommend to the chancellor an allocation of the remaining funds after considering programmatic budget requests submitted by registered organizations. The chancellor would exercise his judgment in accepting or rejecting all or part of any recommendations submitted. Funds provided to programs and activities of registered organizations through the procedure described would be used to pay for supplies, services, purchases, travel expenses, salaries, and program expenses of an educational, cultural, recreational, and social nature, as well as service activities of the organizations in accordance with state law and University regulations. However, no SORF funds would be spent on any of the following: 1. Projects in violation of the law, of University rules and regulations, or of procedures of the Office of Business Affairs. 2. Activities not included in the approved budget of the organization. 3. Any litigation against the University or its employees in fulfillment of their duties or against its students. Furthermore, no SORF funds could be used for court actions in defense of a felony without the specific consent of the Student Legal Services Advisory Board. 4. Payments which accrue or inure to the sole benefit of an individual or individuals except as fair payment for services rendered. No SORF funds could be used to remunerate members of an organization for services rendered to that organization. 5. Gifts, donations, or contributions to any charitable, social, or partisan political effort, organization, fund drive, campaign, or cause, except that funds may be allocated for recruiting, administration, and travel expenses necessary to enable students to participate in social service or public service projects. 6. Payments to invest in, provide capital for, or otherwise fund any business corporation, partnership, or commercial enterprise or event undertaken for the purpose of generating a profit. 7. Beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages. 8. Food and nonalcoholic beverages, except when they are an integral part of a program. 9. Additional restrictions which may be approved by the chancellor. S O R F funds being collected by this process would be treated as University funds. Once adopted, the S O R F would replace the Voluntary Student Contribution. T h e trustees have previously received a document entitled "Student Legal Services Plan," dated May 3, 1978, and a background paper on the "Student