UNC Student Congress sets limits on funding

The Student Congress Rules and Judiciary Committee met Tuesday to discuss proposed amendments to the Student Code dealing with the May allocation of student fees to the for-profit business Buzz Rides.

Rules and Judiciary Committee Chairman Kevan Schoonover opened the meeting by reading the proposed amendment to Title I, Chapter 8 of the Student Code.

“No funds shall be allocated that would result in individual gain,” Schoonover read. “This includes allocating funds to for-profit businesses and organizations.”

Speaker of Congress Ivy Hardy said this amendment ensures committees abide by the Student Code.

“This (amendment) is just to clarify, to make sure that the Safety and Security Committee mirrors what the Student Code implies.”

All members of the Rules and Judiciary Committee present voted in support of passing the amendment regarding student fees.

Schoonover also introduced an amendment to Title I, Chapter 2 of the Student Code, which says no appointment that has been tabled can be provisionally appointed to a committee.

As the Student Code stands, provisional members can serve up to 30 days without approval.

“Members may say, ‘Oh, I’m going to put someone on here to get my way,’” Schoonover said. “That’s what this amendment prevents.”

The second proposed amendment passed by a majority vote.

Following the passage of both amendments, Schoonover opened the meeting to announcements.

David Goldberg, a graduate student in the School of Law and the School of Government, stood to speak about his involvement with the Safety and Security Committee during the 2013-14 school year, when the committee permitted the allocation of $15,000 of student fees to Buzz Rides.

“In the beginning, I met with Buzz Rides and said, ‘We cannot just give you money. It’d be reckless and irresponsible,’” he said.

“I kept telling (the Safety and Security Committee), ‘We have to be transparent. We can’t go through with this deal unless we’re 100 percent sure it’s the right thing to do.’”

The committee’s funding for Buzz Rides eventually passed, but Student Congress later nullified the decision because the committee didn’t have quorum at the meeting.

Goldberg offered his assistance to committee members to help ensure that nothing like this happens again.

“I want to help you all figure this out. I want to set the record straight.”

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