Student Congress passed resolutions Tuesday creating two new select committees to evaluate how students' money is collected and spent.
Freshman Congress Rep. Jason Sutton proposed a select committee to study tuition predictability. And freshman Congress Rep. Harrison Brooks presented a resolution for a select committee to study the use of the student fees that are not directly delegated by Congress.
Sutton, who was voted chairman of his proposed committee, said the group would create a report on tuition increases and transparency.
"We'll work with executive branch and do some work ourselves," he said. "Students get up in arms about tuition increases, but they don't really see where the extra money is going."
Sutton said he is not quite sure what his committee will find, but he hopes to discover what causes rises in tuition and what the increases fund.
While Sutton's committee determines where student dollars are going, Brooks' committee will study how well activity fees are put to use.
Brooks said his financial efficiency committee will look at the use of the 40 percent of student activity fees of which Congress does not have direct jurisdiction.
For the 2008-09 year, students will pay about $300 total for activity fees. The 40 percent portion amounts to about $120 from each student.
These fees are taken "off the top" of the student activity fee budget and given to a select group of organizations such as Carolina Union Activities Board, Student Television and WXYC. The remainder of the funds are given to Congress to be doled out to the other about 600 student organizations.
"It is our obligation to make sure (student fees are) being spent wisely," Brooks said. "We don't have direct control over how they're spending their money."
Brooks added that the committee is not going after any certain organization.
At the meeting, Student Body Treasurer Pedro Carreno pointed out that there is already an executive committee, the student fee audit committee, whose purpose it is to audit the organizations receiving student fees.
Brooks said that he was aware of SFAC's roles but that it does not have any legislative authority as Congress members do.
"It kind of goes back to the premise of 'Two minds are better than one,' especially when it's 40 percent of student fees," Brooks said.
Brooks added that because of recent events, SFAC has only been able to audit one group this semester.
The resolution also was clarified to explain that the financial efficiency committee would study only organizations that receive student activity fees, not all student fees, as SFAC overlooks.
Congress members also renewed a third select committee that hopes to find a way to put all publications paid for with student fees under one vendor.
It was formed under the last session of Congress.
Bryan Weynand, the committee chairman, said he thinks printing the magazines in bulk could save each organization hundreds of dollars on each issue.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu
