Recent club allocation cuts have impacted almost every club at Wayne State College, but the Student Activities Board has taken the brunt of the effects.
According to their website, SAB is a group of students who plan co-curricular activities around campus for all students. This club is the primary campus programming board and offers students a chance to meet new people and discover innovative ideas.
The money for these events comes from a budget which has a limit determined by Student Senate. Student Body Vice President Ashley Schemek oversees the allocations committee, a position not many currently envy. The budget for club allocations was reduced this year, and Student Body President Addie Hejl discovered Student Senate’s safety net fund was nothing but a myth. Not all clubs took a hit, but SAB’s allocations were reduced by $30,000.
While the smaller gatherings are highly valued by WSC students, the events almost nobody can resist attending are the concerts. In the spring semester of 2023, WSC’s recreation center transformed into a venue for 3OH!3, an American electropop duo.
This style of events will be the first to go in the wake of budget cuts along with fewer bingo nights. Executive Director Emily Miller is the coordinator for WSC’s concerts, and her goal is to use the remainder of her concert allocations for new and diverse events.
SAB advisor Ivy Bogle, a new addition to the board, is working on taking concepts from the things she’s worked on in the past to meet SAB and the culture at Wayne. Her specialty at previous jobs was hosting music events.
“It was really great to be able to bring live music to a community that doesn’t usually see it, so that would be really neat,” Bogle said. “Theoretically, it would be great to be able to bring back the concerts.”
When asked if requesting a larger budget again will be necessary in the future, Bogle said “I’ll need to talk to the students and figure out what they’re thinking but also talk to Senate and figure out what’s sustainable for them.”
Many events offered by SAB occur yearly while others are a ‘can’t miss’ experience. Past events include plant fest, a terrarium making night; jewelry making nights, evenings filled with accessory assembly; and bingo, a safe space for students to wish bad luck on fellow peers.
Working with SAB is a paid position, so anyone interested can contact [email protected] or call 402-375-7322.
