SFC cancels annual student stipend raises

Students who have held student stipend jobs for more than a year will not get a 5 percent increase to their salaries this year, after the Student Fee Committee (SFC) voted 3-1-1 against the increases Friday.

Approximately 28 students from student leadership and activities, student publications, Campus Recreation and the Women’s Resource Center were eligible for pay increases this year, which would have cost about $6,000, said interim Dean of Students Michele Toppe. Last year’s SFC approved the pay increases.

In an Oct. 9 e-mail Toppe requested all student groups that report to the dean of students’ office submit a revised stipend form for student employees who have held the same position for more than one year.

“It’s kind of a narrow population. We bundled a request for all eligible students,” Toppe said. “The fee committee isn’t required to grant it and they decided not to. The advisors to the fee committee just make sure they’re aware of the guidelines. They really make all the decisions.”

The SFC is responsible for the allocation of more than $12 in student incidental fees to student groups, including athletics and The Vanguard.

SFC member Julian Jenkins made a motion at the start of Friday’s meeting to deny all increases, sparking a debate committee chair Amanda Newberg called “pretty contentious.”

“There were two different things people were concerned about. One was if it was fair to pay students who did the same job different levels of pay,” Newberg said. “And the other reason was committee members felt the money could have been spent better other places.”

The motion to deny the increases passed 3-1-1, with Newberg, Jenkins and Karin Zimmer voting in favor of the motion, Munira Amme voting against it and Aubrey Lindstrom abstaining. Anousa Sengsavanh, Karla Hernandez and Jacob Mecum were not present and did not vote.

“I voted against giving the salary increases. I personally didn’t think it was fair to pay people who do the same job more just because they’ve been there a year,” Newberg said. “Some of the positions were elected positions. I didn’t think it was fair for someone who was just elected to be paid less than someone who was elected but for a second year.”

Student body president and 2006-07 SFC member Rudy Soto said he disagreed with the committee’s decision and that he was in favor of the increases as an SFC member last year.

“I respect their decision, but let me be clear in saying that it’s one that I fundamentally disagree with,” Soto said. “I think the SFC decision sends the wrong message to those who are eligible for what I see as a minor gratuity.”

Soto also said a 5 percent increase for students who have kept the same position for two years is “a worthy proposition.”

PSU Soccer Club coordinator Petter Dahlgren, 24, earns a $475 stipend per month and would have been eligible for a $23.75 pay raise per month this year.

“If they have done it in the past, they should keep doing it or explain why they’re not doing it. This is the first time I’m hearing about it. My liaison hasn’t told me about it,” Dahlgren said. “They should be more transparent.”

Newberg said that she didn’t know the names of some students who were eligible for the pay increase until Friday, and that group liaisons were not told to inform their groups.

“Advisors actually got them all late to me,” Newberg said. “I guess process-wise, we didn’t inform groups, but it was on the agenda.”

Dahlgren, a senior environmental science major, said being the Soccer Club coordinator requires a lot of work, and the pay increase is an incentive to do a good job.

“I think the increase is good, especially if they already have the experience,” Dahlgren said. “I guess I wouldn’t be so upset about it if they had publicized it and told us. If I had known I would have gone to the meeting.”