SFC deemed legitimate

The Student Fee Committee spent the summer training and planning and feels ready for the coming year, said SFC Chair Johnnie Ozimkowski.

“Every group of people goes through an evolution to be productive and efficient. This summer helped us hash out who brings what to the table,” Ozimkowski said.

His assessment came at the end of a summer in which the SFC faced the possibility of not being able to conduct official business because of the enrollment status of some of its members.

According to an Oregon administrative rule requiring all members remain at at least half-time status, the committee would not have been able to reach quorum. With only one committee member enrolled in summer classes, the SFC would not have had the minimum number of members needed to function.

However, Portland State Legal Council worked with the Chancellor’s Office and other Oregon University System institutions to reach an understanding on the issue, said Student Activities and Leadership Assistant Director, Domanic Thomas.

The SFC was able to meet officially because the rule regarding enrollment was interpreted to apply only to the traditional school year, which does not include summer term.

“It was really a small issue to work out,” Ozimkowski said. “We just didn’t want to do anything that would call the committee’s legitimacy into question.”

He said that the summer was valuable time that the SFC used to determine its identity and to prepare members for the budgeting process, which begins this fall with student groups and departments submitting information regarding budget overages.

“Our theme this year is stewardship,” Ozimkowski said. “What we really have to focus on is public service—how would every student want their money best spent?”