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The Rice Thresher
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by BEN WESTON THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF The search for an assistant director for Student Organizations has been suspended, Vice President for Student Affairs Zenaido Camacho announced last week. Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Catherine Clack said the search was called off because the Budget Office has not yet approved the current plan for funding the position. "The decision to fund it entirely from Student Affairs is now at the budget-issue level," she said. The position was formerly covered in part by blanket-tax organizations. In November, the Student Association Executive Committee sent a memo to Camacho recommending that the organizations no longer contribute to the position's salary. The Budget Office should release the Student Affairs Office's budget for the 2000-'01 academic year in April, Clack said. If the $7,000 increase in annual budget necessary to fund the position is approved, the search will be reinstated at that point. In the meantime, the committee of students and Student Affairs employees selected to find a candidate to fill the position will have to wait. Associate Director of Student Activities Mona Hicks said Camacho's decision to suspend the search came without warning. "Surprised would be a word I'd use," Hicks said. "We were in the process of selecting someone. ... We had just conducted phone interviews." Hicks said Student Affairs was planning to extend a job offer to the committee's choice by April 1, but now the timeline has been pushed back at least two months. "We've done everything right and it's someone way up top that messed up on budgeting," Campanile Editor in Chief Jamie Bartling said. "Camacho has not even told us or apologized or anything." Bartling said she found out about Camacho's decision through Student Media Adviser Jen Cooper, who had been asked by Hicks to pass on the information. Until a decision is made, Hicks and Student Activities Department Coordinator Philippa Angelides will continue to split the position's duties. "I don't understand why students aren't complaining more," Hicks said. "We just try to balance and try to get in touch with the students as much as possible. ... I just think I'm shortchanging the students right now." The assistant director for Student Organizations will work with the administrative details surrounding the roughly 150 student organizations. These include registration supervision, treasury maintenance and treasurer training, assistance in planning activity fairs, editing of Web pages and general clerical and supervisory work. "I really think this position needs to be filled - we're feeling it a whole lot," Bartling said. "There needs to be a qualified person in that office helping unify student organizations." The position has been open since Vicki Seefeldt West began work as a Study Abroad adviser Oct. 25. "I think the students deserve another adviser like myself to get the support that they need," Hicks said. "[Angelides and I] just don't have the time." Camacho could not be reached for comment. - back -
This document may be distributed electronically, provided that it is distributed in its entirety and includes this notice. However, it cannot be reprinted without the express written permission of: The Rice Thresher, Rice University MS-524, PO Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892, USA. The Thresher Online Project -- ethresh@listserv.rice.edu |
