2008-2009 ASSU President Kai Smith in the office with Emmanuelle Escandar, ASSU's vice president for finance, who sponsored a resolution to draw on reserves to fund student clubs. Photo by Garrett Mukai, The Spectator

The Associated Students of Seattle University, facing more and more clubs relying on its funding but no increase in its budget from the university, passed a resolution to draw on its reserve funds in April.

The student government body voted to draw $2,000 from its reserves fund. It had already drawn more than $2,000 from “personal, representative” funds for clubs, according to a release.

The resolution, passed April 8 but for which The Spectator received a release about last week, said the clubs and organizations ASSU supports have grown in number from 91 in 2005 to more than 152 in 2008. The resolution also notes that university funding to its appropriations budget has not increased in the same time period.

“Funding for student clubs from the university administration has been stagnant for the past three years,” reads the resolution.

ASSU’s appropriations budget is $65,000 a year, and as of the time of the resolution, it had already distributed all of those funds.

Look for more student organization budget reporting as The Spectator examines how university-wide budget cuts will impact students.