The Apportionment Board passed a piece of legislation last week that might leave the Eastern athletic department searching for additional funds.

During last week’s meeting, the AB passed a bylaw prohibiting the allocation of additional funds from its’ reserve to any organization other than the five fee-funded boards.

Non-fee funded boards were previously allowed to request special allocation from the reserve fund, but the AB was worried of the potential drain supporting additional organizations would have.

The only organization to ask for special allocation so far has been the athletic department.

“I think it (bylaw) was more of a safety guard against more organizations asking for funds,” said Amy Leonard, student vice president of financial affairs. “I could see where problems would arise if we didn’t do anything.”

The bylaw will have the biggest impact on the athletic department which will be left to scrap for the lost funds.

Rich McDuffie, director of athletics, said the athletic department has asked for special allocation twice in the past few years.

One instance was when the AB used funds to purchase 1000 student tickets for a football playoff game to allow students to attend the game for free.

The other instance came when the AB helped fund the travel expenses for the pep band, the Pink Panthers and the cheer team to an Ohio Valley Conference tournament.

“Obviously we’d like those opportunities (to ask for those funds) to come up again,” McDuffie said.

“If the law passes, we won’t be able to help out the student body,” McDuffie said.

“I guess the burden of the free playoff tickets would fall on the students shoulders and as far as the travel expenses go…I don’t know where we would get the money from. They may not get to go.”

Leonard did not vote on the topic due to her position as AB chair but backed her board’s decision.

“My opinion doesn’t mean anything, I have no sway, but I think they did what was of the best interest for the AB,” Leonard said. “I don’t think the board targets athletics, we just don’t want to open the gates for everyone.”

The bylaw, which still needs to be passed by the student senate, Shirley Stewart, vice president for student affairs and interim President Lou Hencken, promises to stir up some controversy, said Jennifer Fanthorpe, last year’s AB chair.

“Last year when we would bring something to the table dealing with athletics to the Student Senate, it was always a big controversy,” Fanthorpe said. “I think they will be highly in favor of (the bylaw); I think they have been waiting for it.”

Fanthorpe said she thought the Student Senate would take such a strong stance because they would prefer to see the funds go toward academics. She also said she does not think McDuffie would have a problem finding money on his own.

The AB, which passed the bylaw unanimously, only recommends the change; the student senate has the power to pass or fail the bill.

Fanthorpe does not think Stewart or Hencken will oppose the bill, assuming it reaches that far, saying, “Things usually don’t get stopped by them. If the students go along with it, they usually do also.”

Another reason for ceasing all non-fee funded support, as stated by multiple members of the AB, was that the reserve fund has been built up over the years exclusively by the five fee-funded boards.

Budget left at the end of the spring semester is rolled over into the reserve account, which is currently over $130,000.

“I hope our decision doesn’t hurt anyone,” Leonard said. “Obviously the board felt strongly about it. Any non-Recognized Student Organization board is free to apply to become a fee-funded board.”

Either way, McDuffie hopes the bylaw does not pass.

“I would hope that the AB retains its flexibility to make good decisions,” he said. “Once you deny the AB the ability to give a group funds, regardless of merit, you really give them no authority to properly act.”