Student Government Association has put money back into the hands of the students by taking personal cutbacks rather than decreasing the money allotted to student organizations this fall.

The cutbacks include electing to take a smaller meal plan, a selective choice in a room assignment and declining a parking permit, Jasmine Barnes, SGA president and mass communication senior, said.

Blake Corley, SGA vice president and international business junior, said he received a reduction in compensation by electing to live off campus and forfeiting a housing plan, a meal plan and a parking decal.

“I forfeited that huge expense to the student body,” Corley said. “I have received less compensation than any VP in recent history.”

When Barnes was asked why SGA decided on the reduction, she said the decision was unanimous among the executive board members.

“They all understood,” Barnes said. “It was the right thing to do.”

Some other officials will also take a compensation reduction. These members include Logan McCabe, vice president of finance and economics senior, Thea Celestine, vice president of programming and sociology senior, and Ron Palmer, vice president of communication and marketing senior.

Also, the other executive officers will now receive a 10 percent tuition stipend. From last year to this year, their compensation dropped from $2,000 to $1,750, McCabe said.

Mara Steven, chief justice and history pre-law senior, will not be affected by the compensation cutbacks. Her stipend remains $1,750, Barnes said.

“The decision was made in understanding that the budget would be smaller this year,” Barnes said. “We chose to focus on student organizations and the student body.”

McCabe said the cuts are due primarily to a decrease in student fees, which is due to this year’s decline in enrollment and smaller freshman class size.

Courtney Williams, assistant director of student programming and advocacy and SGA adviser, is not concerned with the consequences these cuts may have for the officers.

“These changes have not had an effect on our officers. They are continuing to work together effectively and honor their commitment to the university,” Williams said.

“They don’t do it for the money,” Barnes said.

Ashlyn Haycook, sociology sophomore, said she believes that the compensation SGA executive members receive could influence their motivation for seeking the position in the first place.

“I don’t really think they should [receive compensation] because they are choosing to be there. It’s just like choosing to be the president of a club; you’re not doing it for the money or the compensation, you’re doing it because you want to do it and you want to be a leader and you want to do it for the benefit of others,” Haycook said.

Kaitlyn Woltz, economics sophomore, said she believes that SGA’s efforts are to put the students first.

“I think they try to. I also think it’s difficult for them to know exactly what the student population wants,” she said.

Mary Graci can be contacted at [email protected]