The NIU administrator who reinstated $850 for art show refreshments after the Student Association axed it from its budget believes too much is being made of too little money.

“I’m somewhat amazed this has become an issue,” said Barbara Henley, vice prasident for student affairs.

The SA senate rejected the refreshments last semester because university policy mandates Holmes Student Center Activities be catered by the student center’s kitchen and some believe the kitchen’s prices are too expensife.

During a June final approval meeting for the SA’s Fiscal Year 1990-91 budget, Henley reinstated the Campus Activity Board Visual Arts Committee’s request to serve refreshments at 16 art shows.

Henley said the issue is minor because only $850 of an $800,000 budget was changed.

But SA President Robert McCormack and SA Treasurer Michael Holy remember the meeting differently than Henley. She said there was A consensus to reinstate the money. They say they spoke out because the senate already made a decision.

“We gave input and she decided. There was opposition,” Holy said.

“I think everyone at the meeting had a chance to voice their concerns,” Henley said. “I don’t recall any strong objections.”

McCormack said he wasn’t aware before the meeting Henley could change SA budgets, but Henley said NIU always had the final say with the SA appropriations.

“Students play a major role, but not the entire role,” Henley said.

Holy said deciding not to fund the CAB refreshments was within the SA’s power enumerated by budget guidelines.

“Generally, guidelines are used to restrict, to set parameters on what you can fund and what you can’t fund,” he said. “I think nothing should have been changed.”

Henley said she couldn’t provide a set of guidelines governing the SA’s budget, but said University Programing and Activities reviews the budgets thoroughly before they arrive for her signature.

Although the $850 reinstatement was the only change made, Holy aid Michelle Emmett, UP&A director and SA faculty adviser, sent him a six-page memo of proposed changes before the meeting. Emmett cotld not be reached for comment.

“I had a feeling Barbara Henley was going to change something,” Holy said, adding she was “very fair” about the other budgets.