The Student Association finance committee met Thursday night in violation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

The act requires public bodies to post the agendas of their meetings at least 48 hours before the meeting.

SA Treasurer Drew Josephson, who also serves as chairman of the finance committee, did not post the agenda for the meeting. Josephson was not aware of the requirements of the Open Meetings Act for his first formal finance committee meeting, but did contact all members of the finance committees and groups with business coming before the committee.

According to the “Guide to the Illinois Open Meetings Act,” published by the State Attorney General Office, the act applies to all public bodies, including the meetings of various sub-groups.

Although the SA does not directly spend tax revenue, the act could apply to the SA because of its advisory role to NIU. NIU spends tax revenue received from the State of Illinois.

During its meeting, the finance committee reviewed a supplemental funding request of $880 submitted jointly by the Asian American Association and Pan-Asian Interest Student Alliance.

The request was for expenses relating to the Midwest Asian American Students Union (MAASU) Fall Leadership Retreat. NIU is hosting the one-day event.

The finance committee voted to recommend to the senate an allocation of $440 – half the request.

“It isn’t as much as we hoped for, but it is something to work with,” senior communication major Linda Luk said. Luk, secretary of MAASU, represented AAA and PAISA at the meeting.

The decrease was partly because the request was submitted late.

“While I feel that the conference is a worthwhile cause and applaud them for hosting it, I do not feel that the process by which they brought the budget to the attention of the Student Association was the right way,” said Andrew Nelms, SA Speaker of the Senate and member of the finance committee. “The proper processes were not initiated until mid-September.”

Luk said she had been in contact with individuals in the SA after NIU was selected as the host institution in April 2002, but was not informed of proper procedures until September.

Members of the committee were concerned that AAA and PAISA did not do any fundraising for the event and also requested funding to advertise the retreat to non-NIU students.

The committee also postponed the budget appeals of the Intercollegiate Equestrian Club and Veterans Club until its Tuesday meeting.

The postponement was because committee members received the appeals shortly before the meeting.

Both clubs, however, were given short notice to submit their budgets.

The next meeting of the SA finance committee will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28 in the SA office, located in the Campus Life Building.