Guess what? Yep, that’s right & more of our money is just waiting to get tossed around.

During the Student Association Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night, the Office of Campus Recreation requested $201,000 for next year. Last year, the Rec’s budget sat at $172,860, making for a 14 percent requested increase in funding. This extra money would go to help support the OCR-sponsored summer camp for 6-to 12-year-olds, which the OCR says takes $53,000 to maintain.

Though we thought it was non-existent, a glimmer of hope shined through at the meeting. Senator Jeff Meyer spoke up and said, “As the SA, we have to be concerned that the students are getting as much benefit as possible from the funds we recommend.”

That’s exactly right. Far be it from us to be rude, but why is our money going to a children’s camp and not to something that will have a much greater effect on the campus as a whole?

Amy Fawcett, OCR intramural sports coordinator, said it’s because the camp consists of camp counselors, who are NIU students. That should be a red light right there. It sounds more like the NIU students are getting experience working with kids, which in turn sounds similar to classroom-like experience, which in turns means they should pay their own money to be involved with the camp.

If you don’t believe us, look at the SA’s recent denial of a 25.2 percent increase in funding for the Campus Activities Board. CAB is an organization that supposedly works for the greater student good, and it didn’t get what it wanted. If the university really wants to improve its image with a summer camp for kids, officials can dip into their own pockets for cash.

The SA should hold its ground in not allowing the frivolous use of student money. That also means the Indian Student Association, which was caught levying an SA-outlawed cover charge at a recent event, should be punished for misusing its allocated funds.

It’s expensive to go to college, including the ever-changing student fee rate. We’ll be looking for that next glimmer of hope when someone uses our money for a good reason.