On Tuesday, the Students’ Association Appropriations Committee allotted $10,000 to the office of the SA President. The money will go toward a student-led initiative to provide security and programming on Dandelion Day.
On Feb. 29, SAAC voted to close its Supplemental Account, a fund that is used to finance student groups. The $6,104 remaining in the account would have rolled over to next year’s budget.
At an SA Senate meeting, SA Senator and sophomore Jon Junig motioned to overrule SAAC’s decision to close the account, with the “sole purpose of programming Dandelion Day,” according to the text of his motion.
Junig and junior Harrell Kirstein have been spearheading a campaign to make D-Day happen this year. Junig created a Facebook group entitled, “Official Group to Save DDay,” which outlined the two things needed to make D-Day possible: money and volunteers. In the description of the group, Junig said, “Without CAB, [holding D-Day] is no easy task. Their money and manpower were vital to D-Day.”
Kirstein shared other people’s reactions concerning this endeavor.
“We started off having people say it was completely impossible,” he said. “No one ever expected us to get this far.”
Though the group that approached SAAC, consisting of SA President and junior Alvin Lomibao, SA Vice President and junior Janna Gewirtz, Junig and Kirstein, only asked for the remainder of the Supplemental Account, they got more than they asked for. SAAC member and senior Namit Sachar came up with the idea to round the amount up to $10,000, with the remaining money coming from SAAC’s Reserve Account.
Lomibao explained that the Reserve Fund, which exists for emergencies, is often tapped into for events that benefit everyone, such as the College Readership Program.
“In my experience, groups never receive more money than they request,” Lomibao said. “The argument was made that D-Day is a community-building day that benefits the campus.”
SA treasurer and senior Susan Barnish said she was surprised that the group received extra money. She added that this is rare, but some SAAC members felt strongly about D-Day.
“I guess everyone has a vested interest in seeing something happen,” she said.
Junig and Kirstein hope to raise $20,000. This money will fund a band and a stage on the Wilson Quad, as well as Medical Emergency Response Team and UR Security. Other money will go to field games and food. Junig and Kirstein stressed that safety is a priority. MERT requires a water tent and an increase in radios and barriers for the MERT tent and the stage.
Student groups have been joining together to help raise money for D-Day.
“The UR Rugby team is currently selling Rugby T-Shirts for $15,” Junig and Kirstein said. “They are donating $5 of each sale to D-Day.” Chi Phi Fraternity will be selling T-Shirts that read, “Save D-Day.” Sigma Delta Tau Sorority will be selling bracelets, and currently the Fraternity Presidents’ Council is in the process of talking about having a “Save D-Day” Bar Party.
This week, Junig and Kirstein will be approaching other student groups in an effort to raise the remainder of necessary money.
“Right now, fundraising is the number one priority,” Junig said.
Junig and Kirstein said D-Day will be different this year.
“For the first time, students will be taking responsibility for the day,” Kirstein said. They stressed this could either be the end of D-Day or the revival of it for years to come.
Wisch is a member of the class of 2011.
