Internal programs will be spared the axe under Associated Students, Inc.?s revised plan to give a $100 pay hike to nine of the 13 board members.

The board recommended May 1 that the pay increase should come from programs, such as Peak Adventures, Aquatic Center and the Children?s Center.

A stipend review committee met to discuss possible options for the incoming 2002-2003 board last Monday and opted for cutting the money from the Leadership budget instead.

The ASI operating rules require the board to appoint a stipend review committee every year, according to ASI Vice President of University Affairs Lisanne Nakayama. Nakayama also sits as the stipend review committee chair.

“It doesn?t mean that a stipend review will take place every year; it?s just set up as a forum for a discussion to take place if necessary,” Nakayama said.

Only the nine directors were recommended for pay increases, according to Nakayama.

“We felt that the director stipends lagged behind what the executives get paid,” Nakayama said. “It was grossly inequitable.” The executive positions are the ASI President, Executive Vice President, Vice President of Finance and Vice President of University Affairs.

The directors currently receive a $200 monthly stipend, the vice presidents receive an $800 stipend and the president receives $930 a month.

“It?s not fair that the executives get a three times higher pay than the directors,” Nakayama said.

ASI President Artemio Pimentel doesn?t support the idea. Pimentel thinks that cutting 1 percent from internal programs such as the Children?s Center is a better choice.

“I don?t know why everyone criticizes the Leadership budget,” Pimentel said. “The leadership budget is just as important as the budget for our other programs.”

Pimentel originally supported the amendment that would cut from all of ASI?s internal programs, except the Leadership budget. The Leadership budget funds member travel, accommodations and the ASI spring awards banquet, among other things.

Unlike Nakayama, Pimentel would like to see the executive positions also receive a pay increase next year.

“We?re hoping to give the directors a pay raise because the committee found there is a need to keep up with the cost of living expenses and we?re hoping it will help with retention on the board as well,” Nakayama said.

Pimentel said that he himself works 24 hours a week managing a Woodland restaurant on top of his duties as ASI President.

“We don?t want the executives to have two or three jobs on the side of working for ASI,” he said. “I think it?s important for them to focus on the mission of ASI and that?s working to serve the students.”

“I would like to see the entire board get a $150 pay raise,” Pimentel said. “We?re paid below what a lot of other campus leaders receive in their student governments.”

If the board approves the proposal, it would run an extra $2,700 from ASI?s $8 million budget on top of the $9,600 surplus in the Leadership budget, according to ASI Director of Finance and Administration Randolph Morgan.

Nakayama said the leadership budget can “easily absorb the amount”.

“I?m hoping if this passes, it will encourage the directors to hold summer office hours and get a head start to the new administration,” Nakayama said.

If a board member does not hold summer hours, then he or she will not get paid for that time period, according to Nakayama.

The stipend review committee consists of ASI Vice President of Finance Tom Hughes, Student Access Center Director Ericka Anglin, Lobby Corp chair Brendan Wonnacott, Finance and Budget committee member Steven Baird and Nakayama serving as chairwoman.

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