By Moa Golster
Online Editor
With the commencement of the Fall 2014 semester, LIU Post introduced significant changes regarding student stipends. Students with bigger positions within LIU Post clubs and organizations, such as the Student Government Association (SGA), the Residence Assistants (RAs), The Pioneer, and the Association for Campus Programming (ACP) will no longer be compensated for their work on campus.
According to Abagail Van Vlerah, Dean of Students, the decision to eliminate stipends was based on discussions between the SGA and Campus Life Leadership. Dean Van Vlerah said that these stipends have previously been funded through student activity fees, which LIU students pay each semester.
“Ensuring a fair, equitable and balanced practice is an important and ongoing process that guarantees th[e] students’ funds are utilized in the best possible ways, and to provide the most benefit for all students,” Dean Van Vlerah said.
However, there are rare exceptions to the new “no stipend” policy. The SGA president, as well as students at the campus radio station, MYWCWP Radio, will continue to receive stipends for their work. Since MYWCWP is part of the LIU Post School of Visual and Performing Arts, and therefore is not considered a club, student activity fees do not fund these stipends.
“WCWP is a department of the School of Visual and PerformingArts from which we receive an operating budget that includes funding for a limited number of part-time staff and student budget positions,” said Dan Cox, Director of Broadcasting at WCWP Radio.
“We also raise money through underwriting of programming on our public radio service, WCWP/88.1fm, and advertising we sell on our student radio station, mywcwp.org,” Cox added.
Dianne Zoppa, Director of Public Relations at LIU Post, confirms that the station’s operating budget from the School of Visual and Performing Arts is also funded by students, through student tuition fees.
“We are pleased, through LIU’s Career Services, to provide many opportunities for on-campus jobs that a student can secure at Post to gain valuable workplace skills, earn money while still at school, and make the professional connections they need to launch their careers,” Zoppa said.
Zoppa added, “Therefore, you will find students working in the Tilles Center, at the radio station, in the library, and across campus, making students one of our largest employment groups.”
When The Pioneer reached out to students affected by the new policy, none of them were willing to comment on the stipend cuts, as it would tarnish their reputation.
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