The UCSD Guardian applauds the A.S. Council’s approval of the 2001-2002 executive budget last week and agrees with most of the changes made in the new budget’s allocations.

Primarily, the Guardian applauds A.S. President Jeff Dodge for spearheading the effort to eliminate the line-item allocation given to the Committee for World Democracy in past budgets.

Although the CWD’s events bring essential messages of global awareness to UCSD, the Guardian acknowledges that it is still only one of hundreds of student organizations and does not deserve the guaranteed, fixed funding sent its way by past budgets.

Forcing the CWD to annually apply for funding through the Student Organization Funding Allocation Board, as all other student organizations must do, will eliminate the unfair financial advantage that the line-item allocation gave to the CWD over other student groups.

The decision to almost double the amount of money set aside for FallFest is another laudable change included in the 2001-2002 executive budget. The recent success of the Sun God Festival proved that the A.S. programming office is capable of organizing well-rounded, lively events in spite of how tame this campus typically may be.

The increase in FallFest funding is also a smart move, considering that bands traditionally tour in fall or spring. This way, there is double the chance that there will be at least one great concert at UCSD next year.

Increasing the FallFest funds from $35,000 to $70,000 (keep in mind that the Sun God Festival, in comparison, receives $75,000) will hopefully boost the programming office’s ability to reel in top-notch touring acts for its first major event of the academic year.

Further, using the new funds to put together an impressive FallFest concert could set the mood for an alive and involved student body for the rest of the year.

Finally, although the A.S. Council also deserves praise for passing the executive budget in record time — the process took only 11 minutes according to A.S. Vice President Internal Jenn Brown — this fact nonetheless evokes some concern.

Remember that the Unity slate swept A.S. Council elections last quarter, and perhaps the speed with which this budget was ratified proves that this council lacks a diversity of viewpoints.

While diversity could bring legislative gridlock, which certainly would be equally detrimental to the students represented by the A.S. Council, passing a $1,133,400 budget in 11 minutes can only indicate one thing: The Unity candidates who now hold office will get a lot done this year, but maybe only because they are not faced with empowered opposition and viewpoints from other council members.