Twenty-three clubs asked the Government of the Student Body finance committee for a total of $54,379.14 in special hearings Thursday.

Fourty-two groups attended the budget meetings held earlier in the semester, but several of the groups requested funds through the senate because they need money before Jan. 1, said Tom Danielson, GSB finance director and senior in engineering.

Six groups applied for special allocations funds, last year, he said, and 18 to 20 groups applied for the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

A combination of factors brought the groups to special allocations this year.

Special allocations were not advertised until a week after they were over last year, and more sports clubs seem to be aware of the financial options available to them this year, Danielson said.

Dan Finnegan, an engineering senator, member of the finance committee and senior in aerospace engineering, had a different opinion as to why a large number of groups showed up to allocations.

“Maybe it’s the economy. A lot of groups have had a loss of sponsorships,” Finnegan said.

There was also a turnover in leadership, Finnegan said.

When a new leader takes over a group they have different ideas, which can create unforeseen expenses, Finnegan said.

“I’m happy we have a large number of groups applying for special allocations. It’s their money,” said Jon Turk, GSB president and senior in political science.

The finance committee has $20,000 budgeted to special allocations requests, so the committee has $34,379.14 in cuts to make.

Danielson said the committee distributes the money based on how the groups present their case.

The committee then decides where they can compromise with the group, to see what the group’s immediate needs are.

Finnegan said the committee asks groups to prioritize their needs. Several groups will lose what is not high on their lists, he said.

It’s GSB’s duty to effectively, efficiently and fairly distribute the money, Turk said.

“In specials, we have never gone over our budget. We will sit until it is all decided,” Danielson said.

Amount of funds requested by each organization

Iowa State University Lions Club: $849.48

ISU Habitat for Humanity: $4,553.20

African Student Association: $2,500.76

Blood Drive: $434.80

Crew Club: $15,005.72

Dodgeball Club: $159.60

Horsemen’s Association: $1,998.60

Iowa State Space Society: $431.93

LGBTA Alliance: $542.40

MAYAS: $8,336.10

Muslim Student Association: $7,626.40

Alliance for Disability Awareness: $578.40

Technology and Public Policy: $99.00

University Print Society: $2,273.41