“AMP magazine is no more,” said Pat Lamorte, vice chairman of the University Board during Thursday’s Apportionment Board meeting.

The publication’s entire $13,521 budget was cut in order to meet the AB’s mandated $57,948 budget reduction for fiscal year 2009.

“I want to thank UB for cutting AMP upon our recommendation,” AB member Travis Bounds said.

In UB’s March 20 proposal, $6,120.65 had already been removed from AMP’s 2008 budget of $19,641.65.

“AMP was actually cut days before we presented to you and for other reasons, but we decided to push for it anyway,” Lamorte told AB.

According to a UB survey of approximately 160 students, only 53 percent of the participants rated AMP’s quality a four out of five.

“Removing AMP was discussed in our first round of budget cuts a few months ago because of personnel (expectations),” Lamorte said after the meeting. “And again with funds, (AMP) was an expendable budget item.”

In addition to AMP’s removal, Lamorte said about 18 events were cut from five programming committees. UB’s approved budget for fiscal year 2009 is $239,469.

One major fall Up All Nite event has been split into two minor events and the spring semester Up All Nite was cut completely. Funding was also removed for a UB Rush Hour, outdoor movie, and one comedian.

“They definitely took all of the suggestions into account and brought back exactly what AB wanted to see,” said AB chairwoman Leah Pietraszewski. “I definitely foresee (UB) coming back for additional funding because they cut a lot of good programs that I’m sure we will have money for some of.”

One expensive and one low-budget lecture were removed from UB line items, as well as PantherStock and four open mic nights.

“What we did was allocate enough money to have a solid fall semester and come back for additional money to (supplement) spring events,” Lamorte said.

AB approved both UB and Student Government’s restructured budgets and sent the overall $535,000 appropriation to fee-funded organizations to the Student Senate.

Student Body President Cole Rogers and Student Senate Speaker Megan Ogulnick were present to give their budget adjustments to AB.

Levi Bulgar, student executive vice president, gave a presentation to AB about Student Government’s trip to Texas for the Conference on Student Government Associations.

Bulgar hoped to convince AB not to remove the trip from the budget, but the decision was already made. The COSGA trip was removed instead of the additional $4,600 for tuition waivers.

Student Government’s modified, suggested budget of $45,226 was approved with all additional requests removed. The approved 2009 budget will be $63 more than the 2008 budget.

AB will not meet again this year unless the senate does not approve the suggested budgets during Wednesday’s meeting.

Rick Kambic can be reached at 581-7942 or at rwkambic@eiu.edu.