Ruth Brown

Some of SDSU’s student groups have received money from one of Brookings’ entertainment funds, but dollars remain unspent. The source of the unspent money is the Third B tax, commonly known as the “bed, board and booze” tax, established in 2005 to help pay to bring entertainment to the Brookings community.

Nick Wendell, assistant director of student activities said, “Some of SDSU’s bigger student groups have begun using the money for different events.”

In order for a project to be eligible for money they must make a significant economic impact on the Brookings economy, said Bridgit Burghardt, community events coordinator for the city of Brookings. Other criteria include things like drawing in a majority of attendees from out of town, demonstrating a need for funding and benefitting the community. It is also expected that the event will be completed within the year the grant payment is made.

Each year, $35,000 is put into a student fund for SDSU, and if the funds are not used, they are carried over to the next year, said Burghardt. The Third B tax funding has awarded $75,850 out of its student fund to SDSU groups.

Currently, there is $64,150 in the Third B tax’s student fund.

Student events such as the Children’s Miracle Network State-A-Thon that the University Program Council hosts have applied and been approved for funding. The CMN received $5,000 to bring in the band Tonic Sol-fa for the State-A-Thon.

Other organizations that requested funding include SDSU’s Hansen Residence Hall Government for their annual hog roast, as well as the Weekend Stuff program.

Weekend Stuff is a program on campus that organizes free events for students. Some of the events include free movie nights, comedians, karaoke and other activities for students.

“The money we requested will help support the programs that Weekend Stuff puts on for students,” said Adam Karnopp, the director of orientation who also coordinates Weekend Stuff events.

Other student groups that have received funding include the South Dakota Agricultural Museum, SDSU Little International, SDSU Black Student Alliance and the Native American Club in the Office of Multicultural Affairs and SDSU Collegiate Bowling. Other groups include Student Affairs, SDSU Ag/Bio Prexy Council, the Wellness Center and the SDSU Women’s Hockey Club.

The Third B tax does, however, belong to the city of Brookings. The Brookings community wants to use the tax more for the Visitor Promotions Committee in Brookings and use it to help Brookings economic development, said Chris Daugaard, Students’ Association president.

The Visitor Promotions Committee was created to attract out-of-town visitors for events with an economic impact, said Burghardt. It is meant to attract attention and the expenditures of out-of-town visitors to the city of Brookings and the surrounding area.

There are SDSU representatives on the Visitor Promotions Committee that include Daugaard, Tyler Luckhurst, state and local chair for Students’ Association and Zeno Wicks, adviser for SA.

Deadlines for applications for funding for Jan. 1 to June 30 events have already passed their due dates. Applications for events between July 1 and Sept. 30 are due by April 1, and events between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 are due by July 1.