MSA finishes audit on DSA funds being used toward a movie production
Missouri Students Association Senate Speaker Amanda Shelton finalized her audit report on the possible misallocation of DSA funds.
According to the report, funds put into question were those used to support the movie production of the film Mil Mascaras: Aztec Revenge. Communication errors in MSA led to lack of knowledge of approved funds, and put Assistant Director of Campus Activities Kathy Murray into question. Murray also acted as the assistant/associate producer for the film.
Mil Mascaras: Aztec Revenge is a sequel to two films, neither of which asked MSA for money. The first was funded privately and the second by the College of Engineering. There is currently a fourth movie being planned, and funding options, including MSA, is being explored.
When Professors Roger Cook and Jeffrey Uhlmann presented their idea to DSA for funding, they didn't realize they were not talking to MSA as a whole. The two said they got the idea to solicit DSA for funding from Murray while they were judging the iLife competition in Fall 2008, but Murray did not give the presentation with them.
Former DSA Director Rachel Parrish approved the funding for $1,500 stating several members of DSA were interested in the project. She did not remember if the funds were taken from films, special events, or speakers.
Former DSA Director Rachel Grabowski said she was notified by Parrish the funds would be taken out during the leadership transition, but also wasn't positive where the money was taken from. The report stated she thought it might have been from speakers, but wasn't sure. Grabowski said funding a movie production isn't a far stretch from their current programming, and although DSA did go over budget, she said it had no impact.
Shelton concluded she believes Murray to be within ethical boundaries for the money transfer because DSA voted to approve the funding themselves.
"The issue in this situation is most appropriately located in the lack of effective and continued communication between DSA leadership and both executive and legislative MSA leadership," the report stated.
Shelton recommended no penalties to be placed upon DSA or MSA, but a follow-up audit during the semester and a follow-up with the current DSA director to assist in financial planning and communication.