The Allocations Board (A-board) funded 68.3 percent of requests, according to Spring Marathon decisions released through the club leaders listserv on Tuesday, Nov. 22.

A-board received requests from 139 clubs for an amount totaling $632,199.18. They funded requests from 135 clubs and allocated $431,787.09.

This is the first time that clubs have requested funding for the entire spring semester during a marathon in the previous fall semester.

In the past, Regular Marathon took place during the semester that the club would be using its requested funding. For example, A-board would hold a regular marathon at the beginning of spring semester for funding that a club would use later that semester. A-board announced the change to the marathon process on Feb. 29.

This semester and last semester, funding requests were not always realistic. Game Knight requested a VT-55 Recovery Demilitarized Vehicle that would cost $20,200. They cited the recent election as the reason they needed the vehicle.

A-board also rejected requests if they did not meet certain guidelines. Yourstory requested $39,750 for a trip that would take place over the summer. A-board cannot fund events that do not take place during the semester.

A-board Chair Alex Feldman ’19 admitted that he knew clubs would find the new marathon difficult to adapt to. However, using this new format of Marathon made funding “more manageable for us but also it just gives us better oversight,” Feldman said. Instead of looking at the semester as two different parts, A-board can now look at a club’s calendar for a whole semester. This will allow A-board members to make more informed decisions, according to Feldman.

A-board held office hours before the Spring Marathon closed. Feldman said that the change in how they are conducting Marathon made the final office hours stressful. Four A-Board members spoke to approximately 60 clubs in the last hour and a half of Marathon drop-in hours. “We were swamped,” Feldman said.

Overall, there were fewer formatting errors than in previous Marathons. However, the rush to file requests on the last day increased the possibility of mistakes by three or four times. Only a few of these mistakes were incorrect RA type.

Feldman said that the new format affected some clubs more than others, using the theater clubs as an example. A club may know what show they plan to put on next semester, but not who is going to design the set or how much the costumes will cost. In these situations, A-board asked clubs to estimate costs based on past performances.

The appeals session opened on Monday, Nov. 28. Club treasurers will have one week to revise requests that were denied, partially funded, or incorrect and meet with A-board members during office hours.

A club cannot make new requests during the appeals process. Treasurers use appeals to edit requests that have already been made.

Emergency funding will take place throughout spring semester, but requests will be considered on a case by case basis. “If a club really can’t function [without the funding], we would consider it during emergency,” Feldman said. Clubs can get in contact with A-board through the Club Finance email.

Feldman hopes that the new process will give A-board time to focus on new policies. A-board has 11 members as of a constitutional amendment on Nov. 7, 2015 which increased the members from nine. “It’s an exciting time to be sitting behind the spreadsheets,” wrote Feldman in an email to the club leaders listserv.

Four A-board positions will be up for election next semester. Students interested in filling the positions must contact the Union in order to run.