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ASM considers excess funding
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For the first time since the organization’s founding, the Associated Students of Madison has a surplus of funding in need of distribution.
An ASM referendum altering the allocation of segregated-fee reserves from student tuition has left a projected $1.2 million surplus for potential distribution to University of Wisconsin students and organizations.
To allocate the reserve funds, ASM has called for any one or group of students with an idea beneficial to UW to submit applications for funding by this Friday. Thus far, they have only received three applications.
ASM met Wednesday to decide what criteria must be met for funding and how reserve funds available to students should be publicized.
At the meeting, ASM chair Janell Wise said failure to notify students of the available reserve funds was partially due to short notice as well as ASM obligations to other deadlines.
Applicants can be anyone with an idea that would benefit students or impact life on campus. The idea must have student input, Wise said.
While anybody with a practical and rational idea can apply for reserve-fee funding, applicants must prepare a budget proposal to present their idea as both critical and beneficial to the campus community.
“It’s got to be a damn good reason why we would be giving this money and how it’s going to benefit the campus,” Wise said. “It’s not going to be like everybody who gave us a proposal is going to get funds because the money is there.”
In previous years, segregated-fee reserves were absorbed by UW administration, which sequentially subtracted the amount from tuition for the next academic year’s segregated fees.
However, ASM passed a referendum last year creating a reserve board consisting of ASM members to reallocate segregated-fee reserves to benefit students and campus life. The referendum was proposed by ASM after suspicions arose that UW administration was not allocating the full amount of reserves back to students.
“This is the first year we’ve really done this — this is one-time funding for projects that may provide a useful service or benefit to students that is not on campus already,” ASM finance chair Barbara Kiernoziak said. “Although we have some ideas, we’re looking for the student body to help us out.”
In addition to providing funding for independent projects and organizations on campus, ASM’s ability to allocate funding as it pleases presents a unique situation in which the organization and UW students have control over future segregated fees.
“This is really monumental because this is the first time the students have actually been able to set what the reserve is going to be and set how much money will be used out of their fees next year,” Wise said.
To apply for reserve funding, students may visit the ASM web site at www.asm.wisc.edu. Applications are due by Friday.
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I have an idea that would benefit students…. give us the money back! Is that ever a consideration? no way. Instead they will find some retarded way to spend this then ask for even more money next year. That makes sense how?
This is $30 per student. Who couldn’t use an extra thirty bucks right now? Give it back!
Wow! Props to ASM for fiscal responsibility! No do the right thing and give it back!
The funding is not in need of redistribution. It is in need of a refund!
Actually, one of the options could be to cut a check. It also could be used to decrease the fee for next year. However from a fiscal standpoint and according to UW System policy, we can’t and won’t deplete the entire reserve. One of the most feasible options is to actually use the funds so that the fee is lowered or use it to hold the fee stable, without increases next year. However, there is no guarantee that there will be any redistribution at all. This article makes it sound like we are definitely going to give out the money which is a misrepresentation.
Woah, did i just read ASM and fiscal responsibility in the same sentance? hahaha… just because they have some extra money does NOT mean they are fiscally responsible. Oh, they are so so far from fiscally responsible.
I could use my 30 dollars right now, but i could use my several hundered dollars even more.
i still don’t get it… you all tell us to stop whining when we try to reduce tuition by over $1000, because it’s not really that much, but then you can’t stop bitching about how $600 which is well spent and goes into programs that directly benefit you is so friggin much and you should get that back?
seriously, does ASM owe you money?
Programs that benefit me? I have been here 6 years (professional school, no im not taking that long for an undergrad degree)and not once attended any events these groups put on… no campus wide party, no speakers, nothing. And im guessing a huge portion of the campus can speak very similarly.
In regards to tuition, there are several issues. First, how can you argue for lower tuition when you keep raising the portion you control. I dont give a rats-ass what the numbers are (thousands compared to hundreds), it is simply the principle of it. Second, our tuition is still well under control compared to other big ten schools. Third, I am not ready to stick tax payers with a higher bill because the people using the school are complaining, while we start stupid programs like LGBT masters programs or whatever it is. Maybe we should do some cutting back.
Finally, yes ASM does owe me money, and a huge apology for acting like idiots for years.
What’s interesting to me is that everyone bitches about seg fees going up but doesn’t want to an ounce of homework about it. If you did, you’d realize that those numbers are going up almost entirely because of increased budgets for the Union, Rec Sports and UHS. Yes, your seg fees pay for those precious services, too, not just the LGBTCC, MCSC, Campus Women’s Center, Adventure Learning Programs, etc and ASM only has the power to RECOMMEND increases or decreases for those budgets—the Chancellor and the Regents make the real decisions there. Do your homework: only $40 of your almost $300 in semesterly seg fees goes to GSSF groups, which ASM has full control over. The rest of it, yes, ALL OF IT, goes to UHS, Rec Sports, the Union and your FREE BUS PASS that you take for granted. Oh, and by the way, Campus Party isn’t funded by seg fees. C’mon, people.
Wait wait, so if they only control $40, and the money they have left over is equal to $30/student… they overcharged me by 400%? That is totally responsible.
I don’t use serf, UHS, the union, or my bus pass… can i have my money back now?
The money that is in the reserve is not just money charged for this year, but money that has been accumulated over time..the Regents stipulate all that all segregated fee accounts must keep a certain amount of money in reserves for operating contingencies. So no, the 1.2 million did not come from ASM overcharging you by 400%. Stop being so simple and do a little bit of homework
The money that is in the reserve is not just money charged for this year, but money that has been accumulated over time..the Regents stipulate all that all segregated fee accounts must keep a certain amount of money in reserves for operating contingencies. So no, the 1.2 million did not come from ASM overcharging you by 400%. Please Stop being so simple and do a little bit of homework
If you all want direct control over where your money goes, why don’t you try to get an opt-out system in place so you can decide where your money goes? Oh wait, I forgot, you all tried that before and it FAILED overwhelmingly because a majority of students decided they don’t mind the current system. Sorry
majority of students? that would require a majority of students to vote… barely over 10% ever vote in those elections.
People had a direct opportunity to decide how their fees would be allocated and spent and they made the decision not to vote on it. I don’t think that is anyone’s fault besides the individuals that decided not to cast a ballot. Of the people who did believe the issue was of importance and voted, a majority decided to preserve the system
It isn’t ASM’s money to do what it will on a whim. It is the money of their fellow student, who would much rather spend it on booze than anything that would ever come out of a council meeting.
ASM doesn’t really control that much of your seg fees. If you want to bitch about them, go bitch at the Chancellor and Regents, who ultimately control the majority of the seg fees. I know the coming to that realization is hard, because it requires you to be able to read, but I think it’s pretty clear now. Bitch about seg fees all you want- the portion that keeps going up is mostly controlled by (SURPRISE!) non-ASM bodies.
Shut the fuck up, already.
-anonymous ASM Council Member
Nice to see our representatives talk so nicely to their constituents. Oh, and if they are “mostly” controlling the part that increases, that means you are still controlling part of that increase. Therefore, it is still hypocritical to lobby for lower tution while raising it yourself. The amount of money doesn’t change that fact.
So its hypocritical to raise seg fees by 4 dollars (which is what the increase has been for the past couple of years), while lobbying to save students hundreds? Thats the stupidest shit i’ve ever read. Please..read and re-read what you just wrote and realize you’re a moron. Thanks
yes it is hypocrytical. Regardless of the amount, you cannot stand for lowering tuition while raising it yourself. Deny it all you want, call me names all you want… it doesn’t change that fact.
if it bothers you so much, run for council. if you feel you’re being wronged so severely by a four dollar increase, then campaign on it and see if your fellow students agree that this is such a hypocritical crisis.
you’ll lose. trust me.