NEWS
Funding group hands down slew of decisions
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by Nick Penzenstadler
Friday, October 27, 2006
Using their experience from previous budget hearings as building blocks, the University of Wisconsin Student Services Finance Committee approved three organizations' budget requests Thursday. SSFC divides funding for registered student organizations funded from student segregated fees.
SSFC approved the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Campus Center's budget of $114,648 after the committee eliminated what they found fiscally irresponsible.
SSFC granted LGBT Campus Center's request for a $42,000 paid full-time position, including both salary and fringe benefits by a narrow margin, with SSFC chair Zach Frey casting the tie-breaking vote.
That particular employee will now be paid from student-segregated, fees instead of from the UW administration, according to Representative Kellie Sanders.
"I feel like the organization justified the need for the student service specialist," Sanders said. "It's just changing where the funding is coming from."
The committee also debated the funding for plaques and food to be presented at a recognition banquet.
Although eventually cutting the funding, some members felt banquets like the one in question should be allotted funds.
"It's like telling the organization that they can't recognize their volunteers, and that's detrimental," Sanders said.
LGBT Campus Center Director Eric Trekell said he was grateful that SSFC approved his group's funding and was satisfied.
"I think it's important that we preserve the service that we provide to students," Trekell said. "Having it from seg-fees allows us to devote it solely to students."
SSFC also awarded FH King Students of Sustainable Agriculture $11,730 after a math error was corrected.
The final budget figure was reached after debating the request for seeds and a lawnmower. SSFC representative David Lapidus said he was skeptical about funding the seeds that he saw as a handout.
Adventure Learning Programs, which works to build group skills and provides workshops on problem solving, was granted $120,619.
SSFC granted ALP an "amendment wage exemption," allowing employees to work more than 20 hours in a week, specifically for all day workshops.
ALP's co-coordinator Molly North said she was surprised with the budget approval after only five minutes of discussion, and was satisfied with the revisions.
"The exemption allows our facilitators to work two courses in a weekend," North said. "[The courses] are a team-building experience out in Oregon that we provide free of cost to all students."
The budget committee also heard the Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow budget request of $201,200 to address the environment and other public-interest issues.
According to CFACT treasurer Mike Dattner, the group is requesting money to bring a high-profile speaker to follow up their successful Ted Nugent lecture Wednesday night. Dattner mentioned John Stossel as a potential option for the future.
Two full-time paid positions were requested for CFACT, which qualifies as a "contract group" that provides an overall service to the campus and not to individuals; the remaining members are unpaid according to Dattner.
"It's people that want to be here for the group and not for the money," Dattner said.
In addition to CFACT, Greater University Tutoring Services requested $135,322 to continue their free academic tutoring to all UW students.
GUTS director Beth Ryan said the group provides 1,500 students a year with tutors.
