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Group struggles after Wiley letter
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Weeks after receiving funding from the University of Wisconsin's Student Services Finance Committee, several organizations lost a large portion of their backing last night. The Student Services Finance Committee received a memorandum from UW Chancellor John Wiley last week, noting the expiration of a one-year exemption to a UW System policy that prohibits SSFC from paying for student organizations' off-campus offices. The memo also instructed SSFC to review six other budgets the committee approved with similar funding situations.
The six organizations were Promoting Awareness and Victim Empowerment, the Jewish Cultural Center, Sex Out Loud, Collegians For A Constructive Tomorrow, Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group and the UW Roman Catholic Foundation.
CFACT treasurer Mike Dattner said his group has not been able to find alternative office space. Dattner added he sees SSFC's decision to strike $24,000 — which was allocated for off-campus rent — from their budget as a clear viewpoint neutrality violation.
"The chancellor could have come out and said every single group had to wear party hats at their meetings, and it would have become law," Dattner said. "It's ridiculous — it won't stand."
According to Dattner, the UW System Board of Regents is overstepping its boundaries by not allowing the organizations to receive segregated-fee funding if they rent offices off campus.
SSFC representative Sree Atluru said the committee does not have a say in whether the System's rule is appropriate.
"The fact of the matter is that we're bound — this committee is bound by the federal, state Constitution and state statutes," Atluru said. "We cannot interpret university policy; we're not a judicial body."
SSFC representative Alex Gallagher said the policy could be interpreted by SSFC and allocated despite the chancellor's assertion.
"If we succumb to what the chancellor said, it's us bending over backwards and accepting his decision," Gallagher said.
SSFC eventually abided by Wiley's directive and cut $5,853 from Sex Out Loud's budget, $12,456 from WISPIRG's budget and $35,000 from UWRCF's budget to account for off-campus rent.
Wiley said in an interview with The Badger Herald that he allowed the exemption in order to prevent the groups that had been improperly granted segregated-fee funding for off-campus offices from experiencing immediate hardships. The chancellor added that viewpoint neutrality could be difficult for SSFC to maintain because the committee is often immersed in a "murky legal environment."
Wiley also said he often approves SSFC budget decisions he does not agree with, in the interest of preserving shared governance at UW. However, if SSFC decisions violate UW System or state policy, Wiley said he is compelled to return the budgets for review.
SSFC Vice Chair Kellie Sanders said she wanted to grant funding for off-campus offices of the six groups singled out by the chancellor despite Wiley's memo and UW System policy.
"I'm willing to fight it, if SJ wants to remove me [from SSFC], that's how I'd want to go out," Sanders said. "Fighting for students."
SSFC also debated UWRCF's budget aside from off-campus office rent and made several cuts. The committee settled on a $253,273 budget for the religious foundation. UWRCF was denied contract status last week, which would have allowed them to receive funding for full-time staff aside from its student members.
SSFC eventually chose to create eight paid student positions to replace the full-time staff.
UWRCF spokesperson Tim Kruse said this was the most satisfied he had been with SSFC in recent memory, and he feels the two entities are making progress — along with the university — toward reaching a fair agreement.
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Wiley is using SSFC to cover his arse. This is all about protecting him from the lawsuit by UWRCF.
So use Wiley’s office until something else is available.
a big holla to rep. kellie sanders. fight the good fight!!
There are, hmmmm, 5 Catholic churches in walking distance of the campus. Shouldn’t the Madison Dioscese be funding this church and its related activities rather than UW students? Start having some bake sales.
Kellie is the only person on the committee who was willing to stand up for students and tell Wiley to shove it. That’s really sad. What up SSFC?
SSFC is an advisory board…they can’t violate policy or their budget will be sent back until they comply. “fighting the good fight” will only delay the budget and then NO ONE gets any cash.
I also agree with November 21, 2006 @ 11:11am - what funds are the group supplying. Why should all students pay $250,000+ for the Catholic foundation?
Seg fees don’t pay for the activities of a “church”…the seg fees UWRCF is trying to get/has received are for the various student services and programs it offers and provides. This has everything to do with students and that’s what their whole mission is.
Rumors are swirling that Wiley has already been fired by the Regents because of his many bumblings. This letter must be forgery.