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Catholic group tries for funds once more

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Also by Amelia Vorpahl:

Developers lay out apartment ideas (December 4, 2007)
140-year-old tree to be cut down by city (November 28, 2007)
Committee hears details for Institute of Discovery (November 27, 2007)
Catholic group tries for funds once more (November 19, 2007)
SSFC puts stamp on largest budget (November 16, 2007)

by Amelia Vorpahl

Monday, November 19, 2007

The Associated Students of Madison's Student Judiciary discussed the Roman Catholic Foundation of the University of Wisconsin's appeal to receive funding from student-segregated fees Sunday.

RCF-UW had previously been denied funding by ASM's Student Services Finance Committee due to lack of an "additional significant component," but the Student Judiciary ruled RCF-UW could resubmit its application.

Craig Griffie, vice chair of the RCF-UW, said the case was not a procedural one, but rather one dealing with viewpoint neutrality. He cited a 2004 case against SSFC as one that "provides a very clear definition of what viewpoint neutral biases are, [and] our case is indeed a viewpoint neutrality argument."

Griffie also expressed concern about the neutrality of the upcoming hearing with SSFC, due to all of the strong sentiments involved with the case.

"As the case goes forth with SSFC, I am sure that every effort will be made to insure a fair hearing," Griffie said. "We're all aware of how long this case has gone at this point; a lot of emotions have been attached to it already."

SJ Vice Chair Shaun Hernandez expressed frustration with the way the SSFC is handling the ruling, saying many SSFC members did not know how to deal with their decision.

"I just don't like that the SSFC can say pretty much, ‘We don't like this opinion or this decision, we don't know what to do with it, so now we're going to relinquish ourselves from anything in the matter,’" Hernandez said. "I think it sends the wrong message to us and to the students in general."

The Student Judiciary's spring training was also discussed at the meeting, and SJ Chief Justice Sol Grosskopf set the date for Feb. 9, saying he hopes that not only would the two new justices be able to attend, but all members.

"I'd like us to mingle with members of the council, SSFC and other ASM committees." Grosskopf said. "I know that at times we live in a test tube, which can be good, but other times we should understand the system in which we live."

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