News

Budget approval for Catholic group

SSFC OKs decrease of $40K for largest religious organization at UW-Madison

The Associated Stu-dents of Madison’s Student Services Finance Committee finished off its budget decisions Thursday by approving the reopened budget proposal of Badger Catholic and increasing the group’s funding for books.

Although an additional $188.33 was added to the Badger Catholic’s budget to allow the group to purchase books from all religious and spiritual backgrounds, the overall budget was decreased by $40,000 from the budget passed in the fall.

The Badger Catholic budget now totals $120,547.77.

“Resource library books are necessary so we can directly serve every student,” Badger Catholic Chair Megan Schmitz said. “We want to have the resources to aid all students of any spirituality on their spiritual journey.”

The committee voiced nothing but support for the budget, though hesitation arose over how to handle the reopening of future budgets.

“We should use caution when adding or removing money from budgets,” SSFC Rep. Daren Knox said. “This shouldn’t be seen as a normal budget decision.”

The rest of the committee praised the budget, calling it “fiscally responsible” and “appropriate.”

SSFC Rep. Tyler Junger said he was especially pleased to see Badger Catholic channeling its efforts to support and guide students of all faiths through not only a bigger resource library but the addition of a faith-advising program as well.

“Particularly with faith advising, [the proposed budget] makes a much broader effort to reach out to all students on campus,” Junger said.

Junger also commended Badger Catholic for not only considering faiths outside Christianity, but considering faiths outside of theism altogether.

“In my mind, it is an effort to reach out to a more broad array of students,” Junger said. “The addition of this material is going to allow the group to expand the program to successfully reach [them].”

Badger Catholic will also be focusing its narrowed budget on an evangelical Catholic summer institute training program that will provide training to Badger Catholic staff to prepare them for sensitive circumstances that may arise in their time in office.

Schmitz said she hopes the retreat will help the group reach the student body more effectively.