After a series of legal disputes over the past few years concerning funding for religious programs, the Roman Catholic Foundation of the University of Wisconsin appeared before the Student Services Finance Committee to present next year’s budget proposal Thursday night.
RCF received $177,211 in funds for ’08-’09 and presented a budget Thursday seeking $211,970 for the upcoming year.
“We’re expecting a lot of questions. The more questions, the better,” said Nicole Yeska, the vice chair and budget facilitator for RCF. “It shows the more [SSFC members] care about it. Especially the new members,”
The controversy over the budget proposal has stemmed from whether or not the organization meets the criteria of eligibility, including the whether they are an organization for all UW students and not merely an organization for Catholic students.
“We are an organization for everybody. Our programs vary from service trips, theater options (and) small groups — such as bible studies or mini-courses, which are more intellectual. There really is so much to do within the RCF. We’re for everybody, everyone,” Yeska said.
RCF is also excited about implementing their International Service Trip Programs, Megan Schmitz, UW junior and RCF member.
“We hope to interact with communities in humane and Christian ways,” said Katie Bartling, UW sophomore and participant in RCF’s international program.
In addition to the RCF budget hearing, SSFC approved budget decisions for both Student Leadership Program and Adventure Learning Programs.
SLP received $73,016 for their budget, which is an increase of $6, 983 in funds from last year.
A motion was also passed to restore five cents to the SLP supplies for the Leadership Through Social Justice Program, the smallest increase in a line item ever, according to Kurt Gosselin, SSFC chair.
When asked to comment on the motion, SSFC Vice Chair Carl Fergus declined to elaborate on the reason for the increase.
ALPS received $133,199 for their budget. This was an additional $7, 938 from last year’s budget. A motion was passed to add $19,000 to the fringe line item, which pertains to the salary of paid employees for the group.
SSFC will give the budget decision for RCF next week. Student Tenant Union was scheduled for Monday as well, but the organization failed to attend Thursday’s hearing. SSFC called to question the eligibility of STU and moved to discuss the organization at next week’s meeting.
SSFC will attend four appeals to the Student Judiciary due to denied funding for Engineers Without Borders, Legal Information Center, Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council.
“I have complete confidence in our legal counsel and myself in defending the committee against these lawsuits,” Gosselin said.
