Matt Manes, chair of Student Services Finance Committee, the branch of the University of Wisconsin-Madison student government that allocates part of the more than $40 million collected annually from students for student services, announced Monday he is going to try to reconstruct the entire funding system.
In the first day, Manes introduced a component he calls the Campus Services Fund that could allow the student government to guarantee funding for certain services deemed essential, such as the student radio group and the Rape Crisis Center.
The University of Wisconsin student government began the process of reforming the way they fund student groups and proposed a new method to provide vital services to the student body during their meeting Monday.
Student Services Finance Committee Chair Matt Manes presented his strategic plan for reforming the current funding system to members of the Associated Students of Madison and to students.
Manes said the current system of operation, including event and travel grants and the General Student Services Funds were put together piecemeal at different times.
“They have all been done in complete isolation from the other one. We have never dealt with the broader issue of what does the best system look like,” Manes said.
As part of his broader reform plan Manes said he wants to create a Campus Services Fund, which would not be constrained by viewpoint neutrality, and would allow ASM to provide funding for critical services on campus.
Manes said he felt tutoring, legal advice, sexual assault resources, leadership training and political training were important services that needed funding.
This proposal came from the situation last year when the Campus Women’s Center was denied GSSF funding and many students felt they provided a vital service to students, Manes said.
He added he wants input from students to find out what else they think are vital campus services.
SSFC Representative Aliyya Terry questioned how they would get student input when students vote in such low numbers.
Manes said he has been throwing around the idea of holding town hall meetings, conducting surveys, presentations and having SSFC members simply talk to students.
At the meeting several questions from the audience centered on how SSFC would take into account minority groups on campus if they are focused on funding what the majority of students want.
Manes said if students have concerns they have to make sure their voices are heard and even if it is just one voice he will take it into consideration.
“It comes down to vigilant leadership and making sure we hear those voices because those needs are just as valid as those of the majorities,” Manes said.
SSFC Legal Council Tyler Junger asked Manes if the GSSF will still exist in the new system he is proposing.
Manes said if people still want the GSSF then they will continue to provide it, but if students want something else ASM can provide that too.
Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group Chair Rashi Mangalick said it is great they are having these open meetings, and she hoped SSFC would take the feedback they are getting from students and put it into practice.
WISPIRG was deemed not eligible for GSSF funding for next year during SSFC’s eligibility hearings in September.
WISPIRG Secretary Allie Gardner said this is a great time for students to get involved in the process because ultimately any changes that are made will impact them the most.
Manes said he will go into greater detail about his plan for the new Campus Services Fund at SSFC’s Thursday meeting.
