In another landmark decision, the Student Services Finance Committee voted to deny the Student Labor Center and the UW Infoshop their fee eligibility for the 2002-2003 year.
This is the first time in recent history the committee has denied funding to student groups previously deemed eligible.
The discussion was heated as protests raged both inside and outside Memorial Union. When the smoke cleared, SLC, which promotes labor education and activism, received the closest vote of the evening with an initial tie vote of six to six.
Roman Patzner, SSFC chair, again cast the deciding vote.
Daniel Long, the director of the SLC, expressed his disappointment later. “This decision means a loss for any student who wished to use our facilities so they could apply for grants on labor issues and [go] on to unique careers.” Long also cited the group’s work with the Memorial Union labor organization and its work to raise awareness of limited-term employees and sweatshop merchandise on campus.
“It’s hard to say it’s not an agenda. I’m troubled by some of the very quick decisions I saw made by the committee,” Long added.
SSFC rep. Mark Baumgardner questioned the SLC’s role for students. “It seems like they focus more on employees out of the country,” he stated.
SSFC rep. Ryan Nichols agreed, saying, “There’s no concrete verification of students served. It seems like they’re working an awful lot for non-students with student money.”
UW Infoshop, which provides access to resources on a variety of political, social, and economic issues, was also denied funding by a vote of three to six, with two members abstaining. Infoshop faced a variety of questions involving the use of past fees for private phone calls, propaganda, and duplication of services.
Nichols expressed concern over materials offered by Infoshop on how to attack police officers and “unarrest” protesters. SSFC rep. Tom Clark agreed.
“If something would have happened that would have been influenced by this, the Infoshop may have been looking at charges,” he said.
Council members also debated the use of Infoshop in relation to the campus library system. “If I can just do that (over the computer) at the home or library, why should we have to pay fees?” asked Baumgardner.
“I’m not necessarily surprised,” said Infoshop staff member Kurt Ellison. “I feel like this is a politically motivated vote.”
Infoshop staffer Jonathon Mertzig agreed. “They definitely have some sort of agenda,” he said. “The question is, just what is it?” Mertzig added later, “I’m sure Infoshop will continue in some shape or form.”
The Student Leadership Program, the Tenant Resource Center, and WSUM student radio will all face eligibility hearings at the next SSFC meeting.
Before eligibility was voted on, the committee faced 45 minutes of rhetoric and criticism during their open forum section. The students, primarily MEChA and DES members and supporters, challenged committee members to “put aside their pride” and to awaken and broaden their perspectives. One student, who did not give his name, asked, “You don’t represent me, my friends or my colleagues. How do you call yourself student reps?”
SSFC rep. Aaron Werner responded to this allegation, saying, “You talk about the hundreds of students against us. How many thousands of students didn’t come here because they’re in agreement with what we did?”
SSFC rep. Faith Kurtyka said later, “It makes me really sad. I think both (organizations) are valuable to the campus. We really try to give everyone a fair shake, and I love to listen ? but it seems like some members (of the committee) come in, and they know how they’ll vote.”