Last night’s Student Services Finance Committee meeting was adjourned after five minutes as the result of what Vice Chair Jason Davis called a “futile attempt to rebel against justice.”
The meeting, which was supposed to include budget request decisions for student organizations Adventure Learning Programs and the Greater University Tutorial Service, as well as budget presentations by Wunk Sheek and Sex Out Loud, was postponed because not enough members were present to make binding decisions.
Davis said he believes the absence of committee members Ryan Nichols, Kate Dobyns, Drew Horn and Tom Clark, as well as SSFC chair Roman Patzner, was a response to Associated Students of Madison Student Judiciary’s decision Tuesday to impeach SSFC representative Mark Baumgardner and issue warnings to representatives Nichols and Horn.
“They’re protesting the decision that was made,” Davis said. “What we witnessed tonight is a mockery, a philandering of responsibility, obligation and duty. The representatives who were absent tonight did so with a purpose, and their purpose was to stop students from receiving service that are due. Their purpose was also to divide this campus further.”
SSFC member Rob Welygan agreed that the absent representatives displayed irresponsibility in forcing the committee to postpone important funding decisions.
“It was very unprofessional,” Welygan said. “Some members just decided not to show up.”
Horn and Patzner both said they were unable to attend the meeting because of upcoming exams. Dobyns also claimed to have another obligation.
“I had a meeting so I wasn’t able to come, unfortunately,” Dobyns said. “I heard that a lot of people couldn’t make it tonight. But there was no other motive for us not being there tonight; we honestly did have conflicts.”
Davis, however, said he saw Dobyns, Horn, Nichols and member Tom Clark congregating in the Union lobby as the SSFC meeting was starting upstairs. He said he did not believe the excuses given by these members for their absence.
Davis also said he was “100 percent sure ” that SSFC chair Roman Patzner was part of the plan to boycott the meeting.
“It’s laughable, it’s irresponsible, and it shows the lack of maturity,” Davis said.
Patzner, who said he was home studying for an upcoming exam, maintained that the number of empty seats was the result of individual obligations.
“Numerous people had e-mailed me before the meeting with various excused absences,” Patzner said. “It was just one of those times when there weren’t enough people for a meeting.”
Davis added that he felt ideological divisions have played a part in recent SSFC decisions. SSFC members Monica San Miguel and Gladys Reyes have confirmed rumors that SSFC operates as two factions struggling against each other.
“I think students need to know about what’s going on and about the divisions that occur as a result of people using political ideology to fuel their efforts,” Davis said.
“I think the students have realized that [some SSFC members] are not there to serve the real student needs; they’re merely there to put forth their narrow agenda, they’re only there to serve own their self-interests.”
Dobyns agreed many committee members have political and personal agendas.
“I think that’s very true, but I also think that the people who are accusing certain SSFC members of having an agenda should also think if they have their own agenda as well,” Dobyns said.
The four student organizations will have to wait until Sunday to continue their pursuits for segregated-fee funding.
“It’s a little disappointing that [SSFC] didn’t come through for us,” ALPS student co-coordinator Jeremy Jewette said. “Today was steeped in irony. First the judicial system affirms students’ right to self-governance. Then the students don’t show up. It’s a sign of the times.”
