Numerous appeals from student speakers representing the Multicultural Student Coalition opened up the forum Monday night at the Student Service Finance Committee meeting.

MCSC, whose budget was decided at the meeting, faced limited cuts from the committee. The SSFC gave MCSC’s budget careful consideration.

Initially, the coalition requested a budget of $515,000 for staff wages, office space, program supplies and computers. The bulk of MCSC’s budget remained intact, and the group was awarded $466,050 by the SSFC.

Theresa Viduarri, executive team member of MCSC, said she anticipated the cuts to the budget.

“We set ourselves up for some of the cuts,” she said. “In general, we are pretty pleased, because the SSFC usually does not grant the full amount. The cuts will not tremendously affect MCSC.”

SSFC member Rob Welygan said he approves of the work MCSC does and feels the amount of money they were allocated will help them continue to serve the student population.

“MCSC is one of the hardest-working groups on campus, and I believe they received the funds they needed to successfully achieve their goals,” Welygan said.

Representatives from other student groups, such as Promoting Racial and Ethnic Awareness, spoke on behalf of MCSC’s funding requests. PREA co-advisor Will Clifton said he supported MCSC’s efforts to improve campus climate and felt MCSC represented an important part of students’ education.

“One’s education is not complete unless there is participation in other coalitions like the MCSC,” Clifton said. “It reaches out into the white community and raises consciousness.”

The SSFC also determined the budget of the student radio station, WSUM, without conflict. SSFC vice-chair Jason Davis said WSUM’s budget request reflected reasonable requests.

Three other student organizations also presented their budget requests before SSFC.

The groups included the Tenant Resource Center, an organization striving to educate tenants and landlords regarding their rights.

The Collegians for an Instructive Tomorrow, an organization that says it looks at environmental issues from a free-market perspective, asked for a budget of $80,000.

The final presentation was given by Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment, a group that strives to encourage sexual-assault awareness on campus.

PAVE representatives said the majority of their requested budget money would be used for peer education.

At the end of the hearing, representatives of PAVE expressed optimism about receiving enough funding to adequately serve the needs of students on campus.

The SSFC will decide the budgets of the Tenant Resource Center, Collegians for an Instructive Tomorrow and Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment Wednesday.