The financial arm of the University of Wisconsin’s student

government granted less than requested amounts for budgets of two

student groups, the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group and

Diversity Education Programs.

The Student Services Finance Committee gave $21,800 less than

requested to the contract group WisPIRG for a total of $94,720.

WisPIRG requested $116,520 for the 2004-2005 fiscal year, an

increase from the $77,500 the group is currently operating with.

The increases were due to various factors, mostly the hiring of a

full-time energy advocate and increased funding for lobbying in

Washington, D.C.

SSFC cut $16,000 earmarked to be spent on lobbyists at the

nation’s Capitol, depleting nearly all of the group’s funds for

lobbyists. Other cuts dealt with phone expenses.

Diversity Education Programs lost $16,565 from its original

proposal, giving the group a total of $362,520, down from the

allocated $389,600 DEP received last year.

SSFC cut allotments for supplies and services that DEP requested

but did not slash funding for salary positions or other staff. Some

of the cuts made were decreases in advertising, supplies, phone

services, and travel expenses.

The decrease in DEP’s requested funds is because last year was a

setup year for the program, which needed startup supplies to outfit

its new office.