Following a contentious decision last Thursday to minimally fund the American Indian group Wunk Sheek, the Student Services Finance Committee reconsidered the group's budget yesterday, committing the total $94,094 originally sought by the group through 2008.
Wunk Sheek, which serves to spread awareness and support for the American Indian community, appealed their initial decision of being minimally funded with only $4,750 Monday. The group did not meet with an SSFC finance advisor and had several technical violations of SSFC policy within their budget.
After extensive debate, Martin Salas, co-chair of Wunk Sheek, was satisfied with the ultimate results handed down by SSFC.
"I'm overjoyed that everything was passed, I'm very pleased that everyone was able to hear and consider all of the information," Salas said. "I'm thankful that they are allowing us to provide the services that we do for next year — and the future of Wunk Sheek."
SSFC representative Kellie Sanders authored an amendment to Wunk Sheek's budget creating a summer finance position.
The new position will keep the Wunk Sheek office open over the summer and allow the group to organize their budget and avoid similar controversies in the future, according to SSFC representative Sree Atluru.
"It forces them to be responsible and meet us half way on accountability," she said.
Other members of SSFC were against the formation of the new position, including representative Michael Kelly, who said Wunk Sheek was at fault for failing to meet SSFC policy and thereby should have lost funding.
Representative Jackie Goessel stood by the established guidelines and said she wanted to see consistency in their decisions.
"Why have rules if we're not going to enforce them?" Goessel said. "It's unfortunate that a group got put in this situation, but we should be consistent and follow our rules."
SSFC members debated the violations by Wunk Sheek at length in addition to their own policy and how strictly it should be enforced.
Representative Alex Gallagher said the violation was clearly outlined but the punishment of stripping almost all of the organization's funding may have be too harsh.
"It is our responsibility to fully exhaust debate on this issue. I feel that it was a violation of our policy. We set up policy and rules for a reason," Gallagher said. "On the other hand, the repercussions of this action are extreme, and I have a hard time justifying that."
In addition to the Wunk Sheek reconsideration, dozens of single parents and accompanying toddlers of all ages flooded the SSFC meeting providing testimony of the benefits of C Child Care Tuition Assistance Program.
Several UW students echoed they would be fiscally unable to attend class if CCTAP's budget were cut.
UW student and parent Regen Borchardt was overcome with emotion as she expressed her gratitude for the funding and thought of the possibility of losing the aid.
"It would be a shame to see any of this disappear," Borchardt said.
As of press time no decision was met on Campus Women's Center's $83,845 request or Asian & Pacific American Council's $217,998 request.