For the first time ever, Badger Student Travel pled its case to the Student Services Finance Committee along with Badger Catholic, which has previously received money from the General Student Services Fund.
According to its mission statement, Badger Student Travel is an independent student organization run by and for students to assist in travel information and to educate students in order for them to get the most out of traveling, whether traveling for education, work or relaxation.
“Although this is only the second semester that our organization has been serving students, it was born out of long tradition of having a travel center and serving the UW-Madison community,” Melinda Sarnicki, president of Badger Student Travel, said.
Badger Student Travel believes its organization is unique since the travel center previously located at the Memorial Union closed four years ago due to budget cuts, and no one else on campus offers such services.
“Since the travel center closed, there is no other organization that fulfills many of the purposes that we now serve,” Sarnicki said.
The services they offer include one-on-one advising sessions for students, hostel, hotel and airfare booking assistance, information on study and work abroad programs, passport photos, and student cards. They also have a library of reference books, according to Beth Kovars, vice president of Badger Student Travel.
One area in the program they are looking to improve is hiring a full-time staff member to assist with things such as creating handouts for specific needs or developing workshops, according to Sarnicki.
By creating a survey online, Badger Student Travel looks to increase student feedback to improve services they currently offer.
Badger Catholics, which received $120,547.77 in funding last eligibility session, also presented its case to SSFC.
“I am fully convinced that Badger Catholic qualifies for GSSF eligibility,” Nico Fassino, president of Badger Catholic, said.
He said the peer faith mentorship program is the main focus of their group and their only direct service, which aims to provide faith guidance to students of all beliefs.
“Badger Catholic seeks to help provide for the spiritual needs for all students on campus and to constantly inspire discussion in faith in the university setting,” Fassino said.
He added they took a lot of care trying to find leadership training that would adequately deal with people of other faiths.
One issue the group had last year with their GSSF funding involved a retreat they provided; Badger Catholic broke Associated Students of Madison rules by charging the students for it. The money was later returned to students and the problem resolved with SSFC, along with a written apology letter, according to Fassino.
The decision to fund either group will be made at the next SSFC meeting Thursday.
Along with hearing from these two groups, SSFC approved funding for GUTS and Sex Out Loud, who came before the SSFC last Thursday, both by a vote of 6-0-3.
