http://http://vimeo.com/6857940
Despite cooler, drizzly weather, about 30 people gathered at Library Mall at 1 p.m. today to participate in a flash mob to raise awareness of Campus Women’s Center’s recent funding denial by Student Services Finance Committee. Organizer and UW junior Jenny Wustmann cofounded a group called Save the Campus Women’s Center, which is not officially affiliated with CWC but endorsed by some of CWC’s members.
The Student Services Finance Committee meeting Thursday night was filled with sympathetic attendees as the Campus Women’s Center appealed their denial of eligibility, and Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow and Supporting Peers in Laidback Listening presented their cases for eligibility.
CWC — denied eligibility on Sept. 21 — failed to appeal by the specified SSFC deadline. The group then brought forward a procedural appeal, stating that procedure was violated as a result of an inappropriately rejected motion to reconsider, inaccurate understanding and a lack of clarity on direct services provided by the CWC.
“There was a misinterpretation at the very last stages of the process,” CWC Finance Coordinator Zorian Lasowsky said. “There were a lot of assumptions made and calculations done, none of which were affirmed.”
SSFC Chair Brandon Williams disagreed.
“The question we had to decide was pretty specific: were there procedural violations in the decision to deny the Campus Women’s Center funding?” Williams said. “And after hearing the arguments from the Women’s Center representatives and looking over our decision, the majority of the SSFC felt that no violation had occurred.”
SSFC Rep. Kyle Szarzynsky took issue with the committee’s denials of certain organizations.
“I would like to reiterate one final time that people are basically grasping at straws to deny funding,” Szarzynsky said. “Most people looking at it from an objective sense can see it is extremely absurd. When people are making decisions that are personal and political, you are doing irreparable damage to the process.”
CWC has indicated it will appeal the decision to the Student Judiciary.
In addition to the appeal, SPILL and CFACT presented their cases for eligibility.
SPILL, applying for eligibility for the first time, is an organization where students can anonymously submit their problems via e-mail and have a peer respond with feedback within 24 hours.
“The fact that it is anonymous and something that just started up is something extremely appealing to students,” SPILL facilitator Jessica Scheunemann told the committee.
SPILL had 46 submissions in the month of September and the organization expects the numbers to continue to climb.
“Submissions are coming in pretty rapidly, about three to four a day. We anticipated 500 to 600 for the semester, and we anticipate it to be busier around finals with all the stress,” said Heidi Allstop, president and founder of SPILL.
CFACT also applied for eligibility. The group, a non-profit organization that advocates for environmental and social issues with a free-market emphasis, was denied funding last year and is currently suing the University of Wisconsin claiming they were denied due process.
The organization claims advocacy training, stewardship, networking and workshops as its direct services. Their multiple student-driven campaigns include alternative energy, conservation, endangered species and many others.
CFACT members said the organization was very tailorable to student opinions.
“If they see a problem on campus, they can look at our network and our resources in order to educate them on how to solve that problem,” Hansen said.
UWisLit was also denied eligibility in a 0-8-1 vote as they failed to submit a budget plan to the committee. MCSC had more luck, qualifying for eligibility with a 9-0-0 vote.
Decisions on CFACT and SPILL will be received Monday at the next SSFC meeting.
