In a meeting Thursday, a branch of student government heard from two campus student groups in their eligibility hearings for funding.
Associated Students of Madison’s Student Services Finance Committee listened to presentations from Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment and the Student Leadership Program.
Two representatives from PAVE spoke on the organization’s behalf.
PAVE Chair Meagan Minster told the committee her organization is a registered student organization that works to prevent sexual assault, dating violence and stalking through education and activism on the University of Wisconsin’s campus.
Minster said PAVE’s programming and direct services are organized to reach college-age students specifically. She added their services are arranged in ways that meet the specific needs on the UW campus.
Minster said UW students are the beneficiaries for 96.3 percent of PAVE’s programming and 97.7 percent of PAVE’s direct services.
“PAVE has a strong history of fiscal responsibility, and throughout our time as a [General Student Services Fund] group we have never overspent our budget and have always consistently provided the programs and services for which we are prepared for,” PAVE Finance Coordinator Molly Lloyd said.
Minster and Lloyd cited PAVE’s peer education workshops, resource and reference library, “safe space” office consultation time and media advocacy as integral parts to their organization.
Four committee leaders from the Student Leadership Program also represented their organization in their eligibility hearing.
Financial Coordinator Troy Henkel said SLP was founded in the fall of 1995.
“Our mission has been to develop effective and essential leadership skills for students and student groups through comprehensive leadership education and diverse experiences,” Henkel said.
Internal Affairs and Development Coordinator Kevin Pickett said SLP targets UW students in a variety of ways.
Pickett said SLP reaches out through two mass emails a year, at events within the Greek community or the UW Housing Resource Fair and meetings held in dorms. He said they also reach out to students through the Student Organizational and Social Justice fairs and in classroom announcements to specific lectures.
Pickett said SLP also holds office hours in the Red Gym every week and is accessible through social media outlets.
“We are very accessible to students no matter what way they try to reach us,” Pickett said.
At the end of the meeting, SSFC Rep. Devon Maier talked about how as a result of Wednesday’s ASM meeting, the proposed new constitution will not be put to a student vote.
SSFC Chair Ellie Bruecker said decisions regarding eligibility hearings for all GSSF groups will be taken care of by the end of fall.
Bruecker said the importance of holding eligibility hearings for GSSF groups, aside from their requirements, lies in the fact they allow time for student organizations to vocally present what they have already said in writing to help clarify things for SSFC members.
Bruecker said all GSSF groups have to have the element of direct service in their organizations and added they must be accessible to all students and be able to tailor their programs.
She also said SSFC will engage in debate and vote on the eligibility of PAVE and SLP in their next meeting Monday.
