An Associated Students of Madison committee unanimously passed Greater University Tutoring Service’s $143,915.06 budget for this year.

Also at Monday’s Student Services Finance Committee meeting, Sex Out Loud proposed close to a $2,000 budget increase from last year’s budget. 

GUTS clarifies “miscellaneous” items

Alice Reznickova, a GUTS co-director, clarified a few items of the budget for GUTS discussed last Thursday.

Last week, SSFC asked GUTS to clarify several lines listed under “miscellaneous.” 

Reznickova said most of the funding listed there would go toward either training for tutors or textbooks and various supplies.

“We don’t do miscellaneous,” SSFC Vice Chair Thuy Pham said. “If there is a miscellaneous item there, just make sure they clarify what there are doing,”

The committee approved GUTS’ $143,915.06 total budget request unanimously.

SSFC hears Sex Out Loud budget proposal

Nick Fetzner, the project coordinator for Sex Out Loud, said the group is UW’s peer-to-peer sexual health resource center.

Up from $98,032 last year, their new proposed budget is $99,989.

One of their core programming items includes sex-ed workshops, with 120 held on campus last year, Fetzner said. Other core programming items include safer sex supplies and safer sex counseling or advising.

Last year, the group spent $18,000 on supplies, Fetzner said, but this year the group switched suppliers and are saving money. They’ve donated more condoms this year than last year, he added.

Sex Out Loud will have nine facilitators instead of eight this year so their programs can have increased flexibility, he said, with the salary alterations matching the budget increase and ratio of employees.

Their employee training program requires 60 hours of training from UHS health care professionals, professors around campus and individuals in the community, Fetzner said.  This includes money for honoraria and t-shirts to raise awareness about Sex Out Loud, he added.

“The only thing I can compare it to is if all of the tour guides walked around in casual dress during passing time, the people touring with them would probably lose them in the crowd,” Fetzner said. “It helps us be recognized for tabling and around campus.”

SSFC will make a decision on the Sex Out Loud budget this Thursday.