[Update 10/12: Badger Catholic’s eligibility was approved in a 7-1 vote with one abstention.]

Student Services Finance Committee sought to hammer out issues with auxiliary funding once and for all at their Thursday meeting.

The committee also listened to Badger Catholic eligibility and approved Adventure Learning Programs eligibility.

SSFC denies funding eligibility to American Indian student organization

Auxiliary fund debate

The auxiliary fund has long been an issue for SSFC. Due to its confusing language, SSFC representatives prepared several proposals to deal with the auxiliary fund and accommodate organizations like Greater University Tutoring Service, which simply seek additional funding.

As it stands, the auxiliary fund essentially funds the campus radio station and no other groups. But its purpose is to fund expanding student organizations that are growing at a rate that requires additional funding assistance.

SSFC Chair Thuy Pham was adamant about finally doing something about the auxiliary fund and proposed the committee completely rid of the fund and create two new funds: one to fund the campus radio and one for organizations, like GUTS, seeking additional funding.

Pham’s proposed plan essentially calls to “kill” the current fund and clean it up from top to bottom so it no longer is a cause of confusion.

SSFC Secretary Zachary Pravato agreed with Pham. Pravato believed cutting the auxiliary fund would allow SSFC to move forward.

But Rep. Kyle Watter was concerned the new fund would be the same with just a new name.

SSFC members discussed whether the potential new fund would be different and be less confusing than the current fund.

SSFC plans to make a decision about the plans for the auxiliary fund at their next Thursday meeting, after Pham meets with University of Wisconsin attorney Nancy Lynch, to make sure the action of getting rid of the fund would be legal.

Badger Catholic eligibility

In addition to discussing the auxiliary fund, SSFC held an eligibility hearing for Badger Catholic.

Badger Catholic’s mission is to openly promote and facilitate the spiritual development of students, President Steve Bye said.

This is primarily done, Bye said, through their core programming.

Badger Catholic also offers peer mentoring, in which people of any belief may come to them and discuss some of the things that they feel, Bye said.

Badger Catholic Vice President Ben Pribbenow said peer mentors approach students on campus without knowledge of whether they are Catholic or not. Badger Catholic mentors establish relationships with anyone, he said.

Bye said Badger Catholic also provides an opportunity to allow students to volunteer on campus.

When asked how their service programs may be different from other service programs, Pribbenow said Badger Catholic’s service offers spiritual development that other organizations may not.

Badger Catholic’s eligibility will be determined at SSFC’s next meeting Monday.

Prior to Badger Catholic’s eligibility hearing, SSFC approved of Adventure Learning Programs eligibility in an 11-0 vote with one abstention.

Gerald Porter contributed reporting to this article.