The student government posed questions to a couple of campus institution leaders and took a closer look at its budget needs during a meeting on Thursday.

The Student Service Finance Committee held small-group discussions with the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program and University Health Services in order to further discuss its budgetary needs after both groups introduced their budgets to the committee earlier in February.

SSFC Chair Matt Manes said conducting the discussion in an informal setting allowed committee members to ask questions to clarify and understand the non-allocable budgets, budgets that the committee does not have discretionary spending power over.

UHS Director Sarah Van Orman sat with SSFC and discussed issues surrounding healthcare services on campus.

The committee honed in on the recommendation to maintain or even increase the amount of funding for UHS in order for it to maintain its current capacity and the services it provides to students.

Representative Cale Plamann said he wanted to maintain the efficiency and believed continuing to provide UHS with the fiscal support it needs to function properly is necessary.

“If we have to up (segregated) fees a reasonable amount… that’s what we have to do,” Plamann said.

The committee also contemplated recommending UHS provide HPV vaccines to students in a campus-wide program.

Van Orman said she appreciated the interest the committee has taken in how UHS functions and how best to fund the service.

“These are tough issue we grapple with in health care, and I think they have really tried to understand all the nuances of it,” Van Orman said.

Manes said the committee will approve official recommendations for the budgets within one month.

WSUM also presented its budget to the committee, requesting $313,459.48.

Dave Black, WSUM general manager, said WSUM tried its best to make sure its request was consistent with last year’s request of $313,744.64 and was even able to decrease it by over $200.

Black said WSUM provides an invaluable experience and services to student on campus.

“We provide a lot of opportunities for (students) to express themselves,” Black said.

The committee also approved the contract renewal for the Rape Crisis Center, which will ensure services for students who are victims of sexual assault remain on campus.

SSFC currently funds the Rape Crisis Center with $53,402.  

Representative Sarah Neibart said it is important to maintain vital services the Rape Crisis Center provides on campus and renewing the three-year contract between SSFC and the Rape Crisis Center will help the committee to serve the students.