[media-credit name=’Malory Goldin / The Badger Herald’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]

Members of student government deliberated over two budgetary issues for the Multicultural Student Center, as well as denied eligibility for an organization that had previously violated policy during a meeting Thursday night.

Rebecca Pons, a representative from MCSC, spoke during open forum to request a motion to put a budget alteration for the MCSC on Thursday’s agenda.

The alteration request amounted to a move $5,500 of the organization’s current budget of $220,586.88 from one item in their budget to another. Pons said this move was necessary to provide salaries and accommodations for the MCSC’s trainers.

Pons also pointed out that in the Associated Students of Madison bylaws, it is not within SSFC’s jurisdiction to deny budget alterations. SSFC can only approve them, she said.

Representative Cale Plamann disagreed, stating that when SSFC members do not approve budget alterations, these alterations are denied.

SSFC Chair Sarah Neibart emphasized the committee’s need to remain consistent, citing a policy that organizations are not allowed to change budgets after approval.

“I have remained consistent in this policy with every other group, and it is not fair for me to change this policy for MCSC,” she said.

Neibart also pointed out that according to the MCSC budget application submitted last year, alumni coming in as trainers were listed as not being paid. She stressed SSFC must hold the organization to what was previously approved.

The committee denied Pon’s request.

Members also deliberated on the MCSC’s request for its budget deadline to be moved after its eligibility hearing Oct. 17.

SSFC Vice Chair Chase Wilson said the initial budget is important as it enables the organization to determine how it is spending the hours and direct services being provided.

SSFC Secretary Ellie Bruecker agreed, stating it would be incredibly difficult to speak on direct services during an eligibility hearing without a finalized budget.

“I will be at complete loss how they would figure out the direct services if they have not figured out their budget,” she said.

Neibart emphasized the need for consistency, stating that if an organization does not meet its budget deadline, it is not allowed an eligibility hearing.

The majority of council agreed, adding it is unfair to make an extension for this one organization when there are other groups seeking eligibility.

The extension was denied, and MCSC’s budget will be due Oct. 17.

SSFC representatives also made two eligibility decisions during Thursday night’s meeting, following Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow and the Legal Information Center’s hearings Monday.

Having not returned equipment on time on Nov. 20, 2009, and thus constituting an intentional policy violation, CFACT has been denied eligibility for the past two years.

CFACT President Joshua Smith said this should not be taken into consideration when deciding the group’s eligibility and that it should be based solely on the group’s application.

Wilson stressed the policy violation was intentional, and since it has only been two-years since the original violation, the group should not receive funding.

CFACT was denied eligibility by a vote of 9-1.

The Legal Information Center’s eligibility was approved by a vote of 9-0.

– Reporter Izarin Izhar contributed to this report.